What made you choose your horse?

[FinellaGlen]

Assuming that your horse wasn't bought for you/given to you/bred by you, what made you choose that particular one?

Most people have favourite breeds or like a particular body type or look of the head etc but did you choose your horse primarily because of the way it looked or because you thought it could do the job you wanted it to do whether that was hunting, jumping, eventing, hacking out etc?

I bought my first 3 horses in a pretty random kind of way I think.

I had certain criteria in mind such as they mustn't be nutters and I didn't want a really heavy horse but, apart from that, I didn't apply much in the way of sense probably! My current horse (and the best one I've ever had) was the result of hours of research on the internet, speaking to people and joining the Highland Pony Society etc.

I just wondered how other people went about horse buying.

 

[Super_Kat]

With Missy I just adored her and I really enjoyed riding her so I had her.

With Olympic I knew he was more than capable of doing what I want to do and I'd totally lost my confidence jumping (to the point that poles on the floor reduced me to tears). I loved riding him on the flat and after taking ages to pluck up the courage to jump a 1' x-pole I just pointed him at it, sat there like a lemon and held onto the martingale neckstrap and he just popped it quietly. We did the same a few more times and we jumped a few more small fences, he was as good as gold and for the first time in ages I actually enjoyed jumping

Just over 5 months after he arrived I went out and jumped my first affiliated 1.10m

Woody - He's just a total dude.....Plain and simple

I had so much fun riding him, he's got such a huge personality and is a real character as well as the best big ears

Plus he fit my criteria

but you can't help but fall in love with him

 

[Persephone]

I had very strict criteria and Star amongst others fell into that category. However I knew she was the one for me when I first looked over her stable door. She is just a really kind, affectionate mare. Tbh we didn't gel with the ridden work for a few months, but good things come to those who wait!

Jo x

 

[Silverspring]

Well I got my current horse free from a friend on the basis I was the only one who would put up with her insanity! My previous horse, who is the only one I've ever picked, was bought with very little research, I went to look at a 16hh light WB black mare unbroken at 7 years old and ended up coming back with a 17hh heavy WB bay gelding! Looking back I should never have considered either of those horses but I was young and irresponsible

I would never do it again, it sounds like you're research paid dividends! How did you go about researching what breed would be suitable? Was it through forums or people who owned highlands? My first pony was a highland, he was an absolute star and stayed in the family for 14 years til he passed away.

 

[Bedlam]

The one I've just acquired and am waiting to go and collect just excites me so much! She's more than capable of doing everything we want her to. She has the scope to Intermediate event (she's currently novice) and we were looking for a JRN. She's beautiful, superbly schooled, and not phased by rider mistakes - she dumbs down as happily as doing more complex stuff so I'm going to be happy keeping her fit when my daughter is away at school - and I will probably do some dressage with her as well. I just feel incredibly lucky to have found her to be honest. I would never normally have looked at a chestnut mare........!

Perhaps I'd better update you all on how we're getting on in 6 months time once the 'new horse blind euphoria' has worn off!!

 

[magicchett]

My girls awesome temperament, breeding and colouring

 

[fairhill]

I felt sorry for her. She looked like a little lost waif, and was the ugly duckling in a yard full of whizzy show ponies

And her eyes were kind, but very depressed and dull. Plus she wasn't a TB or TB x and the right age for me to bring on myself. She's turned into the best horse I've ever owned

 

[amabelscott]

the fact that he is amazing and has so much scope but isn't at all quirky and really looks after me! and he looks gorgeous aswell!

 

[bex1984]

Murphy was 3 hours drive away in Manchester, I wouldn't have gone to see him at all but I was going to see Westlife there that day anyway so thought I may as well see him!!

I had a good idea of what I wanted - I had my heart set on a pony, I wanted a gelding, and it needed to be safe and steady, and it had to like cuddles!! I needed something to mend my confidence.

When I watched him being ridden up the road in busy traffic I remember thinking "If I don't feel safe on that, I may as well give up riding". Plus when i first walked up to him he made me laugh by snuffling my whole face all over with his moustache!!

 

[FinellaGlen]

[ QUOTE ]
How did you go about researching what breed would be suitable? Was it through forums or people who owned highlands?

[/ QUOTE ]

I decided that I wanted a native, because I'd had a Dales x in the past and really loved her, so I looked at the breed society info for the various breeds on the internet. I telephoned people who bred Fells, Dales & Highlands and I finally decided that the Highland sounded as if it had a great temperament and I also loved the way it looked. I then joined the Highland Pony Society and made contact with several people in my area who owned and/or bred Highlands. I went to a couple of shows to see them in action and finally bought a pony which was advertised on the Highland Pony Society website. I am sure that Mother_Hen won't mind me telling you that she spotted the ad for Finella and sent me a link so she will always be in my good books!

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Hovis was everything I didn't want - a heavier horse and very young.
But I knew he was the "one" for the fact that after being forced to take him on a hack he was an utter angel and I trusted him to have a canter 15 minutes after getting on (my first for a long long time).
His gorgeous eyes also helped!

 

[mccarron6769]

I set out to find a TB X mare but tried a few different types before I saw an ad for a TB X gelding in the middle of the North Yorks Moors, 4 hours away. When I got there I was early and they'd only just dragged him out of the field. He had a sraggy mane, chewed and rubbed tail and a fat belly but he was lovely to ride and at the end he dropped his head into my arms and relaxed and that was it, sold.

 

[PennyJ]

He was to be my then 11 yo daughters second pony. The brief was he had to be like the first one (who was simply too old to do what she wanted to do) but bigger, younger and maybe a little bit more forward going.

An ad without a photo caught my eye, it was 2 months old and it was past midnight when I read it. The only thing "wrong" with the pony was that he was grey and 6. So, I sent an email asking if the pony was still for sale with contact numbers. Seller phoned me back, yes he was still for sale, he'd failed a vetting on being 1 point lame in a front foot, a shoeing issue the vet had said. He hadn't been ridden by a child, but she thought he would be suitable for a child. We arranged to see him and went.

Well, there he was with his big soppy cute face and behaved impeccably. Absolutely perfect and pretty much fitted the buying criteria. My reservations were that he was actually rising 6, not the 6 yo I thought he was and also very green, but he was so kind and honest and willing I felt his age could be overlooked.

So we bought him after a weeks trial. First one we looked at. First pony I've ever bought myself all on my own, without any help. He is wonderful and wins everything, so much so we can't go to most of the local shows with him now as it's not fair on everyone else.

I found out afterwards that he had been born just up the road from where we live (he's a forest bred NF pony), so we would have seen him running around as a baby! I think we were just "meant" to have him.

 

[GoJo]

My first i knew the owner/breeder and Jo was his horse but he couldnt ride him anymore- he was 80 and couldnt get on him anymore so i took him on as he was being a large orange field ornament.
My second i fell in love with him in the field- there were loads for sale and he looked the most pathetic- had a lump on his nose, was very thin, had rainscald but the best personality ever- so friendly and cheeky.
Rode him about 4 times and spent lots of time with him before i bought him though.

 

[KatB]

I thought he may be able to event and he was pretty

 

[Quarrybank]

Of my current 2 (I've had Spider for 2 years & Q for 5 years)
Spider - I wasn't looking for another horse but saw his advert on horsequest (yes I look even when not intending to buy

) He was 4, just broken & shown loose jumping. I liked his markings & the shape he was making over a fence.
I kept going on about him & in the end my friend said 'please go and see him. If you don't like him you'll stop going on about him & if you do you'll have to decide if you're going to buy him'

So I drove to dorset (from Essex) & fell in love with him. He had a great attitude & I felt very at home on him. I saw him loose jumped over about 3'6", I jumped him over a few little fences, then we went out for a hack & he took it all in his stride.
So 2 weeks later after a vetting I went back & collected him

He then stayed at friends until a stable came up at my yard

Q - I went to ireland for 2 days, tried 12 horses & came home with him

Again, he just made me smile, although he has tried my patience on many occasions

 

[EquestrianFairy]

The price- if im completely honest was the first attraction.

I wanted a welshie, i wanted a younger model and if she was chestnut and a mare even more of a bargain...

Guess what i ended up with!

A 6yo chestnut Sec D Mare for a bargain- the bonus is that shes awsome and extremely pretty!

 

[Shilasdair]

I bought my old TB unbroken and pretty much unhandled after going to see her in a field...she happened to be en route or I wouldn't have bothered.
I thought she had a kind face, and would be an honest horse, so I bought her and broke her. I was right - not a kick, bite or hint of malice in 15yrs.
My second one - the Shire x TB, I met when she was an orphan foal a work colleague was fostering (her mare's foal was born dead). OH, friend and I were about the only folk stupid enough to be willing to do the night shift in fostering feeds....somehow everyone decided she wanted to come and live with me after weaning, and so I acquired her.
My third one - 3/4 TB, 1/4 Bavarian, I bred. I do really like her, and she has a very calm, sensible personality, but makes us laugh all the time.
S

 

[only_me]

I wanted a junior horse, one that had done 1* or novice, but realised these were far too expensive so had to look at some horses coming up. I had searched everywhere for the right one! and i didnt want a complete beginner as had a bad experience that scared the crap out of me.

I was told by word of mouth that there was a 5 year old horse for sale, that an eventer had looked at at it, but was unable to buy it, so it came over to my yard to let me see it. it was a nice horse, young and green, who had shown as a youngster and done very well. his half brother is top sjer or eventer (cant remember which). so we lunged him..... big bucks for britain!!
i then rode him but he was so tired from all the bucking that we called it a day and then agreed to a weeks trial.

i then rode him on the first day that he came - bucks again with me riding - he was testing me to the extreme!! i was very lucky that i sat them - he respects me now and has never done that to get me off again! i couldnt part with him - he has all the scope to do young riders, eventually

 

[silvershadow81]

At only 12 years old (which non-horsey parents!) Gem was the only horse who didnt actually WANT to kill me when I rode her!

The one I tried at the same dealers before sitting on her actually tried his hardest to dump me by running at walls, dropping shoulder ect! (was great fun at that age!)

Im glad I chose my girl, she wasnt easy to start with, but with the time and love over the last 12 years, the gamble and hard work has paid off.

I wouldnt enjoy having a ready made horse from the start... much more satisfying to do it yourself! x

 

[wench]

tried a couple out but werent quite right... YO (who was finding me one) bought a new TB put him in a stable and told me he'd be just right for me.

Went in the stable with Huge (he seemed it at the time) 17hh tb, just knew he was right.

Vetted and bought him, has taken me from being nervous plod to out eventing...hoping to get to novice level on him next year. And a complete bargin buy for 2k!

 

[Chumsmum]

He made me feel safe

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

Price, location, and I didn't wet myself when I jumped her over a fence

 

[mickey]

When I saw that adorable face and fantastic markings I was unable to walk away! I rode him 2 or 3 times and he was fantastic to hack out, jumped really nicely for a 4 yr old. Really enjoyed riding him. Could see his potential esp in the show ring. I wanted and all-rounder so perfect.

 

[atot]

Her fabulous attitude, sparky nature, bold jump, and honesty. She jumped everything even though I rode like a sack of spuds, and she's super fun. Also, she's hunted a lot, and I wanted something that I could hunt safely, and my god she is excellent.

 

[madiz123]

hmmm...i went to a polo auction, tried about 9 of the horses and said i would happily have any of these at the auction (they were 52 fro the same guy!) I couldnt go because it was a Monday so I sent my Dad instead. He went assuming he would return empty handed as the horses were likely to be above our budget!
Anyway, hardly anybody turned up! Several horses went by just out of reach...then a lot of two came along (you bid for one horse and get the choice of one or two from the lot at the same price per horse). My dad was beginning to give up hope when one came along and the bid to win was just 50 guineas above budget. And low and behold, he got it!

The auctioneer promptly asked him which horse he wanted and (my dad barely know one end of the horse from the other) he said i have no idea, can i ask the audience? (!) they said the gelding which he took into the carpark wondering how on earth he was going to get it home.

He rang me at this point to say he had got a horse and was promptly told by me that i wanted the mare! oh dear. He went back and swapped it, and luckily managed to arrange transport for the next day!

I wouldnt recommend this method (!) but my mare is fantastic and i would love to have another from that auction!

Not very helpful but funny story.

 

[hellspells]

The first - I spent a long weekend driving around the south of England (Berkshire to Cornwall) trying horse. Derry was the first I saw, I remember walking into the yard, she turned around to look at me and it was love at first sight. I tried 10 others that weekend. 1 would have been more suitable but he had been cast in a wooden stable, kicked his way out and had huge scarring all over in flank.
The bay in my sig, was in Leeds I had just had a horse sold under me so was quite nervy. I was off work sick on a wed and there was a new ad on horsemart. I phoned up had a really long chat with the owner. Booked my flight and spent the whole of sat and sunday with her. When I first looked at her in her stable I thought she looked about 15.1 (the feeling of dread I spent all that money of flights and its tiny!) But she came out and suddenly grew. I didn't fall in love straight away by any means but I felt so comfortable with her she just had to be.
On the sunday night prev owner came to hotel I was staying at - we both sat in the bar in tears discussing price, vetting, transport etc!!!

 

[Amys_Babies]

I had found a advert in the bargain pages for a TB x 2 year old bay gelding for £1200 at atherstone to be honest i weren't really wanting such a young horse i was looking for more of a 5 year old one. But i was quite curious about this add and i phoned the lady up and arranged to go and have a look at him. On the day i was going to look at him i tried a few of the horses for sale at a local riding club but none of them were properly schooled though their was a coloured one i liked but he would have needed a lot of work on him. So we went and looked at the 2 year old and i just fell in love with him, he was so calm and loving there was no way i was not going to have him. So now here i am a year later breaking in Buddy, he has been a lot of hard work but i don't regret buying him at all.

 

[Foxford]

Well I wanted an allrounder type youngster, aged 2 or 3. I went to look at a lot of tbx types but didn't find anything I really liked. Then I saw an ad for 5 irish draught colts for sale - a stud clearance. As a teenager I'd always wanted an ID so I decided I'd go and see the small one! He was sweet and forgiving (hadn't had a headcollar on for 6 months!) and trotted up and led away from his friends beautifully. And at 15.1 at 2yo I don't think he's going to turn out that small either!

 

[maddielove]

She came galloping up to me

Thought that was a good sign, I also felt extremely sorry for her (she'd had a bit of a beating

)
I still bought her though she threw me off into a pile of S**t

She totally wasn't what I was looking for either (I was looking for a coloure cob

)