five stage vetting

[Puppymouse]

I posted a while back about buying my first horse and had some very useful advice. I've since found a beautiful boy I want to buy and he's being vetted on Tuesday. I have been warned that many horses don't pass vetting and this is fairly common. The yard he's at are hopeful he will but he's 16...

My question is are there degrees of failing where you would still purchase? So if he fails on X you still go ahead but if he fails on Y you walk away? And will the vet advise whether to go ahead in these circumstances or do they have to just leave you to decide?

My loan mare is a Connie X tb so I'd def be open to that. I don't mind getting something that's slowing down but would rather have younger. Just struggling to weigh up green with older horse health vs vices. Everything I've looked at has had a compromise.

V interested in one of Shane's but it's an older one again and poor. Nothing like his usual stock. So I wouldn't without my vet seeing it.

Fueled - agree I don't need something with a competition record. Happy to give a happy forever home to an older competition horse that needs a quieter life I think if it's lovely to ride but it's a risk. Have seen a few with no record as well.

A nice safe Connie x that does rc and is aged between 8-12 is the dream for 80% of new horse purchasers so very much in demand and rarely come on to the open market.

There's nothing wrong with buying a horse that has competed above the level you want. I always do this - at least it means that the horse or pony is well schooled and used to lots of different situations.

Have you looked at horses for homes? My friend who is an ex eventer and now hunts and does rc plus hacks with her kids has had 2 lovely horses from there.

Puppymouse when you find the right one any compromise will seem irrelevant. I had a strict wish list when looking for my dds horse and ended up buying something huge young and green but they just clicked.

To be fair I've just had a quick look and there hardly seems to be any nice rc/hacking types. The only ones I saw all came from the same dealer. I bought a 13yr old to give me experience round bigger tracks but I'm very conscious he's been well used and potentially he's going to give me a few years then I'll have to pay for years of retirement. It doesn't matter so much as he's one of five and we have our own yard but I just think if you can avoid older ex competition types you'll have more vetting success and maybe less heartache.

Have you joined all your local Facebook selling pages?

Yep - on about 7. Lots of friends keeping an eye out and tagging too.

Agree about paying for years of retirement. It's my main concern with the older ones.

When I was looking for my current horse I had in mind a 6 year old ex racehorse mare. (I'm fairly experienced for an amateur and know where to get help if I have a problem, so I'd have the ability to cope, so long as she wasn't fresh off the track). Anyway, I bought a 12 year old, Irish Draught x TB gelding. So other than the bit of TB, not what I had in mind at all. Best thing I ever did really. On paper it shouldn't work because he's too big and strong for me and needs his rider to be much more black and white than I usually am. Still works though.

I think what I'm trying to say OP is that there are various things you can compromise on and then some you can't, principally do you and the horse like each other! You can ease retirement problems by making sure the horse has plenty of turnout to stave off all kinds of joint problems. Ensure that the horse is fit to do the job you require of it, thereby cutting down the chance of strain injuries. Personally I started feeding my horse a veteran food balancer when he was 15 but I know some people would think that was over doing it. Otherwise, just keep doing what you're doing. Try them out, see if you click. And buy it because you like it, not because you feel sorry for it it's a bit like dating really

Hahaha great advice thank you.

It's a minefield, but the horse is there for you somewhere. First horse I looked at sounded great on paper but even when I first saw him in the stable I didn't click with him and was trying to find reasons to like him. The decision was made for me when he dumped his rider on the road when I asked to see him trot, and then again in the field.

The second one I looked at I knew very little about, he'd come recommended by a friend of a friend who'd seen him hunting and said he was "a nice sort". Liked him in the stable, liked him in hand and being ridden for me, and loved him when I rode him. I had a friend ride him and she loved him and the deal was done subject to vetting within 24 hours. A couple of vetting issues but the vet felt there were no deal breakers and said that he felt I was getting a good horse.

I spent the next few days worrying about whether I'd missed something or that I was rushing into buying and when he arrived wished I'd never bought him as he was so strong and bolshy and a bugger to load that I was close to selling him on. However, 3 months on we're getting there and I'm very glad I kept him!

You will "know" when you find the right one but you do need to keep head and heart separate, there will be a lot of dross on the way but each time you'll be nearer to your goal. Get the right horse for the job and the love will come.....

Oh Frosty how gorgeous is he!!

Any thoughts on this chap anyone?

He looks nice - definitely worth a phone call. My gripe about these ads is that the photos are rubbish - if I were selling mine like this you need a good conformation shot, pref both sides, if he's a jumper show jumping pictures, etc.

You've nothing to lose by ringing, ask for more photos if you can and have your checklist at the ready. In the end though nothing beats seeing it in person.....

Mine included - what bit do you use, how often is he shod, live in/out, hack alone/company, good with traffic, where did you get him from, how long have you had him, what have you done with him, how many other horses do you have....

I think mine is gorgeous (although we do have "issues!), thank you and the most fabulous jumper but I would prefer a different colour - we're on clay round here and every proper outing requires a bath, which if I'm hunting twice a week is a pain! He's currently skipping around the field covered in mud on his after hunting holiday which is about to end and I'm toying with the idea of doing an "Eventers Challenge" which is showjumping & XC only, no dressage. He was an eventer for a while but his record wasn't good and I don't think he enjoyed it much so I just want us to have some "no pressure" fun!

Did you go see Albus? I think he's the kind of horse you should be looking for and agree with the posters above that a first horse would be a better choice for you than a first competition horse. A first horse should be a safe hack, forgiving ride, nice to handle and something you can have fun with at clear rounds, unaff. dressage, fun rides etc. A first competition horse would be a much fitter and energetic animal that will need stimulating and keeping in work.

I would not worry so much about age either. There are plenty of older horses going strong and if they are in work and sound at that age you know there are no hidden problems.

I want to say too young - they are often angels at 5 and naughty at 6-

But we bought dd a 5 year old and he's been amazing so you never know...

Always wary when they say 'fun'...
The

The 5yo grey is far too young in my opinion. While I would agree that a horse with a fiery temperament will remain fiery in old age whereas a settled horse will be a settled youngster it is unrealistic to expect a settled youngster to make a good first horse as they just don't have the experience. For a settled youngster to become an experienced older horse they need a rider with a balanced seat who can teach the horse to work through its back and has the confidence to ride through difficult situations.

Yy dd is extremely good and confident rider (sure you are too OP!). He's also now 17hh rather than the manageable 16.1 when we bought him

Unfortunately, op, you are a bit limited by your budget. The good, safe riding club but not superstar talent (because only 1% of riders need that and they are heading for Rio!) horses are absolutely in demand and tend to be in the £4.5-6.5k mark at 7-13yrs. So if you aren't looking for a superstar but just a good sort at £3.5k, you are going to have to look at a shade younger (5/6) or older (16/17). Maybe go back to the older horses.

I have to say, I find with horses that at 4 they are awesome, 5 is when they turn into teenagers and if they are going to be vile then they are, and then at 6 they start to get their lives together. Having said that, all horses will push boundaries - any horse you buy will be lovely for the first 3 weeks to 6 months and then they will just see what they can get away with. Be prepared!

I do wonder if an ID (1/2 to 3/4 bred) or cob cross would be a good option. There are lots of that solid cob x sort at £2.5-3.5k, but a lot of coloureds in that cohort (op, you're not a fan of coloureds, are you?). And they can be bolshy what'sits. I agree on conn x tb but they are mega popular as they are good doers and v good jumpers - most pony club mums are out looking for them so tend to be a bit pricier! ID would give you the temperament and the good doer, and they tend to jump a bit too (biased as my chestnut mare is 1/2 ID, 1/2 Tb).

I'm afraid horse buying is a protracted process - see above poster who spent a year looking! But if you are going to keep the horse 3 to 15 (or 20/25!) years, the time spent looking is an important investment.

"Fun" might translate as "needs a rider with no sense of their own mortality". For other similar translations, this is funny, although you also need to translate from American foxtrotters.tripod.com/translations.htm

He's got King of Diamonds bloodlines and they are very, very nice. But yes he is 5 and might have an attack of the horrible 6s.

I love my ID cross to bits but they do have a streak of gittishness. In the first 6 months I had a few real face-off situations where I really had to stand my ground. One person was very impressed with my 10m circle trot figure 8s. She didn't realise it was that, or attempt to sit through some form of explosion. I had this little inner voice saying "and breath and circle. And breath and circle". Once you get through that, that streak of temperament will work for you rather than against you but it really does help to have an experienced instructor on hand telling you to stop being such a wimp and keep riding

Sorry OP, not being helpful. I think with your budget, I might take a punt on a younger horse IF you have plenty of help around. Are you used to riding a horse in a correct outline? Do you have enough experience to push on with a horse that's testing its limits? A friend of mine took on a green youngster and it's been a bit swings and roundabouts but she does have experienced help around. And there are plenty of horses that can act as uncle/ nanny/ babysitter.

I have tried quite a few so far and my experience has been I tell the owner I'm a competant novice with confidence issues. If they're still happy for me to ride they have told me I'm a better rider than I make out so that's the way I'd like to keep it. I am not competitive so anything that has to be out and about every weekend isn't going to work but I am interested if I can get transport in doing clinics, learning, natural horsemanship, balance, focus, confidence that type of stuff. So time allowing I want something that can do that or learn with me.

I didn't see Albus in the end as my yard owner asked a load more questions and he was a cribber, ex racer, bad to shoe and had sarcoids etc - none of which were mentioned in the ad

Budget is limited I agree - my mum is saying she might lend me a bit more (maybe 1k) if it meant I'd be safer (that makes me sound a lot younger than I am lol I am mid 30s mum myself) but haven't seen an awful lot to make getting into her debt worthwhile to be honest. And people still lie. In which case I've got 4.5k's worth of dud not 3. Sigh.

This is the one Shane has that I loved...

My initial thoughts are a biggish horse that's been used to jump biggish tracks will have potentially problems in the not too distant future. If he's been ridden by people that are jumping 1.20 he's probably used to a life/rider different to what you are looking to provide. He's quite big and fit so even if he's a saint if he has a settling in/ testing the boundary period that's a lot of horse to fight ( says the girl with the 18.1)

I totally agree with a quality cob. As long as they aren't bolshy I think you can't beat them

He's really poor and not fit at all so I've been offered a year's warranty on behaviour and soundness...