advice please xx

[3kidslou]

Im very indecisive at the mo as whether to go for kids or me? but i came across this for me,
www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1034689490/6886015c.html
im looking for a gentle ride and am thinking of going to have a look to loan with view to buy, any suggestions of what to be asking looking for in particular. I kind of feel that its safer to loan as i have time to find things i may miss on viewing iyknwm??, thanku, u lot are a great help xx

[StopRainingPlease]

Oh, she looks lovely :)

Don't know who you are or how experienced you are but I'd want to know/do the following:

See pony caught, tacked up, groomed etc. Help with this if you want
Get owner to ride first
Riding - try her out doing all the things you want to do - jumping, hacking out alone, canter in open space, ride on a road, etc.
Health - especially as she's older I'd make sure to ask for vet history. I know a few teenage horses with arthritis, which can limit what they're comfortable doing
Vetting - you may want this done before you loan, not sure about that. You'd also need to have an agreement in place for the loan, e.g. what happens if some condition (or behaviour) emerges during the loan, do they or you pay vets bills etc.
How long have they had her? Why are they selling?
What's the worst thing she's ever done?

Take someone else with you if possible, but I know that's not always easy.

[StopRainingPlease]

Oh, and check her over physically and get her trotted up to look for lameness or stiffness.

Incidentally, when I tried out my horse (at a dealer's) he was lovely in the school. I was told he was a very quiet horse. No time to hack him out that day so I went back the next day - he was a nightmare out on his own! Obviously terrified. The dealer said, "Oh, actually, come to think of it, we haven't hacked him out...." I bought him anyway and he has made big improvements, but at least I knew what I was taking on. I wouldn't have been pleased if I'd bought him and then found out what a wuss he was!

[3kidslou]

oh thanku, i havent owned a horse for 10yrs and then when i got him he was off somebody i knew and never had i never had a problem. ive been having riding lessons and all going well, thankyou for your advice, ilo hopefully make good use of it!!.

[frenchfancy]

Looks just like my Dpony - same age and height as well!

We are only 6 week into owning, but one thing I have realised is even the calmest pony can be different in different surroundings.

Ours in particular has obviously never been alone, she is great in class with other ponies, and fine in the stables as long as others are around, but if we ride at odd times of the day when there is no-one there she gets really spooked. And she really doesn't like to go out alone.

We love her though.

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

The advert is a bit vague, but she looks ok. Write a list of questions you want to ask, and try and visit more than once, seeing her under different circumstances each time. Im terribly un trusting, but I would turn up early, to make sure that they arent lunging her before hand, or having difficulty cathcing her. Get them to ride her, and ride her yourself, in a paddock and on the road. I wouldnt put small kids on a pony that big though.