Summer...ID bought unseen from Ireland...

Yay, we went on a hack! Photo evidence: https://1drv.ms/f/s!ArXRIdpOCNNFu2mIcCZkIUfyyBiy

O/h came to supervise. She was striding our nicely...she has Catembi’s big walk. She was uncertain to start with, then got into it. We saw horses in a field, had to go from sun to shade to go down a narrow woodland track and met a builder’s bag thing made of flappy plastic on the track. I was going to wait and make o/h remove it, but she walked practically OVER it! A good time was had by all!
 
PaddyMonty, I am trying to PM you but can’t work out how to do it from my phone, aaarrrggghhh...! I was going to say, what time will you be there, and send you my mobile no!
 
Lovely updates OP, I think with some work she will turn out to be a cracking mare! she seems to have the right "can do" attitude.
 
Oh, not to worry. Maybe another weekend? Might be better waiting til her teeth have been done as I think there’s an issue there.
 
Thank you for asking! We had the most fabulous hack on Monday after work! We did about 4 miles, mostly offroad, on a variety of terrains, saw a small amount of traffic & she was so perfect! I know that most people wouldn't be excited by a 70 minute hack, mostly in walk, but it's been sooooooo long since I hacked 'properly'! Trev wouldn't entertain the idea of hacking alone & if I forced him, he would spend the whole time screaming his head off, jogging, trying to shake my hands off the reins so he could run home, spooking, did I mention jogging, rearing, odd bucking fit... It was so nice just to sit there & admire the view. At one point, she wanted to look at something behind her - if Trev ever did that, he would then get the snorts & **** off if he could. But she just looked at it until she'd finished looking (wind turbine) & then carried on.

Teeth were done yesterday & they were apparently quite sharp (probably never been done) so it will be interesting to see if it makes any difference later. I am also eyeing up an ID-only dressage comp for a good month's time. If I can get some steering & brakes in the school, we can then get a jumping saddle & see what the jump is like.

Honestly, I know people think I'm mad for doing what I've done (and I probably am...), but it was worth the full purchase price for that one hack :)
 
catembi said:
Thank you for asking! We had the most fabulous hack on Monday after work! We did about 4 miles, mostly offroad, on a variety of terrains, saw a small amount of traffic & she was so perfect! I know that most people wouldn't be excited by a 70 minute hack, mostly in walk, but it's been sooooooo long since I hacked 'properly'! Trev wouldn't entertain the idea of hacking alone & if I forced him, he would spend the whole time screaming his head off, jogging, trying to shake my hands off the reins so he could run home, spooking, did I mention jogging, rearing, odd bucking fit... It was so nice just to sit there & admire the view. At one point, she wanted to look at something behind her - if Trev ever did that, he would then get the snorts & **** off if he could. But she just looked at it until she'd finished looking (wind turbine) & then carried on.

Teeth were done yesterday & they were apparently quite sharp (probably never been done) so it will be interesting to see if it makes any difference later. I am also eyeing up an ID-only dressage comp for a good month's time. If I can get some steering & brakes in the school, we can then get a jumping saddle & see what the jump is like.

Honestly, I know people think I'm mad for doing what I've done (and I probably am...), but it was worth the full purchase price for that one hack :)
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Brilliant, just love this post. So great you are getting so much positive stuff from her already. I look forward to regular updates !!
 
Aw yay! I'm so pleased! I really love these stories. I was really tempted by just buying unseen from Gerty when I was looking for a horse last year....she just seems to have some lovely types.

I just wasn't brave enough in the end, but I do LOVE hearing stories from those who are.

Will you keep this thread updated?
 
Wow, haven't read the whole thread but did take a peek at her advert - she's beautiful!!!!!!! Lucky you, hope you have a great time together.
 
Our RS has had two off Gerty unseen (I'm fairly sure the same one!) and both have been lovely sorts, although the 4 y/o was a lot greener than expected(read wasn't keen on being mounted, had a tendency to shoot off at speed if you so much as took a stride out of balance) but not a nasty bone

That said with a bit of time and work she's turned into a fab school horse!

Based on that I'm considering speaking to her with a shopping for one for myself now my mare has been retired
 
catembi said:
Honestly, I know people think I'm mad for doing what I've done (and I probably am...), but it was worth the full purchase price for that one hack :)
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I know that feeling! My share horse is interesting to hack, so I'll occasionally book myself onto a local riding school's half-day hacks, just to have the blissful experience of, as you say, sitting there and admiring the view. She sounds fab.
 
What a fantastic thread - so pleased for you, OP! Having just bought unseen from Ireland myself, I only hope my experience is half as positive as yours!
 
I dont think you are mad at all. I see people looking for months on end and it still ends in disaster so why not buy the way you did? Makes total sense to me and is what I would do if my budget stretched to it :)
 
I’m another who doesn’t think you’re mad at all. I had mine at livery for like 3 days and basically relied on my yo to say yeah, it’s fine, he’s a good one. Also straight from Ireland, green as grass.

The feeling of hacking and just being able to relax and enjoy looking at stuff is amazing. I think you’ve got a cracking girl there.
 
Yes, exactly Leo, my two previous purchases have ended in disaster, and one of them had the most immaculate SJ pedigree, passed a 5 stage with flying colours, cost not far shy of 5 figures & *still* turned out to have EPSM, and the two I've liked when searching this time under my own steam have failed the vet, so I was thinking that I couldn't do much worse.

Interestingly, if I had tried her, I probably *wouldn't* have bought her due to lack of basic training, but now I've got her, I am really enjoying that total lack of edge/sharpness. You know when something happens, e.g. plastic bag related, & you think, uh-oh, best hold onto my hat, & then instead of it all kicking off, it blows over without Consequences. I am really enjoying not having to repeatedly sit tight! And I don't think she is going to be as much of 'a project' as I'd first thought - the teeth have already made a big difference, and we are already getting the odd 30 seconds of dressage horse amid the Sherman tank!

We are having a dr lesson later with someone who won the novice champs, so we shall see how that goes. I will try to get pictures, but o/h always manages to take them at the wrong time :)
 
catembi said:
Interestingly, if I had tried her, I probably *wouldn't* have bought her due to lack of basic training, but now I've got her, I am really enjoying that total lack of edge/sharpness. You know when something happens, e.g. plastic bag related, & you think, uh-oh, best hold onto my hat, & then instead of it all kicking off, it blows over without Consequences. I am really enjoying not having to repeatedly sit tight! And I don't think she is going to be as much of 'a project' as I'd first thought - the teeth have already made a big difference, and we are already getting the odd 30 seconds of dressage horse amid the Sherman tank!)
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I totally get where you are coming from . After riding my homebred idxwb s , who spook first and think later ,( by which time we would be half way across the arena / or in another field ) it’s so refreshing to ride a full ID , who simply goes “ what’s that “ and carries on. I find if something really does worry her , her reactions are much slower as well . So glad it’s working out for you .
 
I don't think you are mad, you obviously have the experience and resources to make her into an even nicer horse :)

but I think AA is correct when she says its not good for a novice or nervous owner to do this.
 
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