Would you buy a horse you didn't like the look of?

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redmerl

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If he was what you were looking for but just wasn't your type, or you didn't think "wow he is lovely" when you saw him?

Or has anyone taken a risk buying their horse? Did it turn out ok?
 
I personally think if everything else was right but it didn't feel right I would walk away. If it was just because it wasn't as goodlooking or the type you wanted I probaly buy it.

Its a tough decision as you have got be happy and bond with it.
 
I have bought two that didn't immediately make me go "Wow!" but apart from that have been perfect. Both have been much admired by other people though and I have grown to love them both and see their own particular type of beauty - although I didn't at first.
 
I bought a horse that I didn't think "wow" when I first saw him, but I had so many comments about what a stunning horse he was after I bought him and he turned out to be lovely. As long as the horse isn't ugly then go for it!!!
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I wanted an arab or TB chestnut mare.

A horse who was a working livery at the stables I went to was for sale and I knew I had to have him. He is a grey, 16.3 Clydey x Highland, not what I was looking for, but there was something about him. I love him to bits and will never part with him we have such a close bond.
 
Nope! I believe you should rely on your gut instinct. I saw a pinymany years back, he was very flashy and did everything I wanted (we wanted a jumping pony) but I just didn't feel any 'click' with him, Still, my mother and instructor thought he'd be great and we could sort his little 'quirks' that were present.

Turns out he wasn't suitable at all - not at all consistent so although he looked every bit the part he wasn't for me. Still, we still have him 14 years later as my conscience wouldn't let us sell him!
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As another note, when looking for my horse we saw a fair few, I saw my present one (as a 4 yo) and instantly knew he was for me. I think you just have to trust your instincts with these things.
 
I did!! mine was a skinny chestnut (i hate chestnuts!) with sunken eyes, numerous nasty scars and a face that looked like she'd lost the will to live.

I'm pleased to say I bought her anyway and she is almost unrecognisable now, her whole demeanour and personality have changed, scars have all but vanished, and in my experience once you bond with a horse you tend to think their the most gorgeous thing in the world even if you thought 'ewwww!!!' when you first looked at it
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Mine wasn't exactly a stunner when I went to see him, but he had a lovely temperament and seemed like a nice horse. I was coerced into seeing him by my mum and sister (who should have known better!!). Hacked him round a field and popped over a tiny cross pole. 4 years on and he has grown into the gangly legs and donkey ears and is far better than I could have hoped.
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Although having said that, for a young horse the basics were all there to see. I wouldn't buy something that was really not my type though - even if it was great.
 
Appearance wise, I wouldn't care as long as the feeling was right when I rode it. I wouldn't buy a horse I didn't click with riding though.
 
I bought Lottie even though I didn't like riding her!! She was too old, didn't jump well enough and had a massive head and knees.

Everyone was after me to buy her, sure fire way to make me hate something before I've ever seen it!!!

She was kept at the yard i stabled my pony at. I wanted another for sale there but he was out of my price range. I only agreed to look at her for that reason.

The girl who tried her before me leathered her for spooking (lot is quite a spooky horse) and that was it, done deal!! She made an offer, I topped it!

I still dislike riding the damn horse 14 yrs later, but I do adore her and worship the ground she trots on. When she decides to GO FORWARDS out hacking she is quite pleasant these days, though she has got more headstrong with age.

I wouldn't buy another I didn't take too, but I wouldn't be without Lottie either. If it ticks the boxes but there's no spark, I wouldn't. If it misses a few boxes but the sparks there, I probably would, if the missing boxes could be added later!
 
I wanted a cob that could live out all year and was easy to do.

I ended up with and ex-racer with a reputation for bolting!

Wouldn't change him for the world now!

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Heres a thought, would you have a boyfriend/girlfriend you liked the look off but didnt have the chemistry?

[/ QUOTE ]

If I was bored....lol

I've bought two that I didn't like the look, both great ponies but not the love of my life so to speak
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Funny that I thought yesterday Horse Buying is a bit like Dating.

As someone said yesterday you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you get a prince.

I fancied my OH the first time I set eyes on him. He is not a Warmlood in any sense oif the imagination. He is a good doer and reliable, He doesnt nap, rear or chase after other fillies and I have owned him for 32 years.He was imported from Geordie land. I suppose his biggest fault is that he has taken some considerable schooling to get him where he is today and there is still room for improvement.

My perfect horse will be a bit like him but better bred.
He will be Bay 16.1 6 years old very good looking and local to Gloucestershire.
 
Weirdly, I would be anxious of a horse that I thought was too pretty, having been around too many 'lookers' with voices in their heads. My theory is that bonkers and beauty go hand in hand. (Though that would mean that Brandy should be a stunner...?)
 
I really like nice a nice ID hunter type but I'v ended up with a chestnut scatty TB.

And I'm thankfull every day that I got the TB, I like his spark. I only got him 'cos I felt sorry for him. He is great but I still dont think he is a stunner!
 
nope wouldn't buy anything i didn't like the look of be it man or beast lol
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but i wouldn't buy anything purely on looks, done that with a man and learnt that looks aren't everything lol
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I bought Merlin because I liked riding him and felt at home with him, not for his looks, in fact didn't particularly like his looks at all: he was chestnut, had a silly long mane and looked spooked most of the time showing the whites of his eyes (horse in my avatar). Now of course I love his looks and think him fabulously handsome!
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I've seen it happen, one in particular declared the newly acquired neddy very ugly indeed...and yet they grew into the most beautiful and wonderful partnership I've ever witnessed, the love glowed out of them both for each other, was bought because could do what wanted and was what needed, not for looks
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tho will accept that can't work in all cases, I've gone for looks in the past to have a total nutter on hands, like the most beautiful mare going......stunning looks...shame reared vertical the second had a strop, no underlying reason, nothing physical - she was checked out by everyone imaginable to try to find the cause, she just decided that when SHE had enough you were going off, and she'd found the easiest way was to rear til you gave up and got off for safety...or go over anyway, she wasn't bothered which, on her day and when was in the mood she was the most fantastic responsive beautiful ride ever, and on her day if you asked her to jump the moon she'd do it for you, but if she wasn't, I even thought maybe was us as a partnership but she did it with others too, and they weren't inexperienced, one was a very good dressage rider, another trained horses to event, top class riders, and they still got the same treatment, at least it wasn't personal I guess lol......

and I wonder where my confidence went! LOL
 
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