To plod or not to plod?

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Mine is a heavy cob and was a bit ploddy when at the RDA. He got used to being nagged with legs and ridden primarily by beginners. But that isn't how he stayed once he changed to having just the one rider.

It took 6 - 9 months of consistent retraining but he is now a responsive and forward ride. We are going out to do prelim soon (please let him start loading more reliably!) and are starting training for novice. He jumps 80cm with ease but doesn't enjoy lots of jumps in a small space. He is brilliant on fun rides with company - screams like a set of bagpipes if I try to take him round on his own tho.

My Draft mare had been in a rs and had done RDA, which I imagine she was brilliant at. Then she had been sold on to a private home, as they had a policy of not keeping their horses until they were school sour but selling on after a maximum of 4 yrs. She had run away with her new novice owner when sold to an experienced home for the tall, rather heavy male OH, which is why I got her. She was fabulously bombproof and great fun!

 

[[131452]]

I will have her vetted by my own vet if I buy her. Yes there are photos of her jumping in the ad but in the short videos I've seen she does it so ploddily which made me wonder if there was scope to pick up the energy.
On my way to see her now. She is the first strange horse I've sat on since my accident so at least it should be a positive experience and give me confidence to go view others if she doesn't suit.

Before I broke my back I had a youngster that became truly dangerous to handle so I'd love to have something so easy even kids can handle it!

 

[shortstuff99]

Most cobs are perfectly capable of 90cm eventing or more but most are never taken (or even close) to full fitness. If you were to fitten her up I think she would surprise you with how athletic she could be.

 

[Polos Mum]

I would check how much work she is in now, if she's calm and ploddy because she'd doing 5 hours a day trecking she might be different doing 5 hours a week in a private home.

It is really really tough to buy the horse you need now - not the one you'd like to be riding in 12-18 months time. A good safe calm horse will always be valuable so if you out grow her ability you can loan or sell. If you buy something your put off riding now - you might never get your confidence back.

 

[splashgirl45]

she looks fine confirmation wise, she is heavier than i would want but if she is forward going and will hack out alone safely, she should do all you want at the moment. there have been 3 or 4 horses advertised as coming from a trekking centre and all seem to have the same description so just be aware that all may not be as it seems. good luck...

 

[Hobo2]

Good luck will be interested to hear how you get on. Choosing a new horse is so hard.

 

[bubblensqueak]

sounds perfect for you! even has photos of her doing as you described you wanted to do! i would question why they are selling her though? since she seems like a perfect horse for a trekking centre, so you might want to ask as to why they are letting her go? price is also far more than id want to pay, but i understand your paying for a safe horse.

 

[Circe2]

she looks fine confirmation wise, she is heavier than i would want but if she is forward going and will hack out alone safely, she should do all you want at the moment. there have been 3 or 4 horses advertised as coming from a trekking centre and all seem to have the same description so just be aware that all may not be as it seems. good luck...

I would second this warning - definitely worth asking about. Albeit it could be completely innocent (or sad), ie trekking centre couldn’t financially cope with lockdown and has had to sell up. Anyway, best to be on your guard!

 

[AmyMay]

Good luck with the viewing ?

 

[[131452]]

Shes been sold by the trekking place as due to covid they can't make money. She is being sold by the dealer who bought her from there.
She is not actually that ploddy, she is totally uneducated in the school. Once she knows you want her to go forward she does. But unfortunately she has been kicked in the field and isn't entirely sound so we agreed that I would come back hopefully in a couple of days with my friend and she will be sound. She has a kick mark on the inside of her thigh.

 

[AmyMay]

What a wasted journey. They could have given you a buzz ??‍

 

[[131452]]

What a wasted journey. They could have given you a buzz ??‍

I think the lady works in the morning and doesn't get her horses in so when i got there she actually pointed out the kick mark. I would be livid though if whoever brought my horse in didn't check the horse and let me know if there's something wrong.

 

[Wishfilly]

That does sound really annoying!

Could you see it as almost a sort of project buy- with the view to improve her and maybe sell her on in 12 months time? If you don't think of her (or whatever you buy) as a "forever" horse then it might be easier to buy what you need now?

I think she looks sweet and like she has the potential to do all the things you want to do, but there will be other horses out there of a similar type, if she isn't the one or the dealer messes you around.

 

[[131452]]

No not at that price. For 2 grand yes.
She was perfectly sweet, but she literally knows nothing , doesn't even know how to ride a circle so considering I would have to pay for help with her, that might be too much money.
Plus I don't like selling horses, they are like my babies, thankfully a friend of a friend bought the mare off me that I fell off.

 

[Circe2]

No not at that price. For 2 grand yes.
She was perfectly sweet, but she literally knows nothing , doesn't even know how to ride a circle so considering I would have to pay for help with her, that might be too much money.
Plus I don't like selling horses, they are like my babies, thankfully a friend of a friend bought the mare off me that I fell off.

That’s a shame to hear - I assumed, from the description, that she was alright in the school but needed a bit of work - not that she literally knows nothing! Yes, sounds like a lot more effort than she may be worth..

 

[shortstuff99]

No not at that price. For 2 grand yes.
She was perfectly sweet, but she literally knows nothing , doesn't even know how to ride a circle so considering I would have to pay for help with her, that might be too much money.
Plus I don't like selling horses, they are like my babies, thankfully a friend of a friend bought the mare off me that I fell off.

I thought you weren't able to ride her?

 

[[131452]]

She felt fine on one rein and not fine on the other. I didnt try and canter her after I realised she wasn't sound.

 

[stormox]

Personally I get the impression she's built rather on the forehand, doesnt have much jumping technique and is ridiculously expensive for an ordinary animal thats done very little!

 

[Jango]

I think there's a huge middle ground between sharp young sports horse and a trekking centre cob! Something like a well schooled 8-12 year old ID or TB with a laid back attitude. Which would be safe enough to enjoy now and still enjoyable to ride when you have confidence back. Or even more of a hunting/sporty cob type, especially if you aren't keen to sell on. Just my opinion, I don't know how nervous you are feeling after your accident.

 

[[131452]]

On reflection for a similar amount of money I can get a cob that is schooled at least in the basics so I don't think I will be going back. She is a sweet little mare for someone who wants to put the work in but I doubt she will get that money for her.