Where are the safe hacking ponies/horses

Word of caution regarding trads, highlands etc, some are very wide and can be a bit bargy, as an older rider I find my hips won't cope with anything too wide. Also "safe" is often another word for bone idle, if your Mum is a capable rider she'll get fed up with something behind the leg and leaning on her and unfortunately some of these horses get a bit argumentative if you ask them for more than they are used to giving. I'm also looking for something to hack and do dressage and it's proving difficult to find the right horse. Good luck and don't forget to post a pic when you find it and if you come across anything that might be suitable for me, let me know!
 
Dry Rot said:
I'm sure you're not being fussy, OP, but an awful lot are!

Won't look at price on application adverts, won't travel, won't bother if it's a bad photo, etc., etc. I sometimes wonder how people ever find a horse!

As far as I am concerned, if I like what I see or read, I'll enquire, ask questions, demand photos and videos, probably do a Google on the name and pedigree, then travel and haggle like there was no tomorrow! The more barriers there are to buying, the fewer competitors there will be, all of which knocks the price down and that makes it easier for me to buy!;)
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I don't understand the problem personally.
Over the last 40ish years I have bought eight sensible safe hacking horses, the first was a gelding, the others mares. After one experience of travelling the length of the M62 corridor, only to see several horses which were not as described, and then find the perfect horse within hacking distance of home, I decided many years ago not to travel for longer than an hour to view, so not much more than 30 miles.
Since then I have always bought either the first or 2nd horse that I have viewed BUT I am realistic about what I want the horse to do, I want to hack, which might include popping over the odd log and I expect the horse to be well-mannered on the ground as well as ridden. BUT I do not want to compete, although I might enter the odd local showing class, and I am prepared to put in the work to develop good manners if necessary. I definitely do not want to fall off, I did enough of that when I bounced more readily but I can deal with a strong horse.
I recently bought a 2 yr old cob and she is exactly the type I like. She is sensible, non-spooky "born middle-aged", expected to make about 16 hh. She was just over the border in Lancashire but if you don't mind where the horse is currently, I suggest that you look in W.Yorks, OP, we seem to have plenty.

ETA, I haven't paid a fortune for any of them either. In fact the most expensive one was the ID mare that I came off about 4 yrs ago and she didn't fall into the category!
 
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Sounds like a nice new forest might be suitable, I have one but not for sale and he was not cheap to buy but he jumps and does dressage as well as hack, try looking on NFED
 
The horse you want takes time and effort to make. It takes far longer to make an experienced sensible hacking horse than one that can canter a 20m calmly. People therefore charge a premium for it, or don't sell. Is your budget sensible?

There are loads and loads of young cheap cobs out there who will BECOME hacking saints for a novice with a bit of work. But they def need that bit of work first, and it's not really something a nervous novice can do themselves. The advert usually reads as the horse already being there but when you go and see them, they still need a lot of polishing (I know, I've been to see a fair few!)

I sold your perfect horse last year but he wasn't cheap and he was never advertised, like many of his type.
 
I have your perfect horse, bombproof, has had 60+ yr old flapping across her bum trying to get in the saddle, never been on a horse, a mid 50's lady, never been on a horse making a mess of mounting, just stood still, never even flicked an ear, plus kids ranging from 2yr old to 15 yrs old riding her, yes she's a mare, lives happily with my three geldings, loves hacking out but not a plod, but at 20yr old she's going nowhere.
But they are out there, I paid £500 for this WB mare as a companion for my gelding, she is worth her weight in gold, good luck in your search
 
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