What do you look for..

I_A_P

I_A_P

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in a young event horse?
i know its a bit of a general question....im thinking 4/5/6 year olds and what you would have liked them to do at those ages, and what you would expect of them.

do you think breeding gives a good idea of how they will turn out-or is it just a reason to stick stupid prices on horses that themselves are not at all proven

just some general thoughts would be great so i can get it a little clearer in my mind
 
Breedign bothers me not at all unless it will be used as a brood etc in the future. Good conformation is a MUST as is temperament. Wouldnt be bothered aslong as it wanted to work what it had been doing unless it was silly £ then I would want relevant results!!
 
Breeding isnt essential IMO but sometimes it helps and of course if you want to do breeding classes.
Good strong feet, nice limbs (not too fine) good back end and kind expressive outlook.
I like a horse to fill the eye, move well but above all have the right temperment.
I like a horse to go forward and take things on. It was the one thing that struck me with snoopy, he was very bold, and although he might have been a bit scared say out hacking to start with he always went.
I do like them to be a bit cheeky too.

Dont have a preference on colour.
 
Dressage - I want them to accept a contact and work off my leg. It's the area I don't mind weakness in as with correct work, it can be vastly improved
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SJ - a pole-concious horse (who either doesn't knock or knocks and takes note of knocking!) who enjoys it.

XC - a bold horse or a nervous horse who listens to his rider.

I'd look for this mainly in 4/5yr old but when they are 6 I'd expect more for the flatwork (ie. working BD novice) and more confident XC.
 
Conformation and attitude.

I do not think you can go wrong with those two things. The conformation should help in it finding things easy and also keeping it sound while attitude will help with the rest.

On a very green horse I like it to learn quickly if you ask for something and jumping I like it to really be happy about it with ears pricked and enjoy it. I also like a bit of a spooky horse as they look, think about things and will take care of themselves.
 
thanks, i was thinking along the same lines-confo is something i will be looking at greaty especially whether or not they are downhill-as my last mare slightly was and she then found the sj more hard as she couldnt get her weight behind so easily-but then in saying that i think at 9 it would have been a slog to get her to change her way of going again!!

do you think as a 5/6 year old that they should be pretty much grown? and therefore wont change as much-or how much would a 4 year old change? as i keep looking at some then thinking "yeh but he could fill out/even up/fill out a lot " as hes only 4-but then what if they dont-i guess its a bit of a gamble in some respects!
Temperament is also very important to me, as is the "kind " look as BBs says and something that is not a dainty dainty little thoroughbred that looks like its legs are about to snap!
i mean i bought my last horse as a 5 rising 6 year old so i have had something younger before-but this time its going to hopefully be a more "special" horse whch will go furthur so dont want to miss anything blaringly obvious!
i will read your replys with interest!
 
echo everyone else!
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I brought my 5 yr old last year(the grey in my sig), hes got great comformation apart from a massive splint and he dishes slightly.... but hes got a fab attitude to work, willing and a quick learner.... he listens well but you do have to gain his trust now i have it he listens to me jumping etc...

sadly we had to have a give way somewhere (ie the dishing and splint) otherwise we couldnt have afforded the type we wished for.
 
Irish horses wont stop growing until they are 7.... I like horses to look "balanced" and be relatively light on their feet as that stands them in good stead in hard work
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More than anything, although hard to tell, the brain and heart. A talented horse is useless unless it will work with you, (although for sure, some of the best are slightly mad!) Some of the best horses don't necessarily have all the talent, but are out and out triers with a huge heart and willingness to get over the other side of a fence.

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Breedign bothers me not at all unless it will be used as a brood etc in the future.

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I disagree quite a lot with the statement, especially in the modern age of short format. There are few stallions that can provide the combination of warmblood-esq movement to lead the dressage (which lets be honest is now pretty essiential) but has the thoroughbred-type stamina, athleticism and speed remaining for xc. Why do you think so many younger horses are by the likes of Mayhill?!
 
Are you looking for something now? I have one that might be for sale in the spring, he's turned away at present (3 rising 4). Backed (was a doddle), got good feet and limbs. Outstanding temprement. Straight mover but not flashy. My main critiscism of him would be his length of rein and workmanlike trot (walk and canter are nice)
 
well iv competed PN although not really reall successfully due to my horse being weak in ther sj phase...ideally i would like something that could easily PN and do N and then maybe more..obviously you cant judge from a young age how well they will do-but hopefully you understand what i mean.

I cant work them right from doing nothing they have to know the basics due to me not having any facilities.

rosiefan- i have seen rosie's horses on horseuqest if you were going to suggest them...
 
no no, not at all - it's the breeding bit. All sorts of horses are perfectly capable of doing the lower levels (given some innate talent on the part of horse and rider, and lots of hard work and luck) but I suspect you're never going to go round Badminton on a cob. Mind you, I'm famous for not knowing what I'm talking about lol
 
I like a willing sort of temperament, one that comes out most days and says"What shall we do today?" rather than "Oh do I have to?"
They have to be bold enough to take on anything asked even if scared, ie water can be stopped at but they must then walk in without too much fight.
I don't mind huge leaps at unknown types of fences, and napping is a pain in the bum.
They must have good enough paces for dressage , don't mind dishing but regular natural rhythm.
Very important they must not hot up.. It is much much easier to pep one up than calm it down..
Of course soundness comes first above all the rest, so a vet's certificate will help persuade me.
We have started lots and lots of horses in their careers, and some stand out more than others, but those who take on fences XC endear themselves to me, it makes it so much easier to only have to refine the Sj and dressage..
As for experience I would rather see a bold green six year old than an over trained four year old..
If the basic ability to learn is in their brains, the rest follows easily enough..
 
Im reading all your posts with real intrest as I bought a 4 year old in the spring, He is ISH so still growing but I bought him for his good confirmation and attitude. He moves well and straight and is a bit naughty but seems up for anything. I have done a small amount of slow work with him and he has proved to be a star, fingers crossed we will do our first intro next year but it depends on how the winter goes. He was not expensive as bought him from a lad who was trying to make some money but I feel that he will do well. My friend who is/was a top eventer says he is typical of his breed but his boldness and lovely flatwork amazes her.

When I was looking I did look for breeding, confirmation and pleasing on the eye (sorry to quote) I really wanted a 5 year old but couldnt afford what I wanted but I love him and am very pleased with him. I dont think I would want to buy a 4 yo again but glad I got him. Your post have been really interesting
 
Everything really- attitude, conformation, and athleticsm. Most of all must have the ' yeah ! I want to do it!- Lets go' attitude. A real love for working.
 
I bought my 4 year old in June and was looking for something to event next year. I really didn't have anything set in stone in my head but always liked and had good results with young ISH. Mine was broken 6 weeks prior to coming over to the UK, he then had 2 weeks in a field with a cold, then I went to see him. He has good legs, a willing, trusting ("okay i'll give it a go) temperament," and a kind eye. He was bit of a "yes man" at first, but now he's stronger his cheeky personality is coming out! Its nice to see. I wanted a nice genuine just broken 4yo that hasn't been messed about with... and if it goes wrong with him .... its mainly my fault, because he's fab!!
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It's so hard to say! I generally just get a feeling about a horse, it's attitude, character, willingness to learn. If you're looking at a baby then quietly ask it to do something it hasnt done before. You'll learn a lot!!
Conformation is important but I wouldnt (and havent!) let a couple of minor things put me off an otherwise nice horse. I would get 5 stage vetting and front foot x-rays.
 
Decent conformation and a good trainable attitude. Something which will give anything a shot. It's all very well going for something that hates touching a pole, but will it then have a fit XC if it hits something? As an amateur we will get it wrong and I want something that will a)think for itself and get me out of trouble, and b) cope if something goes wrong - i.e. it may look at the next fence, but it won't entertain stopping!

I prefer something sane too...after all there are weeks I can't ride every night, don't want to fear for my life when I get back on....or when I go to a show etc etc.
 
After my search I became conformation obsessed! lol

But I didn't have much to spend and saw a lot of 'interesting' horses as some people on here will remember
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I eventually went for confo and temperament, but ended up with a argumentative so and so, who is immensely talented I just need to work out how to ride him!

Godd luck on your search
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I would be happy to sacrifice small comformational details if I was looking for a long term horse, rather than a project to sell on.

Better the attitude and heart and of course natural athleticism and ability.

I have a cracking conformationally correct homebred pony here. He is a super fun horse, loves hacking and hunting but does not want to be a top comp pony. He has a fab jump with super technique and can clear 4ft. However he does not have the heart and I have to sell him.
 
first, conformation, particularly limb and hoof. without that, you have nothing. unsounds horses are heartbreakers and cost a fortune. eventing is SO tough on them, if they have a weakness, eventing will expose it.
next, trainability. i've had the "look of the eagles" untrainable type, and the nothing-special-to-look-at workmanlike totally trainable type, and the latter wins hands down, every time. i have a little exercise i use when i try horses, which i can pretty-much guarantee they won't have been asked before, and i use that as a temperament/trainability test, because i can judge from that what their answer to most new questions will be. PM me about it if you want!
next, and i'm going to get shot down in flames for this, breeding - but type, not particular sire/dam. Irish x tb, or any other native x tb.
(someone whose opinion i really rate told me recently that the warmbloods just aren't as tough, don't stand up to the work the way irish and tb horses do, generally have much shorter careers. this it totally borne out by my experience.)
basic paces must be reasonably good. i like a good hindleg step in canter, even in a raw horse you can see this, i think. a decent walk. if they don't have a good walk, they're not going to have a good gallop.
scope, it's got to show some... although i've sat on good horses who showed no more jump over 2' than they did over 4' or more... some just 'step a fence', that's their style. but it has to give me a feel of having some power off the floor.
what it does with its front end over a fence. if it doesn't lift its knees and forearms, i don't want to ride it. unless you are very accurate, you will miss occasionally, and if you miss and get deep, it's the ones who can fold their front legs like a praying mantis that get you out of jail!
rideability to a fence. i don't want a horse that locks on like a missile and ignores my input... i know what's coming xc, he doesn't, so i expect the horse to listen and wait if i ask it to, for safety's sake!
not been wrecked on the flat. if it's clueless, i'm happier, tbh... what i don't want is one that is used to being socked around and winched in, and has learnt that flatwork = pain and tension. i went to try one that the girl schooled in a waterford... you can just imagine what the contact was like, the poor beast.
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i'd rather have one that's just been sent forward nicely and allowed to find its own balance, never asked into an outline.
that's about it for a first checklist!
very very best of luck finding one... there's some lovely horses out there, and it's the best time to buy them.
 
good conformation, balanced, working into a nice contact and off the leg, not on forehand and nice big uphill paces are nice. trainability a want to learn and do more. Straight mover
Good rhythm for both jumping and flat.

jumping wise; scopey bold brave and most importantly willing they must actually WANT to do it. not wnating to touch poles is also good.
a nice temprament is also a lovely extra!!
I also think good breeding is nice but deffinately not the deciding factor.

I know of a cracking 4 y/o mare that fits the above description if your interested!
 
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