Using a paid rider to trial a prospective new horse?

[DonskiWA]

I’m in a locked down state in Australia. It’s making horse shopping a tad tricky. I am considering pay someone (friend of my coach, supposedly a very good rider), to go and trial the horse on my behalf. Not ideal of course, but it may be the only option.
Has anyone done this before?

 

[paddi22]

you'd be better off getting your trainer to go as they would know your riding style. I'd prefer to see a weaker rider rider a horse instead of a very good rider. A horse will often go well and with no issues with a confident rider. you want to pick out faults with the horse when you try it, not paper them over.

 

[DonskiWA]

you'd be better off getting your trainer to go as they would know your riding style. I'd prefer to see a weaker rider rider a horse instead of a very good rider. A horse will often go well and with no issues with a confident rider. you want to pick out faults with the horse when you try it, not paper them over.[/QUO

 

[DonskiWA]

Unfortunately my trainer is locked down here with me. Horse in question is about 800km away interstate.

 

[paddi22]

what kind of level of riding do you want the horse for? that would be the main criteria then for having someone try it. if it 's high level then a pro rider would be fine. but if you want a forgiving horse that needs to help a rider out, then you would want someone who would know how to test it for that.

 

[Kahlua]

I am from Australia and have done this for a couple of people back home for horses located here in the UK and in Europe. All horses decided upon to move forward have been suitable matches and are going well as I discussed with riders and their coaches beforehand what they were looking for and current abilities / future aims. As long as the person who is looking for you is experienced, and honest, you get a solid vet check and are very black and white with what you are looking for, you should be fine - but understand if you aren’t looking at the horse yourself then you do take a risk so it’s super important to be clear on your non-negotatiables.

 

[Flicker]

I have had a friend’s daughter trial a horse for me because it was hours away. She is a cracking rider and would get a song out of a rocking horse. She is also a ride judge. I asked her to ride the horse as she would in the show ring - ie not school it, just ride it. I also asked her to try out a couple of less clear aids to check how it dealt with those. And take it for a hack.
She came back with a very thorough evaluation which indicated that the horse wasn’t right for me. It was a helpful exercise and saved me a lot of time!

 

[oldie48]

I have had a friend’s daughter trial a horse for me because it was hours away. She is a cracking rider and would get a song out of a rocking horse. She is also a ride judge. I asked her to ride the horse as she would in the show ring - ie not school it, just ride it. I also asked her to try out a couple of less clear aids to check how it dealt with those. And take it for a hack.
She came back with a very thorough evaluation which indicated that the horse wasn’t right for me. It was a helpful exercise and saved me a lot of time!

I do similar when I am looking for a horse. I also like the pro rider to put pressure on to see how the horse reacts because I know initially I won't do this but I do need to know how the horse will react if asked to work at a higher level. Also had a pro canter the horse towards home etc, do those things that might present a problem. I've always been there but i can see it would also work if I wasn't.

 

[Wishfilly]

I think for me, it would have to be a pro I knew and trusted. I'd want everything videoed, as well as being told about the horse by the pro.

As others have said, a lot of pro riders are used to getting tunes out of green/tricky young horses and can mask faults or problems with the horse without even really being aware of it. A lot of horses who would "try it on" with a weaker rider wouldn't with a pro.

But if you had someone who's done this before, or who knows your level of riding well, it could work.

 

[spacefaer]

I've done it - friend of mine went to see one last week for me. He's a point to point rider - very good Irish jockey. He took the horse for a hack - including back past its own yard, cantered it in the field, jumped some natural obstacles and then took it back into the school and popped a few coloured poles. Nothing too technical but enough to get an idea of his temperament and general attitude - to me, that's as important as anything else.

Horse passed a very strong 5 stage vetting and arrived with me at 3 am today.

Cost a lot less in time and money than me going!

 

[Mule]

I wouldn't. Often a horse can be fine but they aren't comfortable to ride or have tiny strides or aren't forward enough but might be forward enough for another rider. They vary so much in flexibility too. You'd get used to all that I suppose but it's something to be aware off.

 

[ihatework]

I’ve done it for someone in here. But not in terms of them buying unseen, more to decide if it was worth them travelling to view.