Would you buy this..??

[SatansLittleHelper]

Currently looking for a laid back happy hacker for a friend. Relatively novice rider but has been around horses and owned for quite a while.
She wants something a bit different and is really taken with Highlands and Norwegian Fjords.
Needs to be a good, sturdy, 14.2ish gelding. Any age considered if it does the job.
We found this boy but I'm wondering what people think given his history..??

https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/...ivestock/horses-ponies/all/uk/highland+ponies

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I wouldn't no, but that's because I already have two horses with medical issues that have cost an arm and a leg and will continue to do so. Also the being nervous of big lorries isn't great for a novice rider, but really depends on how he reacts.

 

[Roxylola]

I wouldnt personally, hocks and back legs are hard enough to keep right on a sound horse. I'd forever be waiting for him to fall apart. I'd worry about hacking on anything other than smooth surfaced tracks or roads, he might stay ok for a good while, but personally I'd look elsewhere as it would forever be a worry for me

 

[ihatework]

For me, he hasn’t been back in work long enough to prove himself sound for purpose.

Something dodgy in big traffic could shatter a novice confidence if they had an unavoidable encounter.

He is also obese. And they aren’t going to be able to get the work into him to shift it. This in turn isn’t isn’t going to help the arthritis.

All in all, I wouldn’t hand over any money for this horse but might consider loan/LWVTB

 

[rextherobber]

I would keep looking. He hasn't been back in full ( 5 days) work for very long, has he? Pity, he looks sweet..

 

[gallopingby]

Nope sorry, maybe would lease / loan but would need to see him back in work longer. Also highlands aren’t always the easiest to manage, some are great others are def not novice rides. Better to pay more for a sound one but you’ll probably have to pay lots more.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Thanks guys. You've basically said what I was thinking but thought I'd ask the question.
She has a decent budget for the right horse so we will keep looking

 

[HollyWoozle]

Agree with what others have said. Even without the health issues, he doesn't sound quite on the mark for a novice happy hacker type to me. Good luck with the search, I'm sure you'll find something.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Personally wouldn't touch it sounds like a ticking time bomb and isn't a neurectomy a denerving? That doesn't sit right with me, also the arthritis at 8 thats very young if it was late teens and I was pootling about id be ok with it but not that young I see ££££ and early retirement.

Also is it my naivety having not properly horse shopped before or is it very expensive for all the things it has wrong?

It also looks rather sizeable in the beach picture

Also the nervous with heavy vehicles it depends how nervous.

It is a nice honest advert but I wouldn't touch and I'm a happy hacker.

 

[IrishMilo]

£2800 for a ticking time bomb? Some people really are jokers.

 

[dorsetladette]

IMHO a responsible owner wouldn't sell that pony on. I think loaning close to home or from your own yard would be more sensible.

 

[Littlebear]

£2800 for a ticking time bomb? Some people really are jokers.

I agree - this a loan at best not a sale horse.
I also think it’s fairly irresponsible to sell on with those issues to a very uncertain future could easily be sold on and on without the disclosure.

 

[AandK]

If I were a novice rider wanting a happy hacker, then no, this is not the sort of horse I would buy. Your friend needs to be less hung up on breed here, she is limiting her choice dramatically.

 

[CouldItBe]

Not at that money, no

 

[Singing Dawg]

I'd pass on this one and look for a sound one, which you can probably find around the same price. Shame as he's a nice looking pony.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Certainly not! What an irresponsible owner - they should have offered it for loan locally - and it definitely isn't worth almost £3k!

 

[Courbette]

I saw the advert for this a few days ago and it would avoid. I feel sorry for the pony and I could be wrong but assumed the owner was shifting a potential problem elsewhere. As others said he hasn't been back in work for long at all

 

[Patterdale]

I wouldn’t have it given.
Obese, denerved, almost guaranteed to go lame if not already....and £2800!?
Cheeky beggars!

 

[IrishMilo]

I genuinely have no idea how anyone who can claim to care about a horse can sell it on with a degenerative condition.

 

[emilylou]

If she is wanting something a bit unusual why not look at icelandics? They are tough and sensible and will be in her height range. There are a few good breeders in the UK who will source horses for people and usually can get something for £4-6k

 

[gallopingby]

I'd pass on this one and look for a sound one, which you can probably find around the same price. Shame as he's a nice looking pony.

l don’t think you’d find a highland for that price!!

 

[Baywonder]

Oh crikey, this is one of those adverts where you feel sick at the thought of what is potentially going to happen to that poor pony in the long term.

It seems to me that the horse has been passed sound recently, just back in work, and they are trying to get rid of him quickly. Nervous in heavy traffic isn't a good thing either - not for a novice rider.

I would keep looking.

 

[Nudibranch]

Bargepole.
And offering him for more dressage? That pony shouldn't set foot on a surface again imo. It has those issues at 8!

 

[poiuytrewq]

No, absolutely not.
nb, just to point out though, not that it makes much difference but he’s not been in work for 5 days, he’s in full work 5 days a week.

 

[spacefaer]

Neurectomies wear off as the nerves regrow - I was quoted a time span of 4-6 years by a vet this summer.

 

[atropa]

Nope. Poor pony.
I'd also be wary of tarring all Highlands with the same 'novice suitable, laid back plod' brush as some certainly are not.

 

[Goldenstar]

Heavens no , they may be able to loan it to someone
who wants to hack an obese horse and has nerves of steel in traffic but buy it no .

 

[AdorableAlice]

The horse world saddens me at times.

 

[Goldenstar]

The horse world saddens me at times.

I know it’s so sad when a horse whose clearly tried hard for owners is cast off like this .

 

[IrishMilo]

HQ 242984. 11 y/o suspensory issue horse for £2k. I'm OK thanks.