Could you tell me what kind of horse I need please?

[thesardonicsonata]

Rode a lot when I was younger from 3-14 yo. Had a welsh cob from age 9-14. Had some proper lessons again throughout my twenties. Now mid-30s with two children. Core is not what it used to be but looking to build up strength again.

I'd like to buy a horse to keep at a local yard where I can learn to look after it (I've forgotten) and have lessons on it until I am confident enough to ride alone.

Ultimately I want to be able to hack in the countryside on a daily basis. Have a good gallop. Not interested in show jumping or any discipline.

Cost is not a problem. I am aware I am rusty and definitely a novice, so happy to pay for help and as many lessons as I need.

Please let me know what sort of horse I should look for including breed/height/type? I am 5'8 and 63kg.

Have you had any lessons recently? It might be a good idea to find a good riding school and have some lessons there. If you find that you are able to ride their more advanced horses in lessons and hacks you'll know you are ready for your own horse. They should also offer stable management lessons if you feel you need a refresher.

Hopefully that will give you a better idea of what kind of horse you want. It's all about what you want to do with the horse. Do you picture yourself happily hacking? Or would you like to do a bit of schooling every so often as well? Do you have any desire to jump? Or are you even interested in competing? In what discipline?

If you haven't ridden for a while and cost is no issue, I'd agree that having some lessons covering the basics of various disciplines on a variety of horses will help you get back into things while giving you an idea of what you like in a horse. Some people like a kick-along while others like something feistier, but you are not going to know that right now. A very good establishment will let you hack out as well as have lessons, and also do the BHS horsecare exams which will let you learn to look after a horse before you commit to buy one.

I'd say give yourself a couple of months reestablishing where you are at before buying. You'll end up with a horse that fits you better than if you dive straight into buying one.

Play lots of 'Fantasy Horse' while you have your lessons (i.e. Scour all the ads) and you'll have a good idea of what you want and where to find it when you do buy.

Yes, get the lessons in first and take your time. Think of it a bit like dating and marriage (sorry that sounds so Swiss Tony) but if you buy in haste you'll repent at leisure.

From what you've said I would probably go for a sensible larger native pony or native pony cross. I'm 5' 7" and have a 16.1 but I really don't need that extra height - it's just that we like each other and get along so that's why I got him. IME many leisure horses have some spare capacity their owners don't use. And pretty much any horse can be inspired to wake up, whereas calming down the wired horse is a lot more difficult. So if you get a safe, sensible type that doesn't look like it will set the world on fire and then later decide to do some dressage, unless you want to Grand Prix that horse, with work and schooling, will do it.

I've seen many friends come a cropper buying something that looks pretty and flashy and lovely that has issue after issue. Whereas my boy is bay, built like the side of a shed and often overlooked when we're hacking out and people coo over the flashy ones. Which sort of ignores the fact that we're hacking out with Ms Flashy because she's frightened of hedges/ cars/ vans/ her shadow/ ducks and has a tendency to do monumentally stupid and dangerous things. At which point my Capt Sensible is obliged to side swipe her into the hedge to save her owner from falling off.

Really, when you're older, just have the one horse and want to enjoy yourself, just buy something with its head screwed on right.

I was in your situation two and half years ago. I volunteered at and had (free) lessons at riding school, loaned an old very sane Connie X who was a bit on the small side for me but who I knew was safe and sane and gave me the confidence to buy.

Finding the right partner in crime was a minefield. I ended up buying an ex racer. Had so many issues to begin with I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life. But I never gave up, got loads of help from people who had a massive range of knowledge in different physical and behavioural disciplines and despite being on box rest for most of the summer for the second year in a row, he's now my soulmate, horse of a lifetime and irreplaceable. I was lucky to have some good basics to begin with (him - stoicism and willingness and me - humility, unafraid to ask for help and drive to learn and improve).

If I did it all again I'd look for something sturdier, that prob hadn't competed, raced and been forced to jump (he's a bit broken) but above everything else I would want willingness, genuine temperament and probably nice paces as I've got a hankering to do dressage

Mine is 16hh and confuses people with his size as he's quite well built but diddy compared to the others close to him in height. I weigh more than you and have long legs so he takes that up nicely. We just fit together. My advice would be buy the smallest that will happily carry your weight and that you feel and look comfy on. You'll be grateful for that when you fall off or it's titting about on the ground! Just my experience.

Everyone told me to get a solid cob. Part of me can see I took a massive risk but other part of me knows I did what was right for me. Mine is easy to move, not at all stubborn most of the time and never uses his weight.

I echo what others have said about going back to the riding school and getting plenty of experience under your belt first. Make it clear you are looking for a horse/pony of your own and see what comes your way. If you are looking for breed recommendations, than I can't speak highly enough of Highland ponies! Generally speaking, they have wonderful temperments, are willing, forgiving and gentle (although they can be quite stubborn) and will turn a hoof to anything. If you find yourself getting more ambitious they are more than able to do a bit of showing, dressage, working hunter, whatever. Good luck!

Another highland pony fan here.

I bought a 2 year old 2 years ago to be a mother/daughter share. Have just started working her and she is calm, sensible and willing to learn. She is the most unflappable pony I have ever met.

If I were you I would have 2 or 3 lessons a week. Maybe look at doing your BHS stage 1 if possible as it offers a good, basic framework of ridden and stable management skills.

Start looking at ads. Decide what sort of horse you like the look of. For all they are basically overgrown Shetland ponies highlands come with a hefty price tag. Probably looking at about 5k for one with decent confirmation and breeding, true to type but done and can do what you want it to do. That's why I bought a youngster as I couldn't afford a done one.

There is a fb selling page for Highland ponies for sale. And a highland pony group of you wanted to get a feel for the breed.

If a highland isn't what you fancy then tbink about what you do fancy. Cobs are always recommend for novice owners but aren't always as straightforward as their appearance suggests. The large natives such as welsh ds and connies seem to be getting a bit sharper these days.

I have always fancied a nice middle weight hunter type. And have known some very sweet tb types.

You could literally take any breed or type and it be suitable for what you want. Or it might not. Ride a variety and decide what floats your boat and go from there.

A native! I'm the same size as you and I have a native pony. Mostly we do a lot of hacking but we've also competed in a bit of everything in the past.

Works perfectly with kids as you can ride every day or once a week and she's always safe and sane.

I echo everyone else, get some lessons and a good instructor and ask them what they think, be totally honest and if you feel frightened of a horse, listen to it. Like dating when it feels right, that's the one.

I've owned two Highlands, the first was a bit of a nightmare as he was quite bolshy and very clever. The second was an absolute dream. My most recent lessons (like OP I gave up for a few years) have bee on a fjord pony - quite a surprise as I'd never met one before. She is lovely, so comfortable and very responsive but with a natural propensity to be quiet and calm unless you ask for more speed, when she is happy to oblige. I've noticed The Queen usually rides a Fell pony these days, with a highland and another fell in attendance. This type of pony is cheap to feed, doesn't need rugging up at the first drop of rain (my Highland had such a thick coat snow didn't melt on his back) and is usually quite affable. If you could loan a native to begin with it would make a lot of sense.