Tentatively horse hunting- HELP!

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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So I'm looking for something to do some dressage with would love to get to medium but know a horse like this is out of price range but a nice trainable horse is a must. Good movement is also important but good attitude is more so. I also enjoy a bit of jumping so a horse that isn't completely put off by small jumps (probably less than 1m) would be a positive. A horse that also jumps beautifully would be amazing but again sure it will be out of budget.

Ideally no smaller than 14.2 (could go to 14.1 if chunky) and no bigger than 15.2 but would prefer something smaller. Would prefer a gelding but if a non mareish mare came along I wouldn't be completely put off.

I don't mind something quirky or hot I do however mind something that tries to kill me every time I ride or something dangerous. I also wouldn't mind an unbroken 3/4yo. I would love and older horse that needs to come down the levels. I wouldn't say no to a well put together small TB.

Now budget is low, in fact cheaper is better. A loan would be ideal but realistically £2000 or less. My lovely mum has said we could stretch to £5000 but the horse will have to tick most the boxes for us to spend that much.

A couple that have caught my eye:
Horse 1

Horse 2 (the mare at the bottom)

Horse 3- probably my favourite
 
I know of a nine year old gelding for sale, going for 3K, who might suit but he is up in Scotland. Don't know how far you're willing to travel.
 
I love the first one! However the 3rd one is also nice and as he is a school master would probably be a lot more straightforward :).
 
Could you send me more info about the gelding please? I wouldn't mind travelling that far if I saw lots of video beforehand. :)

I do love the look of the first one, he does look like he could be tricky though but I could be totally wrong. I do like the sound of an easier horse then what I'm used to but don't know if I'd get bored.
 
First one is lush!! 3rd one is also lush though AND you could more or less be ready to get up and go with that one.

Ekkk, tough decision but it would be between 1 and 3 for me depending on what you want in the future and whether it's going to be a horse for life or something just for a few years!
 
The top one is lovely and as you are experienced on paper he looks like a good longer term prospect. I notice he does try to throw his head up maybe just to look around but that may be due to greenness.

The last one is cute but he is 15yrs and doing Prelim and Novice although it says he is working ele/med and may not go any further as age catches up - however as a pony they go on a lot longer than horses. He looks a bit on the cheap side for a successful schoolmaster pony though and I would question why?
 
His owner is my neighbour so when I see her pottering around the yard today, I'll ask if she can get me videos, photos, and any other info. I can see the horse out of my back window every day and we occasionally have a wee chat over the fence (he is a nice, friendly boy), but don't have his sale info on hand. :)

If you could PM me your email address, I could give that to the owner in case she wants to email you that stuff.
 
The first one looks as if he could be a bit of a handful not sure how I get that from a pic ....:rolleyes: the last one would be too old for me . Would be interested in the mare , if she would turn out to be nice I think you would get a bargain for that price and long as not a stroppy mare.
 
Will Pm you email address now. :)

Although as you say on paper I seem experienced but honestly I'm not that great a rider and need a horse who can teach me more than I can teach them. I'm great at sitting out bucks/ rears and turning naughty ponies into something not too bad but as competitions go I'm a bit rubbish so need something to teach me the ropes. I think the first and third are close together so if I did go to look I could try and see both in one day.

Have found some video of the nice chestnut and he does look good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi6UBU-NydI
 
I do like the fact the mare is cheaper, might give the seller a ring and find out more info.

Have also just seen a 10yo mare advertised who was broken at 4 and been used as a broodmare. Going very cheap so could be worth the risk?
 
Unless you happen to be there when the mare is in season you won't know if she is or is not mareish. The seller is unlikely to admit she is a screaming looney when in season. Just thought I'd say that. My mare is vile for a few days then really lovely the other days she is in season. She is crabby most of the time so not exactly mareish either :o. She does have good points obviously :D

I thought the third one looked nice but I actually thought rather expensive given age even if its a schoolmaster.
 
The video on the ad is from 11 months ago. Just looked at what I believe is a more recent one and he looks a lot more consistent. Will give them a ring shortly :)
 
My friend has a seven year old gelding , dapple grey , 16h :S :) very very sweet horse .. Has jumped bs and done a few dressage ..goes beautifully on the flat !! She has owned him from a 3 year old .. Only parting with him ( and another one of hers) due to needing to cut down as she has to have a massive op next year ( brain op) so sadly has go let a couple go :( he really in a fab horse .. And very beautiful !! (Herts) pm me for more details ;)
 
Really 16hh is too big. I got a lovely schoolmaster 16hh boy a few years ago and he just knew I was small and took the mic big time. I really don't want to overhorse myself again.
 
first impressions I would say the third looks very nice, the first one (probably quite irratationally) puts me off because I think it would be easy to break!

I'd get more info on the second one though - the ad is so brief but the horse could be a little star
 
A friend of a friend has recently written this advert but not yet published it, let me know if you would like more info

Grey reg. Connemara gelding; 11yrs; 14.2/3h; lovely manners; lives out.
PC all-rounder / Working Hunter; 2nd pony - ideal mother/ child share. In Cheshire PC for 6 years but last 12 months mainly used for hacking by myself, occasional PC rallies by son & XC outings with a friend. Lovely to hack (good in rural traffic) – will go alone but best in company.
Good to clip, shoe (fronts only), load. Up to date with teeth, back & vaccinations. Sad sale to make way for son’s next horse as keeping his current pony.
 
I really like the look of the first horse. I know in the first video, he isnt very steady in his head carriage, but if you look on YouTube at the most recent one that was put up this month, he looks like he has matured loads, and has come on leaps and bounds.
The chestnut for me, im put off by his age, and the fact that at that age, he is only competing at Novice level. I would have wanted him to be competing at Medium ish by that age really.

I would definitely go and look at the first one though, and maybe ask for more info on the 2nd one.
 
Kokopelli said:
Will Pm you email address now. :)

Although as you say on paper I seem experienced but honestly I'm not that great a rider and need a horse who can teach me more than I can teach them. I'm great at sitting out bucks/ rears and turning naughty ponies into something not too bad but as competitions go I'm a bit rubbish so need something to teach me the ropes. I think the first and third are close together so if I did go to look I could try and see both in one day.

Have found some video of the nice chestnut and he does look good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi6UBU-NydI
Click to expand...

what a nice little chap....15 is not old for a pony and as long as he passed a 5 stage vetting you have as much chance of him going wrong as you do with one a lot younger....looks like you could have lots of fun at the lower levels and gain competition confidence(i may be wrong but you sounded like you felt you were not necessarily a regular comp rider. ) apologies if i have misread....he would be worth a visit...
 
Totally depends on your plans.
But I agree no 3 sounds nice and us ready to go.
The mare is a longer term project, but may be nice to feel you did the work with her.
 
the 15yo looks nice enough but nothing special to me, also the thing with a 15 yo is that you have to consider the situation re selling on (if you have to consider that ;) ). IMO if you want to have something with the potential to compete at medium you'd be better with a younger one.. partly on the basis that you have more time to achieve it then too!
 
First one looks lovely, it's also a bit younger and gives you more scope to bring him on and also good breeding! Third one also looks lovely but a lot older which, for me is a big disadvantage!
Hope you find something!
 
All in same yard in Gloucestershire
14.3 -15hh 3yr old bay mare by Mill Law, out of mare evented at Novice level, just being backed at present, very quiet and sensible, well brought up
15.1-15.2 4 yr old spotty mare by Orions Cinnabar, sensible and well brought up, again just being backed.
16 hh 10 yr old mare, has evented, but more suited to Riding Club activities, very good dressage- £1000
 
Paint Me Proud said:
A nice grey gelding
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/108462662/for-sale.html

These two are for sale at my yard if you fancy seeing two in one visit! Both have potential for what you want.

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all-rounder-horse-13-yrs-15-1-hh-coloured-west-mid/Horses/293370


http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all-rounder-horse-5-yrs-1-mth-15-0-hh-appaloosa-we/Horses/292362
Click to expand...

Really like the look of the coloured mare. Would the owners mind us coming to see both in one day?

dotty1 said:
All in same yard in Gloucestershire
14.3 -15hh 3yr old bay mare by Mill Law, out of mare evented at Novice level, just being backed at present, very quiet and sensible, well brought up
15.1-15.2 4 yr old spotty mare by Orions Cinnabar, sensible and well brought up, again just being backed.
16 hh 10 yr old mare, has evented, but more suited to Riding Club activities, very good dressage- £1000
Click to expand...

Can you give me more info please? The first two sound lovely but think the last one will be too big.


What does everyone think of this:
http://www.horsequest.co.uk/search.aspx?ds=1&c=&rn=75592

I'm rubbish at conformation but looks lovely from my untrained eye.
 
I know of a 10 year old gelding who will be for sale soon but he is only 14.1hh. Got a really scopey jump and moves nicely enough but hasn't done much in the way of flat-work. Forward going and responsive but not stupid about it. He's a great hunter too!
 
Kokopelli said:
Really like the look of the coloured mare. Would the owners mind us coming to see both in one day?



Can you give me more info please? The first two sound lovely but think the last one will be too big.


What does everyone think of this:
http://www.horsequest.co.uk/search.aspx?ds=1&c=&rn=75592

I'm rubbish at conformation but looks lovely from my untrained eye.
Click to expand...
from what i can remember from my visits to catherston, c.night safe was a bit of a handful, not nasty but pretty hyper. he was much more hyper than the big lads....thats a lot of money for an unbroken horse in my view especially as you havent bought something on for competition before, he is very pretty though
 
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