What type of horse to buy?

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swampdonkey

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I have had 2 horses before, an ex riding school horse who was 14.3 and a saint although didn't hack, I had him for 3 years and then sold him for a 15.3 mare who was spooky, moody and a bit green in the school. i had her for 12 months and learnt a lot, she started to accept a contact although she was never very willing in schooling, I came off her in April and initially thought that I had fractured my coccyx, although an ex-ray 8 weeks on revealed I had fractured my sacrum. Sorry I'm telling my life story.

Anyway while I was off with my injury friends were hacking and jumping my mare and she loved it, she was so much more willling. So I decided that because I was going to be off for months with my injury and my mare was much better suited to a jumping home, I sold her.

I am almost ready to ride again and have been looking at adverts for horses to buy.
Now, because of my injury which is still painful I started to think I needed to buy a heavy, ploddy cob, then I change my mind and l think that after a little while I would maybe be bored and feel the need to progress. I really want this next horse to be my horse of a lifetime, I am fast approaching forty and hate selling horses so want this next one to be with me for life.

I am only 5'3 so ideally height wise I think 15h, but I don't jump, I love schooling and hacking over the fields, maybe do a few dressage test, low level, but everything I look at is either a heavy cob, (suitable for a novice) or small horses that do everything but I don't want to over horse myself or get a horse that is used to being out and about jumping and competing to get bored and then naughty with me.

Sorry this had turned out so long but not sure which type to look at, would love some advice.
 
How about a Welsh D, Highland or Connie? Most of them are sane enough to do anything with, the D's and Connies are nimble enough for dressage and with a bit more work a Highland would be too. They can also light up and have fun too so not always dopes on ropes. Most of these natives are around the 14-14.2hh mark but because of their width they ride like 15-15.2hh horses. They also live on fresh air and generally have very good feet.
 
Why don't you loan something steady to start with and see how you get on.

The few cobs we've had for my mum have started off steady and as she got more confident they went up some gears too.

I think loaning is the answer even if it's a riding school loan to start with x
 
I love the look of welsh d's but have heard they can be quite highly strung. mmmm maybe not.
I have thought about loaning but they are quite hard to come by, and I hate being horseless.
 
swampdonkey said:
I love the look of welsh d's but have heard they can be quite highly strung.
Click to expand...

it depends on the horse as an individual. mine isn't highly strung but has some whizz if you wind her up. if you don't-dope on a rope!
there was a recent thread called welsh d temperaments which would give you a really good insight.
 
As above, my welsh d will switch gear depending on how she's being ridden. If I'm doing my nervous, loss of confidence act, she's a plod then she switches up a gear as she feels me riding better. They're worth looking at. A cob On my yard was a dream on the ground, quiet as a mouse but bucked his owner off every time she rode even after the usual checks. There are good and bad in all breeds :)
 
Cobs don't have to be plods. We have a 13.2 that would hunt all day and do anything our big horses do, but he has that sensible head on him.

Generally I'm not a fan of welshies for nervous riders. They're lovely, but most I've met do have a spark.

You don't have to get a particular type, you just want a sensible hacking type that is good on the roads etc. Perhaps something with ID in it? Nothing too light. If you can ride smaller horses/large ponies you are laughing really.

I don't think that you need to loan. Just have a lot of lessons at a good riding centre on different types to see how you feel, and take your time looking - make sure you've found the right one, and take someone experienced to help your decision and check that you've not missed anything.
 
Don't dismiss arabs. I am a physical wreck due to injuries but my ex-endurance horse (Anglo-arab) has looked after me for years. She can be spooky and doesn't like alpacas, however I can take her anywhere (she will go past the alpacas, just puffs at them now), with anyone and she's never, ever scared me. I hack her for miles and she loves it, over motorway bridges, down busy roads and through the woods etc...

Have a look on Arabian Lines, just incase there's something nice there. :)

http://www.arabianlines.com/for_sale/index.htm
 
I think because u don't want to jump, just about anything is a possibility. Don't write off cobs as plods, mine rears, bucks, spins, and can be plenty forward, he can also be a dope on a rope. My section D is both gentle and lovely and dam right stubborn, way too intelligent and is just totally dim with fencing :)

The point is, breeds vary, don't dismiss any type, be open minded and u will just click with the right one x
 
Mmm, agree with posts above re cobs! Yes, they can be lovely, dope-on-a-rope types, BUT can also be blimmin clever and downright devious! (but we love them for it). Think "pony in horse's body" with a lotta cobs, mine included.

Had you thought of a traditional cob? Mine's a traddie and whilst he has his quirks, he does really excel himself and is a good boy when I need a horse I can trust - like this morning out hacking, ran into a gang of men tarmacing the road; such a good boy :). If you aimed for something at say 14.2 that should do you sizewise?

The travelling community have been breeding this cobs for generations, and needed something which was easy to handle with a nice easy temperament, yet had plenty of stamina.

Just a suggestion.

Happy horse hunting.
 
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