Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Confidence Lost while horse shopping

58 replies

riderriddle · 18/12/2023 13:17

Ive been looking for a while now and currently have a loan horse who I get on well with - we clicked pretty instantly and have never fell off her despite her being not a kick along and her napping and mini rearing out on hacks, spookiness at the indoor arenas. I found sharing a bit limiting due to them not being able to jump and want the flexibility to just have my own routine. With finances in place and stable reserved, I started hunting for a cob type excited to be able to do more activities, fun rides away, competing and jump again etc which is not possible with the current loan horse - I felt ready. This would be my first horse as a adult so not wanting anything green or big or forward .

However I've since been to see several horses advertised who were not as advertised - too forward / lame, bolters, broncers, no brakes, kickers, biters, bombproof 'wont move' types .. Now I would consider myself a confident novice but with all these bad viewings I'm beginning to lose the 'confident' part to the point where I'm terrified to get on anything new now even if I watch someone else ride first. Should I pack in my search or keep going or under horse with a complete plod despite having enjoyed something that doesnt need nagging? Is it meant to be this hard?

OP posts:
wasanneofcleves · 20/12/2023 10:40

Do you have an instructor who is helping you? I would be asking them to advertise and look for horses on your behalf and then come with you to viewings. It would make it more fun, feel like less pressure and hopefully help you to weed out the ones you don't want before you get there.

Where are you looking for horses too?

Balloonhearts · 20/12/2023 18:43

backinthebox · 19/12/2023 16:02

The smaller horses I've ridden have mostly been utter wankers, with the exception of one. The bigger horses have all been really good rides.

Interesting sweeping statement here. I’ve ridden ‘wankers’ and wonderful horses and ponies of all sizes. The size of a horse has absolutely no bearing on its manners, personality and training. My biggest competition success this year was on a 14.1hh pony, and the biggest horse I’ve ridden all year at home or abroad in international competition was 15.2hh.

I used to own an 18hh HW, and unless you are absolutely massive yourself or are seriously into the sort of showing classes that these size horses seem necessary for, you don’t really need to overhorse yourself. Horses this size eat more, need bigger rugs (ever tried putting a 400g mud-encrusted 7’9” winter turnout rug back onto an 18hh-er? You do end up questioning your life choices!) need a bigger stable, take more mucking out, trash the ground more through sheer weight.

Buying a massive horse because one poster thinks little horses are all wankers is not great advice.

I didn't actually say that though, did I? Just not to limit yourself if you find one who is perfect in every other way but bigger than you were necessarily looking for.

If you're asking on a forum, you're going to get people's personal and anecdotal experiences. If she wanted professional advice, she'd be paying for it.

And yes, absolutely to the rug thing. HOW he gets it that muddy, I don't know, he comes in looking like he's been to a spa for a mud bath. He's grey too so I'm clearly a glutton for punishment.

Original poster
riderriddle · 21/12/2023 16:57

I suppose reflecting back on this thread what my main concern is, should I continue looking when my confidence has took a dive or stop for 6 months to regroup?

I've been offered a friend of a friends cob on full loan (lwvtb) who's out hacking about alone and in company but not done loads in the school. The thought of a new horse and new yard has suddenly become really overwhelming

OP posts:
Oddestofsocks · 21/12/2023 17:40

Would this cob be on your yard?

Oddestofsocks · 21/12/2023 17:41

Personally I would go for regrouping, and lessons at a good riding school.

wasanneofcleves · 21/12/2023 18:19

riderriddle · 21/12/2023 16:57

I suppose reflecting back on this thread what my main concern is, should I continue looking when my confidence has took a dive or stop for 6 months to regroup?

I've been offered a friend of a friends cob on full loan (lwvtb) who's out hacking about alone and in company but not done loads in the school. The thought of a new horse and new yard has suddenly become really overwhelming

Sounds like you know what to do...regroup and come back to it when you've regained your confidence.

If you haven't already I would get a professional involved (your instructor or someone else who helps source horses for clients). Make sure you trust them and they know how you ride.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 29/12/2023 14:13

riderriddle · 21/12/2023 16:57

I suppose reflecting back on this thread what my main concern is, should I continue looking when my confidence has took a dive or stop for 6 months to regroup?

I've been offered a friend of a friends cob on full loan (lwvtb) who's out hacking about alone and in company but not done loads in the school. The thought of a new horse and new yard has suddenly become really overwhelming

Could the cob come to your yard? I'm not sure new horse + lack of your support system would be a good thing?

I agree with others that what you want is hard to find, and part of the problem is once people have it, they often don't want to sell it! And/or feel they owe it a long term home!

If your confidence has taken a dive, I do think lessons on a range of horses would help?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page