Suitable for a novice?

[Suec04]

In my opinion, most horses can manage at least until their late teens without anything in the way of special management. If they develop specific health conditions, obviously they need to be managed for their condition, but if/when you reach that stage, you can get specialist advice from a vet. Many, many horses and ponies are perfectly capable of working into their twenties, without much in the way of specialist management.

I think you will get a bit more for your money if you look at slightly older horses. I do agree with looking carefully at how the horse is managed. If it is currently in a lot of work, but at your home would be only in light work, then issues may start to develop.

I think it is also important that you look for a horse that is well mannered on the ground if your daughter is not experienced with horses. Something that is difficult to lead, or is difficult in the stable may worry her just as much as something that has problems ridden. This is an area where people do get issues with youngsters, even if they are perfectly save to ride.

Thank you Penumbra. I agree totally about the ground manners, especially due to the size of horse (16hh plus) we will be buying. My daughter is actually more confident on the ground albeit inexperienced, but good manners are still essential in my book.

 

[Suec04]

Hi,
Just wanted to point out a few things about older horses.
Firstly, not all older horses are sane, quiet or suitable for novices!
Insurance can be a problem for older horses and it's worth checking out a few companies to see if they have an upper age limit and/ or restrictions on the type of cover offered to oldies.

When I started out in horses a horse of 7 years was considered 'aged' and should have been fully educated, 15 was old and 20 was ancient! These days 7 is young, 15 is 'aged' and 20 is mature!

Older horses have a lot to give, and with your budget I'd think that you would get the best value from one.

thank you moosea. I must admit, I hadn't thought about whether the age would affect insurance, so thank you for pointing that out. I will have a look round to see which companies offer 'veteran' insurance. If you know of any yourself, please point me in the right direction

thank you all for your help and advice. I feel more confident now about looking for an older horse for us

 

[Caol Ila]

My 20-year old horse is insured with NFU and apparently their veteran's insurance is good 'till they're 26. I know PetPlan will insure them until they're 25. With all of these, it is "injury only" insurance. If they cut their leg open in a field, you're good. If they colic, you're SOL.

I think you always have to look at the individual horse. I know 20-something horses who are sound and healthy, in full work, and 8-year olds who are walking vet bills. A friend of mine, who is a vet, has told me that, as a gross generalisation, if they get to age 12 or 13 with no issues, there is a good chance that they will have happy working lives (barring injuries obviously) until very late teens or 20s.

 

[Suec04]

My 20-year old horse is insured with NFU and apparently their veteran's insurance is good 'till they're 26. I know PetPlan will insure them until they're 25. With all of these, it is "injury only" insurance. If they cut their leg open in a field, you're good. If they colic, you're SOL.

I think you always have to look at the individual horse. I know 20-something horses who are sound and healthy, in full work, and 8-year olds who are walking vet bills. A friend of mine, who is a vet, has told me that, as a gross generalisation, if they get to age 12 or 13 with no issues, there is a good chance that they will have happy working lives (barring injuries obviously) until very late teens or 20s.

thank you for the insurance companies and for the tip from your Vet friend. its all reassuring

 

[soulfull]

Your getting great advice here. I too would recommend an older horse OR if you do end up getting a younger one please make sure it's seen something of the world ie been to at least a good few shows of different sorts

As you say your daughter lacks confidence and you want to get out there and have some fun not be worried about how the horse will behave in different situations

Been there done that and I was a fairly confident rider. Last horse took that from me That is also the problem with bigger horses, in that if it does go wrong it is more of an issue

Do avoid anything like big moving horses for the same reason, what would be a little spook on an average mover turns into a huge leap

Shame you can't look now this time of year people are more likely to move on price, or even advertise cheaper

 

[Farcical1]

My 20-year old horse is insured with NFU and apparently their veteran's insurance is good 'till they're 26. I know PetPlan will insure them until they're 25. With all of these, it is "injury only" insurance. If they cut their leg open in a field, you're good. If they colic, you're SOL.

I think you always have to look at the individual horse. I know 20-something horses who are sound and healthy, in full work, and 8-year olds who are walking vet bills. A friend of mine, who is a vet, has told me that, as a gross generalisation, if they get to age 12 or 13 with no issues, there is a good chance that they will have happy working lives (barring injuries obviously) until very late teens or 20s.

Pet plan cover for vets fees for illness up to 25 provided you insure with them before the horse is 19. (May be 18 but quite late on!) I changed to them for this reason. My 20, nearly 21, year old is still fully covered.

 

[Suec04]

Your getting great advice here. I too would recommend an older horse OR if you do end up getting a younger one please make sure it's seen something of the world ie been to at least a good few shows of different sorts

As you say your daughter lacks confidence and you want to get out there and have some fun not be worried about how the horse will behave in different situations

Been there done that and I was a fairly confident rider. Last horse took that from me That is also the problem with bigger horses, in that if it does go wrong it is more of an issue

Do avoid anything like big moving horses for the same reason, what would be a little spook on an average mover turns into a huge leap

Shame you can't look now this time of year people are more likely to move on price, or even advertise cheaper

Thank you . yes i have been given some great advice and i will be following up on it too! .

I must admit to having a peak at some websites at horses for sale but realistically, this time of year (particularly this year!) is not a good time for me. I would like to get christmas out of the way and then i can concentrate on finding the right one in the new year.

Height -wise, i was worried about over-horsing my daughter but due to my height and size, something smaller would not be an option, unfortunately :-(. i will just have to insist on good ground manners as well as one that is more chilled out when ridden.

 

[Suec04]

Pet plan cover for vets fees for illness up to 25 provided you insure with them before the horse is 19. (May be 18 but quite late on!) I changed to them for this reason. My 20, nearly 21, year old is still fully covered.

Thats great! thank you for sharing. I shall definately consider them when the time comes!

 

[henmother]

I've been keeping an eye out for what's on offer, a lot of horses seem to be perfect, well schooled, good to hack alone or in company.Good for farrier,vet, to box, good in traffic, everything you'd want then they say the horse is "green." Honestly, what is your interpretation of "green?"

 

[henmother]

Thank you . yes i have been given some great advice and i will be following up on it too! .

I must admit to having a peak at some websites at horses for sale but realistically, this time of year (particularly this year!) is not a good time for me. I would like to get christmas out of the way and then i can concentrate on finding the right one in the new year.

Height -wise, i was worried about over-horsing my daughter but due to my height and size, something smaller would not be an option, unfortunately :-(. i will just have to insist on good ground manners as well as one that is more chilled out when ridden.

You can get some great , smaller weight carriers, natives seem to be good and strong, well built cob types too. You could be a member of the pony squashing club. Having been squished by a big solid ID I will be steering well clear of any big horses, would be nice to almost step off a naughty horse rather than think yikes, I need a ladder !! Looking forward to pony squashing!

 

[Suec04]

I've been keeping an eye out for what's on offer, a lot of horses seem to be perfect, well schooled, good to hack alone or in company.Good for farrier,vet, to box, good in traffic, everything you'd want then they say the horse is "green." Honestly, what is your interpretation of "green?"

Yes! i know exactly what you mean! and thanks to a great thread about interpreting horsey speak (hilarious at times!) on here, i now read between the lines too and talk myself out of it! lol

 

[Suec04]

You can get some great , smaller weight carriers, natives seem to be good and strong, well built cob types too. You could be a member of the pony squashing club. Having been squished by a big solid ID I will be steering well clear of any big horses, would be nice to almost step off a naughty horse rather than think yikes, I need a ladder !! Looking forward to pony squashing!

Its funny you should say that....i went to see what turned out to be a totally unsuitable horse back in the summer, she was 16.3hh, cobby type but was bucking and half rearing cos she hadn't been ridden for 8 weeks!, so i refused to get on and my daughter looked positively petrified! anyway, the lovely couple who were selling her, i think felt a bit guilty cos we had come so far, insisted that me and my daughter had a ride on their safe as houses stallion, only 14.2hh!! he was absoultely gorgeous and a perfect gent, but to say i was underhorsed, was an understatement! lol. however, being that close to the ground was very comforting, i will admit, and my daughter had a grin as big as a cheshire cat!!! I have been told that as long as the horse has 'plenty of bone' i could go a bit smaller to 15.2hh but i am still a little unsure..... :/

 

[Lucyad]

Hmm.. I bought a big 5 year old in a similar position to you - but a 5 year old with a lovely nature (advertised as a confidence giver and he is just that). I was a rider returning after a near 20 year break, but then had a share of a nice older cob for 3 years to get me back into the swing of things (well worth while before buying IMO), and though not an educated rider, was confident hunting and jumping 90cm tracks. it worked well for me, the fact that my horse was very green and unschooled meant that I had the motivation to take weekly lessons on him so we learned together and built a good relationship.

With the right horse and the right backup it doesn't need to be a disaster!

ETA - in his case the 'green' was that he hadn't jumped, was unbalanced in a school, struggled to canter in a circle, had no competition experience etc. he had hacked, and did so in company and alone no problem from the day I bought him, though can be rather spooky to this day.

 

[Suec04]

Hmm.. I bought a big 5 year old in a similar position to you - but a 5 year old with a lovely nature (advertised as a confidence giver and he is just that). I was a rider returning after a near 20 year break, but then had a share of a nice older cob for 3 years to get me back into the swing of things (well worth while before buying IMO), and though not an educated rider, was confident hunting and jumping 90cm tracks. it worked well for me, the fact that my horse was very green and unschooled meant that I had the motivation to take weekly lessons on him so we learned together and built a good relationship.

With the right horse and the right backup it doesn't need to be a disaster!

ETA - in his case the 'green' was that he hadn't jumped, was unbalanced in a school, struggled to canter in a circle, had no competition experience etc. he had hacked, and did so in company and alone no problem from the day I bought him, though can be rather spooky to this day.

Thanks Lucyad. I'm glad your experience is working out well for you but as my daughter is a nervous novice, and my confidence isn't great either tbh, a horse like yours would be too much for us. We do however, intend to have regular lessons

 

[henmother]

Its funny you should say that....i went to see what turned out to be a totally unsuitable horse back in the summer, she was 16.3hh, cobby type but was bucking and half rearing cos she hadn't been ridden for 8 weeks!, so i refused to get on and my daughter looked positively petrified! anyway, the lovely couple who were selling her, i think felt a bit guilty cos we had come so far, insisted that me and my daughter had a ride on their safe as houses stallion, only 14.2hh!! he was absoultely gorgeous and a perfect gent, but to say i was underhorsed, was an understatement! lol. however, being that close to the ground was very comforting, i will admit, and my daughter had a grin as big as a cheshire cat!!! I have been told that as long as the horse has 'plenty of bone' i could go a bit smaller to 15.2hh but i am still a little unsure..... :/

Have you looked at the pony squashing photos on the pictures thread, might give you some ideas about size of horse v size of rider? I'm pretty tall so will need something to take my leg. There are some fab photos of adults on their ponies.
You may have to compromise with size if daughter finds something she loves loves loves

 

[Suec04]

Have you looked at the pony squashing photos on the pictures thread, might give you some ideas about size of horse v size of rider? I'm pretty tall so will need something to take my leg. There are some fab photos of adults on their ponies.
You may have to compromise with size if daughter finds something she loves loves loves

No, I've not seen that thread...I would be really grateful if you could post me the link to it - I'm not having much luck with the search button! thank you

 

[henmother]

Oo I'm not the best at linkys but let me see what I can find........

 

[henmother]

Ok, I found it by putting pony squashing into the search box and it was the eighth post down, some fab photos in there.

 

[Suec04]

Ok, I found it by putting pony squashing into the search box and it was the eighth post down, some fab photos in there.

ahhhh found it! thank you

 

[Deleted member 104317]

Maybe try Riding Club websites? Usually a bit cheaper and tend to me the more been-there, done-that types that are a bit older but still capable of what you want them for Good luck and I hope you find a nice one!

 

[Suec04]

Maybe try Riding Club websites? Usually a bit cheaper and tend to me the more been-there, done-that types that are a bit older but still capable of what you want them for Good luck and I hope you find a nice one!

Thanks Megan97. Any ideas which ones...?

 

[Deleted member 104317]

Not sure where you are, but someone on here might be able to tell you what area (Like area 7, 11, etc) you're in and you can go from there Sorry I can't be more help!

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Thank you PolarSkye. that is my gut reaction too - a been there, done it type and also a cobby/ID type is definately more approriate i would have thought.. I was worried that something in its mid-late teens would be too old though but i guess if, as you say, he has good limbs and sound feet then he would last us a good length of time. We are planning to keep it until the end of its days

Why not ask a rescue centre if they have something suitable for you. They are very careful to match horse to owners, though most of them are not actually sold, which is good if anything unexpected happens.

 

[Suec04]

Not sure where you are, but someone on here might be able to tell you what area (Like area 7, 11, etc) you're in and you can go from there Sorry I can't be more help!

Thanks Megan. I'm in Bedfordshire.....? Hopefully someone will be able to help. thanks again

 

[Suec04]

Why not ask a rescue centre if they have something suitable for you. They are very careful to match horse to owners, though most of them are not actually sold, which is good if anything unexpected happens.

Thank you MrsD. I have been keeping an eye on a couple of rescue centres and will contact them in the new year to see if they can help us

 

[Deleted member 104317]

Bedford & District RC seem the closest to you? You'll be Area 6 or 7

 

[Suec04]

Bedford & District RC seem the closest to you? You'll be Area 6 or 7

You are a star! thank you