The right horse at the wrong time

MiniMilton

MiniMilton

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I regularly browse the horse ads keeping an eye out for my ideal mount. Well a horse has come up that I adore. He fits the bill perfectly. The problem is that I'm currently pregnant and it'll be mid summer next year before I'm back in the saddle. I'm being sensible and telling myself that its just not meant to be. (Even after stalking the horse on Facebook and downloading every adorable photo there is of him)

I'm just wondering if anybody ever threw caution to the wind and bought a horse at absolutely the worst possible time just because they fell in love with it. And I don't mean a youngster that you can throw out into the field guilt free, I mean a horse that is in work and is currently fit
 
what would you do with it between now and next summer if you bought it now? Im assuming you mean next summer at the earliest, dont know whether this is your first or subsequent child, but you may feel you have enough on your plate with a young baby. Personally, I'd wait. There are plenty of fabulous horses out there.
You really have no idea if this is your ideal horse or not until you get it home and get to know it anyway.
 
Financially, would it be possible for you to buy and keep him? If yes, going to see him wouldn't hurt. There's nothing to stop you from doing groundwork with him, and would a sharer be an option that you could consider?
 
No i've told myself that its not meant to be. It would cost me nothing to put him out in the field but it would seem like such a waste of a good horse. I wouldn't be interested in getting a sharer (its too hard to find a good one) and it would most definitely hurt to go have a look at him as I would be sure to come home with him!
The type of horse i'm looking for doesnt come on the market too often, and strangely enough the last time one like this came up was during my last pregnancy and I missed out on that horse too.

I'm just looking for stories where people were in the same type of predicament and what the outcome was if they were daring enough to buy
 
minimilton said:
No i've told myself that its not meant to be. It would cost me nothing to put him out in the field but it would seem like such a waste of a good horse. I wouldn't be interested in getting a sharer (its too hard to find a good one) and it would most definitely hurt to go have a look at him as I would be sure to come home with him!
The type of horse i'm looking for doesnt come on the market too often, and strangely enough the last time one like this came up was during my last pregnancy and I missed out on that horse too.

I'm just looking for stories where people were in the same type of predicament and what the outcome was if they were daring enough to buy
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Not quite the same situation, but when my old mare suffered a back injury last winter I went out and bought a 4 year old despite the fact I was being sent away with work overseas for 3 months. I was lucky in that by that time my old mare was fully recovered (but I'd decided to retire her) and work made a significant contribution to continued full livery (helping me cover the cost of both). Whilst the mare I bought wasn't competition fit, she needed to continue her education and be kept in work so I opted for the livery to rider her out,school and lunge every week. I knew the yard well (my older mare had been there nearly a year) and trusted them to look after them - my OH also went up there a couple of times a week. I did it simply because she seemed the right horse (at a decent winter price) and the work opportunity meant, whilst I wasn't around, I could pay for full livery for both.

On the downside, when I came back it took me a long time to bond with her, perhaps made worse by the fact she'd been in livery etc (they are both now at home). I've had issues with her since and we are now the other side of these and sometimes I think I might have avoided those had she just come straight to me (no reflection on the livery, more me thinking I would have known her better etc). I even contemplated selling her but I am now glad I didn't as we are back on track.
 
Have you tried the horse out at all? How do you know if it really is the ideal horse ( apart from totally falling for it heart and soul)! I know what you mean, when i saw my lad, i knew he was for me! Have you got a trustworthy friend who could keep riding him/her for you and you do everything else ie grooming mucking out etc in the meantime? Will you have the time/commitment to ride after the baby is born?
 
There is a pony i love who became available after i got a pony from WHW, so too late really, but i think i am going to bite the bullet and go for it, whats another one, 4 seems a nice round number. Your horse will be nicely settled by the time you are ready to start doing anything with it
 
I'd try it out. You have a child already so you will be realistic about the opportunity to ride once this one is born, its not going to do it any harm to have a winter off, if it does happen to be exactly what you want. Photos are deceiving, it could be nothing like what you want, in the flesh.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I'd try it out. You have a child already so you will be realistic about the opportunity to ride once this one is born, its not going to do it any harm to have a winter off, if it does happen to be exactly what you want. Photos are deceiving, it could be nothing like what you want, in the flesh.
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This definately ^^^^^ :D
 
Bang on with above poster. I'd certainly have a look at it, but have someone with you to stop you being swayed. Bear in mind that it might be the sort of horse that needs regular attention & exercise, and a winter off might mean its a total fizz-pot when you DO get around to riding it after the baby's born (when you'll be unfit riding-wise, as won't have ridden during the latter stages of your pregnancy - obviously). Is getting on a fizzy horse what you'll be wanting to do at that time??

IF you see it, like it, and know its "the one", you'll need to have a good reliable friend or someone who will exercise it for you during the winter-time; perhaps they'd like to hunt it???......... and after the baby's born when you start riding again, you might still care to be generous and let them continue to ride it occasionally as it would give you a break when you need it plus keep good relationship with them in case you need to call upon them in future.

Reliable friend/rider is a MUST in the circumstances, I would say TBH.

But horses won't be any cheaper than they are now; and if you like it and are prepared to keep it for the winter, then your call heh.
 
Not quite the same scenario, but I've just been out and bought at what would be considered the wrong time.

He's an absolute dude, and is exactly what I hoped he would be. He's perfect. Having said that, with current circumstances, it is stressful. If I were you I'd go and view, and only do it if you genuinely feel you would beat yourself black and blue for missing him. "The right one" comes up so rarely that sometimes you do just have to throw caution to the wind, but weigh up whether it's really a situation you want to be stuck in, first.
 
Not sure how you can possibly tell he/she is the right horse if you've never seen it in the flesh or ridden it!!

And I would let it go personally, young babies require a lot of time and effort & I am not sure I'd want to be bringing a horse back into work that I didn't know, let alone right after a baby!
 
Well clearly I wasn't the only one that thought he was one in a million. After just 3 days on the market he is sold (unfortunately not to me) and not at a cheap price either
 
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