What are your thoughts on this horse

[offlikearocket]

I took up riding last year having always wanted to ride since as long as I can remember and have ridden on and off over the years but only odd lessons etc. I am now in a position to own my own horse and will be doing nothing fancy just hacking and enjoying looking after a horse. We are lucky enough to be moving to a house with land so that I can keep a horse and eventually a pony for DD. The riding school are selling the horse which I ride, she's coming up 17 this month and is tired of being in the school, she is also used for RDA, she's a 15.1h welsh Sec D x clysedale and very easy to do in all ways, it's been a bit difficult to learn on her as she is just unwilling in the school and I'm not young so getting her into trot means I'm often knackered by the time we get there. However, totally different story out on a hack, she seems to love being out and is forward going I hardly have to ask for trot or canter but we do hack out with other horses so not sure if this is an influence. I really like this horse as she's safe and easy and all I want to do is hack and probably start DD off on lead rein with her, it's just I'm concerned about her age, realistically how many years do you think I may get from her under saddle? Would it be worth it? Also how much do you think she would be worth, I know this is a bit of a guess but just some idea would be good. I think that if I buy her I know I will have to give her a home for life and that's not necessarily an issue but as I'm 44 I think I will want to ride for a lot longer than she will and that's the dilemma really...I will have 3 acres of land and if I bought another horse in a few years time would this area of land support 3 horses?
Please let me know your thoughts and any considerations I have overlooked. Sorry for the long post!

[Juniperberry79]

I'm not going to comment on the former riding school horse point - I have come across some great riding school horses and also some that I wouldn't want to own......other than to say that I think people's comments that the horse might behave very differently outside the riding school environment are very valid.

However, if you are a novice I would definitely think twice about keeping the horse at home. I am a novice who like you has ridden on and off over the years and I have recently got my first horse on part share. It has been such a learning curve, and whilst I am really enjoying it, it is teaching me just how much I still have to learn about horses (ie loads!).

I know the basics (I can catch, tack up, groom, basic riding) but what my share has made be realise is that I don't know how to deal with things when they go wrong. The other day I came to collect my horse in from the field and she had blood coming from her nose - I didn't have a clue what to do, but thankfully she is kept at a large livery yard with full time experienced staff on hand so there is always someone with experience around. Also her owners are always at the end of the phone should I need to call them for a second opinion about anything.

I would definitely recommend keeping your first horse at a larger yard with experienced people around and I wouldn't advise keeping horses at home until you are experienced enough to deal with things like basic health problems, injuries, basic behaviour issues etc.

I also think a trial period would be a great idea.

Good luck!

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

I wouldn't touch a TB with a barge pole! Can't beat a nice native!

[Ehhn]

I agree on challenge, but according to experience and confidence. Op sounds like she wants an obedient, kind horse she can trust to nanny kids on ponies and do ride/lead. Maybe a nice Irish draught or Id x? I break and bring on young event horses and not everyone wants to deal with (or is able to cope with!) the challenges of tb or mostly tb and wb/id youngsters.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Im not into overhorsing, but there is nothing wrong with taking on a bit of a challenge. You have to work hard, and will be better for it in the long run. With support and instruction, it is no bad thing.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Ehhn I'll completly agree with that.

My mare is ex riding school... and about as far from dead to the leg and firm in the mouth as yoy can get.

She's fizzy but willing. That said... she knows all the tricks going. If you put a nivice on her she will not work without correct aids. However I find her a complete push button ride. Presonally I think she's wonderful :-) but I can see how someone witjout the correct experience would be totally over horsed by her (which is how she ended up in the riding school in the first place)

[Ehhn]

it's been a bit difficult to learn on her as she is just unwilling in the school and I'm not young so getting her into trot means I'm often knackered by the time we get there

This is the bit that concerns me. Even if you only want to hack, you may wish to work on technique, or if you/she gets injured you may need to do some rehab work in the school. It also shows a certain amount of bloody mindedness to this horse which means it may be canny enough to exploit inexperience/weakness eg in handling. If you are going to own a horse, they should do all the basics for the level that you require. A good horse costs as much as a bad one to keep, so why not get a horse that ticks all the boxes? On the other hand, I admire your sense in selecting an appropriate horse for your level/experience. Over-horsing is an all too common occurence.

[TackedOff]

Well I OWN a stubborn, totally bombproof pony who hates hacking alone and, although he is lovely as a lead rein pony he is really a struggle to hack out with and even I (very rusty, very much a happy hacker) find him tiring and unrewarding to ride.

Unwillingness is really depressing after a while. My daughter's new pony approaches everythign with a cheerful manner and is nicely forward going and he is really lovely to ride (he's just as safe as the first pony but not as tiring!)

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

These were guest appearances. A good friend is a total show jumping groupie. She goes to everything and knows them all. She used to get one or two of them to come do lessons at the riding school where she worked. He didn't live nearby.

[WillowKnicks]

I wonder if you're near me Saggy as we have someone named Whittaker locally

[CalamityKate]

Agree with Saggy.

When I was doing my instructor training, the centre we were at used to have clinics with visiting professionals. Nobody dead famous but still, people way more talented than most.

I remember one of them getting on one of the school horses; she really WAS dead to the leg. A stodgy, unwilling, ungenerous dobbin. Quite nice looking TB but you know, didn't want to do a thing.

He got on and got her working in a beautiful outline - Flowing forward with seemingly no effort from him. Sickening!

[Pixel]

all I want to do is hack and probably start DD off on lead rein with her

I'm just going by what the OP said. She didn't say she was interested in schooling.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

It may be that the horse will never be fun to school, so if this is something the OP is interested in, this may not be the horse for her. Or it may show that the horse has a stubborn streak that may manifest itself again when hacking alone.
Or the rider could just not be asking properly.
Fwiw, our DFs riding school used to arrange for lessons with top show jumpers. I have on many occasions seen these experienced riders get on misbehaving, inside out, 'dead to the leg' obnoxious riding school ponies, even down to nappy Shetlands, pick up the reins and then the pony into a perfectly behaved, on the bit delights.
And more than once, the jumpers have made offers for ponies in the school! If someone named Whittaker would buy a riding school pony, then I sure would!

[Booboostoo]

The fact that the horse is very difficult to get into trot in the school is a potentially worrying sign that the OP shouldn't ignore. She doesn't need to aspire to the next Olympics for this to be a problem.

It may be that the horse will never be fun to school, so if this is something the OP is interested in, this may not be the horse for her. Or it may show that the horse has a stubborn streak that may manifest itself again when hacking alone.

Just things for the OP to check out before buying, not necessarily issues that make the horse unsuitable.

[Pixel]

The way you lot are going on you'd think the OP had said she wanted this horse for the next olympics!
I wholeheartedly agree with making absolutely sure the horse will hack alone (in open spaces and traffic), getting it vetted, keeping it at a busy yard for a while, making sure it has a companion - all that. But really, for mooching about the countryside, leading a small beginner child and generally having fun getting used to horse ownership does it really matter if it doesn't respond to the lightest of aids so long as it's safe? Probably for a first horse it's better if it isn't too sharp, it'll be more forgiving of rooky mistakes. It's not as if offlikearocket doesn't already know and like this horse, the main thing is to make sure it is still the same animal away from the group and with less work, so maybe a trial period is in order. The age wouldn't bother me if she's sound and looks well. Our first pony was 16 when we got him and we had him almost 20 years, (he died a few months short of 35).

[Callisto]

Maybe it's just the riding schools around here then. I still wouldn't touch one, no matter how wonderful. Too many bad riders on board does not make a good horse and can make a bad horse. And as I say, why would I when good horses and ponies are ten a penny at the moment.

[ohbuggerhelp]

Sorry Dolomites - I feel I've joined all my bloody mares in season!


Yes, I agree, BTW !

[DolomitesDonkey]

Did you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning? Of course people have lessons, I think most of us probably do. I take lessons in all my sports because I don't want to be "good", I want to be "much better". Until my nag carked it I was getting lessons from one of the best dressage judges in the country.

But we all have differing levels of ability, and it's not really being smug to be aware that you've got a horse working in a supple manner rather than just "trotting to the back".

[ohbuggerhelp]

Sadly, the riding school we got ours from wouldn't allow you to be smug, Dolomites. Some of their horses and riders compete at medium in BD.

All the best riders have lessons regularly, you do know that, yes?

[ohbuggerhelp]

I am far more concerned about the ponies and horses kept by novices or those without any knowledge whatsoever. I have had liveries come to me with horses in conditions that break your heart because they are ignorant and have NO idea what it takes and costs to keep horses.

[DolomitesDonkey]

In fact, getting the most out of a riding school horse is far more challenging than riding your own who is well trained and used to you. We should all do it as a wake up call!

[DolomitesDonkey]

As Calamity says, it can actually be rather fun riding a riding school horse. I often join a riding lesson when I'm staying at my mum's and if I need to join the group lesson then I spend my time asking a horse to bend in a way it's not done since 1985 for example.

I also get to feel smug when I see other people ride a horse I know goes differently for me.

[CalamityKate]

And as for "boot yank" - no decent RS or instructor would tolerate that.

[CalamityKate]

Totally disagree with Callisto re:riding school horses. You just can't generalise.

At the RS I used to work at we took HUGE pains to make sure the horses/ponies were not dead to the leg. Nor did they have mouths like iron.

Even in beginner groups we made sure that the ponies were kept interested; no endless "trot to the rear of the ride and latch onto the tail of the pony in front" malarkey.

Some riding schools are crap. Some are not and will have very well schooled horses who even if they are suitable for beginners are kept up to scratch by the more experienced riders.

[ohbuggerhelp]

But true, Eve.

Loads of parents with all the gear and no idea in most local shows. They should spend a little bit more on lessons and a little bit less on flash.

callisto, no doubt you know plenty about horses but making huge, sweeping generalisations about riding school horses devalues your contribution . All horses are different and all riding schools are different. The school mine came form is locally well regarded for it's dressage and the horses are absolutely superb. I run a yard and have been horse shopping recently for three very different clients. I have seen some absolute horrors in private novice hands. In a good riding school the owners will know about horses and how to keep them. I've seen too many horror stories ( as I'm sure have you) stemming from ignorance and lack of experience.

[Eve]

my kids are excellent riders and most of the kids in local shows aren't and spend their lives being whip happy and tugging on the mouths of 10 grand ponies their non riding parents have shelled out for and quickly ruining them.


nice!