Where are the safe hacking ponies/horses

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Hannah198

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Hi

I'm looking for a safe hacking pony for my mum who is in her sixties but has ridden for 30 years, although not for the past 3 years. She is looking for someting really steady, live out, stand like a rock for her to get on etc. Must be a gelding and quiet in the field! We've looked on horse quest, horse mart, horse & hound, but erally struggling to find someting!

Any suggestions of what I should try?

Thank you!
 
These kinds of ponies are like gold dust to be honest. Most go through word of mouth before they're even advertised for sale. Would it be an option for you to buy something to bring on for her?
 
Any particular reason why it has to be a gelding? It means there are an awful lot of horses that are immediately discounted because of gender and one of them could be perfect.

Have you tried pre-loved?
 
All good suggestions! Unfortunately has to be a mare as my competition horses and companions are all geldings, one is quite possessive and they share a field. I would love to buy something to bring on but we need something that's up and running now really for her to enjoy riding now. I will try preloved, thanks. Yes an aging highland would tick every box - I just need to find one!!
 
If you don't mind a golden oldie, there is a highland for rehoming on the Blue Cross site suitable for hacking. He is cute :)
 
Mmmm horses like OP is looking for are like hens teeth unfortunately. People that have them tend to keep them and/or hand them on within the family or the local set-up.

You could ask around at your local hunt/pony club? Someone might not want to make the break and sell, at least initially, and if you're known locally and people are confident their much-loved horse would have a good home-for-life with you, then they may take the plunge and sell, especially if they just can't afford to keep said horse any more.

My old boy was a real darling; the girl that had him really had progressed further than he wanted to go, i.e. she wanted to do X-country; he wanted a quieter life, which is why he was put up for sale. I realise how lucky I was to have him.......... he really was The Horse in a Million, bless him. They don't make them like that anymore, alas.

Good luck hunting anyway.

PS don't discount a TB X or something similar; my old lad had TB on his dam's side, and was the most sensible chappie you could ever have had :)
 
Megibo said:
I've got one of those in my field but it's female! Lol She is definitely a gold dust horse though and does much much more than hack quietly etc.
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me too in fact I have several but none are for sale I agree a highland would be perfect as they can be as small as 13hh and can still carry up to 15 stone so no problem with adult riders most are affable and easy going although not all of them some can be a bit inclined to throw their weight about. Fjords and hafflingers are also small and sturdy with in the main good temperaments again you get exceptions and of course the icelandic horse is a small weight barer not say your mum is heavy just pointing out that a suitable animal doesn't have to be big
 
This is a probably not very helpful aside-- but WHY are such horses rare? I would think that would be the norm to find, rather than the exception. Maybe I was just plain lucky before with horses that I had, but the question of them being safe and sensible was just a given. Even my rather more costly show jumper was so calm you could put a novice, an absolute never been on a horse before novice, rider on him and he would be good as gold. It seems like the horse market is absolutely bursting at the seams with horses for sale, but only a few of them are quiet and safe.
 
olivia x said:
This is a probably not very helpful aside-- but WHY are such horses rare? I would think that would be the norm to find, rather than the exception. Maybe I was just plain lucky before with horses that I had, but the question of them being safe and sensible was just a given. Even my rather more costly show jumper was so calm you could put a novice, an absolute never been on a horse before novice, rider on him and he would be good as gold. It seems like the horse market is absolutely bursting at the seams with horses for sale, but only a few of them are quiet and safe.
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I don't actually think that they are particularly rare - I've had several. What is rare is a youngster, with the conformation of a HOYS winner, paces like Vallegro and the ability to jump like Milton. The real problem is that people are not realistic. If OP looks for a middle-aged horse which hacks sensibly and is reasonably priced because it has no ambitions/potential, I'm sure one will turn up, although I must admit that most of mine have been mares. I find that Ride and Drive horses are usually the most sensible of all and hack well alone and in company.
 
I've got one but I had to look at a lot of duds before I found her. Oddly enough she was newly broken in.

She is a Welsh sec D and I *think* that they are pretty reliable hackers but I'm sure that others will prove me wrong!.
 
Sorry..... forgot to say in earlier post: had you thought of a traddie cob for your mum? They're relatively easy to keep - IF you can deal with all the hair and feathers!!! - and are generally, as a rule, pretty laid back, tho' you'd need to choose very carefully having said that as some of them are very aware of their sheer bulk and can use that to their advantage on the ground, and in ridden work can be strong unless bitted correctly.

You'd also need to check the background and what they've done ........ some trads have been properly backed and brought on; others (like mine, I suspect!!) were done on the way back from the pub.

BUT...... you've got plenty of options with a traddie. They're generally easy-going, laid back sort of horses; and come in most sizes from 13hh'ish upwards, whatever you want really.

Plus: you've got the option of ride & drive. I say this as a friend who's always had horses to ride, got to an age where physically she didn't feel she could anymore, and broke hers to harness. She never looked back: OH got involved - and loved it. Now they're off to shows and stuff all the time and its opened up a whole new world for them both. There IS a website which specifically deals with ride & drives; think its called "carriage-link.co.uk" ??? or something like that, maybe someone else on here will know. But with a traddie cob this would give your mum another option for having fun!
 
I'll be looking for a "saint" next year! I've been riding all my life (I'm 58) but had a break of about four years, during which time I broke my neck (non-horse accident). I'm a yard owner and have been too busy to ride. I have a horse out on loan where they love him and he's a pensioner now, a "Pedigree Chum" companion pony and daughter has four horses plus a horse on loan to a local stately home's "Victorian stables" where he is happy and the public love him. I used to be a bit of a mad rider! Loved my fast rides! But now, after my accident, I feel "delicate" and am looking for a quieter life. I don't want a plod and no way do I want a "hairy" - I just want a well behaved horse (want a mare!) that will take me out for ride around the fantastic local hacking and get me from A to B without spooking, bucking, napping etc. I cannot afford to fall off. My daughter has an outgrown 14.1hh Section D mare. She was my daughter's twelfth birthday present and daughter is now 5'9 and 25 this year but, in her day, she would hunt all day, jump anything and, competing, just won and won. I just wish she was a hand taller!

Where do I find my "saint"?
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Sorry..... forgot to say in earlier post: had you thought of a traddie cob for your mum? They're relatively easy to keep - IF you can deal with all the hair and feathers!!! - and are generally, as a rule, pretty laid back, tho' you'd need to choose very carefully having said that as some of them are very aware of their sheer bulk and can use that to their advantage on the ground, and in ridden work can be strong unless bitted correctly.

You'd also need to check the background and what they've done ........ some trads have been properly backed and brought on; others (like mine, I suspect!!) were done on the way back from the pub.

BUT...... you've got plenty of options with a traddie. They're generally easy-going, laid back sort of horses; and come in most sizes from 13hh'ish upwards, whatever you want really.

Plus: you've got the option of ride & drive. I say this as a friend who's always had horses to ride, got to an age where physically she didn't feel she could anymore, and broke hers to harness. She never looked back: OH got involved - and loved it. Now they're off to shows and stuff all the time and its opened up a whole new world for them both. There IS a website which specifically deals with ride & drives; think its called "carriage-link.co.uk" ??? or something like that, maybe someone else on here will know. But with a traddie cob this would give your mum another option for having fun!
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Agree traddie or highland! I have both! My traddie is no slug but she is fab in traffic, my highland is excellent in company but not so great in traffic. Gypsy cobs are great! My friends was ridden on a roundabout, he is amazing with traffic!
 
keeperscottage said:
I'll be looking for a "saint" next year! I've been riding all my life (I'm 58) but had a break of about four years, during which time I broke my neck (non-horse accident). I'm a yard owner and have been too busy to ride. I have a horse out on loan where they love him and he's a pensioner now, a "Pedigree Chum" companion pony and daughter has four horses plus a horse on loan to a local stately home's "Victorian stables" where he is happy and the public love him. I used to be a bit of a mad rider! Loved my fast rides! But now, after my accident, I feel "delicate" and am looking for a quieter life. I don't want a plod and no way do I want a "hairy" - I just want a well behaved horse (want a mare!) that will take me out for ride around the fantastic local hacking and get me from A to B without spooking, bucking, napping etc. I cannot afford to fall off. My daughter has an outgrown 14.1hh Section D mare. She was my daughter's twelfth birthday present and daughter is now 5'9 and 25 this year but, in her day, she would hunt all day, jump anything and, competing, just won and won. I just wish she was a hand taller!

Where do I find my "saint"?
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There was one advertised in h&h a few days ago, used for leading children out hunting. I have no idea whether it was as advertised or where in the country it was but you need to keep your eyes open for such things.
Failing you spotting something like that, you will have to compromise. If I were so sure that I could not afford to fall off, I would start looking outside the rather narrow parameters that you have set.
Good luck in your search!
 
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I always think my girl is one of the 'saints'. She is bombproof, a truly easy ploddy ride who loves to hack and be pampered. She has done BS, polocrosse, cross country, dressage, showing etc, often with nervous novice riders. My boyfriend learnt to ride on her and so have countless other people. I would trust her with a 2 year old on her back. The 'but' is that she will not hack alone, shes to lazy to go out in front. She also won't have travel boots on and when you get her on a trailer you have to just go straight away or she'll freak out (100% to travel once you get going). I don't even notice her quirks cos I grew up with her, that's just her, but other people will discount her on these grounds. I'm sure there are perfect schoolmasters out there but most horses I know have at least one quirk and people just don't want them for that. People with 'perfect' horses don't let them go.
 
My cob is rising 4yr old, barely backed and would happily stand at the block and then take a novice out on a walk hack. I say walk as hes had no real education in anything more. In a few months time when hes been ridden away he will be a bombproof safe hack in all paces. To a certain extent they are born not made. However I also had an ex racer who was soo uber chllled I should have checked for a pulse!

If the OP doesnt want a cobby sort then you just need to sort the wheat from the chaff! Elegant, smart looking horses can be bombproof hacks but they do attract a premuim
 
If you don't look, you won't find, that's for sure!

I have one here, but according to the OP's criteria is the wrong age and the wrong sex. I am also told she is too young and too highly priced as she has done nothing. And then I read that they are worth their weight in gold and are as rare as hen's teeth. Could that be because they are rushed and badly started and if someone finds a good youngster, they keep them?

What I'd like to know is where are all the young riders who have the experience and ability to take on such a paragon as I've no intentions of seeing all our careful work wasted!

There is nothing worth having that isn't worth a little trouble. Then I read of those looking for a horse or pony who won't travel more than 30 miles! I'm not really surprised some find it so difficult to find the horse they want.
 
I just bought one at the weekend - absolute dreamboat in every way. He was being sold through the riding school on behalf of a local person ... so I would suggest keeping an eye out on your riding school Facebook pages etc to see when things come up for sale as well as preloved, horse selling sites etc. Good luck - they are out there!
 
I am prepared to travel the length of the country to find something. My only real criteria is the sex and that's because I already have 5 geldings. I would consider native, traditional, heavy horse, cob, I'm not fussy on breed. I need something that will live out in most weathers. I'm not being fussy!

Temperament is most important. My mum can't afford to fall off she is an older lady. She is capable tho and I appreciate that any horse would spook at a something very scary.
 
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!;)
 
Have sent a pm with details of one a client tried recently but ruled out as just too quiet, there does seem to be a shortage of genuinely safe hacks, we were looking for 3 months and have, subject to vet, just bought one, we were not that fussy, it had to hack alone and be safe in traffic under 15 hands and not a real cob type as the rider is tiny otherwise no real restrictions but they are few and far between even with a decent budget and being prepared to travel a fair distance.
 
I think that horse buying is a little bit like internet dating-- you can't really tell much until you see the horse in person. Photos, descriptions, etc, might encourage or discourage you-- but-- until you are face to face- there is so much that you cannot tell. Being clear about what won't work in a horse will weed out some, before you go to see it ( price, for one) but I think to find what you want you have to be willing to look, look, look in person- be willing to see lots of horses-- because otherwise you might just wrongly rule out the very one you were looking for.
 
These ponies are worth their weight in gold as are the horses, to get a horse these days thats a very good all rounder who hacks out alone and in company seems hard to find these days. Imo theyre well worth the money, good safe hacking h&p are made by hard work, being brave and skillful riding, why theyre seen as the poor cousin by some to low level comp horses i can never fathom. Good luck on your search op
 
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