I went to view a horse today, can I have some advice please

[NagNagN4g]

So, I went to view my first ever horse today (ridden nearly 30 years, had numerous loan horses just never my own).

Perfect in every way... height, colour, breed, price and location. He was a perfect gentleman on the ground, as his own said he was.

Got on and did some walking and trotting in a paddock, he’s forward going and a little bit strong (as he was advertised to be). But did lots of transitions and he listened nicely.

Thought I was ready to canter so went down to the bottom of the field to come back up again and disaster struck! I asked for canter, he put his head down, reared up slightly, went down again and as he went down I went over and fell off! His owner said he has never ever done that before, she was mortified and her immediate reaction made me believe it was completely out of the blue (I had a very knowledgeable friend with me as well).

She got straight on him, cantered around no problems. I got back on and trotted around then did a few steps of canter so I didn’t lose my nerve.

He hasn’t been in consistent work for months, this was the first time he’d been ridden properly in weeks.

So wise MNetters, what would you do? Suck it up as a ‘shit happens’ and get on with it and buy him (I fell for him the second I saw his ad), or leave it and find something else?

I feel like we could have a really good partnership, but in the back of my head I know he’s done that and wonder if he’d do it again. I do believe his owner when they said he’s never done it before. They’ve owned him 3 years.

New Forests are great little ponies. A nice one could really work for you. I'm torn between agreeing with booboos that responsible sellers would have the pony in work, with appropriate shoeing to do the work you want to see from him, and thinking that - well - most horse owners just aren't that responsible. When you don't have a huge budget, you have to sacrifice something. Getting something a bit greener than you'd like is a reasonable sacrifice, if you're competent and have good back up (trainer etc).

Getting something unfit is a gamble - it may not stand up to work, or it may be a nutter when it's fit. It's up to you if you want to take that gamble - it depends on your budget, and how happy you would be to sell on (or pay for training, or shoot it) if it doesn't go to plan. I agree with the PP who says never to pay more in these circumstances than you're happy to lose - casino rules! - if you have to have it put down.

The pony being footsore does suggest it has some degree of low grade laminitis - which is unsurprising if it's obese. That is a significant problem, really. I'd definitely seek advice on how likely there are to be ongoing issues related to his weight if you proceed and vet the pony.

Go back and see how he is with shoes. You may not even like him when you sit on him anyway

Yes I’ve a new found love for new forests. This one in particular is adorable.

I’ve done a lot of thinking over the weekend and I’m 90% sure I’m going to give him a miss. It just seems silly to take on something that I wasn’t looking for, I wanted to get out there next year doing fun rides, maybe a few local shows etc. And I won’t be able to do that with this one. And like you say it’s a huge gamble with his fitness, and with his foot issues and how he needs to be micro managed with his food intake, I just don’t think it’s something I want to deal with. A little bit green is fine, but I want them to be fit and in work now. I don’t want to buy from the field. He’s up for £1000.

I’m going to see another one tomorrow which is much more suitable. He’s 14.2, 6 years old, a coloured cob and has already been out to a few local shows, won a dressage, loves jumping and is a competent novice ride. He’s fit and ready to go. He’s obviously a little green because of his age, but that’s fine with me. So we’ll see where this one takes me!

Good luck! 6 is young but if he's a nice person and seen some life he could be ideal...

Thank you. Will keep you updated!

Don't be specific in breed really. I wanted a cob, I bought a warmblood x because he was safer than the cob! Spent a bloody fortune on vet bills though now but that could happen with any horse.

Sounds promising - how did it go?

Very well thanks. Paid a deposit and need to arrange vetting first thing tomorrow .

I was very very nervous when I got on and nearly had a mini breakdown. The lady knew what had happened and reassured me. I had my moment then just got on with it, every now and then my mind flashed back to what happened but by the end I didn’t want to get off.

Looking forward to our future together. I’m sure we’ll have our issues along the way, but you gotta take the rough with the smooth .

Thank you all again for all your input .

Exciting times!

I bought a six year old for complete novice DH and it worked out really well because had a golden temperament and two years ridden experience already. DH had lessons from the very first time he got on the horse, I schooled him to keeping him ticking over and DH only hacked in company (I hacked the horse for the first month to get to know him!) and all went well. We had him, a most gorgeous HW cob, until he was PTS at 20yo and he was the loveliest horse I have ever owned.

Thank you booboo. That’s a lovely story, a very special horse by the sounds of it.

I think this boy has potential, he’s done a few local dressage shows and has a good pop on him as well. He works in a lovely outline but tended to put his head down too far. I think a mixture of his age and he drives as well so could be used to pulling with his head rather than pushing from behind? That could be bollocks but it’s my theory . May have to play around with bits for a while. He only needs a snaffle though as whilst he’s forward going his brakes are spot on.

Brilliant news, so pleased for you. He sounds lovely and it's great that he gave you that confident feeling. I would trust your instinct about his way of going being more down on the shoulders than working from behind, I would be very surprised if he was truly working in a correct outline, the vast majority of young cobs who haven't done a huge amount of schooling would not do this of their own accord, a young warmblood bred for dressage maybe but most cobs find it hard even with lots of dressage training to work correctly through the top line and over the back, their confirmation just gets in their way.

My little cob mare tends to go in what people on the yard think is a lovely outline (I get compliments on it which make me a bit ) but in reality she is rock hard tense in the neck and through the gullet, leaning on my hands and tucking her head to her knees whilst running onto the forehand, not actually very nice to ride and an evasion just as much as stargazing would be. It's not a big issue though, just how she naturally is (I sympathise, my build is not that of a natural athlete either ), and can be corrected with training and correct riding...

Oooh exciting. I bet you don't sleep tonight!

If he drives as well they can be a bit heavy on the forehand, but some really simple exercises gets them sat up.

My highland is naturally very heavy on the forehand, mainly due to her build. She has a fantastic front but can lean into it. Even just walk trot transitions on the lunge and slowing, then speeding up, then slowing it again lifts her a bit. And long reining is also good as you are pushing them along from behind. Especially if he has been driven.

Bit wise if he goes in a snaffle thats really good. But nake sure it's not a wilkie style snaffle, which can act like a gag. And can make them back off the contact and drop behind it. Am sure your instructor will soon suss him out and it sounds as though you have.already.

So exciting!

Actually maxelly you’ve hit the nail on the head. He looks like he’s working in a lovely outline but it’s not the correct way. He is heavy on the forehand, I was going to get a Fulmer snaffle. He’s currently in a full cheek but I’m hoping the Fulmer being loose ringed can help with the leaning. Again I could be wrong as I’ve never been completely clued up on bits.

I’m going to do some reading up on horses who are heavy and do some schooling whilst out hacking. Is hill work good as well?

I’m not a big fan of wilkie’s, so I won’t be going anywhere near them. I think it would only exasperate the problem anyway wouldn’t it?

Thanks, I’m very excited but also incredibly nervous! This is my first ever horse, what a responsibility!!

I’ve booked a saddler for next week, have bought a bridle, head collar and saddle pad (very important choice of colour ) Just a few other bits to go. Let’s just hope he passes his vetting... if he doesn’t you all need to be on the look out for a 14.2 cob to fit all the stuff I’ve bought! Fingers crossed.

Yup, basically anything you can do to strengthen the back end and teach them to carry themselves using their strength behind and not using their shoulders or your hands is good. Lots of hacking, especially up hills and especially especially if you and he both enjoy it which is of course the most important thing!

As Frouby says, you can also make judicious/careful use of lunging possibly with loose side reins or a lunging aid (be careful of anything which holds their head down as you want to encourage the opposite), long reining, lots and lots and lots of transitions, pole work especially if you can raise them off the ground slightly, all this will help strengthen him up and be good for his health and fitness even if they don't immediately change his way of going.

You need to be conscious of him always taking you forward into a soft contact (an instructor will help here - also to advise on the best bit choice, you can order a few from a 'bit bank' to try and see what he goes best in, a loose ring snaffle with a copper lozenge is a good choice for horses that lean). At first you may need to frequently correct as he will probably either drop behind the leg when asked to work correctly or rush/tense up and try to sit further behind the contact. The latter is a huge issue for my girl, although she's a cob she is actually very hot and stressy, I probably spent the whole of the first year I had her just trying to get her to relax in the school as her default mode was rigid with anxiety and running away from the aids until the pressure was taken off (again I get dubious compliments where people say to me oh how lovely that she's so forward going, well she isn't truly forward as in responsive off the leg and working forward with impulsion, she actually didn't really understand what the leg aids meant for a long time, she just spent her time whizzing around everywhere - and still would if given half a chance!

Good luck with the shopping too and fingers crossed for the vetting!

Excellent advice thank you. Will definitely be taking it all on board. Am looking forward to this journey!

I like doing raised pole work so it would be good for both of us.

The hack I mainly go on has a mammoth hill on the road. We always trot up it, so I can get him working on that as well.

I like that he’s a mini project, nothing too major but still something for us to work on together.

What role does the lozenge play on the bit?

Reading back over your post, I think they could be quite similar. He was quite tense in the school and in the field (so was I though which I don’t think helped). Then as soon as we got out on the road he instantly relaxed and it was obvious to both me and my friend who was walking next to us, almost like a sigh of relief!

All horses will be either heavy on the forehand or behind the vertical. Most are heavy on the forehand and this is the easiest to correct. Playing around with bits is a good start, then think of tiny, tiny movements in the bit all the time to keep it light in his mouth (as if you are telling him “the bit sim mine, not yours to lean on”) and if he gets heavy, immediately a small give and retake of the reins to say “If you lean you fall on your nose, I won’t Ben carrying you around”.

Just a little thought, did you hack him entirely on your own with no one walking next to you at all? Many horses will follow a person on the ground and some dodgy sellers walk next to nappy horses to get them going for the viewing, but when you get home you discover they won’t go anywhere alone.

Best of luck. He sounds lovely and much more suitable. Let yourselves relax initially and get to know each other before you worry too much about changing bits and reschooling. It all comes together with a little time.

Thanks again boo, will remember that. I’m very good at knowing these things but putting them into practice I find a bit harder!

Me and my friend had that conversation when we were looking at horses to buy, the majority of the horses that ‘hacked alone’ had people walking with them. A few of this horses videos were of him walking/trotting off into the distance until out of view, or from the other side of the field. Not gospel I know, but as he has driven alone I’m hoping he’ll be ok. If he’s not then it’s something we can work on. But the fact he goes out alone as the only horse is a good start!!

The first few times I hack him out I’ll go with my friend anyway and maybe walk him in hand down the lane on his own. I’ll see how it pans out but as he was so relaxed out hacking my plan is to do plenty of it and get to know him that way. Then when the time is right hack him to a nearby school that we’ve used before and do some light schooling with him. My instructor said she can meet me there as well and give me lessons on him, but I want to get to know him first.

Right, next question

Insurance. I want decent public liability, colic op cover, and a decent company where I don’t have to worry about them paying out. I don’t want to pay a huge amount, but I’m happy to pay enough so I don’t have to worry about vets fees.

NFU and SEIB are the two I want to get quotes from. Also do you have your or own rider insurance with them, or do you have separate? I’m thinking maybe BHS gold?

I use Petplan for insurance. Did used to have nfu but the price got ridiculous. Did have a big claim about 9 years ago with PetPlan and they were very good, paid out promptly and my own vet and the horsepital were happy to treat based on petplan paying out.

I also have BHS gold cover as have 1 pony uninsured so I get the public liability for him.

So excited for you, did he pass his vetting? When does he arrive?

I've got petplan too - NFU wanted 50% more - perhaps for renewal.

I do a lot of hill work. At walk! Walking up a hill at a good pace with head forward is really good muscle work. No dawdling but properly striding out. Good way to get to know each other too.

Personally I'd never touch a brand new saddle again - they depreciate worse than new cars!

Good luck with it all!

I did a Petplan quote and it was more than I was expecting. I did put everything up to the max though. Maybe I’ll tweak it a bit. Do Petplan cover colic ops as well? I know some don’t.

He passed his vetting . She called and said a few minor things like a few scabs in his feathers and possibly had mild sweet itch before but nothing significant and can be easily managed. She said he was a sweet little thing.

He’s being delivered on Tuesday, I’ll be spending most of Monday setting up the field for him as he’ll be quarantined for 2 weeks. We’re lucky in that the field he’ll be in with the rest has two gates, both very easily accessible so we’ll corner off one just for him so I don’t have to lead him through the others to get out.

The saddler is only bringing second hand saddles, more so because I hate new leather, and the bridle I’ve just bought is going to annoy me until it breaks in!

Hill work will definitely be on my list

Unfortunately insurance will be way more than you'd hoped for... But worth it. Last one I had did 900 of damage in first 3 weeks of ownership...

For reference my NFU quote was 93/month and petplan 60. Don't go anywhere near p&l, horse-insurance. They're gits and won't pay.

NFU, petplan, seib, four counties and kbis all have good reps for paying but aren't cheap.

Thank you. My budget was about £60 but these are coming in at £75 so not loads more, I’ll ditch one take away a month

My dad actually owns his own insurance brokers and they specialise in equine as well, so I best give him a call as well. I’ll have to check which insurance company he uses.

Thanks

And.... ? how are you both getting on?

Good thank you He was delivered Tuesday morning. They said if he’s on the yard by himself he gets stressed and rears up, he was by himself for 4 hours tied up Tuesday and he stood munching the whole time.

Wednesday we bought all the horses in together, and again stood nicely. But then we turned two horses out and he didn’t like that and reared and was having a dance around. So he got a firm telling off. Then yesterday we turned him out first, no problems. Today we took two horses first and he was good as gold.

He does get very fidgety around food and has no manners, he’s clearly very food oriented and as soon as someone walks out the feedroom he dances around and pulls back. But he’s unsettled and with a bit of time he’ll get used to the his new routine.

Fitted his bridle today and lunged him, good as gold again. When I took his bridle off he completely backed away and was pulling back, I almost lost him! Luckily I got then head collar on but he was shying away and was still pulling so I could tie him up until I got home to walk forward. I’m wondering if something from his past has bothered him before around tacking and untacking. I’ll be patient with him, but still firm, as he’s probably a bit out of sorts at the moment.

The rest of the gang are very intrigued by him They’ve not had anyone new for 4 years so they’re very well established and he’s going to ruffle a few feathers when he’s finally turned out with them. At the moment he’s got his own part of the field and own gate within theirs.

Will be riding out for the first time Sunday. To say I’m nervous is an understatement. But I know I’ll be fine, I’ve just for to get a grip and get on with it!