Thoughts on this horse?

E

Echo24

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 August 2006
Messages
1,330
Location
Kent
Visit site
Tried a lovely 14.2 new forest gelding yesterday (exactly what I wanted!) but embarrassingly I couldn't get him to canter! He is only 5 which is a lot younger than what I'm looking for but is very mature for a youngster, although he tried it on with me when leaving the yard for a hack (tail swishing, refusing to walk forward) but nothing more than what a typical pony would do. Just wanted some people's opinions on him (please excuse my riding! My trot to canter transitions have always been a bit of a problem for me).

http://ow.ly/1W8nzi

I tried a connemara earlier in the day who I didn't feel confident on, but managed to canter the NF (eventually!) and even pop a jump!
 
Sweet pony but very green are you sure you are ready to bring on a baby with all that it may throw at you along the way?
The trying it on leaving the yard is not my idea of a "typical pony" I expect all horses and ponies to walk out of the yard without resisting and if you take on a youngster you should expect the same, accepting napping as normal will, if you are not very careful, become so.
 
Thanks for your message be positive. I felt he was quite green (especially with the problems in canter) and the rider who rode him first is very confident and experienced so he behaves well for her and I'm not entirely convinced he will be quite so good for me! I certainly have visions of him testing me (owner said she thinks he may take 6 months to settle and get on with me) and having seen a girl on my old yard lose her confidence with a 5 year old as a first horse I certainly don't want to go down the same route!
 
If the owner is suggesting he will take that long to settle I would think she may have had issues herself and it could be that he will be fairly testing, if in any doubt, which I think you are, look elsewhere, it may take time but better that than the wrong pony.
 
be positive said:
Sweet pony but very green are you sure you are ready to bring on a baby with all that it may throw at you along the way?
The trying it on leaving the yard is not my idea of a "typical pony" I expect all horses and ponies to walk out of the yard without resisting and if you take on a youngster you should expect the same, accepting napping as normal will, if you are not very careful, become so.
Click to expand...

Not much to add to this.
 
Thanks for all your thoughts. I often come back very positive when viewing ponies but always make sure I have a sleep on it and get a second opinion to bring me back down to earth.

Hopefully the right one will come up somewhere :)
 
How much experienced, helpful and encouraging support do you have?
Are you strong minded enough to not let the young horse 'blips' chip away at your confidence?

I see a nice pony who needs work, time, patience and more training.

You need to decide what is right for you.
 
charcoalfeathers said:
Thanks for your message be positive. I felt he was quite green (especially with the problems in canter) and the rider who rode him first is very confident and experienced so he behaves well for her and I'm not entirely convinced he will be quite so good for me! I certainly have visions of him testing me (owner said she thinks he may take 6 months to settle and get on with me) and having seen a girl on my old yard lose her confidence with a 5 year old as a first horse I certainly don't want to go down the same route!
Click to expand...

Youngsters are very rewarding if you're able to put all the work in, but when it goes wrong it tends to be pretty spectacular.

All depends whether you want a project, or something you can just hop on and go.
 
I'd echo what Faracat said. Do you have experienced, capable support around you who can help if need be? He looks a nice sort but bringing on young, green ponies often throws up challenges and support is usually needed (by most of us, me included!).
 
Faracat said:
How much experienced, helpful and encouraging support do you have?
Are you strong minded enough to not let the young horse 'blips' chip away at your confidence?

I see a nice pony who needs work, time, patience and more training.

You need to decide what is right for you.
Click to expand...

Thanks Faracat. My confidence took a knocking with a horse I was sharing, but had he had been my own, I would have perservered with it. However, if given the choice of a pony that needs a lot of work or one I can get on and enjoy, I would definitely opt for the latter!

ShadowFlame said:
Youngsters are very rewarding if you're able to put all the work in, but when it goes wrong it tends to be pretty spectacular.

All depends whether you want a project, or something you can just hop on and go.
Click to expand...

I don't mind a project, but there's a big question mark over whether I would be able to handle a young horse's blips - and I certainly know what you mean when things go spectacularly wrong! A friend who lost her confidence with her youngster ended up riding another girl's horse for a few months to get her confidence back up. Unfortunately I wouldn't have this luxury if things did go spectacularly wrong.

The owner of the NF actually approached my wanted advert, which said I was a confident adult novice looking for a first horse. I hope this was not a big glowing beacon for "SUCKER" written all over it!

Another person got in touch with me about a 14 year old fell x TB that seems to fit the bill more. I was really looking for something at least 10 years old, (but would consider younger if mature, sensible and has some experience under its belt). The fell x has pretty much done everything, to the point I'm a bit wary of any underlying health issues (been Pony Clubbed from the age of 5 years old)
 
PoppyAnderson said:
I'd echo what Faracat said. Do you have experienced, capable support around you who can help if need be? He looks a nice sort but bringing on young, green ponies often throws up challenges and support is usually needed (by most of us, me included!).
Click to expand...

I would look to have lessons every week. But when I couldn't get the pony to canter, the owner asked me to get off to let the head girl back on to make him canter so he learnt he couldn't get away with it. And watching her canter, she needed to be quite strong, firm and clear with it which makes me think with a rider like myself I would probably have no chance!
 
14 is no age, get it vetted if you buy, I know a 33 year old pony that hunted and PCd from 4 years old, he did camp 25 times and retired sound last year only as he had no rider to keep him ticking over.
 
I bought a 5 year old Dales x pony for my step daughter (a nervous novice) some years ago. If his age had been in the advert I wouldn't have phoned up but as he was near by I went to have a look at him and he was fantastic - definitely an old head on young shoulders with no sign of a nap when I hacked him out up the road and then back past the entrance to the yard.

I wouldn't let the age of the Fell x TB put you off. If he has stayed sound this long then there is every chance he will stay sound for a a fair bit longer. If you get the owner's vet to do the vetting I believe they are obliged to disclose any health issues.

Good luck in your search.
 
I think you've answered your own question, if you were looking for something over 10 and only younger if mature then a pony that wouldn't canter for you and was nappy leaving the yard (this is while being schooleded by people that you describe as being more experienced than you) it doesn't sound to me like this pony is right for you.

The right one will be out there and worth the wait!
 
be positive said:
14 is no age, get it vetted if you buy, I know a 33 year old pony that hunted and PCd from 4 years old, he did camp 25 times and retired sound last year only as he had no rider to keep him ticking over.
Click to expand...

Wow that is a fab age! The fell x sounds extremely well looked after and the only health issues he's had is a couple of splints that have healed and a small sarcoid that was removed a few years ago. I would certainly be looking to have him vetted. Viewing is this Sunday so will update you all on how it goes :)
 
charcoalfeathers said:
I don't mind a project, but there's a big question mark over whether I would be able to handle a young horse's blips - and I certainly know what you mean when things go spectacularly wrong! A friend who lost her confidence with her youngster ended up riding another girl's horse for a few months to get her confidence back up. Unfortunately I wouldn't have this luxury if things did go spectacularly wrong.

The owner of the NF actually approached my wanted advert, which said I was a confident adult novice looking for a first horse. I hope this was not a big glowing beacon for "SUCKER" written all over it!

Another person got in touch with me about a 14 year old fell x TB that seems to fit the bill more. I was really looking for something at least 10 years old, (but would consider younger if mature, sensible and has some experience under its belt). The fell x has pretty much done everything, to the point I'm a bit wary of any underlying health issues (been Pony Clubbed from the age of 5 years old)
Click to expand...

Blips are what you really need to think about. The first horse that ever had my name on his passport was a 4yo, and totally green as grass. We had big blips (I still have the physical scars now), my confidence went out the window and it was a bit of a bumpy ride... having said that, I've come out of it a much better rider and I really wouldn't have swapped him for the world. It would've been a LOT easier going out and getting a schoolmaster, but I don't have any regrets at all and nothing compares to that feeling of a breakthrough with a young horse.

I wouldn't be put off by a 14yo, especially if you want one that's been-there-done-that. It's all down to what you're after, really. I'm a big fan of "go-with-your-gut". You know whether you have doubts or not, go with it.
 
any of the other horses i have had (bar one who is a rescue) i just clicked with straight away and though they were perfect. I think it's a chemistry thing. When i went to view my last horse i just fell in love instantly and couldn't imagine ever finding a better one anywhere!

It doesn't come across like you think this horse is the one for you. You have to be honest about your capabilities and whether this horse fits. I remember reading a good article about how both horse and rider should add up to a ten. So if someone is a novice they would rate a 3 and then they should match up with a horse who would be a 7 in experience. But a pro rider would be an 9, so can ride a youngster with 1 in experience.

It is always much better to find a good match. Napping is a nightmare and can easily knock peoples confidence as it just escalates if the horse knows it can chance it's arm. I'd keep looking until you sit up on one and just fall in love!
 
My advice would be to walk away from the 5 yr old, I have had several NF ponies and although they are great ponies, IME they can be very 'testing' between the ages of 5-7.
To me, he doesn't seem suitable as a first pony.

The 14 yr old sounds MUCH more suitable & him having done it all before will be a huge benefit for you doing it for the first time. I'm a huge fan of older horses & ponies, they can be worth they're weight in gold. My children always had older ponies & then an older horse & it worked brilliantly.

An experienced friend once said to me that 'good horses make good riders' & i'm sure she's right as my children learnt to ride correctly without picking up bad habits by having to 'firefight' or ride defensively all the time. I'm not advocating 'push button' ponies, we've never spent much money on anything, but they've all needed a lot of leg & most importantly, been kind & genuine.

Good luck with your search :-)
 
Echo other peoples thoughts about youngsters. I have a 5 year old andalusian and by god she has been my biggest challenge yet. We have had a lot of tantrums and times when I have felt like giving up, but she is so rewarding and has come on leaps and bounds despite set-backs. Youngsters are very rewarding but hard work and a huge test for even the most experienced of riders/handlers.

I would definitley encourage you to get a school-master. Sounds as if you need something to teach you before you teach something. I had a school mistress before I got my youngster and she taught me absolutely everything I know, took me through the dressage levels and without her, I wouldn't have been able to take on a youngster. She was my horse of a life-time and everything she taught me, I'm now teaching my youngster :)

Anyway, good luck in your search :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top