To suit teenager or small adult...?

[hula]

Hi,

This might be a daft question, but have been looking for an experienced cobby type for part loan to help with my rehab, for hacking, schooling and maybe some little competitions. Must be sensible and around 14.3hh - 15.3hh.

Found a 15hh 15y/o candidate nearby that used to be a riding school pony. In the photo he looks like a heavy-ish weight cob, it does not mention any health problems. However it does mention would suit teenager or small adult... This has confused me somewhat... I'm 5'7" and 10st 6lb (6ld to go to target!), and very athletic... Am I classed as small?! Never had to think of it before. Also confused at cob looks like a good weight carrier.

What do you think?

 

[Miss L Toe]

You can't be sure until you go and look and suss up the vendor, and the horse, the amount of bone and the general strength will determine the weight carrying capacity.

 

[Abbeygale]

It might be that the current owners have only used the horse for teenagers / small adults and so they think that is what is best for the horse. Or maybe he has had a back problem in the past, and so they don't want to out anyone too heavy on him.

On the face of it I wouldn't have said you would be too heavy for him, but maybe have a chat with the owners to see what they are thinking

 

[hula]

Just spoken to owner, told her my height and weight and situation. Also explained I am slighty twisted atm whilst riding due to an old muscular injury but getting better over time... AND asked if I was suitable, they said yes on the condition that they see me ride (wouldn't loan it without riding anyway) so going after lunch to try him and take him out on a little hack. Taking OH with me to be the brains of the operation , I tend to think with my heart... Fingers crossed

 

[Queenbee87]

Fingers crossed

 

[HarlequinSeren]

Fingers crossed for you, let us know how it goes
HS x

 

[Clofox]

Fingers crossed!
Cf x

 

[hula]

What a strange few hours I've just experienced!!!

Went to go and see prospective part loan horse and met owner , a rather eccentric lady... who informed me straight away "well your a very dainty 10stoner" ?! I came up with no other response but to chuckle at this and joked well you know muscle is heavier than fat, which came back to the response "oh your strong then... good you'll need it, he's a bugger". Me and OH stood looking at each other thinking... OMG. He was advertised as a novice ride, something I'm after to get back into "proper" riding again and help strengthen my injuries up.

Went round to the geldings stable, and there he was in all his chunky hairy glory looking rather unclipped, round and overweight. Asked why he hadn't been clipped and the response was "oh well he hasn't been worked for a while, daughters lost interest", asked when he had last been in regular work and when he was last ridden "oh I don't know september, has been ridden once a week since, last rode him last Monday". So enquired about his usual behaviour "very naughty, strong, but bombproof!" :S OH at this point was glaring at me, not only is he anti-cob, but the look said, don't you dare get on it, and why have you dragged me here. Brought up about him being a novice ride and mentioned my injuries and response "oh yes he is a novice ride and you'll be fine".

Heart was ruling head as usual... He was fine in the stable, perfect manners, groomed him, tacked him up... fine. Climbed aboard in the school, fine, a little lazy and kick along, trotted round for 10 minutes, leg yeilded... asked for canter... BUCK, BUCK, BUCK, BUCK, BUCK right down the long side, owner calling "yes he does do that". Tried a couple of times on a different lead, same response, we also experienced rearing, napping at the gate and tanking off. Getting a tad annoyed asked her "has he had his back checked, has he had his teeth checked, when has the vet last seen him?". Couldn't answer any of them, but then said oh yes was sent back from the riding school for decking people. Went for a little hack 10 mins down the road with OH on foot, OH response was "what a fat ignorant pony they've let him become, you could get him right with some hard work, I'll help you, but what are you going to do when the daughter and owner ride him and let him get away with all of this again, they are utterly clueless" and I have to agree.

I am now home, and politely declined the offer of a loan... Why on EARTH would you advertise a pony like that for a novice?! ARGH!!! 2 youngsters viewed and 1 loan horse viewed all owned by complete muppets and misadvertised. ARGH!!

 

[fatpiggy]

I'd be surprised that a riding school sold what is surely the ideal RS animal - big enough for the adults, small enough for larger children plus a good doer and easy to keep. That would suggest a problem to me.

 

[hula]

Thats a good point fatpiggy I didn't think of that at the time... just got a bit excited when I first saw the advert

And the search continues...

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Just for future reference, horses/ponies advertised as 'suitable for teenager' tend, IME to be nutcases. This one seems to follow the trend.

 

[lara b]

Agree with pearlsinger on that one!

 

[rockysmum]

LOL, I can just about understand telling lies if you are selling.

But why on earth would you do it with a loan

If you live in Leeds I have the perfect pony for you (not the warmblood in my other thread )

 

[hula]

I've loaned in the past but always through friends. I've never had to go through this advertising malarky before. I could get rides for free with OH but back and shoulder are not up for it for the next 6-12months, and some of the horses are fruit loops. So just thought oh could get a nice older horse on loan whilst we find a youngster and turn that away for a while... Not so easy!

Rocks

 

[hula]

Rockymum I'm in the north east unfortunately so a little far!

Glad everyone agrees with me - nutcase! Although I don't know weather to be flattered with the "dainty 10stoner" comment! Lmao!