Welsh D x Warmblood for novices?

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FinellaGlen

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I have never liked Welsh Section Ds because, in my experience, they are sharp, bolshy and generally difficult (apologies to all Welsh D fans) and I would never buy one. However, I recently bought an IDx for my novice OH and we have had a lot of problems because it is extremely sharp and spooky and has put me on the ground twice. It is now being re-schooled and I have found out its true breeding - Welsh Section D x Warmblood! Am I stupid or what? On the plus side it is a very handsome horse with a loving character, it is just not a novice ride. No real point to this post - just wanted to 'fess up to being stupid......
 
You're not stupid but no, horsey doesn't sound even remotely suitable for a novice! I take it you're keeping him then, being as he's being re-schooled at the moment?
 
Just form your post title I thought, gorgeous but a handfull, sounds like my stereotype was right this time!

Hope the reschooling goes well and you end up with a lovely chap.

I'm starting to think that these "How to Buy a Horse" guides should all mention that you won't be riding much in the first year no matter how careful you are when buying.
 
I have a Welsh D X TB and she is the safest of my lot to hack out on our narrow country lane, so not all Welsh D's are bad, she's never bolshy, sharp yes, but that comes from her dads side (Criminal Law) and as for spooky, she like to put her head in the skip at the yard when it is full of flappy plastic, so no not spooky.......
 
I have a sec D x warmblood, she is stunning but spooky, sharp, bolshy and definately not for a novice, she is nine but acts more stupid at times than my dutch 3 year old.
 
We have pretty well decided to sell him, although I would like to keep him if his re-schooling goes well but I can't justify two horses just for me to ride plus he is too big for me at nearly 17hh. OH has been put off by this experience and says he doesn't want to buy another horse for himself although I think that given time he will do because he spends so much time at the yard with me and he loves my pony.
 
I managed to find his breeder from some pieces of paper that came in an envelope with the horse. He originally came from South Wales. I think, reading between the lines, that the breeding "programme" may have been a bit indiscriminate. I still think that he has back problems by the way and I am getting a McTimoney lady out to him as soon as I can get an appointment. If he is in pain and this lady can sort it out for him then I hope that his training will progress. At the moment he is out at grass for a few days until he can be looked at properly.
 
I have what I believed to be an ID x WB but have been told by lots of people that he looks like he's section D!
What do you all think?
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Anyway he's a rock to hack out - I'd honestly take him down the M1 - but in the school he can be very argumentative & if he doesn't want to do something instead of kicking off he'll just pretend you're not asking! Jumping gets him very giddy especially XC schooling through water!
Very loving character though and I think he's quite an easy lad! Bought him at 4yrs he's 6yrs now & is twice as big as he was when I got him!
 
I have a Welsh x Tb too and he is also the sweetest, considerate, well-mannered, loving horse I have ever met- certainly not bolshy or hard to handle. I would however not describe him as a novice ride as he can be excitable and a bit spooky as well as very forward-going- but he's never nasty- just full of typical welsh cheek and playfulness
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!
 
I used to have a welsh D, she wasnt scared of anything but she was evil to ride. Would NEVER have another one, ever.
Every one Ive known has been a bugger!
 
I am afraid that I share your experience St_Bernard. I've never met a Sec D that I have liked. I am not saying that there are not some jolly nice ones out there but I just haven't met one yet! I know what you mean about cheekiness rather that bolshiness Charlyan but I don't think that my novice OH could cope with much cheekiness at this stage. The horse we bought isn't cheeky or bolshy mind you - he's just scared of his own shadow. We are hoping that he will improve if he has some effective treatment for what we believe to be back problems but I don't think he will metamorphose into a novice ride, unfortunately.

Baileydoo - how does your horse move? I think that the action can tell you a lot. Our horse has a very extravagant trot and he managed to knock OH off balance several times going into trot because his movement is so big and onward bound and OH wasn't prepared for it!
 
He's very stiff in trot at the moment he hasn't learned how to relax his jaw, take the rein and stretch out. However, even though he's not supple & swinging along he still manages to bounce me all over!!!! His canter has been described as 'gorgeous'!
 
Forgot to add that my boy had suspected back problems when we bought him (although obviously we didn't know that at the time!) - he had 9 months off work following a trip to Newmarket where they couldn't find anything skeletally wrong with him! Must have been muscular?!
Anyway since coming back into work he's been brilliant and (touch wood) haven't had any problems!
Is your horse very compact?
 
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