Should you feel a 'spark' when you find the right horse?

[Winters100]

It's my horse so I can say what I want. Shuffle along on snowflake

Your horse clearly does not care what names you call her, or what words you use to describe her behavior, however people do, and the language that you use is not acceptable to most people. It is nothing to do with her being your horse, and I am certainly not a "snowflake", but you are showing yourself to be very ignorant in using this very offensive term.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

I have 2 horses plus half own mini Shitland that I chose...

Rocket- cob..came to me on loan. I've always felt it was fate as I had enquired about him and he'd already gone out on loan so I went to view Rex. Rex was lovely but I didn't fall in love...I actually bought him because I was fascinated with his Amber eyes lol. The day after I put my deposit on him Rockets owner came back to me and said his loan home couldn't cope with him and was I still interested. I went to see him the same day with the view that he'd tide me over til Rex was under saddle and then my friend would take over on Rocket. I fell in love with Rocket the second I saw him and I now own him. He's too much horse for my friend, though she adores him. And I now love Rex too...he just took longer.
ShitPig the Shitland was one on 15 on a yard we went to look at as I wanted a friend for Rocket while Rex was away at school. They were all adorable but they warned me that ShitPig was a biter. I had to have him and my friend just shook her head lol. He's an absolute demon but we wouldn't be without him ???

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I didn't feel a spark as such, I felt safe and didn't want to get off!!

 

[SEL]

The Appy was odd. She'd been gifted to the guy who owned the yard I was doing a bit of work at to sort out or PTS. I saw her and knew she was going to be mine. It was a really, really odd feeling because I wasn't looking, wouldn't have wanted her type if I was and it was an absolute definite in my head. She obviously decided I was going to be her human because she savaged everyone else!!

The other two were sympathy acquisitions but I adore them.

 

[Peglo]

When I went to view my TB she was either drugged or depressed. There was nothing about her (other than I thought she was beautiful) but I bought her anyway being 16 ? and although she could be opinionated she has taught me so much and I adore her.
when I saw a picture of T I couldn’t get her out of my head. It was utter madness to consider a horse from Italy but I just couldn’t get over her. I bought her, shipped her over and she has been better than I could’ve ever hoped for. I wouldn’t believe in falling for a horse from a picture until it happened to me. I’m not convinced it will happen to me again though ?

So no, I think some horses you grow to love, some it’s love at first sight. But you must find the horse comfortable, safe and a nice personality. I do think some horses will never click with your personality (or mine anyway) but don’t think there’s that many and I think when they are yours you forgive any flaws ?

hope your enjoying your search and I’m really hoping you find your new horse soon and you’ll keep us updated

 

[meleeka]

I have to like the way they look but I’m not sure it’s a spark. It takes me ages to feel a connection. I bonded with my cob after about 2 years when he had surgery at Liphook, but before that I didn’t think he had much character. I did find him quite stunning to look at though which is why I got him. (In hindsight I probably should have gone more on ability than looks, but never mind ?). I don’t sell either and I’ve always had a huge bond with them all eventually.

 

[Flicker]

Not so much a spark, as a sense that the horse will be confident, competent and comfortable to join me in the activities I choose to undertake. However, with my last mare there was a voice in my head going ‘walk away, walk away’ which I ignored. She ticked all the boxes on paper, passed a vetting (heavens knows how) and was seemingly ‘perfect’. Fast forward a year and I had her PTS with chronic SI dysfunction. I will never ignore that little voice again.

 

[Goldenstar]

No you don’t get that spark all the time .
You ought to feel comfortable on it that important.
You need to be clear about your criteria and buy one that ticks enough of the boxes .
I got no spark with most of my horses a horse is a horse .

 

[Miss_Millie]

It's my horse so I can say what I want. Shuffle along on snowflake

I guess I was tired when I read your post because I didn't see the word that you wrote, but knowing what it is I am equally appalled. Your response to Winters is trollish, please get off of this thread if you don't have anything nice to say.

 

[Miss_Millie]

There are some really good points being made here! Thank you everyone

I was thinking about the comparison with human relationships/friendships. Sometimes you meet someone and you click with them instantly, other times it might be more of a slow burner and you'll become close to them after say a year or two of knowing them. There can also be people who you hit it off with on a first impression, but when you get to know them better there are some red flags and they weren't who you thought they were upon that initial 'spark'.

This doesn't necessarily give me a clearer answer to my question but, maybe the best we can do is make an informed, objective decision, and hope for the best!!

 

[J&S]

My two "owned for a life time" ponies have been bought unbroken and so unknown to a certain extent but I liked enough about them both to buy and keep for their life times. The one already broken in horse was truly "broken", she carried some awful bagage, but I tried my best to do her justice. I recently had the ride on a much bigger and very experienced horse, rode him for 5 years till we retired him recently. It was a full year before I was confident enough to give him a good gallop in an open field but we ended up with a great relationship. Some times we click immediately, some times it takes a little longer.

 

[Floofball]

Having had horses all my grown up life I have learned to be very wary of ‘sparks’. I don’t regret having any of my horses, loved and done my best for all of them, but I do feel I missed out on many years of riding enjoyment. I convinced myself that just having a horse was a blessing (which it is) but I never got to achieve my riding goals. Having nearly bought another horse that I felt a spark with last year (thankfully I listened to my vet this time!!) I now have a lovely young horse that so far hasn’t put a foot wrong.
Totally not my type but I am starting to think he may just be the one to do that job for me ?? saying that, when I spotted him in the yard at the viewing I said ‘ooh there he is’ in a very gushy way ? but my very practical trainer told me to chill my boots and I was grateful I had someone there with a sensible head on!
Take people who’s opinion you respect and trust with you on your search and then listen to them. Good luck, it’s a very exciting time but you can easily get carried away with those sparks!

 

[Red-1]

I have to not want to get off.

Two I loved from photos or video, they were fab in real life too.

One, I felt like I 'knew' him before I even knew where he was, it was like I was searching for one particular soul. I know it sounds silly, but it was instant recognition when I met him, that was Jay Man. He was with one of England's top riders, and he was a known rearer, daily... And I simply fell in love.

Huge success!

It was because of the feeling of 'knowing' that I dared buy my new one off video. He simply made me smile whenever I looked at him. Younger than I 'wanted' the wrong colour, heavier... but I have truly lucked out!

The viewings I hate is where the horse is as described, the horse goes well, the owners are lovely, but... I can't wait to get off! They always want to know why I'm not buying, and I can't tell them as I don't know myself.

A wise friend once said, you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince. Or not. With one of mine he was the first one I viewed.

 

[southerncomfort]

I think it depends on your personality type.

I don't form instant connections with either animals or humans. I need to get to know them well first.

However, I tend to know straight away if I'm unlikely to ever get on with a horse/human. Just a gut feeling, but it's almost always right.

So I guess it's more important for me that I don't feel any kind of wariness/unease rather than feeling instantly besotted.

 

[Hamlet]

I’m currently horse-shopping too and have just walked away from a horse I instantly really liked but failed the vetting. Since then my friends have sent me plenty of horses that have ticked all the boxes but when I’ve seen the videos/pictures read the ad I’ve not been interested for one reason or another. They’ve all been perfectly nice horses but nothing that excited me.

So I do need to feel interested to go and see the horse and from there it’s whether I feel safe and confident on board. I think as long as that’s there then the connection will develop at its own pace.

I’m off to see a horse tomorrow that really piqued my interest and it’s almost been a month since I had the last one vetted so fingers crossed my patience has payed off ??

 

[Bernster]

I’m with those who don’t feel a ‘spark’ as such but do need to feel confident, excited and not want to get off the horse and def not want anyone else to buy it. They still take time to bond and get the hang of but it does have to start there for me to put down a deposit and get a vetting. It’s worked out more than it hasn’t for me. I do try to do lots of homework beforehand to check they tick the boxes before I view (including lookswise, although I’m not overly fussy - it’s more about conformation and type but if they have a pretty face it helps!). That does sound a bit like dating actually haha.

 

[Xmas lucky]

To be honest did buy my first horse from a spark but we weren’t the best match for each other but I had amazing bond .

 

[littleshetland]

I inherited my daughters cob when she lost interest in horses having discovered boys (teenagers eh?). I'd always liked her because she was safe and kind and had always looked after my little one, but I did look down my nose at her a bit as I was really into big moving WBs at the time, but decided to keep her and took on the ride.....she turned into one of my favourite horses ever. I absolutely loved the bones of her and kept her until the end, and I felt she loved me too.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I remember catching in my new one-he was tricky at the start, the dealer told me he couldn't catch him-and wondering what the hell I'd done. There was no spark. My yo sourced him and tried him out then I had a week's trial. He was 'the right stamp' of horse for me, speedy, willing, but only 5. What was I thinking?! He is my only, my baby but it took a while.

 

[Expo]

I'm horse hunting too and definitely feel that you do need to feel a spark of some sort. I viewed one last week which ticked every single box, but just wasn't "the one" and walked away with no regrets. I'm viewing another next week and love it already from the photos, although it's not exactly what I'm looking for: there has to be some chemistry I think.

I think there's definitely more to buying a horse than it just fitting the bill for you in regards to height, age, breeding, abilities etc. We spend so much time and money and effort on our horses, if we're not just ever so slightly in love with them, then we might as well not bother.

 

[BronsonNutter]

I've never felt 'the spark' when buying my own. I've had it a few times on other people's horses but generally they have been the kind of things I would never be able to afford (4* eventers and the likes).

Both the TBs I got off thinking 'well, there's nothing I don't like about this one' even though neither made my heart leap about - so bought them and made them into 'my' kind of horses. I know very quickly if I don't like a horse though!

 

[Goldenstar]

One of the things I ask myself is would I want to ask myself is would I want to hack this horse in the rain .

 

[Flicker]

One of the things I ask myself is would I want to ask myself is would I want to hack this horse in the rain .

For me, it is the wind. And, on the ground, could I leave this horse and my elderly mother together in a stable.

 

[Widgeon]

It's definitely not essential IME. With my gelding I didn't have that 'spark' but he needed a home and there was space for him here. I did always like him though...

Yes agreed, when I viewed my horse he was rather stand-offish due to not having had much attention from his owner for a while (teenager very busy with all the other things that come with being a teenager - not really her fault!). I didn't click with him but he was foot perfect when I rode him, he was a sensible price and the sellers were very genuine. My instructor, who'd come with me, talked me into buying him and I'm so glad I did - he's a saint.

 

[Hopelessly horsey]

I think there needs to be "something" there. I had seen a few horses that, on paper, fit what I was looking for however didn't excite me.
With the mare I have just bought, she was younger, smaller, greener and the wrong breed to what my ideal was.....however I just kept looking back at her photos and smiling! There was something about her, and that feeling was there when I went to view....her attitude and manners for a youngster were impeccable and she seems so kind.
She may not ever be the 1.10 horse I was looking for however I feel she's going to be a real sweetheart and I'm looking forward to our journey together!

 

[spotty_pony]

Depends what I am buying the horse for. If horse is for me then yes, that spark must be there as I will be keeping the horse forever. If it is a project to bring on and sell, it’s preferable that the spark ISN’T there else it makes the selling part even more difficult!