Purchasing myself a new horse adivice please!!

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Melanie Kate

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This is my first ever post on this forum so bare with me.
I have been out of the saddle for a couple of years and have decided to buy myself a new horse. I had a good idea of what I wanted however my other half has got the horse bug at the age of 42. He has never handled a horse before so I intend on buying us something that is good to handle on the ground. The thing is he intends to learn to ride so I need to buy something to suit us both. I want something fairly uncomplicated anyway but my issue / concern is finding the right breed / weight carrier. He is 6ft and a stocky chap (in a nce way) and weighs about 16.5 stone. Can anyone recommend a breed I need to be looking out for?? Or any advice on confirmation? Thanks. Melanie
 
Hey , welcome to the forum. Im no expert but wouldve thought a big Irish draught appropriate... my friend has one and hes an angel. Re: weight carriers it i believe it depends on the size of the cannon bone... sorry im sure someone will have a more comprehensive answer but good luck in your search...
 
Welcome to the forum!
I agree with Karabee - ID's are lovely and can carry lots. Large Welsh Sec D's are also weight-carriers, but it is quite rare to find one above 16hh. (I have one but you're not having him :p ) Might be an idea to get your OH some lessons first so he can tell if it's something he really wants to pursue? Sorry if he already has. Good luck with your search and remember to take lots of piccies when you find one so you can show us :D
 
i have an ID they have lovely natures and are well known for weight carrying, as are used in alot of riding schools where i am. Not sure how to tell what the maximum weight for one is though
 
I would get a nice cob, my OH became interested in horses when we first got together, I had had a couple of years off - just riding friends horses etc- previously had horses all my life except for when I was at uni. OH started having lessons and really got the bug, we bought a horse to share but that soon wasn't enough and now we have one each!
Here he is on his lovely horse:
pictures004.jpg
 
Hiya,
I agree with apercrumble, has your OH had riding lessons? Does he really know that he will be interested enough to ride regularly? I only say this because it would be awful if you got a big old ploddy shire cross to share just for him to have a dwindling interest...
My OH is probably a similar size to yours, and me being a lot smaller have a tb 16hh that he is far to big to sit on! This is Ok though because while he said he wanted a horse in reality he would never get up in the rain or ride regularly! He is happier just going to a riding school for a hack with me every now and again. We will get him a horse eventually (an ageing, heavy saint who is happy to b hacked once a week!) but not yet, I have to accept first that it will be me looking after it lol!
 
how big are you? I guess what I am saying is if you buy one suitable for OH will you be over horsed?

Also agree with the others to at least get him to have some lessons first to see if he likes it enough

Oh and tell him he will fall off, and it hurts LOL that way you will see if he is serious too.

Echo others if he is still interested as far as drafts go. As a rule Sec D's are NOT suitable for either of you. So many of them are wonderful with an experienced person but within weeks of going to someone without experience they will become a nightmare. I know I've had them and know so many that have. So no matter how nice said horse sounds don't have anything with Welsh in it.
 
IMO you can't go far wrong if you go for a traddie cob. They've got plenty of bone so OH can ride it easily, plus they generally are good honest types that are fairly forgiving, although often not the plods they look! But having said that usually better with novices than experienced riders!!!

These horses are easy to do and can live out 24/7 if needs be. For your situation you'd need to be thinking of something say 15hh/15.2hh plus, but bear in mind traddie's tend to be quite wide so their sheer bulk takes you up a bit higher! They're good weight carriers and will go all day if needs be, but are really easy to do.

Also Irish Draft a good choice. Personally I'd avoid a Section D like the plague for a novice!!
 
Go for an Irish Draught any day of the week and twice on Sundays!! We are in the exact same situation as you and your other half, although I have about a years riding experience and am slightly smaller (no offense! ;))

We decided to buy a horse and ended up with a 17hh Irish Draught X TB - slightly less weight carrying but he is great! Amazing to handle on the ground and so responsive under saddle.
Think an ID would be a great confidence giver for your OH and definately worth taking a look at.

If you have some cash to splash then check out www.rideirish.com as they have some gorgeous horses.

Keep us posted on how you get on.
 
I bought a 16hh IDx (looks more like a Suffolk Punch than anything else) for my OH who was 6ft and about 16 stone at the time. He had had lessons before, started off very enthusiastic and within two years could not be bothered at all. I've kept the horse (it's been 8 years now) because he is a sweetheart, but I wish he was A LOT smaller as I am only 5ft and 7 stone so no need for such a big beastie! It was also very difficult to find a serious weight carrier with a sensible temperament, we saw a lot of lovely horses but at the 14.2-15.3 mark and a lot of larger nutters that were not suitable for a beginner.

As for the suggestion above re-arrange the words "touch, do, bargepole, not"...
 
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