Never buy the first horse you see, but...

bought the first horse on a number of occasions...

why would you waste your time and petrol looking at other horses and risk the 1st horse being sold while you dither?
 
The first pony we bought my daughter was the first one we viewed - however, that was because we already knew the pony and asked to view it the minute it came up for sale.

The next pony we bought was the second one we viewed, and the horse we have just bought was also the second viewed.

I think if you do your homework well before viewing, there is nothing wrong with buying the first one if it definitely ticks all the boxes.
 
To be honest if I were going to view a horse I would be going with the mind set of buying it.
I tend to do a lot of background research on what it is I want and so it wouldn't bother me at all to buy the first one I saw if I liked it on viewing.
 
I bought the first horse I saw, and she'e perfect :D. If you're sure he's the right horse for you then go for it! However make sure you don't just *think* he ticks all the boxes, try him out as much as you can to make sure he really is the one. You could possibly keep looking at other horses for sale, even just internet shopping, to make sure you're making the right decision and there aren't other horses out there that you like more. Good luck :D
 
King (coloured in siggy) was the first horse we veiwed, and he's fab I just clicked with him on the ground and he looks after me when on top. He was 4 years old when I tried him, and I have never felt so safe on anything, as I did with him.
 
I have - twice! Still have both of them, they are both stars. that said, I do think I was lucky that the first horse I saw both times I was looking ticked every box. Have also brought a horse I sat on when I wasn't looking because instructor told me she thought it would suit me - i had him for about 8 years.

If it's right why trawl the country looking at more?!
 
I have bought the first horse I saw. He didnt tick any of the boxes I had set (apart from being a gelding) but he had such a good attitude and was very trainable. Turned out to be my horse of a lifetime. Other times, I have looked at 2 or 3, and never went back to the first one.

If its right, it doesnt matter how many you have already looked at (or not).
 
Done it twice and worked out well in both cases but...

I had a very clear idea of what I wanted and to do what
And in both cases they were youngsters 5 YOs that were broken and had basic commands established but otherwise green so there wasn't as much to assess other than basic attitude and temperament.
 
I bouhgt mine, it was supposed to be a dummy run before going to visit some studs to choose the one I really wanted! I have owned him for 15 years now and done everything from advanced endurance to showing. I actually thought 'what an ugly horse' when I viewed him, got on and we clicked. He was going through a grwoth sport and is actually quite hansdome now!
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MEEEEE!!!

How could I resist this?!
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Sadly for my bank balance, it was love at first sight. I wasn't even shopping, just window shopping, and ended up with an un-backed 3 year old (so didn't tick any boxes other than being stunningly handsome and mega friendly!). He's a sharp little beggar, but buying him was the best thing Ive ever done, and I don't regret not waiting to see others.
 
Genie was the first I saw when I was looking. She ticked the boxes, so why turn her down simply because I hadn't looked at any others?
 
This worried me.

We weren't looking when a new horse turned up on trial at the riding school, hubby rode him in his lesson as part of the trial and fell in love, he was a beautiful grey ID. The riding school decided he wasn't suitable so we got intouch with the seller with a view to buying him ourselves. The seller actually changed her mind and kept him, which was a shame for us but removed the dilema of buying the first horse you see!

The next one we went to see bucked me off so we didn't buy the second one either.......
 
yep, done that.

I wasn't really looking until, a friend pointed me in his direction, and I went I tried, and he came home. As for boxes, he ticked none of them bar he was a horse and cheap.
 
I've done it on a few occasions now and keep meaning never to take my husband or daughter with me. They instantly fall in love with whatever we see and want to buy it. I'm not saying that we haven't had a lot of fun with the "instant decision" horses but it has to be said that the best horses we've had have been carefully researched beforehand.
 
I did....all 7, well actually the first horse I brought and still have I never rode or view him, I didn't even know what he looked like but i took a chance and it was the best thing I ever did.
 
When I was 14, my equiphobic father heard from an employee that a horse was for sale locally. We went to see (I had no idea why we were there) and without even getting him out of the stable my father agreed on a cheap price and he was my first horse. A 4 year old Arab!

Nineteen fantastic years later and Obi is my soulmate. My husband is well aware that he is secondary to Obi!

As for my other horse, The Tank. I fell in love with his brother (16h, strawberry roan, Ardennes x) but my finances were wrong. When things changes I tracked down the breeder and went to look at his youngsters. There were five to choose from but there was only one 'pink' gelding. He looked alright - everything where it should be - so I picked him. One of the best decisions I have ever made!

If it feels right it often is.
 
I did buy the first horse and I did a post on here too asking the same question :)

I had just decided to get another horse and text everyone I knew to keep an eye out for me, I wasn't in any great rush, but one of the first texts that came back was from my instructor about Toby. He didn't tick every box (bit smaller than I wanted and a bit green out hacking) but because my instructor loved him and a good friend knew the owners, I went for it. I'm so glad I did, he is everything they said he was :)

I still look at the adverts now and then but still don't see anything else that I would want to go and try.
 
We've had people come try a horse, absolutely love it, then refuse to buy it as it was the first one they saw :mad:

Thank you so much for wasting our time. I always ask now how many they have seen.
 
That has put my mind at ease a little. I haven't ever bought the first horse I've seen, its always been the third or so - but this horse hunt is slightly different and I am being uber picky. If the adverts don't sound right, then they are dismissed immediately - none of this reading it over and over again trying to analyse the wording/ descriptions, and making it sound good in my head. And then when I phone if there are any alarm bells at all then I'm not viewing it. I am seeing a horse tomorrow - the first since I started looking. I'd phoned them about a different horse being advertied - she had been sold, but they had a couple more for sale not currently advertised, of which one has ticked every single box on my desired list. Could this be fate? He may be too good to be true - we will wait and see :)
 
I've never bought the first horse I've seen although I have bought a horse in haste when I wasn't thinking straight after the death of my first horse. I would never again buy a youngster. He was advertised as 5 1/2 but it was before passports came into being and the vet thought he was more like 4 1/2. It was a total disaster and I hadn't the experience or confidence to deal with his issues. I wanted to sell him and then sadly he broke his leg playing in the field. My present horse was earmarked for me by a dealer when the first horse he showed me fell through. Six years on I couldn't be happier.
 
I bought my first horse 3.5 months ago, first one I went to see, only one I had lined up to see and pretty much unbroken to boot. The textbook says no to that one but we're fine so far (hour and a half hack at the weekend :D).
 
I have twice. I knew they were what i wanted when I read the ads and I felt the sellers were honest and both horses turned out to be exactly as described. I only tried them once and did the deal before the end of the day. They were both fantastic horses.
 
When I was looking for my first horse, I bought the first one I saw. She was a 10yo, 15.2hh, IDxTB, who had done a bit of everything. She ticked every box I had, and more! I phoned the vet on the way home from viewing to arrange the vetting, and within 5 days she was mine! 7 years later I still have her, she was the perfect horse for me. So if the horse ticks all the boxes, go for it!
 
I did. After waiting nearly a year after the death of my last horse i thought i would start looking. One came up with rubbish photos but a good discription and video, did a bit of research and went to see him. Really didnt want to buy the first horse i saw but after riding him for the second time i made the desision to buy him.
Only had him 2 months so only time will tell if i made the right choice, at the time he ticked all the boxes (maybe alittle younger than i wanted, just coming up to 5. He might not make 6 if he carries on being a stroppy teen :D) but i liked his attitude and he will in time go on to do everything i want.
I look at it that the reason i liked this one was because i clearly have fab taste in horses and could pick a good ad after the months of window shopping on the net :rolleyes: :D
If you like the horse then thats all that matters whether its the 1st or 10th horse you've seen, always go with your gut.
 
Sundi was a speck in the field and I knew I would be taking her home with me!! I broke her in myself and loved her but she didn't really grow big enough so I sold her to a lovely lady.
Hadleigh again was the first horse I saw. I had him for 28 years and he was an absolute star. Sadly I lost him 29th April aged 31.
Whisky was the second horse I tried on a yard in Germany. Hubby secretly bought him for me for our 1st wedding anniversary. I've had him 6 years now and he has tested my equestrian skills every single day!! Bless him.
 
I bought the first one, I haven't regretted it and she is wonderful. I also saw her already tacked up, tied up outside. So I didn't know what she was like to tack up, her stable manners or what she was like to catch in the field.

Lucky? Maybe. Fate? Definitely!
 
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