What does everyone think of this horse?

The ad says "no novices", you have not owned a horse before and have only loaned and you are asking how easy is it to stop a horse napping, frankly i think that puts you in the novice group. Please dont buy this horse as it will only become a problem horse due to lack of experience and knowledge on your side, find something that has done it all already. Good luck
 
It sounds like an honest ad and the horse is obviously young and still green so will require more than a novice to bring it to its potential. I don't think it sounds like the horse for you. Keep looking :)
 
a welsh that has napping issues needs someone who knows how to work them through it, or at the very least has access to a regular rider who can do this. Just because you've loaned and not owned doesn't make you novice, but asking how easy it is to cure a napper, would make me believe that you are probably too novice for this horse maybe? especially when it's so far away, you'd really want to ride it a couple of times on different days etc.
 
I'd also say that he naps. In regards to how easy it is to break - how long's a piece of string? It depends if its developed into a habit. Mine went away for reschooling for a month and came back still napping. He's 16 and Ive had him a year. The only thing that helps him is being on a calmer and being ridden more positively. He's a naturally nervy horse though.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend buying such a young horse for your first one. The deal breaker for me would be the horse's personality and temperament. For instance, Ive just bought an 8 yr old and despite being green in the school she's unphased by anything. She's worth her weight in gold as my 16yr stresses about things like bins when off his calmer!
 
Good in open spaces, regularly hacked out in busy traffic, would benefit from a little work hacking alone as he has mostly been ridden in company whilst we have had him allthough he goes fine alone with someone walking with him.
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I'd say that that^ is more than just a little bit nappy. Napping can be fixed but it can also return (eg with a new rider the horse can return to it's nappy ways). If you have confidence issues, then a nappy horse could quickly take the confidence that you do have away.

I would ring and try to wangle from then exactly what the horse does when it's alone (without a human walking with him). Is he just spooky (but keeps going forwards past scary things) when he's alone or is it something else?

* Does he plant himself and refuse to move?
* Does he run backwards?
* Does he whip-around/spin or try to go back home?
* Does he rush frantically past scary things?
* Does he jump sideways at birds in the hedges or at litter on the verge?

Also you need to try and find out if they are nervous riding him. Some horses just have no confidence in their current rider and are fine with someone else.
 
sorry but I am another one that doesn't think you have the experience to deal with a nappy horse, never mind a nappy welsh!!

I would advise you avoid welshies as while they look pretty they are really not a first owner horse.

Also I think with a napping issue he is expensive

It is possible to buy a nice type for that money. I did not too long ago
 
I have loaned a 4 year old before, but have never dealt with napping. Going to ring and enquire tomorrow with that list of questions someone posted. We honestly won't buy him if he is more than we can handle. :)
 
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I think for 2500 you should be able to find a horse that is much better suited to your needs - thats a lot of money for a horse that has issues....

good luck with your search though - its hard, as you obviously like this one !
 
Good luck. :)

There are lots of nice horses out there but you do have to be careful (people lie) so it is best to have your skeptical hat on and get an independant vetting when you find a horse that you like and want to buy. I would also advise that you don't overhorse yourself. Some of the best horses that I have known have been quirky, but you need to be able to cope with the quirks easily. I like to think of myself and my horse as a team. When you try a horse, ask yourself, 'do we make a good team, do we work well together?'
 
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Sounds and looks like a nice young horse that has had the basics done with him and needs bringing on. Doesn't mean he's a napper, bucker, rearer or any other vices just green.

The advert states no novices because they don't want numptys taking on a horse an ruining him and want him to go to the best home possible. There are no fixed rules to who a novice is. Just because you haven't owned before doesn't make you a novice. You could have 30 years of loaning experience and we don't know if you had those horses on full loan or you just turned up and rode twice a week?

OP, i don't know your experience and just because you were a loaner most of your horsey life doesn't mean you couldn't handle a youngster. Just be honest about your riding experience and if possible have people around you that you can trust and rely on if you need help.

The seller has put the experience the horse has and if you feel you can cope then give them a call and have a chat, he could end up being your dream 1st horse.

If you do go and have a look at him make sure you try him doing everything you want to do with him at home and if you can, take an experienced person with you just to give you an unbiased opinion.

Good luck :)
 
Faracat said:
They are often TB's in cobby clothing. ;)
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Give me a tb any day! Never had a tb use their shoulders against me, once you loose them in a cob you've lot the battle!

Just to reitterate what everyone else said, but then I'd never owned a horse before and bought a five year old ex-racer for my first horse, we're doing very well together BUT I wouldn't buy such a green horse again as I'm not overly motivated to put the time in with his schooling (when we could be going for a fun cantery gallopy hack instead!).

How to cure napping?! Depends what on earth he does, my horses trick is to plant and refuse to move. Some horses rear, some spin, some spook and jog, some drop a shoulder and p!ss off home whether you want to or not!
 
We have a sharer for our current loan who would school him if needed. I might not be up for this one as haven't schooled a green horse myself before, but like I said we have help and if he is too green/naps then we won't buy him! (no harm in looking though just in case ;) ) Thanks for the help! :)
 
No where in the advert does he say he naps, has ever napped or if the OP rides, is going to nap...

Someone else mentioned the word napper and everyone else has gone on about it ever since.

Yes the horse is young and hasn't hacked alone but clearly states, he has hacked in company and hacked with someone walking with him. This doesn't mean he naps he just hasn't been out by himself.

OP, i would phone the seller and ask why he's never been out on his own. Maybe they only have busy roads and it's best going out in company, Maybe the current rider isn't confident to go out on their own etc etc

Without speaking the the seller you won't know the full story. As someone else said, people lie so make sure you check out everything for yourself and if in doubt walk way, but your right if your drawn to this horse then go and have a look.
 
Going back to the advert, I think its pretty expensive for what it is, and that you can't see much from the photos. I'm another who would want much more horse for that money...
 
annabel2009 said:
HAHA I love this quote!

I have one of each.. a tb and a welsh. The welsh is much more opinated and likes to stick his hooves in his ears and do things his way! Nappy welsh's arn't easy!

I'd keep looking. :)
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Lol - me too. My TB is much easier to ride!
 
Hi Jaybe,

I, like you was in the same situation last year.

I had loaned all my life (a welsh section D, top dressage hors) and last year decided to buy my own. I bought a welsh D X cross hackney similar to your advert, had a nappy side on his own, but ok in company, i paid the same amount and to be honest I have never looked back.

I am very confident and try to take him out on his own all the time unless with a very calm and chilled horse and owner. It takes time but I can take him out whenever now, we sometimes come across some issues but he trusts me enough now and we both overcome these as and when they come up.

Best thing to do is get lessons, build your confidence and go from there with him. It personally wouldnt put me off but depends how confident you are, go and view and ask to take him out in company and with someone on foot and see what you think.

Good luck, he is beautiful by the way and looks like he enjoys the beach!

keep us posted! :D
 
kelly_s1 said:
Hi Jaybe,

I, like you was in the same situation last year.

I had loaned all my life (a welsh section D, top dressage hors) and last year decided to buy my own. I bought a welsh D X cross hackney similar to your advert, had a nappy side on his own, but ok in company, i paid the same amount and to be honest I have never looked back.

I am very confident and try to take him out on his own all the time unless with a very calm and chilled horse and owner. It takes time but I can take him out whenever now, we sometimes come across some issues but he trusts me enough now and we both overcome these as and when they come up.

Best thing to do is get lessons, build your confidence and go from there with him. It personally wouldnt put me off but depends how confident you are, go and view and ask to take him out in company and with someone on foot and see what you think.

Good luck, he is beautiful by the way and looks like he enjoys the beach!

keep us posted! :D
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Thanks :). I would like to think I am pretty confident! Plus have got a good yard, sharer and lessons lined up so I am sure whatever horse we get it will be fine!
 
Why don't these ads have a decent photo of the horse ridden? If you are selling a horse as a riding horse no 1 pic should be of it ridden, its just my pet hate.
 
What was on your wish list when looking for a horse? Are you looking for a youngster to bring on? If yes then you have considered the usual problems that come with a horse, e.g. most of them are green, most of them are likely to go through a naughty/nappy phase, most of them need facilities and training support, most of them need a lot of time spent on gently bringing them on, etc. and if you like the look this one then why not visit and see what you think?

If you were looking for a totally different type of horse, e.g. something established that you could enjoy straight away, or compete with, or have hassle free hacks, then no, don't look at this one or anything else this young.
 
Booboos said:
What was on your wish list when looking for a horse? Are you looking for a youngster to bring on? If yes then you have considered the usual problems that come with a horse, e.g. most of them are green, most of them are likely to go through a naughty/nappy phase, most of them need facilities and training support, most of them need a lot of time spent on gently bringing them on, etc. and if you like the look this one then why not visit and see what you think?

If you were looking for a totally different type of horse, e.g. something established that you could enjoy straight away, or compete with, or have hassle free hacks, then no, don't look at this one or anything else this young.
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Our wishlist is - good doer, (ideally) no shoes, around 15hh and a youngish horse (about 6 originally.) We also wanted one that we liked the look of and hacks in traffic which is why this one caught our eye!
 
jaybe said:
Our wishlist is - good doer, (ideally) no shoes, around 15hh and a youngish horse (about 6 originally.) We also wanted one that we liked the look of and hacks in traffic which is why this one caught our eye!
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From what you say it sounds like this chap fits quite a lot of what you want. Based on the advert alone, I would say the photos are rubbish, he does not look professionally schooled (he looks rather poorly schooled in the photos) and I would worry about his overall confidence if he needs someone to walk with him when hacking alone - you may need to consider whether you could cope with teaching a horse this or compromise and never hack him alone. Other than that he looks very nice!
 
Hudsonw - it was simply suggested that reading between the lines it sounds like the horse has confidence issues which may have led to the horse napping.

By all means call about the horse but from my own experiences I wouldn't recommend a welshy for your first horse. Have you considered cob x's?

I also think that they are asking for a lot of money for him. To put it in perspective,I paid a lot less than halve for an 8yr old cob x that is safe - she'll happily ride past tractors, trains, buses etc and would also hack fine alone.
 
Booboos said:
From what you say it sounds like this chap fits quite a lot of what you want. Based on the advert alone, I would say the photos are rubbish, he does not look professionally schooled (he looks rather poorly schooled in the photos) and I would worry about his overall confidence if he needs someone to walk with him when hacking alone - you may need to consider whether you could cope with teaching a horse this or compromise and never hack him alone. Other than that he looks very nice!
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Thanks. :) I might phone tomorrow and see if he has hacked alone/what he does and maybe take a trip down to Cumbria!
 
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