New horse/pony hunters support thread - anyone interested?

[bumbleymummy]

I'm currently horse hunting and after seeing quite a few unsuitable ones (sarcoids/lame/crazy/too young/too old/too much of a project) I have finally found one that I really like. 6yo sport horse 16.2 has done wh/xc/sj up to 1m this summer, home bred and has been brought on slowly. She's lovely to ride and I took plenty of videos and I have nods of approval from the people I trust. :) They are coming with me to try her again next weekend and the owner has agreed to a trial period at a local livery yard so I can get her vetted there if all goes well....I'm biting my nails until next weekend! Anyone else out there in the same position? Or can anyone distract me with good/bad tales of their horse/pony hunting experiences?

Just wanted to say - I let Alice out managed to catch her and then asked my instructor to come out for an hour. We tacked her up and she walked with me for 15 mintes. Alice was a joy. I could feel my confidence coming back with each step. When my Instructor left I went out on my own for an hour! It was fantastic and I felt totally different about her! Such a relief - I was so scared I had made a mistake. My Instructor told me about one lady who had £9k horse ad had only ever dared ride it once. I did not want to be that lady (not that I spent £9k!) I am so pleased I rode her today!

I love my horse!!!
PS - wish I'd not read about the crusty sheath just as I sat down with a sandwich!

Haggy - I can trump you with maggots I think. My old dhorse had a sarcoid removed from his groin, with the remaining wound about 3" long and deep. As it was healing the maggots got in there and I had to wash them out for an hour at a time - and they kept trying to wiggle back up his leg. They are truly disgusting, although the vet wasn't too fussed as they were eating the dead tissue - yeuch!

bellybulger I'm so pleased it went well for you today.Confidence is half the battle with horses I think.

We went to see another loan pony today,it would have been funny if I wasn't so sad for the poor old thing.He was 19 and looked 10 years older,in fact I think he has Cushings as he had a long curly coat and it hasn't been that cold yet.Dpony is 21 and looks 10 years younger than him.First their dd rode him,walked and trotted ok,got him into a canter and he chucked her.Dad blamed it on her not giving the pony 'the right instruction'.DD2 got on and could barely make him move,I tried to get him to trot by running alongside,no go,the dad tried,still no go.Then dd1,who is a good little rider tried,no go,and to make matters worse,I'd just said to the owner how confident dd1 was & she'd get him to trot,and dd1 just sat there like a sack of spuds,heels up in the air and slumped in the saddle.I've never ever seen her ride so badly in my life-this is the child how gets our staid, stubborn dpony over a 2ft 6 jump-she may as well have been on a seaside donkey for all the effort she put in..

Apparently the pony goes really well if it has another pony in front,and will copy the other pony-well that's no good to me-dd1 has got to learn how to get the pony to respond,not just sit there while it robotically plods around.Plus if dd1 canters around and dd2 doesn't want to,I don't want him deciding he is going because his mate is.

Sorry,rant over.I'm fast getting disillusioned with this pony finding lark.

Mirage - I feel your pain! I know when I first looked for a pony for DD1 (8 years ago now!) someone told me how hard it is to find a good childs pony. I think the good ones are rehomed very quickly by word of mouth. Agree re the confidence thing - when I started riding again I rode some real sods at the riding school but I think I somehow had it in my mind they must be safe because they were at the school - hence no nerves.

Did I read you are near Riseholme (Lincoln)? Just curious as I originally come from that neck of the woods. Good luck - the right horse will find you.

Thank you bellybulger,I appreciate the sympathy. I saw the owner of the pony today,at Melton horse sales of all places.I explained to her that we wouldn't be coming back to try him again,and she said it was ok,she'd got two ther people coming to try him.I wish them bloody good luck!

I'm not from Riseholme,I'm near Melton Mowbray,Leics.It might have been Olderyetwider, who mentioned getting a ponies details from Riseholme Feeds,for me that brought it up.

The girls hacked dpony around the villages and over the fields today and I realised how lucky we are to have her.Then when I was untacking her,she spooked at nothing,wrenched back and snapped a bit of her bridle! I wasn't feeling the love at that point,especially as I'd watched pony bridles selling for a few pounds at the tack auction earlier-if I'd known I would have bought one to use as a spare.

Oh well,ponies,never a dull moment!

I finally feel we are getting somewhere with DPony.

Just got back from the stables, my turn to ride today so just me and DH went. DPony has been causing problems when worked alone and in the stables alone. Well today there was no-one else around, all the horses and ponies were in the paddock, but she led in well, caused no problems tacking up, then did a 45 minute session in the manege alone with no problems.

And for the first time since we got her I feel that having my own pony is improving my abilities, which is great.

Just had to share.

Great news frenchfancy,it gives you a real buzz when things go well.I'm pleased you are getting on well with her.

I had an interesting conversation last night,with someone who knows the owners of the loan pony we passed on last week.She says they have no stable for him this winter and that is why they want to loan him out.She is positive that once the winter is over,they'll be demanding him back again,so we may have had a lucky escape there.

We had a lovely hack on dpony this afternoon,but it gets dark so quickly that we were out for less than an hour.Blooming winter.

Hello - can I join in? Collecting our loan pony in 10 days. He's a gelding (now dreading crusty sheaths...) 13.3, new forest, 6. He's done quite a lot and really popular with everyone who knows him, but needs a strong leg which might be an issue for d1. He is a very pretty roan with some dun markings. Off to visit him this morning.

Hello - can I join in? Collecting our loan pony in 10 days. He's a gelding (now dreading crusty sheaths...) 13.3, new forest, 6. He's done quite a lot and really popular with everyone who knows him, but needs a strong leg which might be an issue for d1. He is a very pretty roan with some dun markings. Off to visit him this morning.

Ok - a very belated update! The mare I had on trial went back. :( We just couldn't click with each other and I was finding riding her more like hard work than anything else. It was a shame because she was an absolute sweetie in so many ways but she just wasn't for me.

I also tried the 4yo again and decided that she isn't what I'm looking for either.
So the search continues!

I'm going to see a 15.3 gelding on Tuesday. Fingers crossed!

Mirage, sorry to hear things didn't work out with your either - I'm going to try to catch up a bit on the rest of the thread tonight -I've just skimmed most of it! (particularly skimmed over the maggoty sheath part!)

Happy hacker - are you collecting yours on Tuesday then? Not long to go!

Well he was absolutely gorgeous and I tried him again early this week and jumped him and he's amazing! He's being vetted tomorrow so fingers crossed I will have a new horse tomorrow night! Eek! So excited and nervous! Wish me luck :)

Does anyone else have any updates?

Great news Bumbleymummy,fingers crossed for the vetting.Please let us know how it goes.

We are still looking,a bit half heartedly really,I've posted so many adverts,asked at least a dozen horsey friends to let me know of anything,and still nothing has turned up.

We've had one response to the many 'wanted' ads I've posted,and that was too big,doesn't jump as well as our existing pony and for sale,not for loan-you do wonder if the vendor had actually read my advert.

Yesterday,the girls were off school due to the strikes,and I jokingly remembered that the day we found dpony was a day off due to strikes too,and perhaps we'd be lucky today.The phone rang yesterday afternoon with someone who'd seen my latest ad,and who has a 19year old 11.2 that they want to loan out,but not advertised yet.He's done PonyClub,hunted,good on the road and fields ect and sounds ideal.We are both going to the same PC Rally on Sunday and hopefully will get to see him there,but if not,will arrange to go another time.They haven't got a replacement pony yet,so it could be a while before he's available,and I can't get too excited due to the number of 'ideal' ponies we've seen who turn out to be anything but,but it is a possibilty anyway.

Ah, mirage, I've been checking to see how you were getting on in your pony search; great to hear that you might have a "potential" - fingers crossed.

I posted ages ago about pony-sharing for my daughters. We've been sharing a very lovely Exmoor cross for two months now, but I'm just getting the feeling that the girls just aren't that keen ( or at least not yet). There aren't good facilities where she is kept but she is faily elderly and don't think it's fair suggesting to move her. So..... I'm now thinking about buying a horse for myself ! I've wanted one for about 30 odd years so feel as though it could be my time. (I know that it wouldn't be suitable for them apart from a walk around a lane on). I'm just really nervous about making the jump! I'm spending literally hours on the internet looking for a suitable steed. I don't know whether I'm just thinking about it too much and should just go for it...( bit reluctant to loan as don't think I would bond as well with horse, or bond too much and be upset at having it to hand it back....)

Soo... is there anyone here who's made the plunge with their first horse ? What made you know that it would all be ok ?? I need someone to hold my hand through this !

Oh limepickle,you are kind to be thinking of us!

I think you should go for it! I keep being offered a lovely 15.1 mare,but can't possibly get a horse myself when dd2 still hasn't got her own pony.It is hard because the owner doesn't want the mare to go to anyone but me and I'd love to have her to potter about with the dds on,but it just isn't practical.Every time I see her owner she says that she wants me to have her,otherwise she'll save her for the dds-as dd1 is a small for her age 8 year old,it could be some time before she's ready for her.

Do you think your dds will be more enthusiastic riders when the weather improves? I'm not enjoying the cold and dark nights so can understand how they feel,but the dds are just as keen as ever and aren't happy if they can't ride.

HE'S MINE! :)

He passed the vet with flying colours today and made several friends along the way. He's an absolute sweetheart and I am just the luckiest person in the world :)

Mirage, Howe you get on with your pony today? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Fabulous news Bumbleymummy! I'm so pleased for you.

We won't get to see the pony at the rally,as dd1 is riding at 10 and the loaner isn't riding until 2pm,but I will ring them tomorrow and arrange to go over another time and see him.A friend knows both the loaners and the pony and says he is a lovely little thing and his owners are very nice people,very genuine.So I'm optomistic.

Oh good! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and send positive pony thoughts in your direction! :) Keep us posted!

Photos please,Bumbleymummy!

We have decided to go back in the afternoon and watch the loan pony at the rally,it is probably best that they aren't riding at the same time-I wouldn't be able to give my full attention to either.

I'm off to the horse sales this morning,to try and buy a trailer,then have got to try and remove mud from dpony,who lives out,and has rolled.I can't bath her as it is too cold and she is in a right old state.

Can I join?

I think I may be acquiring a lovely horse on a part share. I used to ride alot, then 20 yars ago had a terrible accident on an ex racehorse (broken spine/pelvis/arm) and have not really ridden since. Am going to see a horse this weekend. He looks lovely, is not too ploddy and not too fizzy. 16.00 hh, part thoroughbred.

I am SO excited! It is 30 pounds a week share cost, and apparently he likes hacking out.

How exciting redstormrising.Let us know how it goes,won't you? Your accident sounds terrible,you are very brave to still want to ride after that.

I bought a trailer on Saturday and saw hopefully loan pony to be on Sunday.He seems a sweet little thing and didn't put a foot wrong during the rally.His owners haven't sorted out a replacement yet,so are going to ring me when he is available and we'll go from there.

Ok. Ridiculously late follow up!i just COULD NOT get a photo to upload properly but it's there now! My lovely boy at one of his first registered shows- hence silly big jump! He's being a bit more sensible now :) Not me riding him in the photo.

So how is everyone else getting on? Brighter evenings are on their way ladies - yay! :)

Just realised that's not one of the registered shows!