Thunking of downgrading on a horse

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spacefaer

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This seems like a silly question but im going to ask it anyway

For my own horses I've always had competiton/performance horses. Ones with talent - over the years, I've evented to 3*, competed PSG - ridden some very good horses.

Time has moved on and I'm finding limited time and motivation to do anything other than fairly low level stuff. I'm physically a bit broken and have now got other interests too but dont want to give up completely.
It's taken some time to come to this realisation and it's not been easy.

Of my current two horses, I'm going to sell one and loan the other so will be looking for a suitable one for my new reality.

So my question is, how do I find one? I've only ever bought on talent and performance - actual or potential and I find i have no idea what I want!

Looking at adverts, I find myself torn between a sporty (non hairy) cob, a TB, and all types in between 🤣

A small budget doesn't help in this market either.......

Can anyone offer any constructive suggestions 🤣🤣🤣
 
One can ride happily without owning, as I have done by riding RS horses or sharing. Three of those shared horses I have ridden long term. My favourite was a lively oversize Connie, the other two ISs. I would say that Irish means safe but not exciting.
If you can find one, a RS horse which is due to reture or do less work would be fine.,
Cobs are not easy for older people to sit astride.
Physically the most perfect horse I rode was a TB but I never really took to hacking a TB
 
Not in a too dissimilar position myself, although don’t have any mojo for competing at any level, so slightly different requirements.

I think the crux of it for me is that even if downgrading they have to have a little quality and be fun to ride. It would be all to easy to get something so dull that you get bored.

So I think it’s a case of sitting on whatever takes your fancy and that makes you smile and feel safe. Personally I’d steer away from tbs though and look for more native influence
 
Is there a reason for why one of your existing ones can't downgrade with you? If you want a different one I'd go for what you enjoy. If you are small enough why not a native pony? Or maybe one of those Icelandic rescues that are starting to appear. Go for one you click with, as much as I love tbs maybe avoid them, they often come with high maintenance habits.
 
Do you have a size preference, as this affects the breed or type you’ll look for? Personally having had bigger horses (but more the all round ish type) I’ve found it harder to adapt to small ones. That said I had a lovely 15.1 Connemara for my son and enjoyed him a lot, he was quality enough and well schooled. I’ve also always fancied a turbo cob with plenty of go, that would be fun. I don’t think either would be cheap.

Alternatively an older horse of the type you’re used to, and can join you in a slightly quieter life?
 
mariew said:
Is there a reason for why one of your existing ones can't downgrade with you? If you want a different one I'd go for what you enjoy. If you are small enough why not a native pony? Or maybe one of those Icelandic rescues that are starting to appear. Go for one you click with, as much as I love tbs maybe avoid them, they often come with high maintenance habits.
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I'd agree with this - would one of yours like a change of lifestyle with you?
Maybe give it a go whilst you do some preliminary horse-hunting? Just to make sure that this is really what you want and there's going to be no regrets about parting with your existing horse
 
A tb would easily do the job you're after if that's what's taking your fancy. You would need to make sure that you got one which didn't mind being picked up and put down but that would be the same as any other horse. They could be higher maintenance than other types but you wouldn't need to be worrying about weight etc if they're in light work and would keep and get fit easily, also for me, I personally wouldn't have a clue about keeping a good doer and strip grazing etc what I know is more the tb type that need feeding up so it swings in roundabouts as to what's actually easiest. I'm always biased towards tbs though.

On the other hand you could take the opportunity to have something that you'd never have been able to before such as a small M & M or go wild and pick something based on it's colour. When I was looking for a companion and nanny I went purely on temperament, I wanted something that was calm and easy and I could get on after a week off with no drama.
 
I think since your downgrading on talent then finding something you really like temperament wise and is fun to ride will be the most important.

I personally love a good pony for a bit of fun but also a TB is such a thrill at top speed.
 
Here it's very popular to 'downgrade' to Icelandic horses. Many ladied in their ≈ 50s switch to these ponies.They're fun, most are sensible and still safe to hack out, train and handle. There are some reactive, sensitive and very energetic kinds out there too, be careful about that if that's not what you want. Icelandics can jump, but I've not seen one that is actually good at it. Definitely good enough for playing around, not serious training towards jumping. There is some work involved with tölt and pace, don't buy an Icelandic if you don't at least somewhat enjoy working with the gaits. I find it fun, not everyone does.

I'd be careful around Icelandic rescues, not sure what that is there but there are horses on Iceland that are bred mostly for meat. They aren't ridden, nor bred for ridden qualities. Not great circumstances if you want an easy, fun horse.
 
My horse of this spec is TB x knab, 16hh, more of a TB shape and way of going. I didn't set out to buy her really, just needed a companion for the (now deceased) competition horse and she was young and fugly & therefore cheap. The purpose bred competition horse turned out to be a bit of a disaster physically so I started riding the spare more and more, she turned into the epitome of the ultimate RC horse, and I realised how amazing a proper "RC horse" actually is.

For me it is essentially a horse that I can mainly hack, but then pick up and take to a clinic or low level competition to do an elementary dressage test or pop round a 90cm sj course with very little proper prep. A horse who is easy to do alone and nice to have around, but still with enough about them to make training enjoyable without feeling like you are trying to put a round peg into a square hole if you ask a bit from them mentally/physically.

Sportier natives (Ds, Connies) and TB crosses are probably what I would be looking at in your shoes. It depends what type you enjoy riding though really.
 
I have had a lot of fun with my Welsh D x tb.

I couldn’t find one last time I went looking and instead bought a cob x warmblood.

Looks like a sports cob. Rides like a warmblood. But doesn’t have the sharpness to go with it.

He’s only young. But is proving to be plenty fun but will be talented enough to do anything I want.

They are out there. I tend to find I have to buy them young and make them though. They don’t seem to be the types that people sell on.
 
Probably not a responsible suggestion but a decent Welsh D could be a good call for you. Plenty of fun, likely to jump and highly trainable with some interesting variations on that theme...🤣
 
Thanks guys!
All answers much appreciated!
Both of mine are lovely and straightforward but require consistent work to keep them lovely. They're both TBs which are a breed I love but some have higher natural energy levels than others!
I've ridden 17hh plus for the last 15 odd years so my natural tendency is to go for something taller, but it would be sensible to get a horse that didn't exacerbate my knackered shoulder.
I'm 5'8 so ponies (and pony types) are definitely out.
And I've had sec Ds..... their sense of humour is not mine!!
 
Get a nice PBA, depending on the mix you can get something taller. All ones I've known have been super, great temperaments, can go and compete but equally just lovely rides if thats not your bag, plus tend not to command the big bucks ;). I started with a lovely PBA, then had two very hot/ sharp horses who are very talented but not 'quiet' rides, I have another PBA (who has grown far too big for me really) and she is just the easiest ride.
 
spacefaer said:
And showing my limited knowledge of the breed! What would I do with it??
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Well the old boy is Welsh X QH, so I don't have any personal experience of them as purebreds, but they're generally hardy and surefooted with an impressive turn of speed! Bred for herding cattle, so level headed but with enough athleticism to turn on a sixpence/chase down an errant cow.
The old boy can jump nicely as well and has found several extra legs on top of a hedge when required, but not sure if that is because of the Welsh, the QH or some combination of the two!
 
I'm a big fan of a nice Irish type - usually a bit of a Heinz 57 but a level head on their shoulders but sporty enough to pop you round a 90cm.

My current horse is a complete unknown breeding wise (he was the result of a breeding-unknown filly being brought over from Ireland that they didn't know was in foal, so truly we have no idea!) If I had to hazard a guess I'd say there's a bit of cob in there, some trotter and a TB/Sport Horse mix of some sort.

I wouldn't say he's what you're looking for temperament wise as he's very forward and mildly unhinged at times 😅 but I like his 'type', sporty enough that he'll pop 1.10 without trying but he's not at the super high-maintenance end of the performance spectrum in the sense he lives off fresh-air, leg-on-each-corner sort that doesn't go lame every time the wind changes direction and can turn his hoof to most things. He'll never go above BE100 for example, but he can also keep his head together to do a days hunting, hacks out, and is fairly easy to-do day to day. I'd give him 3 weeks off and get back on him without a second thought.
 
If you don’t want pony type or sense of humour (that is my type tbf).

And you want a bit more height I’d go for a proper Irish.

Probably Irish draft x Connie. Know some lovely ones of those.
 
spacefaer said:
a sporty (non hairy) cob
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Get hairy cob, clip it, now sporty cob 😂

(in seriousness, a nice cob or cob x can step up or step down, my Erin (pfp) can be very sharp, with an incredible turn of speed when I ask her, or she can be a total dope on a rope. Plus a 15hh cob can take about the same amount of leg as a 17.2hh tb x Appaloosa, tested and confirmed!)
 
I ended up with a 'modern' ISH (WB x TIH). She is awesome. Thinks that made her affordable were age (4yo) and size (17h+)
 
I'm biased but I'd go for an ID, have the height, have the versatility, a bit of cold blood, chunkier legs so less injury and generally have the sensible irish brain but not completely lacking in talent.
There's one line that can be quite difficult though but I cannot remember what it is, King of Diamonds??
 
I second the ID suggestion as they tend to have great temperaments and enough talent to do the things you're looking for. The one in my profile I got as a four year old and lost him in 2024 aged 34. He could be left off for days and come out civil and willing, could do a nice (but basic) dressage test rhythmically and obediently, loved SJ up to 1.20ish but equally happy at 90cms, reasonably brave at XC, never hunted him as not my thing, solid to hack alone or in company, and prolific winner at working hunter or show hunter classes. Could be ridden by your granny or your grandchild - the less capable the rider, the more careful he was. And the big plus was he was never boring - his stable name was Sparky for a reason 😂. I miss him terribly.
 
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