Five year old for an oldie novice?

[PrincessGraceless]

Hi all - I’m nearly 60 and returned to riding last year after a 30-odd year break. I’m very practical about my abilities. Before lockdown, I had a lot of lessons over months rather than years, and was confident at walk and trot and working on improving canter (more because I was nervous than any holding back by instructors). I’m regularly told I have a good seat and I come across as confident as a rider, but actually I’m a wuss. Having been carted etc along roads as a young person, and terrified, I probably know too much and the thought of that now horrifies me! However, I am super-sensible and if/when I buy a horse (hope it’s when, and soon!), I will keep him (or her - more anon) at a livery with lessons or good riding school and definitely somewhere where not only I can have lessons but other, competent people will ride. Am I mad to consider a 4 rising 5 year old? Seen online and looks great. Very quiet, if anything needs kicking on, or so I’m told. Has done stuff like a bit of hunting. I would ask an instructor to look at her (yes, a mare - always ruled them out) but just wondered what thoughts are here. Can it work out for a nervous novice to buy a relative youngster (with professional help) and is it possible for a youngster to really be this quiet? Middleweight cob from a reputable yard. I have budget and can afford upkeep etc (benefit of being old). Thanks!

Hi OP, I only started riding at 45 (almost 3 years ago). I just took to it like a duck to water and loved the horses, I’d never really been about horses before that. I bought my first horse almost 2 years ago but was mis-sold a horse with Kissing Spine `(she passed a 5 stage vetting but had issues the minute we got her home and we found the cause months later!), I really had no clue what I was doing! I was never able to ride her. She had to be retired. I couldn’t send her anywhere else as I’d taken her on as my responsibility and I loved her and didn’t want anyone trying to make money from her (like the dealer I’d bought her from).

Thankfully I ended up on an amazing yard with a super supportive yard owner/trainer. My husband also rides. So we bought a second horse, older (14), but a warmblood competition horse. He’s been fantastic, I adore him. He’s super forgiving re mistakes but can be spooky and has been a challenge, had a few falls (rider error) but he’s really a dream and has been great for us.

Then, as my husband and I wanted to be able to ride together, we bought an Irish Sports Horse last summer. We wanted a younger horse as I didn’t want to end up, in a few years time, with three old horses all at the same time, we were really looking for one about 10 years old, but he had only turned 7 but with an old head on his shoulders. He’s mainly hunted though, so needs schooling brought on which happens with the help of yard owner/trainer. He’s a more straightforward, less spooky ride than our other gelding despite being younger. He was Kevin the teenager on the ground when we got him but really good now.

The points I’d make to you are:
It takes work to keep even a good horse good, our warmblood doesn’t have a bad bone in his body but he’s used to more advanced riders. We have plenty lessons (a few a week) on both geldings to keep warmblood good and to bring on the ISH. And where required, where issues need resolving, I pay for trainer to school them for a bit. You need to make sure you’ll have plenty support.

Re letting one you get be used in lessons, you would have to be so careful re this as you don’t want negative input. I wouldn’t let anyone ride ours who isn’t at least as good as us, no way. It’s hard enough for non-advanced riders to keep horses good in terms of behaviours, attitudes, and aptitude.

I really think a very young horse would be a bad move.

Lastly, re your canter fear, I’ve also had canter issues previously. I’d really recommend a therapy such as NLP to help with that, you could be doing that just now when you’re unable to ride 😊 I’d recommend this one:

www.amazon.co.uk/Confident-Rider-Mindset-Riding-Success/dp/1797636545/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Tracey+Cole&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1612451655&sr=8-1

So to summarise, it’s a massive learning curve and challenge in all ways no matter how good and suitable the horse, so really make your life as easy as possible. Get an older educated horse. It’s meant to be fun 😊

Thank you @HappyGirlNow. It’s so interesting hearing everyone’s stories and I’ll definitely check out that link later.

I have seen some riding schools advertising their horses for part loan, as this seems to be allowed during lockdown while lessons aren’t - perhaps that could be a good way to fit some riding in despite the current restrictions. I would miss riding desperately myself so I hear you.

My longer-term advice to you would be to crack cantering on a range of riding school horses before you plan on looking for your own.

Good luck, you sound patient and considerate and you deserve to find the right horse at the right time

So, it seems to be a thing that riding schools will only loan to existing clients - six months seems to be the norm! V frustrating but I shall continue my search! The horse for me is out there somewhere. The school I was going to hasn’t anything available and is quite a serious place iykwim - I think they like to loan to people who will compete etc. It’s been good ‘chatting’ it over with you all.

Oh that's a shame about riding schools op. I guess it makes sense though if they have massive demand ATM.

Op you might want to start another thread asking for dealer recommendations in the south east? I seem to remember a few years back someone on here advising a poster never to buy a horse in Kent (not sure if that is still true or relevant currently obviously!).

Years ago, you would rarely trust a dealer and would only buy through the pony club or someone you knew, and there are still rogues out there, but since the advent of the internet, a few good and honest dealers have established good businesses with decent reputations too.

Duckhurst Farm get well recommended ( Kent) but they do seem to have mainly younger horses , might be worth talking to them though and explaining your situation. I thought riding schools would only loan to existing clients , I know where I ride the owner is very picky about who she will loan to . @PrincessGraceless do you ride at Wyatts ?

There are some excellent dealers in the SE, Duckhurst Farm, Amy Derber (she is super no nonsense though), Juliet Clarke is probably a bit far for you (midlands) but she pretty much specialises in horses for nervous or novice riders, I can’t think of her surname but Trina from Trinas cobs has a fantastic reputation also.

Natalia Thorpe is good too but whatever she has in doesn’t tend to stick around long. I know a few people who’ve had good experiences buying from Jasmine Hulme (Shropshire way so again maybe too far).
But personally I’m very fussy and would travel nationwide for the right horse.

One thing I would mention is most reputable dealers are wary of selling to very novice riders (and I would count someone not really cantering as very novice). So I would speak to your instructor about a bit of a boot camp in that regard and go into horse hunting with a bit more confidence.

@Floralnomad thanks for the recommendation - I’ll check them out. No, not Wyatts, but it looks similar.

@lastqueenofscotland lots of great recommendations there too. I notice Natalia Thorpe has a bit of a horse finding service! I would be happy to do a boot camp type-thing (or maybe a riding holiday course when things open up again) but honestly find it hard to get availability for even a couple of lessons a week (and none at all of course during lockdown). Demand is so high. I had my own for several years and can canter; I’m working on relaxing more and find things like ever-decreasing circles in the school a challenge, as it’s not something I’ve done before. I would definitely describe myself as a novice though, but wouldn’t be going it alone.