Buying a horse

[Chocolatecakeandcoffee]

How difficult is it to find a suitable horse?! Went to view a couple of horses at a dealer (good reviews on Facebook page) one described as suitable for an average rider, the other as a novice ride. No ménage or fields to try the horses so had to try them on the roads. The first spooked 3x in 2 minutes whilst ridden by an experienced rider around quiet roads where it is often ridden. This horse was described as ‘excellent in traffic’. The other spooked 3x too! Didn’t bother getting on either. Is this normal? The dealer thought all horses spook and that it was fine to try a horse on the roads. What do you think? I’m buying my first horse...

She's 10. old enough to know what she's doing, which to be honest I need !

I wouldn't be put off of all dealers. I bought my last horse from a reputable dealer and he has been great, still have him 7 years later and he is pretty straightforward and as described. It is a tricky market at the moment though - good horses are getting bought quickly.

14 is a great age for a first pony - old enough to have "been there done that" but young enough you will hopefully still have many years to enjoy him.

All horses take a different amount of time to settle and obviously it will depend how different your current set up is to his last home etc. I also wouldn't worry too much about having a "bond" - that will take time to build on both sides!

You do need to be prepared for a boundary testing stage, especially once the new horse has got their feet under the table! Not all of them do this, but it is quite common!

Bought a 14 year old pony for DD 13 years ago. He's been ridden regularly up until last year (he's 27 this year and although still goes out for a plod up the road he's reached the time of life when he's happy mooching round the fields with his buddies).

Age 23 he was still charging round the arena jumping 1m+.

If he's been well looked after and not hammered there's no reason you won't get a good dozen years of riding to look forward to.