Video- What do people think of this horse?

Best of luck with her OP. I like her but would not pay 1850. Offer £1250 and see what they say. Has she come from Ireland? They usually break them at 2. Get a 2 stage vetting at least done. First thing I would do would be to trim all that hair off and pull/hog the mane! With some good schooling lessons she will do you fine - just make sure you carry a long whip just in case that nap surfaces again but it doesn't look that bad to me.

How big is she? Are there any better photos? A lot of cobs have very straight back legs - can cause issues with hocks at a later date.
 
Yeah the other man that runs the dealers is in Ireland and backs them then sends them other to be sold. I would defo hog her the man did say they have hogged her before and she looked really smart. She is around 15'1 / 15'2 and she is 6 nearly 7. I will post some more pics now
 
puli said:
Well I have been to see her and she is really nice and sweet she has great manners and loves a cuddle and a stroke. The man said she had been backed at two then just ridden out on hacks so that's why she is so green I think. I took her for a hack she was ok a bit slow and I had to kick a lot but when she got going she was ok. She walked past other horses ok and is very good in traffic we had a bus and lots of very fast cars pass us and a bike she did not look once at them. I got her to trot it was very active and was really comfy she feels forward in trot but very ploddy in walk. The only issue I had with her was the amount of kicking to get her going but she did go as soon as I was given a whip. When i first got on i was nervous and she was more ploddy but as i felt more relaxed with her she started to listen more and got going more. She does not stand still when you mount. She also walked past a very scary plastic bag that was blowing but she did not spook at all she stopped to look at things but that was it. I am now really not sure what to do, i do think that we some more work she will be really good and will be just what i am looking for and she has great personality see seems like she would be very good fun and man did say she can jump. I am just worried if i would be able to get her going at home i think i will talk to my instructor about her as i would need lessons to help bring her on. She also had a very strong bond with the man and did want to be with him a lot which is why i think she went a bit ploddy with me. So yeah i am total stuck on what to do now i have told the people that i am going to think about it. They said she is £1850 but i would try to get that price down and she comes with no tack but the tack they used had a three different pads to get it too fit so i would not really want their tack anyway
Click to expand...

I'd look at it this way: If you like her on second viewing, make an offer that reflects the fact that she needs some schooling to get her a bit more responsive, and then wait and see...

My first cob had a very slow walk too. He was short striding in walk, so although the 'timing' of his steps was fine, we didn't go forwards as much as a more long legged horse. This was fine when I hacked him alone, but when I hacked out with finer horses, we had to walk,jog,walk, jog, to keep up - I found it easier to hack out alone tbh, as it was unfair to expect my boy to do endless transitions just to keep up with the other horse(s) who were having a nice relaxing hack. But maybe in your case, a better fitting saddle would enable the mare to move forwards more comfortably in walk.

Just to add fuel to the fire, there are a few cobs that look quite nice on Dragon Driving at the moment, with a little mare that's a similar age to the one you looked at, but she's quite a bit cheaper (although a bit smaller) (she's the one with a man in a hacking jacket riding her). I know the site has some 'curious' horses and dealers on it, but there looks to be a few nice ones on there at the moment. If nothing else, it's good to compare a few horses before making your mind up.

All the best.
 
Yeah i have looked at a few other horses on different websites and i have seen a few which sound nice. The issue i have is they are all so far away we drove nearly 3 hours to see the horse in the video. I do want to do a second viewing but not i am going to be able to get down there again.
 
Do you know what they did with her between backing her at 2 and sending her over to be sold as a 6/7 year old?

I'm afraid that I don't get her being ploddy because of her bond with the man but the most important thing is that you like her and have the support that you need for a long term relationship with this mare.
 
Her feet were bad they had chunks missing out of them. No idea all I know is that she was backed at 2 in Ireland that's it the man said he hacks her out a lot on the roads and he rode her first and took her for a hack along the road before I got on and she was fine
 
Last edited:
Having looked at the video and the extra photos again I certainly would not be offering the asking price. Her feet are in poor condition and it won't be the first time that a dealer has used the old chestnut of the farrier letting them down ....

Also it might just be the angle of the camera but in one photo she looked like two separate halves of a horse - a lot of front, not much space for a saddle and very straight through the hocks.

I don't want to rain on your parade puli but I do think you could find something better for the money. Having said that though it is you who will have to live with the horse but I would definitely get her vetted if you do decide to go ahead.
 
Caveat Emptor.

She is an Irish Vanner, no doubt bred on a bog, roughly broken and shipped to the UK for someone to pay a silly price for. I would be looking very carefully at the date on her passport. She would be a typical 'how old would you like it to be'. Her mouth would be my first place to examine. I bet your 'man' has had her all of five minutes. Her passport should show when she came into his ownership.

Conformation wise she is very thick through the gullet and the back end does not match the front. I see a horse built so heavily on the forehand that is it dragging itself along. The walk is very difficult gait to improve regardless of the breed or type.

If she went through Brightwells she would be lucky to fetch £400.
 
Last edited:
OP it sounds like you really like her, but I would strongly advise you at least go back for a second viewing with your instructor in tow and see what they think. When you hacked her out did you go out with another horse or just the seller on foot? Did she lead or just follow?

I'd also get out and view a couple more horses to get a true feel for what you want. As someone who has spent the past 2 years bringing on a green irish cob, much of that time being spent overcoming a nasty napping habit and blind ignorance when it came to aids, I would think long and hard about whether you have the skills and support to bring this mare on and more importantly whether you even want to?
 
The man rode her first up the road then I got on her and took her for a hack the owner was behind me she was very ploddy then the man stopped and took her off by myself down the road and she was fine and she picked up her pace. I will see some more horses if I see any advertised which sound suitable. I do really like her but I now how green she is and I am not total sure weather I am good enough to bring out the best in her.
 
puli said:
The man rode her first up the road then I got on her and took her for a hack the owner was behind me she was very ploddy then the man stopped and took her off by myself down the road and she was fine and she picked up her pace. I will see some more horses if I see any advertised which sound suitable. I do really like her but I now how green she is and I am not total sure weather I am good enough to bring out the best in her.
Click to expand...

It's a tough call. With the right help and support I would definitely say it's do-able, but from personal experience I know even after more than 20 years of riding and owning there have been times when my boy has reduced me to tears and made me question whether I made the right decision. That said, he is honestly the most rewarding little horse I've ever had as I know that every success we have is down to the hard work I've put in with him.

If you do take her on do you have the funds to have weekly lessons and perhaps pay your instructor to also ride her once or twice a week?
 
OP, do you have an instructor currently?

I would ask the man for a second viewing, and if you have an instructor, ask them to come along with you and try her. A more experienced instructor will hopefully be able to give you a non-biased, honest opinion as to if they think you suit the horse. Please keep in mind that she probably knows her hacking routes where she is now, in a new yard and new place she might prove to be a lot spookier and nappier if she doesn't know her surroundings.

You have to remember that there's more than just riding as well - you need to be able to handle her in the stable and on the ground. There is a big difference between riding a horse once, and having to care for them every day. Younger, greener horses especially need a lot of discipline, and a lot of groundwork outside of riding.

You obviously really like this mare, but please please consider all the work that will go into her and get at least one unbiased opinion before you make any decisions - and definitely get a thorough vetting on her, I would be wary of any horse broken at 2 especially if they're a slower-maturing type like a cob.
 
This is tough. She is quite pretty and I want to avoid letting that sway me as I like coloureds! BUT she is very straight in the back legs, very very heavy in front and so short backed I doubt you'd find a saddle easily. Definitely take someone else and go back for another look if you want to, but I wouldn't offer more than £1400 for her at a push. And definitely get a vet check!
 
puli said:
The man rode her first up the road then I got on her and took her for a hack the owner was behind me she was very ploddy then the man stopped and took her off by myself down the road and she was fine and she picked up her pace. I will see some more horses if I see any advertised which sound suitable. I do really like her but I now how green she is and I am not total sure weather I am good enough to bring out the best in her.
Click to expand...

You will need to have a second viewing/ride on her, so why not drop by another dealer that's nearby. I'll say straight away, that I know nothing about either of these dealers - it's 17 years since I last bought a horse, but I've seen the little mare you looked at on the dealers website and saw that he's based in Coventry. There's another dealer which looks to be nearby and he has a Facebook page; he's called Blake McCusker and he has a fair few cobs for sale at any one time.

I'll reiterate that I personally know nothing about either of the dealers, other than what I've read on here, but I do think you need to keep looking a little while longer just to make sure you've tried a few different horses and to compare like for like and prices.

Another dealer who has quite a few cobs for sale is Sarah Bisby. She's South Yorkshire. Again, I've only seen her horses for sale on FB, so cannot offer any advice on her horses and whether they are good, bad or indifferent. Maybe someone on here can enlighten you further?

All the best:-)
 
I'm glad you had a look at her. Even if you decide not to have her, she has given you a benchmark and it sounds as though she has given you a bit of confidence to carry through to your next viewing.
As people say, you can always do better - if you have the time, patience, money and perseverance to keep looking. There is always another horse with better conformation, better training, a better history ( or perhaps better lies) but the thing to keep in mind is that you are buying a horse for YOU. You must choose the one that makes you feel good, the one that gives you the confidence to ride. You probably could buy something similar in a sale for a few hundred quid - but would you want to take the risk? You could also pay a lot more for a horse that seems perfect, but isn't!
So just think about what you feel and what you want to do with her. If you heard tomorrow that she was sold, would you be upset or indifferent?
 
AdorableAlice said:
Caveat Emptor.

She is an Irish Vanner, no doubt bred on a bog, roughly broken and shipped to the UK for someone to pay a silly price for. I would be looking very carefully at the date on her passport. She would be a typical 'how old would you like it to be'. Her mouth would be my first place to examine. I bet your 'man' has had her all of five minutes. Her passport should show when she came into his ownership.

Conformation wise she is very thick through the gullet and the back end does not match the front. I see a horse built so heavily on the forehand that is it dragging itself along. The walk is very difficult gait to improve regardless of the breed or type.

If she went through Brightwells she would be lucky to fetch £400.
Click to expand...

you sum it up better than me, it was her front end I particularly didn't like as I can't imagine her ever being able to feel light in the hand.
 
I'd give £300 unseen just off the back of this video and I hate coloured cobs!

She is green - she's trying bless her but she hasn't a clue what she's doing and her rider is simultaneously managing to nag with seat, legs and hands - which is quite a feat considering she has no contact either. The rider has assumed an armchair position and is not helping this little mare out at all by thumping down on her back. Her lower leg is nearly forward of the mares's when she "asks" for canter.

Put a rider on her and you'd see a difference immediately.

Fwiw, I think she's worth a punt - she's a baby who's trying. For a novice she'd be a sweetheart for a year until she *thinks* she can pull a trick or two.
 
FestiveFuzz said:
It's a tough call. With the right help and support I would definitely say it's do-able, but from personal experience I know even after more than 20 years of riding and owning there have been times when my boy has reduced me to tears and made me question whether I made the right decision. That said, he is honestly the most rewarding little horse I've ever had as I know that every success we have is down to the hard work I've put in with him.

If you do take her on do you have the funds to have weekly lessons and perhaps pay your instructor to also ride her once or twice a week?
Click to expand...

At which point it can be more economical to have more of the basics in place to start.
 
If I found out she was sold I would feel a little upset as I would be thinking maybe she was right. I have the time and I would be willing to work with her but again it comes down to the fact that I am not the mose experienced person in the world so maybe she would benefit from someone else. Then I think if she was the right horse then really should I have an doubts at all about buying her
 
The "rider" is doing this horse no favours and the mare seems to be genuinely trying.I think she looks a bit of a sweetie and give her a year without ill fitting tack and a good instructor she may be what you're looking for:-)
 
£300 is a very different proposition to the asking price.

OP I still think for the money you can get yourself something better put together and with a better/less dubious history. I certainly think you should only buy this one having had someone with an experienced eye put over her and a vetting from a vet of your choosing (not the dealers).

The photos you took really do show a mismatched front and back end so she isn't the sort of build that is going to find changing her way of going easy, and don't forget that is all liked into soundness etc not just a pleasant ride.
Is she shod?
 
Last edited:
W
puli said:
If I found out she was sold I would feel a little upset as I would be thinking maybe she was right. I have the time and I would be willing to work with her but again it comes down to the fact that I am not the mose experienced person in the world so maybe she would benefit from someone else. Then I think if she was the right horse then really should I have an doubts at all about buying her
Click to expand...

You will never be totally free of doubt when you buy a personal horse, it's just too big an event and not the same at all as buying a horse to sell on etc. Perhaps you need to see a few that you don't take to, or are totally indifferent about. Whatever happens, don't allow anyone else to talk you into or out of anything ( unless of course, you suddenly decide you want a 17h wild stallion or something!).
 
I will defo look at more horses, when I brought my mare who I have now we just clicked and I knew straight away that she would be perfect I have no doubts at all about buying her.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Caveat Emptor.

She is an Irish Vanner, no doubt bred on a bog, roughly broken and shipped to the UK for someone to pay a silly price for. I would be looking very carefully at the date on her passport. She would be a typical 'how old would you like it to be'. Her mouth would be my first place to examine. I bet your 'man' has had her all of five minutes. Her passport should show when she came into his ownership.

Conformation wise she is very thick through the gullet and the back end does not match the front. I see a horse built so heavily on the forehand that is it dragging itself along. The walk is very difficult gait to improve regardless of the breed or type.

If she went through Brightwells she would be lucky to fetch £400.
Click to expand...

In the video her hocks looked really active. Certainly not the front end dragging the hind along.

I really like her, but my only worry would be her feet and whether that is the reason for her pasterns being at quite an acute angle.
 
puli said:
I will defo look at more horses, when I brought my mare who I have now we just clicked and I knew straight away that she would be perfect I have no doubts at all about buying her.
Click to expand...

There you are then! You have experience of your own and don't really need any help from here. I suspect this thread is just muddying the water.
Don't forget to show us your new horse when you get him/her. Hopefully no one will be too rude!
 
I just wanted peoples opinions on her as I was not too sure from the video. I will defo show lots of pics when I get a new horsey
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top