Taking a risk or stick to what you know?

ID's can be very sharp when the mood takes them and they are also very much governed by fitness and what they eat. I would be very concerned that this 4 year old is probably weak, lives out, has no hard food all of which are fine but would keep her very much at her lowest physically and mentally.

I would suspect that if you got her home, pampered her a bit and fed her you may have a very different animal to deal with.

I would stick to your criteria, find something that has been there and done it to get your confidence back.

Always be very wary of dealers horses who are living out and supposedly haven't been ridden!! The best advice I have ever been given is buy a horse that looks well and is fully fit, then you will see them at their best and worst if that makes sense, then there are no surprises!
 
ID's can be very sharp when the mood takes them and they are also very much governed by fitness and what they eat. I would be very concerned that this 4 year old is probably weak, lives out, has no hard food all of which are fine but would keep her very much at her lowest physically and mentally.

I would suspect that if you got her home, pampered her a bit and fed her you may have a very different animal to deal with.

I would stick to your criteria, find something that has been there and done it to get your confidence back.

Always be very wary of dealers horses who are living out and supposedly haven't been ridden!! The best advice I have ever been given is buy a horse that looks well and is fully fit, then you will see them at their best and worst if that makes sense, then there are no surprises!

That's very good advice! I will certainly remember that. :)
 
I was in your exact same situation a year or 2 ago. I'd had a baby and was looking for an over 8 year old sane all rounder ended up buying a stunning sane 4 year old. Big mistake he was gorgeous and for his age very good but he had his moments particularly when he hit 5 and where as before I had baby this wouldn't of been a problem it now was and trying to keep a young horse in very regular work when you have a little one is hard in the end I sold the youngster and a decided I should of stuck to my original criteria.
 
I was in your exact same situation a year or 2 ago. I'd had a baby and was looking for an over 8 year old sane all rounder ended up buying a stunning sane 4 year old. Big mistake he was gorgeous and for his age very good but he had his moments particularly when he hit 5 and where as before I had baby this wouldn't of been a problem it now was and trying to keep a young horse in very regular work when you have a little one is hard in the end I sold the youngster and a decided I should of stuck to my original criteria.

This is also very true. I had a baby 2 years ago and before that I had all manner of horses, youngsters, sharp ones etc and it was never a problem, I managed them with confidence and by increasing their work load etc. However, now with a toddler I do not always have the time to give to a horse that needs it and there are days at a time when I may not be able to ride so I have to have a horse who doesn't need the constant attention that a young horse requires. Last year I bought a 5 year old ISH who was the sweetest and kindest thing on 4 legs but I had to sell her this year because I simply couldn't give her the time and schooling she needed to go on in life. She didn't get naughty or difficult, she simply wasn't progessing.

I now have an 11 year old tb. He has had his career as a racehorse, been sucessful and is now quite grateful to toddle about, learn new things when I have time but worries not in the least if I don't.
 
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