FfionWinnie
Well-Known Member
There have always been dodgy dealers and people over horsing themselves. You just hear more about it on the Internet 
Problem purchases - on the increase?
- Thread starter NiceChristmasBaubles
- Start date
honetpot
Well-Known Member
Over the last 30 years equine have become relatively cheaper in relation to dispoable income and the rational I supose is why spend £25 on a riding lesson a week when you can by a cheap animal and have it at DIY livery and spend £15-25 a week(they never factor in the extras) and ride it when ever they like.
Most of the problems stem to be from over feeding and lack of exercise. As a young teenager I rode a variety of green ponies and fell off a lot but non were actually dangerous it was usually pilot error, but they lived out and never knew what hard feed was and not one of them wintered out with a rug.
Look on facebook and there are loads of people looking for something cheap to ride, which of course they say they will work on if there are any problems or if they are paying a bit more it must be perfect in every way from day one or else the seller has misdiscribed it.
Over the years I have bought a variety of horses and ponies, most bargin basement, for our family and have honestly never felt any have been misdiscribed. I can not beleave that is just luck or I just have very low expectations treat everything as newly backed and likely to misbehave until I know we have basic brakes and steering. I also do try very hard to get to the real reason why they are selling it and sometimes you have to listen very hard to what they don't say and always google phone numbers.
There are some people who are very plausable and are very good at decieving and lets face it its their job so they have a lot of practice, so if you are conned by one of them you are probabely one of many.
Most of the problems stem to be from over feeding and lack of exercise. As a young teenager I rode a variety of green ponies and fell off a lot but non were actually dangerous it was usually pilot error, but they lived out and never knew what hard feed was and not one of them wintered out with a rug.
Look on facebook and there are loads of people looking for something cheap to ride, which of course they say they will work on if there are any problems or if they are paying a bit more it must be perfect in every way from day one or else the seller has misdiscribed it.
Over the years I have bought a variety of horses and ponies, most bargin basement, for our family and have honestly never felt any have been misdiscribed. I can not beleave that is just luck or I just have very low expectations treat everything as newly backed and likely to misbehave until I know we have basic brakes and steering. I also do try very hard to get to the real reason why they are selling it and sometimes you have to listen very hard to what they don't say and always google phone numbers.
There are some people who are very plausable and are very good at decieving and lets face it its their job so they have a lot of practice, so if you are conned by one of them you are probabely one of many.
Munchkin
Well-Known Member
I'm not THAT old 
but I do remember as kids we used to belt around the moors, disused railway lines and the like, for hours on end on our ponies, and we learned to ride and deal with more or less anything!
We went to local shows every weekend and were very competitive, went to every clinic going and learned everything we needed to know about turnout and the rules.
The ponies lived like ponies - they went on forever and were fine and happy.
Now? Kids are wrapped up in cotton wool. The fact that people are more interested in looking pretty on horses than they are RIDING them is detrimental to both them as horse people and the horses in their care. There are less bombproof horses because novice horses are mollycoddled as much as novice riders. The standard at many local shows nowadays is embarrassing, but nobody seems to dare say a word for fear of offence. How will these new riders ever learn?!
Real horsemanship is on its way out and being replaced by the easily offended, always-a-claim culture. The quality of horses and people to produce them is rapidly going downhill.
but I do remember as kids we used to belt around the moors, disused railway lines and the like, for hours on end on our ponies, and we learned to ride and deal with more or less anything!We went to local shows every weekend and were very competitive, went to every clinic going and learned everything we needed to know about turnout and the rules.
The ponies lived like ponies - they went on forever and were fine and happy.
Now? Kids are wrapped up in cotton wool. The fact that people are more interested in looking pretty on horses than they are RIDING them is detrimental to both them as horse people and the horses in their care. There are less bombproof horses because novice horses are mollycoddled as much as novice riders. The standard at many local shows nowadays is embarrassing, but nobody seems to dare say a word for fear of offence. How will these new riders ever learn?!
Real horsemanship is on its way out and being replaced by the easily offended, always-a-claim culture. The quality of horses and people to produce them is rapidly going downhill.
martlin
Well-Known Member
I also think that the world is full of dreamers and the fact that every Tom, Dick and Harry can afford to buy a horse is not necessarily a good thing.
It costs money to breed, keep and produce well rounded horse, not many businesses can run at a loss for any length of time, so the corners are cut to meet the demand at the ''right'' price... if you have a £1K to spend, you are most likely to get a £1K worth of horse
It costs money to breed, keep and produce well rounded horse, not many businesses can run at a loss for any length of time, so the corners are cut to meet the demand at the ''right'' price... if you have a £1K to spend, you are most likely to get a £1K worth of horse
NiceChristmasBaubles
Well-Known Member
I also think that the world is full of dreamers and the fact that every Tom, Dick and Harry can afford to buy a horse is not necessarily a good thing.
It costs money to breed, keep and produce well rounded horse, not many businesses can run at a loss for any length of time, so the corners are cut to meet the demand at the ''right'' price... if you have a £1K to spend, you are most likely to get a £1K worth of horse
I agree. And the reverse is true. After I bought Cam (who to me is the most amazing horse I've ever had, and he's still only 5) - I was messaged by someone on here asking where I got him as he was just what she was looking for. I spent some time responding to her with many similar ads - I heard nothing, but did see later on that her budget was small compared to what he cost me. Now I don't mean that to be mean because there are many nice horses within her budget. But part of the reason Cam is so wonderful is because I paid a reasonable amount for him. And I was very lucky as well.
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lastchancer
Well-Known Member
There's always been dodgy dealers and people over horsing themselves
I think recently though the horsey press hasn't encouraged people to be realistic - for example, a not very experienced rider reads a four page spread in a magazine about '' how to bond with your horse'' or watches a few dvd's and then goes off and buys a youngster to ''bring on'' who then gets sold on as a project horse when it goes wrong.
These days it seems like people are encouraged to think that they can just spend big money on the latest gadgets/miracle method to get results, when the fact is, if you don't know horses - it ain't going to work.
I think recently though the horsey press hasn't encouraged people to be realistic - for example, a not very experienced rider reads a four page spread in a magazine about '' how to bond with your horse'' or watches a few dvd's and then goes off and buys a youngster to ''bring on'' who then gets sold on as a project horse when it goes wrong.
These days it seems like people are encouraged to think that they can just spend big money on the latest gadgets/miracle method to get results, when the fact is, if you don't know horses - it ain't going to work.
Kallibear
Well-Known Member
I agree. And the reverse is true. After I bought Cam (who to me is the most amazing horse I've ever had, and he's still only 5) - I was messaged by someone on here asking where I got him as he was just what she was looking for. I spent some time responding to her with many similar ads - I heard nothing, but did see later on that her budget was small compared to what he cost me. Now I don't mean that to be mean because there are many nice horses within her budget. But part of the reason Cam is so wonderful is because I paid a reasonable amount for him. And I was very lucky as well.
But if you're competant you will make a good citizen out of any horse. I've never spent much on a horse but they've all turned into nice 'people'. I like to think it's not luck
But if you're novice then a cheap horse is cheap for a reason and you're unlikely to have the knowledge or skill to work through those problems.
Incidently, now did you get on at your dressage? Did he behave?
NiceChristmasBaubles
Well-Known Member
But if you're competant you will make a good citizen out of any horse. I've never spent much on a horse but they've all turned into nice 'people'. I like to think it's not luck
But if you're novice then a cheap horse is cheap for a reason and you're unlikely to have the knowledge or skill to work through those problems.
Incidently, now did you get on at your dressage? Did he behave?
Fair enough. I've never had a really cheap horse (all comparative though I guess, my old girl was in the hundreds, but that was years ago), but mine have always been nice people other than one who I sold on quite quickly to someone in my yard - I actually knew him for nearly a year before buying him so just one of those things I guess. The only reason I had the money for Cam was because I was left it by my grandmother and I only spent 75% of what I had because he was the right horse for me. We did a BD thing earlier on in the summer and had a wonderful time - I posted some pictures on this thread: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=546802. Since then we've had summer holidays etc but just starting to look at more competitions to do when my boys go back to school, especially now I have my properly fitting dressage saddle. He hasn't put a foot wrong since he came (other than being a mud monster of course!). I'm completely biased of course, but I totally adore him.
wench
Well-Known Member
Can't quote on phone, but as for livery... A horse on full/part livery should be better off than DIY livery; at least (in theory) should be handled by reasonably competent people most of the time, whereas cheapo DIY just get the idiot owner handling/riding!
As for not "bonding" with a horse on full livery, this is a load of rot. As I believe martlin posted previuosly shovelling up poop does not create a bond...
My horses have always been on full livery, and one in particular would go far better for me than anyone else, and where I lead him, he would follow.
As for not "bonding" with a horse on full livery, this is a load of rot. As I believe martlin posted previuosly shovelling up poop does not create a bond...
My horses have always been on full livery, and one in particular would go far better for me than anyone else, and where I lead him, he would follow.
soulfull
Well-Known Member
Lots of reasons
we hear about it more because of internet.
years ago if you got a horse that was too much for you, someone else would sort it out, usually just needed lots of work which we don't do anymore
However there does seem to be more bad dealers than there used to be. When looking for a horse for loan for a nervous novice (OH) I got reared on, bolted with, bucked off (nasty) These people down right lied!!!
plus lots of inexperienced people buying without the right back up
cheap horses are often cheap for a reason, numpty sellers often sell cheap horses to numpty and or inexperienced buyers
Even when someone does things right it is still a risk. Horses go lame, take time to settle, test new owner etc etc
we hear about it more because of internet.
years ago if you got a horse that was too much for you, someone else would sort it out, usually just needed lots of work which we don't do anymore
However there does seem to be more bad dealers than there used to be. When looking for a horse for loan for a nervous novice (OH) I got reared on, bolted with, bucked off (nasty) These people down right lied!!!
plus lots of inexperienced people buying without the right back up
cheap horses are often cheap for a reason, numpty sellers often sell cheap horses to numpty and or inexperienced buyers
Even when someone does things right it is still a risk. Horses go lame, take time to settle, test new owner etc etc
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
But if you're competant you will make a good citizen out of any horse. I've never spent much on a horse but they've all turned into nice 'people'. I like to think it's not luck
But if you're novice then a cheap horse is cheap for a reason and you're unlikely to have the knowledge or skill to work through those problems.
Incidently, now did you get on at your dressage? Did he behave?
You have this spot on experiance allows you the luxury of buying in a relaxed in the knowledge that you can work though any issues in fact I love working though stuff it's my greatest pleasure in them turning them into easy happy horses,that why I can sit on a horse for ten minutes and buy it because I know my set up means we can deal with any issue.
So perhaps for the experianced it's more a case of I like this horse and want to work with and in the future it will make a whatever where the inexperianced are seeking a horse who will do what they want straight away and that's harder to do.
Budget , too often people are just spending to little a few years ago I sold a horse who was a well trained first horse could do close to 80% in a prelim great to hack safe to jump but would never jump bigger than BE 90 ( that's why I parted with her) lovely to handle she was a lovely person and she achieved the same money as a good young eventer was then , she went to a novice who had over horsed herself with her first one and did the job so well.
It's much easier to get a bargain when you have experiance behind you your first horse is not the time to look for a cheapie.
WestCoast
Well-Known Member
My full livery with schooling has enabled me to buy Bree, my four year old Friesian, as there's no way I could have brought her on, on my own. They are all very consistent with her and it literally took a couple of weeks for a pushy, stroppy, unsettled mare to be well behaved on the ground. However I do feel that she has probably bonded with them better than me because they spend more time with her.
I also agree with the previous poster about having a pony 30 years ago and just taking them everywhere and getting back on when we got chucked off. God alone knows what my parents were thinking letting me have a pony that bucked me off the first time I rode it. But boy I learn a lot in those years.
There's also a proble with riding schools - I tried like mad to find a place where I could go for a nice hack of a weekday evening and just couldn't find anything. A lot of them didnt even have off road hacking. It was private lessons if I wanted to ride after work - and mostly it was "kick, kick, kick - shorten the reins".
Paula
Affone
Member
I agree, often it can be a result of inexperienced buyers getting a little carried away with a nice looking horse...
However, in some cases it is not. Four months ago, I purchased a 12 year old Irish SH which I found at a local reputable dealer selling on behalf of a 'heartbroken' owner who could no longer afford to keep him. I have been riding for around 40 years (gawd I feel old!) and spent 6 months with our instructor diligently looking for the right horse for my daughter and I to share after she outgrew her pony; after much ado seeing copious amounts of horses that weren't right we eventually found our boy. Local dealer assessed him for a few days before marketing him. Advertised as confidence-giving perfect first horse etc. (daughter 12 moving to horse from pony so important not to overhorse her), I rode him, put him through all his paces; she rode him and jumped. He was not particularly forward going which was good for her and he loved to jump and importantly had a wonderful calm nature, perfect. Went back the next day and rode again, me, then her. Next day, I took him out on a hack and he behaved impeccably, nicely calm on a busy traffic-abundant lane; following the 30 min hack, I took him into a field at the dealers yard, surrounded by horses in neighbouring fields and put him into canter with horses each side cantering and jumping around in the field - not a murmer... so by then we were in love. Arranged a 5-stage vetting with a local impartial vet - which he passed with flying colours and had bloods taken. Over and above that, I had his medical history for the past 3 years released to me by the previous owner's vet and not a blemish on it. I thought I'd been extremely diligent, sounds perfect eh?...Non!
Sadly, four months on, he has gone very lame (3 weeks ago) on his forelimb; vet called, nerve-blocks, x-rays and one MRI scan later - he has all sorts going on in his left fore (coffin bone fragment, navicular fragment, bursar inflammation, DDFT roughening and inflammation) and will need surgery to correct, and even then not 100% chance of full soundness! It is very upsetting for both me and my daughter as we have really bonded with this lovely chap over the past 4 months; he's still a calm and gorgeous person who loves people and other horses, however, clearly he has orthopaedic problems which weren't detected at the time, even with the 3.5 hours 5 stage vetting and the 3 years past medical history!
What is my comeback? Probably nothing if I'm honest. I was very diligent in the purchase, the vet at the time said I had got myself a fantastic one-in-a-million horse and should be delighted, which was great to hear then but it's all come crashing down. I will have now have his bloods tested as am within the 6-month period but then what? Legal route? Costly and no guarantee I will win so with all the emotion/cost etc., might be best just to continue on with the surgery and hope for the best. I suspect the vet's getout will be 'he was sound when I saw him'.
It's been a miserable few weeks for me, my daughter and my friends and family who have been very supportive. I just wanted to say it's not always 'numpty' purchasers who suffer with post-purchase issues..
Anyone had a similar experience?
However, in some cases it is not. Four months ago, I purchased a 12 year old Irish SH which I found at a local reputable dealer selling on behalf of a 'heartbroken' owner who could no longer afford to keep him. I have been riding for around 40 years (gawd I feel old!) and spent 6 months with our instructor diligently looking for the right horse for my daughter and I to share after she outgrew her pony; after much ado seeing copious amounts of horses that weren't right we eventually found our boy. Local dealer assessed him for a few days before marketing him. Advertised as confidence-giving perfect first horse etc. (daughter 12 moving to horse from pony so important not to overhorse her), I rode him, put him through all his paces; she rode him and jumped. He was not particularly forward going which was good for her and he loved to jump and importantly had a wonderful calm nature, perfect. Went back the next day and rode again, me, then her. Next day, I took him out on a hack and he behaved impeccably, nicely calm on a busy traffic-abundant lane; following the 30 min hack, I took him into a field at the dealers yard, surrounded by horses in neighbouring fields and put him into canter with horses each side cantering and jumping around in the field - not a murmer... so by then we were in love. Arranged a 5-stage vetting with a local impartial vet - which he passed with flying colours and had bloods taken. Over and above that, I had his medical history for the past 3 years released to me by the previous owner's vet and not a blemish on it. I thought I'd been extremely diligent, sounds perfect eh?...Non!
Sadly, four months on, he has gone very lame (3 weeks ago) on his forelimb; vet called, nerve-blocks, x-rays and one MRI scan later - he has all sorts going on in his left fore (coffin bone fragment, navicular fragment, bursar inflammation, DDFT roughening and inflammation) and will need surgery to correct, and even then not 100% chance of full soundness! It is very upsetting for both me and my daughter as we have really bonded with this lovely chap over the past 4 months; he's still a calm and gorgeous person who loves people and other horses, however, clearly he has orthopaedic problems which weren't detected at the time, even with the 3.5 hours 5 stage vetting and the 3 years past medical history!
What is my comeback? Probably nothing if I'm honest. I was very diligent in the purchase, the vet at the time said I had got myself a fantastic one-in-a-million horse and should be delighted, which was great to hear then but it's all come crashing down. I will have now have his bloods tested as am within the 6-month period but then what? Legal route? Costly and no guarantee I will win so with all the emotion/cost etc., might be best just to continue on with the surgery and hope for the best. I suspect the vet's getout will be 'he was sound when I saw him'.
It's been a miserable few weeks for me, my daughter and my friends and family who have been very supportive. I just wanted to say it's not always 'numpty' purchasers who suffer with post-purchase issues.
. Anyone had a similar experience?
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
I dont think its the sellers to blame so much as the buyers. I do think buyers expect the 'perfect' horse yet only want to buy it for pennies. I also think a lot of people are deluded about their ability. Many horses will test a new owner as well, yet so many people seem not able to cope with this and automatically blame the horse when actually its the buyers fault!
WestCoast
Well-Known Member
You know what's really needed - classes in coping with a bucking, shying or napping horse compulsory before you buy.
Kinda like that skid pan training you can get before buyin a rear wheel drive car. Paula
NiceChristmasBaubles
Well-Known Member
I agree, often it can be a result of inexperienced buyers getting a little carried away with a nice looking horse...
However, in some cases it is not. Four months ago, I purchased a 12 year old Irish SH which I found at a local reputable dealer selling on behalf of a 'heartbroken' owner who could no longer afford to keep him. I have been riding for around 40 years (gawd I feel old!) and spent 6 months with our instructor diligently looking for the right horse for my daughter and I to share after she outgrew her pony; after much ado seeing copious amounts of horses that weren't right we eventually found our boy. Local dealer assessed him for a few days before marketing him. Advertised as confidence-giving perfect first horse etc. (daughter 12 moving to horse from pony so important not to overhorse her), I rode him, put him through all his paces; she rode him and jumped. He was not particularly forward going which was good for her and he loved to jump and importantly had a wonderful calm nature, perfect. Went back the next day and rode again, me, then her. Next day, I took him out on a hack and he behaved impeccably, nicely calm on a busy traffic-abundant lane; following the 30 min hack, I took him into a field at the dealers yard, surrounded by horses in neighbouring fields and put him into canter with horses each side cantering and jumping around in the field - not a murmer... so by then we were in love. Arranged a 5-stage vetting with a local impartial vet - which he passed with flying colours and had bloods taken. Over and above that, I had his medical history for the past 3 years released to me by the previous owner's vet and not a blemish on it. I thought I'd been extremely diligent, sounds perfect eh?...Non!
Sadly, four months on, he has gone very lame (3 weeks ago) on his forelimb; vet called, nerve-blocks, x-rays and one MRI scan later - he has all sorts going on in his left fore (coffin bone fragment, navicular fragment, bursar inflammation, DDFT roughening and inflammation) and will need surgery to correct, and even then not 100% chance of full soundness! It is very upsetting for both me and my daughter as we have really bonded with this lovely chap over the past 4 months; he's still a calm and gorgeous person who loves people and other horses, however, clearly he has orthopaedic problems which weren't detected at the time, even with the 3.5 hours 5 stage vetting and the 3 years past medical history!
What is my comeback? Probably nothing if I'm honest. I was very diligent in the purchase, the vet at the time said I had got myself a fantastic one-in-a-million horse and should be delighted, which was great to hear then but it's all come crashing down. I will have now have his bloods tested as am within the 6-month period but then what? Legal route? Costly and no guarantee I will win so with all the emotion/cost etc., might be best just to continue on with the surgery and hope for the best. I suspect the vet's getout will be 'he was sound when I saw him'.
It's been a miserable few weeks for me, my daughter and my friends and family who have been very supportive. I just wanted to say it's not always 'numpty' purchasers who suffer with post-purchase issues.
Anyone had a similar experience?
So sorry to hear about your experience. Sadly though horses do go lame and the vetting is only valid on the day it is done. I'm guessing the only other thing you could have done at the time of purchase was to have x rays done, but that isn't very common for the amateur purchaser like you or me. I know that you think it is the vet's 'getout' to say that, but they can only see what is in front of them. In terms of behaviour though your horse wasn't a problem purchase - as you say yourself, he's perfect otherwise. I hope you can find some treatment to help him. x
NiceChristmasBaubles
Well-Known Member
You know what's really needed - classes in coping with a bucking, shying or napping horse compulsory before you buy.
Paula
But didn't a lot of us get that when we were younger at riding schools? I know I did and it was a great RS. Oh dear, I'm reminiscing now - always a bad sign.
Clippy
Well-Known Member
40 years ago there was less money, less horses, less riding establishments and livery yards. You hung out at horsey yards hoping to get a ride after spending all weekend grafting for free for the priviledge of breathing the same air as horses. By the time you got your own you were pretty competant and if you bought a wrong horse, you made it into a good one.
These days, people buy horses long before they're ready to own one, they give up too easily and are always too happy to resort to court action rather than admit to making a mistake and sorting it out or selling the horse to someone more knowledgable.
These days, people buy horses long before they're ready to own one, they give up too easily and are always too happy to resort to court action rather than admit to making a mistake and sorting it out or selling the horse to someone more knowledgable.
AmyMay
Situation normal
More novice purchasers and riders = more problems.
Affone
Member
Thanks Nikicb, yes, he is definitely not a problem behaviour-wise. I did consider x-rays at the time but he wasn't hugely expensive, ie just for prelim dressage and pony club/riding club/hacking; with the vetting and 3-year medical history, thought it would suffice..lessons learned! Fingers crossed he will recover. Would you have the bloods checked if it were you? £300 cost involved and frankly, if it's Cortesone, it's not illegal, I would have to prove legally that it was done to mis-sell the horse which would incur further costs and who's to say the prev owner would pay up? Certainly not in the dealer's interest to give anything, he was only there a week and owner was paying full livery whilst he was there. I am undecided about the bloods as not sure where it will take me even if something shows up.
Sarah1
Well-Known Member
Not read all of the replies so if anyone has said this I agree with you...
I think 'back in the day' riders were braver, stood for less messing and the horses weren't pumped full of all sorts of feed and supplements.
I also think health & safety has gone mad - I remember my nieces learning to ride 20 years ago and they were nuts and were allowed to be nuts even at pony camp (especially at pony camp), kids these days would probably not be allowed to do half of what my nieces did and that's really sad as my own daughter has just got a pony and will be learning to ride properly as soon as she's a bit bigger (only 21 months so just sitting on for short periods at the mo) and I fear she will be 'wrapped in cotton wool' far more than she needs to be (though probably not at home!). My nieces both had plenty of knocks and falls and it's made them both better, braver riders - they will literally get on anything now & more often than not get a tune out of it...really gets my goat! 
I think 'back in the day' riders were braver, stood for less messing and the horses weren't pumped full of all sorts of feed and supplements.
I also think health & safety has gone mad - I remember my nieces learning to ride 20 years ago and they were nuts and were allowed to be nuts even at pony camp (especially at pony camp
), kids these days would probably not be allowed to do half of what my nieces did and that's really sad as my own daughter has just got a pony and will be learning to ride properly as soon as she's a bit bigger (only 21 months so just sitting on for short periods at the mo) and I fear she will be 'wrapped in cotton wool' far more than she needs to be (though probably not at home!). My nieces both had plenty of knocks and falls and it's made them both better, braver riders - they will literally get on anything now & more often than not get a tune out of it...really gets my goat! 
Flame_
Well-Known Member
There are more "reject" foreign imports these days, and if the ones on my yard are anything to go by, they are just not very sound horses at all.
I suppose more people used to have more hunters and native crosses, which are, generally specking, sounder, more useful, biddable horses.
I suppose more people used to have more hunters and native crosses, which are, generally specking, sounder, more useful, biddable horses.
Crugeran Celt
Well-Known Member
I agree I think people are very quick to give in when things aren't perfect, horses seem to be passed on very easily if they don't fit into the image the owner wants or expected. Bit like marriage these days!
Affone
Member
You are so right...you've reminded me of the hours and hours of toil at the local riding school 35 years ago(!) in the vain hope of getting a free ride! Luckily it mostly paid off but even to get there I had to get 2 buses and a 20 min walk both Saturday and Sundays. Kids have def got it far too easy these days, as I keep reciting to my daughter!
Littlelegs
Well-Known Member
I think martlins point about horses being completely different for experienced vs novices is a good one. My 7yr old has a 5yr old 11.1. Whilst too forward to be mistaken as a ploddy first pony, she appears to be an ideal kids pony, because she is ideal for my daughter. But to handle I have no doubts a less than confident or novice child would soon have major issues. And while I have no worries about her being ridden by my daughter, she's schooled her well & she's a forwards but safe & bombproof hack, she does require a rider not a passenger. She looks easy, but little things like the ability to keep her occupied, half halts etc are what do it. And I dread to think what she'd do with a nervous child, let alone one who sat pulling & kicking. I'm quite sure one pony club kick would see her labelled as a tanking pony. When in reality my daughter regularly gallops her safely in open fields with myself & adult friends all racing along. We find her easy, a novice would find her dangerous.
And kallibear has a point re making a bad horse good. My 23yr old 14.2 is really the ideal perfect schoolmistress. While she is the type who has, & would, go anywhere with anyone of any ability & be good as gold, people often don't realise she was once a nervous, stroppy & difficult youngster. It's years of work & our relationship that has changed her, not a magic wand. I have had plenty of parents want one like her over the years. However many don't understand that a pony like her requires either a very decent budget or lots of work. Spending £1k & a few weeks pottering about isn't going to do it. And of the projects I've had, if I wasn't bothered about the horse or buyer I could have caused plenty of problems myself. Like martlin, I had a couple of teens who had free lessons in exchange for riding projects, so I could judge them with a novice.
And kallibear has a point re making a bad horse good. My 23yr old 14.2 is really the ideal perfect schoolmistress. While she is the type who has, & would, go anywhere with anyone of any ability & be good as gold, people often don't realise she was once a nervous, stroppy & difficult youngster. It's years of work & our relationship that has changed her, not a magic wand. I have had plenty of parents want one like her over the years. However many don't understand that a pony like her requires either a very decent budget or lots of work. Spending £1k & a few weeks pottering about isn't going to do it. And of the projects I've had, if I wasn't bothered about the horse or buyer I could have caused plenty of problems myself. Like martlin, I had a couple of teens who had free lessons in exchange for riding projects, so I could judge them with a novice.
NiceChristmasBaubles
Well-Known Member
It's a hard one. While financially it might not make sense, if it were me I would probably want to know how long the issue had been going on for. There is not much point really having the vet take bloods at the time of vetting if you aren't going to use them when there's a problem. Where the horse has done Riding Club/Pony Club with the previous owner I get references from the DC/another person of standing. Is it worth asking around to see if someone knew of any history of lameness other than a vet? I have also sadly heard of people using 2 vets - one for issues and one for routine stuff. So when the routine vet is asked for medical history they will only have vaccinations etc. on file. Sorry I guess that's not much help really, but hope things look up soon. x
NiceChristmasBaubles
Well-Known Member
Another thing that has come to mind while reading some of these responses is the fashion to move children on to horses at an earlier age, well before they have outgrown the ponies they already have. I know that you can't generalise and a lot of horses can be better behaved than some ponies, but some kids are just not ready to deal with the sensitivities of a more highly strung horse and really would be better waiting another year or two until their feet are nearly touching the ground.
Sarah1
Well-Known Member
Another thing that has come to mind while reading some of these responses is the fashion to move children on to horses at an earlier age, well before they have outgrown the ponies they already have. I know that you can't generalise and a lot of horses can be better behaved than some ponies, but some kids are just not ready to deal with the sensitivities of a more highly strung horse and really would be better waiting another year or two until their feet are nearly touching the ground.
Absolutely! My sister didn't move the girls onto a bigger pony/horse until they were actually too big for the ones they had - the bigger they got for the pony the better they rode it
Affone
Member
Yes, am wrestling with it for that reason, ie no point getting them taken if I'm not using them. Think I'll make some further enquiries and see if I can find out the yard he was kept at (not in this area) if so I can make contact with the YO and see what happens. The previous owner didn't do RC or PC with him, he was used for hacking and light schooling apparently so I can't even get references that way sadly. Thanks again.
Crosshill Pacers
Well-Known Member
My second horse (my trade up for a bigger one once old pony couldn't carry me any further) would have been, in some people's eyes, a horse that should have been sent back. Certainly my dad gave up trying with her because she was a loon and when he lost his temper she lost hers.
All the times things went wrong I never once thought that I didn't want the horse and she should go back to the woman before me (who was too scared to ride her). I just got on with it, because I felt lucky to have a horse in the first place. I saw girls in my riding lessons desperate to have a horse but their parents couldn't afford it/had nowhere to keep it/didn't know anything about horses. I also saw girls in Pony Club rock up with youngsters barely broken that Mummy had fancied and saw the tantrums that followed when said youngsters ran out at fences and threw in cheeky bucks about the place.
My dad bought me an unsuitable horse - I got on with things, she taught me how to really ride and not once would I have complained about it. Life is full of challenges, you either accept that when you buy a horse or you really really take your time to find something 100% that fits your needs.
All the times things went wrong I never once thought that I didn't want the horse and she should go back to the woman before me (who was too scared to ride her). I just got on with it, because I felt lucky to have a horse in the first place. I saw girls in my riding lessons desperate to have a horse but their parents couldn't afford it/had nowhere to keep it/didn't know anything about horses. I also saw girls in Pony Club rock up with youngsters barely broken that Mummy had fancied and saw the tantrums that followed when said youngsters ran out at fences and threw in cheeky bucks about the place.
My dad bought me an unsuitable horse - I got on with things, she taught me how to really ride and not once would I have complained about it. Life is full of challenges, you either accept that when you buy a horse or you really really take your time to find something 100% that fits your needs.