How do you ever buy a horse???

[GrandMasterFlash]

Admittedly, we haven't been trying ALL that long, but SO disheartened. It's been hard to get anyone to consider is as potential buyers. It's our first horse, for my daughter. She is only 12 years old, but is 5'9" already. She is currently on 15.3hh and so we are looking at 16hh to buy. She has been riding for 8 years and has had a share/part loan previously.

Eventually we found one that was advertised as a confidence giver/for novice to progress. Did 8 hour round trip. Horse took off with her in gallop and dumped her on the floor!

Have had promising text conversations about a few others, but then ghosted mid-conversation. Sounds like internet dating!!

I am not sure what we should even be looking for anymore...'family horse'? We have established that we want a 'safe ride'. But she definitely doesn't want a plod. She wants to do EVERYTHING! Which is why we want to buy. So she has freedom to hack, go to shows. She like jumping, and interested in dressage and liberty work also. Would we be daft to look at something a bit 'green', that she can school/train with direction of instructor??

We will be using assisted/part livery at least until we are more confident). I have experience, but from years ago, so not confident yet, to go DIY

Anyway, what was my point???..how long does it generally take to find a horse? Any tips/advice?

First horse we got lucky. Ex riding school pony 15hh, 14 yo. They sold him to us as they'd shut down the riding school and liked the riding school we ride in and kept him at. My DD was à talk 9 yo and we bought him for us to share.

Pony 2 14hh 11yo, looked for 18 months. Also a pony for us to share. We tried 3 youngsters in the interim all variations on the disaster theme.

Yes I agree, you may be able to find a safe cob for £2k. Your budget would go further on a cob than a big horse (in general.

It's likely to be safe and actually there's very little a cob can't do without work, but if the horse is safe and she feels confident she'll be able to put the work in herself (with an instructor), so you can spend your money on getting the horse and child going further together, rather than spending all your money on lessons to convinced horse/child they won't die when riding.

Better to end up with a horse that is too safe and boring that you have to sell in two years (you'll have a waiting list) than a horse you have to sell in six months because the child refuses to ride it and no one will buy it because they all remember the ditch it put her in at PC!

Oh that sounds just like my wish list when we did this 25 years ago . We looked for a horse for life, which is pretty unusual I think?

We found him in horse and hound. He was a 6 year old 15,2hh Welsh section D that did everything. Lasted until he was peacefully PTS last year. Cracking horse that we had so much fun on (Mum and me). I was a tall teenager too.

Anyhoo. We did pay £3k back then as he was sound after 5 stage vetting and came with all tack and rugs.

Over his life we never paid much in vets bills etc as he was a really healthy 'easy to do' type horse.

At first I think we undersold ourselves as owners as the sellers wanted him to go to a competition yard, but I called them up myself, and they realised we were a good fit.

And we were!

Good luck op. So exciting!

I have to echo what other people are saying and say, get a cob. Get something hairy with a big barrel to take up her long legs and a cheerful disposition that will be her best friend and build her confidence. She might well be a great riding school rider but getting your own horse is a big step up. If you get her something too green/flashy you will at best ruin her confidence and at worst, cause her to have a serious accident. If she outgrows it, you will have a waiting list of people will bite your hand off for it. Have you considered a loan? Plenty of families who have their own land find it hard to part with a much loved pony or small horse that their kids have learned to ride on but are happy for them to loan so they are still getting out and about and having fun but return to the family when outgrown before they find their net jockey, until retirement. We have an angel of 13.2 cob here who will never be sold. Have a think about that.

So the fat cob she is on now...She spends a lot of time and energy KICKING....this doesn't have to be the case does it with a cob? That is what she wants to get away from

If you are looking to get a confidence-giving horse that will SJ, dressage, etc for a child, I'm afraid you will most likely be looking at spending more than £2k. If it is cheaper than that, ask yourself and your instructor what is wrong with it - if it's good enough, it will sell to the first person who sees it so you'll have to be ready to move fast.

Be aware that while many people will use the word 'cob' to describe a fat, hairy, mostly-stationary horse, it can also be used to describe:

• A large Welsh pony only one step removed from a fire-breathing dragon, commonly seen on the end of a long lead rein towing small men in waistcoats very fast round a showring in Wales.
• A stocky, hogged, short-legged hunter type with a neck like a prize Charolais bull and an attitude to match. There is a whole market in terrifying looking bits with long shanks for horses like this, as once they set their necks they ain't stopping for anyone!

Make sure you are looking at the right sort, if cob is what you go for.

I reckon she would go far on a fire breathing Dragon (actually, that is more dd2s style) 😁

Thanks everyone this has been great. I feel a sense of relief

I've posted similar photos before, but here's some more so that you can see how easy it is for 2 different people to have completely different ideas about one horse. All of the horses in the photos are about 15-15.2hh.

First one is a welsh cob. Second is a hogged (or show) cob. Third is a hairy plod. All very different in physique and temperament, and would need very different care.

Welsh cobs can make great teenagers ponies, a friend of mine is now a professional dressage rider doing very well for herself. She is very tall too. Her first proper competition pony was a welsh cob and she represented her country as a young rider on him. All welsh ponies have a bit of fire in them though

And yes, that is a full grown 13 stone adult man riding a 15.2hh in that second picture. Your DD definitely does not need a 16hh!

We have five natives, adore every single one of them and none of them is a plod! Eldest daughter is 5.7 and rides a 14.3 Welsh cob/Thoroughbred cross who is a bolshy, dominant dragon, but full of talent and drop dead gorgeous, a 14hh Icelandic mare who is a lovable little sweetie but a real pocket rocket. Excels at endurance riding and games and both of these mares jump like stags. Youngest, 12, 5.5, still rides her 12.2 welshie who is an utter swine but a fantastic competition pony, also rides her 13.2 black and white gypsy cob who has full feathers and a mane down to her knees. Sweetest, most loving pony, will walk if my daughter wants to walk, gallop when she wants to gallop and always wants to please. VERY forward going and a real favourite for Pony Club. I am 5.6 and ride a full up 14.2 Highland pony who is gentle, kind, totally bomb proof, has paces to die for and goes forward at a slight touch of my heel. NONE of them need kicking into their paces! My Highland is the most laid back of the lot and still has flashy paces and a total show off when he has an audience! Please do not write native ponies and cobs off and be prepared to spend more, animals that give a 12 year old confidence and can turn a hoof to anything are worth their weight in gold.

Does she carry a crop with her current horse? I've known horses where just carrying one reminds them they have more than one gear and removes the need for pony club kicks!

Safe doesn't have to mean plod, but if you want safe AND responsive you will need to up your budget considerably ime.

I'm 5"7 and when not carrying baby weight I ride my Welsh pony who is 13.2hh, although most people think he is at least 14hh. I'm not suggesting you buy something this small, but just as a comparison to your idea of 16hh.

Thanks for all your help back...those first 2 horses are awesome
She does carry a whip mouse. The Goss has a reputation for being stubborn and awkward. And ride, actually. She is always challenging me. Try to butt me out of the way and bite me

Hoss, not Goss

Chants

After talking to dd this morning, her reasoning for NOT wanting a cob, was;

1. not wanting a plod
2. wanting a horse that she can put polo wraps on

She was easy to talk round!
Fire Dragon it is. I didn't realise until this conversation, but I myself very much DO want a cob. My heart sings when I look at them. Not so much with the WBs/finer types, she has been looking at

I love Welsh cobs, have one, have ridden and produced several for the show ring. Only one has been what I would call suitable for a novice, even then her paces (the trot particularly) were very expressive and therefore not an easy ride.

I'd never recommend them for a first horse.

In your position I would forget about a certain type or breed, and look at anything that is suitable in temperament from 14.2 chunk to 16.2 horse.

While you don't need the height, you might find the perfect horse at 16.2. Or at 14.2.

I wouldn't suggest a Welsh cob either.

Where are you located roughly? You're probably going to need a bit of bigger budget to be honest but the right horse is out there.

Haha...this is exactly the problem with horse shopping isn't it

Equestrians have very strong ideas about what is right. But it there is no consensus. There is no 'how it is'

Highlands are great native types too. I have got a fantastic mare on loan, she is barely 14h and I am a 5'7" adult. She takes up my leg and is a forward going safe as houses ride. I have a highland yearling who is going to be for my daughter and me to share eventually. The breed has a fantastic temperament. Worth looking on Highland Ponies for Sale on facebook.

And YY to needing a bigger budget. You will be looking at £3,000 and over really in my experience.

Ok, £4k...£5k would be absolute max, but would also give me cold sweats

I am southwest

Agree with people saying you need to focus on marketing yourself.

When we sold our horses ()it was all about finding the right buyer, and less about the price. DH ended up giving his favourite horse away to a friend, with the condition he would not sell it on. Just to make sure they ended up with the right people. (We could no longer afford keeping them due to losing jobs)

For other sellers it CAN be all about money, but those are the ones where you have to be extra careful.

Horses....it's a money pit! Better start saving for farrier, vet and insurance bills. Obviously it is fab having a horse, but go into it with your eyes open

My area has loads of horse selling/loan groups on Facebook. You might want to check and join yours because I bet you'd find what you're looking for through them.