Riding School Horse

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Megang

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I have been riding the same riding school horse for 3 years now in my riding school. I adore him, i have ridden privately owned horses and other riding school horses from different schools but i am yet to find one as responsive as Him. Now im looking to buy him. Compared to the other schoolies he is so responsive and obedient. I usually ALWAYS have to carry a stick when riding the other horses but with him he mainly goes on leg but i carry one anyway incase he is being lazy. He has the manners of a gentleman but he does NOT jump. Hes petrified. He is a piebald cob whose around 15-17 yrs. i wanted peoples opinions and thoughts before i look into the sale. No hate please :-)
 
Think you've posted this already under another heading? If you want to jump this isn't the horse for you. The fear is very longstanding and to get him over it - if you can at all - will take a lot of time and expertise. At this age and with most of his working life behind him - does he really deserve to be "got over" his fear? He might be better going to someone who doesn't want to jump.

This sort of thing happens to most of us over our riding lives in some way or another - the horse we adore is not the right horse for us. For a whole range of reasons. This is a very expensive hobby. You need to focus on what you want to achieve and I'm afraid you have to let the ones which don't suit go to someone else. I'm not sure it ever gets less heart breaking - but it really is part of what horse ownership is about.
 
Shay said:
This sort of thing happens to most of us over our riding lives in some way or another - the horse we adore is not the right horse for us. For a whole range of reasons. This is a very expensive hobby. You need to focus on what you want to achieve and I'm afraid you have to let the ones which don't suit go to someone else. I'm not sure it ever gets less heart breaking - but it really is part of what horse ownership is about.
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What a lovely, lovely post - informative and sensitively written.

P
 
Riding school horses are usually very different when they leave their riding school setting and become privately owned. They are used to the work load at the riding school, the other horses etc, and it can be a massive transition for them to change their lives completely. As Shay said, he is quite old to be 'getting over' his fear of jumping. I'd have a look for a nice cob who is privately owned if I were you.
 
Have you hacked him out on his own? Found out his work load as many get ridden a good few hours a day. Just beware they can become conditioned and may well turn into a different horse with less work and a different environment.

And whatever they say you need to get him vetted. At least eyes and heart checked. Good luck x
 
The pony I had as a teenager was a Riding school pony - bought as I loved him more than life itself (and still do tho he's been dead for over 15 years now). He didn't jump but I took him to the regionals at medium level dressage (the best day of my life barring the birth of my kids) and came 6th. People say it's daft to buy a RS pony but I can't see it like that... I was told that at the time and on a lesson near the time of purchase that I should stop trying to get a direct transition,walk to canter cos 'he'll never be able to do it' **Think red rag bull here**

RS ponies are not necessarily easy - and don't think you will be able to make him jump if he doesn't - you might but if jumping is important to you then don't buy him - but if you are buying him to have fun and do what he is capable of then go for it just get him vetted first...

Blitz

PS sometimes RS hike the price so it may be worth looking at a few for sale at the same price bracket just to be sure.
 
I speak from the opposite situation to yourself (sort of!).

I bought a 'green' horse from a private sale and subsequently he was kept at a riding school and livery yard. Once settled he was allowed to be used in lessons. Given that I was the most experienced person riding him, and he was helping people with less experience or ability, I kept him ticking over at the level of work I wanted and he was kept fit, busy and spoilt by others. However he did NOT jump.

I wanted an all rounder- was told he was green and would come on easily. He came on beautifully and is one of the most genuine and kind horses I have ever had the pleasure of riding. Except with regards to jumping. Polework- pro. Raised poles- pro. But his brain turned to mush at jumping, and I battled on and off for 3 years to turn him into the all rounder I wanted. He was just never going to be, and in the end, after many falls and battles, I hung up my hat and decided to look for another. This was at a point when my nerves were already destroyed and in tatters at a cross pole, after being someone who would tackle and jump anything! This was 3 years ago, and I still will avoid jumping, even though I now have the all rounder that I wanted!

After all the checks to rule out issues, we could only conclude that someone had done a right royal job of ballsings him up before I had him (for other reasons than just the jumping). He simply couldn't cope, didn't enjoy it and there was no point in forcing it. He now is happy on the riding school- continuing to teach beginners and novices and is adored by everyone for what a beauty he is.

My point is- What do you want to do? If you want to do a bit of everything, this is NOT the horse for you (I speak with the heartbreak of parting with a horse I loved to prove it). What are your aspirations for the horse you may eventually own? If you pick this horse, you can rule out jumping and cross country- which is fine for some owners, but for others it is their passion.

If you just want to school, hack, do dressage, then perhaps he would be your ideal first horse. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying a RS horse, some are very well trained if you find the right ones (some are terrors with awful habits!). But do consider that horses can be very different away from the environment you have known them in, whether it is for better or worse. If he is ridden by others too, particularly if they have more experience that is a consideration to make, for example.

Owning a horse is an expensive and time consuming hobby. You are far better to take your time and to find one that fits the bill 100%.

It sounds like you love this horse for what it has taught you, but that possibly you want to jump? If so- look elsewhere. Others will come along, you just don't know it until you have had the chance to find them, especially if he is your first horsey love!

Good luck with horse hunting whatever you choose to do :)
 
Thankyou all for your replies. I am not too bothered about jumping as i could always jump other ponies. I know a few girls who have bought riding school horses from the same yard and are doing okay but finding them a bit strong. I haven't hacked him out alone before as they riding school wont let me but i would make sure to hack him, have him vetted etc as i would with any other horse. At the minute i am just looking for something that i can do a couple of local shows on and something to bring on my technique a bit more. I think i find it that i have grown to trust him and love him but i am still not sure about taking him out of the school, although he does prefer to be on his own (i know from bringing him down from the field with another horse). :-)
 
My point is- What do you want to do? If you want to do a bit of everything, this is NOT the horse for you (I speak with the heartbreak of parting with a horse I loved to prove it). What are your aspirations for the horse you may eventually own? If you pick this horse, you can rule out jumping and cross country- which is fine for some owners, but for others it is their passion.

If you just want to school, hack, do dressage, then perhaps he would be your ideal first horse. There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying a RS horse, some are very well trained if you find the right ones (some are terrors with awful habits!). But do consider that horses can be very different away from the environment you have known them in, whether it is for better or worse. If he is ridden by others too, particularly if they have more experience that is a consideration to make, for example.

Owning a horse is an expensive and time consuming hobby. You are far better to take your time and to find one that fits the bill 100%.

It sounds like you love this horse for what it has taught you, but that possibly you want to jump? If so- look elsewhere. Others will come along, you just don't know it until you have had the chance to find them, especially if he is your first horsey love!

Good luck with horse hunting whatever you choose to do :)

This really helped thankyou!
 
Megang said:
Thankyou all for your replies. I am not too bothered about jumping as i could always jump other ponies. I know a few girls who have bought riding school horses from the same yard and are doing okay but finding them a bit strong. I haven't hacked him out alone before as they riding school wont let me but i would make sure to hack him, have him vetted etc as i would with any other horse. At the minute i am just looking for something that i can do a couple of local shows on and something to bring on my technique a bit more. I think i find it that i have grown to trust him and love him but i am still not sure about taking him out of the school, although he does prefer to be on his own (i know from bringing him down from the field with another horse). :-)
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You say you could jump others, but believe me, when others are riding their horses and you are left standing on the sidelines it can get a bit frustrating! It just isn't the same as the pride you feel when achieving something on your own horse. Just remember while you love this horse dearly, there are some cons to owning him, and these could be potential reasons for regretting purchasing him in the future.

If you don't mind all of that, then you probably know in your heart what you want to do, but please, please remember there are some bargain finds out there, that can be your dressage and jumping buddy! :)
 
You are going to haver to be very careful as many riding school ponies get used to their environment which they are settled and happy in. When put in to a private ownership and a different environment they just can not cope and can become unsettled and difficult to to ride. So make quite sure to get him out of his environment to see how he behaves.
 
Have you asked the school if they can do a part loan/share arrangement for you so you can do a few low level shows but you don't have to move him or have full responsibility? You get the best of both worlds then as it won't cost you a lot and you could always book lessons on him or on a jumping one. I agree with others that buying riding school ponies may not always work out. Most get 3 hours a day, herd turnout and don't do well on less exercise/ different turnout.
Saying that my first ever pony was from a riding school, but that was because he was a bronco and no-one else would ride him, so it was better for the riding school to let me have him cheap than keep him as a school pony! He was always a bronco (less so with a fitted saddle) and he started behaving much better with an individual rider, but he was a difficult pony from the start (I know who bought him as a 3/4 year old from Ireland - they swapped him for a riding school pony as he was too much for their son) he chucked a lot of people off, gained a people kicking habit at the school, then found me.
However, I also had an advanced showjumping pony who now lives at a "riding school" as a semi-loan pony (one kid for a few months at a time) and on speaking to his new owners recently he is now also being used to teach small children to ride and jump - something I would never ever have allowed him to do with me as he is strong, scatty, spooky, and not an easy ride. But apparently a different pony with a small child on than with a larger one! He loves being loved, so it has worked out well for him.

Also, buying a horse because you love them is not a good idea - I have almost bought insane monsters so many times because they were lovable, if I bought everything I fell in love with I would be skint and I would have fields of crazy ponies and horses. As he is a riding school pony you can ask to always ride him (much cheaper than owning!) and if you want a jumping lesson, jump a different horse. Also you can probably go up and see him and groom him without much fuss from the riding school (ask first obviously!). Just think what you want out of a horse and what he can offer you :)
 
misskk88 said:
You say you could jump others, but believe me, when others are riding their horses and you are left standing on the sidelines it can get a bit frustrating! It just isn't the same as the pride you feel when achieving something on your own horse. Just remember while you love this horse dearly, there are some cons to owning him, and these could be potential reasons for regretting purchasing him in the future.

If you don't mind all of that, then you probably know in your heart what you want to do, but please, please remember there are some bargain finds out there, that can be your dressage and jumping buddy! :)
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Thankyou for your help. Youve bee. Fab and answered all my doubts. I have decided to have ask about a trial period to decide whether he is for me or not cx
 
Shay said:
This sort of thing happens to most of us over our riding lives in some way or another - the horse we adore is not the right horse for us. For a whole range of reasons. This is a very expensive hobby. You need to focus on what you want to achieve and I'm afraid you have to let the ones which don't suit go to someone else. I'm not sure it ever gets less heart breaking - but it really is part of what horse ownership is about.
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I agree with this post in some aspects, however, not entirely. One of my boy's was diagnosed with COPD, just after I bought him, I was told that he would never really be able to do any physical work, I wanted him for jumping, xc and just general competitions as well as fun rides etc. so he would need to be fit and capable.

I was told this wouldn't be able to happen, I bought him when he was rising 4, I still have him now (10 years on) and he has never really done anything because of this, he has been a happy hack, popped a few small jumps and above all been a lawnmower.

This wasn't what we were looking for, but we fell in love with him.

I think in this case the person needs to ask herself if the fact she won't be able to jump him would stop her enjoying him and regret buying him ?

If he is right in other ways, then I think it's ok to adapt to him (in this case, not jump).
 
Megang said:
Thankyou for your help. Youve bee. Fab and answered all my doubts. I have decided to have ask about a trial period to decide whether he is for me or not cx
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That is a good idea. If not you could always ask for a short/long term loan for him? That way you can treat him as your own, but won't have the responsibility of selling him on if/when you want something different.

Let us know how you get on!
 
If you have a trial period make sure you hack him out alone. Sometime riding school horses can get very awkward when away from their usual environment.
 
Part loaning at first could be a good idea, or if you bought him, would they keep him on as a working livery? Just thinking this could leave you access to have jumping sessions on other horses and he doesn't get left out on his own, plus he'll be in his own environment, but you'll have more control over what he does and you can hack out whenever you want.
 
As far as loaning goes it's not feasible. I ride him whenever I am at my dads which is 40 minutes away. Although he is my boy it is going to be a big ask of him. I am going to continue looking for another horse as I think with his age it will be very different x
 
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