Would you say the breed matters for a first time owner?

ladyrainicorn said:
Unfortunately no : ( ive been going off of books and research alone
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Take your time, be honest with sellers about what you’re looking for and don’t feel pressured or rushed into a sale.

If there’s no videos on an advert ask for them to be sent to you, I’d like to see a horse in videos out hacking, jumping and in open spaces. Get videos of your own riding as well and send them to the seller, they should be able to tell you if they think the horse will be suitable. Pay close attention to things like what bit they have it in (is horse advertised as safe and pictured serenely walking in an open field but has graduated from a snaffle to a running Waterford gag? Why?) and any suspicious video editing like a video being cut off as soon as the horse lands after a jump.

I expect them to be in or tied up when I arrive for a viewing as that’s practical, but look out for signs like the horse looking unusually tired or sweated up that might point to it being worked before you get there. Also check the stable, does it have water? It’s a very dodgy practice but restricting water is an old way to keep a horse quiet. Ask to see the seller ride it first, and if they have the facilities ask if you can see it ridden and cantered out in the field not just the arena.

Don’t feel pressured when you try the horse yourself, take as long as you need to feel comfortable. Have a good walk to get a feel, trot and canter round on both reins. If anything doesn’t feel right don’t be embarrassed to hop off and say “sorry not for me”, viewings shouldn’t be a test of your nerve and it’s not worth risking your safety if you feel things going pear shaped.

An honest seller won’t be phased by any of the above and should want to place the horse with the right person and welcome your questions and time spent.
 
blitznbobs said:
Also, a lot of Connies are quite hot in my experience, I’m sure there are quieter models but a lot of oversized Connies are bred for the teenage eventer market, which they are very good at so be careful
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My RS Connie was over size and was indeed zippy. She was exactly what an old person needs. One day when we paused to chat to a returning ride the escort girls remarked that Maisie would do anything I asked. Just try her. Show us halt to canter. She did one step walk and then cantered.

I do have a theory though about safe riding. Horses read your mind. If you like to canter and allow the canter, horses will canter for you. And will enjoy it. Connies are clever (mine was a mare) and they know the difference between a beginner and a speed merchant.
 
Definitely individual horse dependant. Although they can get a bad rep. I’ve had a few warmbloods in my adult life from show-jumping lines (I’m not a show-jumper) and they’ve been much better behaved and polite on the ground and ridden than many cobs I know. They also don’t get sallenders and mallenders, cpl or sunburnt (Coloureds) need clipping every 5 minutes or generally act like bull-dozers.

My most recent horse is quarter Welsh D and quarter Arab plus ID and hanoverian he’s the most difficult horse I’ve owned and I bought him as my future “old lady horse”. Let’s hope we both make it 🤪.
 
KikiDee said:
Take your time, be honest with sellers about what you’re looking for and don’t feel pressured or rushed into a sale.

If there’s no videos on an advert ask for them to be sent to you, I’d like to see a horse in videos out hacking, jumping and in open spaces. Get videos of your own riding as well and send them to the seller, they should be able to tell you if they think the horse will be suitable. Pay close attention to things like what bit they have it in (is horse advertised as safe and pictured serenely walking in an open field but has graduated from a snaffle to a running Waterford gag? Why?) and any suspicious video editing like a video being cut off as soon as the horse lands after a jump.

I expect them to be in or tied up when I arrive for a viewing as that’s practical, but look out for signs like the horse looking unusually tired or sweated up that might point to it being worked before you get there. Also check the stable, does it have water? It’s a very dodgy practice but restricting water is an old way to keep a horse quiet. Ask to see the seller ride it first, and if they have the facilities ask if you can see it ridden and cantered out in the field not just the arena.

Don’t feel pressured when you try the horse yourself, take as long as you need to feel comfortable. Have a good walk to get a feel, trot and canter round on both reins. If anything doesn’t feel right don’t be embarrassed to hop off and say “sorry not for me”, viewings shouldn’t be a test of your nerve and it’s not worth risking your safety if you feel things going pear shaped.

An honest seller won’t be phased by any of the above and should want to place the horse with the right person and welcome your questions and time spent.
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This is such good advice im literally taking notes on this! Ty!!
 
KikiDee said:
Above all, buy the horse that makes you smile when you’re riding it! It might be the wrong size, the wrong breed, the wrong age and the wrong colour…but you’ll know when you know :)
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Even better, buy something that makes you smile when you see its head over the stable door… or in the field. Because, as we all know, you spend more time on the ground with them than ridden 😂
 
rhino said:
Even better, buy something that makes you smile when you see its head over the stable door… or in the field. Because, as we all know, you spend more time on the ground with them than ridden 😂
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I knew someone who only bought horses with pretty heads because she said “I spend more time looking at them than riding them, they should be nice to look at” 🤣
 
KikiDee said:
Above all, buy the horse that makes you smile when you’re riding it! It might be the wrong size, the wrong breed, the wrong age and the wrong colour…but you’ll know when you know :)
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yes, whatever it is when you first look at it then it has to have the immediate WOW factor. It may be ugly or anything else but it has to really jump out at you.
 
I was gonna say you could do worse than a part bred arab.

They really are nice quality animals and proper riding horses, that with help of a trainer advance your riding and they have a natural balance

But try them out well before buying, In case they are a bit too sparkly for you
 
paddy555 said:
yes, whatever it is when you first look at it then it has to have the immediate WOW factor. It may be ugly or anything else but it has to really jump out at you.
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My horse didn’t really tick any of my boxes when I was shopping, but when I met him he just made me smile. I’d just lost my heart horse suddenly and devastatingly and I’d tried lots of much more talented, younger, better schooled and more suitable horses when I decided to go and view a slightly feral, breeding unknown 12 year old that had come off the hunt field 6 months ago….but he was the first one who made me feel anything again when I met him and gave me that little bit of joy back into my heart that horses do. I said I’d think about it and get back to them but the time I’d driven home I’d put a deposit down on him. :oops:
 
Would agree that temperament and experience is more important than breed. (Although a lot of breeds do have traits that they are known for/ that are common in the breed) You ideally want 10-12 upwards age wise as hopefully then has enough life experience that you shouldn’t actively be having to teach them much (unless you’re wanting to partake in weird, niche disciplines) and what they know should be well established. Steer clear of anything that’s been out of work for a while. Ideally you’d want the horse to be already doing the things you’re going to want them to do once they’re yours.


That said I’ve never met a Haffie that I’d class as 1st pony material (all the ones I’ve come across have had BIG personalities shall we say!).

Have met Connie’s that are chilled & sweet & some that would be waaaay too whizzy for a novice (& some I wouldn’t want to sit on if you paid me 😂)

Welsh Ds would be on the “usually not a good idea unless you have the right one” list.

Anything that’s quite solidly built (eg Cob, Highland , Dales) has the potential to be very strong / a lot of horse to deal with for their size and so ideally if you went for this type go for one that someone has already taught manners to and make sure you have support to help maintain them (I mean this goes for all breeds really but especially important if horse is built like a tank!)
 
Conformation and soundness, then temperament, because a horse sound in body and mind will be much more trainable than a horse with an underlying health issue or chronic pain.

My advice to anyone buying a horse, whether their first or 10th, would be to train your eye in all aspects of horse health, because many red flags can be spotted in photos or videos before you waste time viewing a horse irl. Vetting isn't a failsafe, but don't buy unseen or unvetted. 5 stage vetting for a ridden horse every time.

A mixture of head and heart decision is good, because you need to really love them as a 'person', and I think that is sometimes more of an intangible gut feeling that something entirely objective.

So in summary, the breed is probably less important than all of the above.
 
Lol yes I didn't want to talk down a breed but if they are a breed who can set their neck and do what they like they have to have good ground manners or you will lose heart very quickly. All horses can be strong if they have learned it (I used to regularly get towed lunging by a bl***y Shetland), but cobs and Ids are incredibly strong if they want to and total pigs to handle if they know their strength. Warmbloods too. Sounds like you are in the reasonable size category.

I loved a dales pony I used to ride, she was huge fun and not in crazy territory.
 
KikiDee said:
I knew someone who only bought horses with pretty heads because she said “I spend more time looking at them than riding them, they should be nice to look at” 🤣
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This is what I do!! 😂

My horse got arthritis at 8 but she puts a smile on my face everyday. I’ve not ridden her properly for a few years but she is so much more important than just being a ridden horse. And I think she is just stunning
 
I'd say breed matters in so far as whether the horse is cold-blood (e.g. cob) or hot-blood (e.g. Arabian), generally cold-blooded are more suited to novice riders/handlers as they tend to less sensitive and have less 'go'. However, individual temperament, prior training/handling, age etc all come into it. My green 6yo TB x Arab is as easy and quiet as they come and I'd say would suit a novice nicely even though on paper you would think that would be a recipe for a disaster. My older cold-blooded cross-bred on the other hand would have your number quickly and as a novice you probably couldn't get him out of a walk as he would try and back you off with a little pigroot and scare a beginner.
 
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