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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Thoroughbred - or not?

27 replies

seeker · 23/05/2009 20:58

We're looking for a horse for dd. What I had in ming was a Welsh section D or something like that. She is 13 and a good rider - she;s competed on other people's horses, she's her riding school's "trouble shooter" for new horses. We've got the offer of a TB, though - what are the pros and cons?

OP posts:
Donk · 23/05/2009 21:02

Depends on the horse. TBs tend to be more flighty and sensitive....and can't half shift if they want to, but I have known some very sane and sensible sorts that were TBs, as well as some completely messed up, neurotic wrecks.

Original poster
seeker · 23/05/2009 21:12

I know - I've only known TBs as flighty neurotic wrecks - so I'm a bit prejudiced. But we're assured that this one is sensible and will do pony club and will muck in at the yard and hack out and do gymkana games - I remain to be convinced!

OP posts:
Donk · 23/05/2009 21:20

Can you try it out for a while, with the support of your DD's regular instructor?

dooit · 23/05/2009 22:11

I think it's best to judge each horse on it's individual merits. Have a look and see what you and DD think.

Some section Ds can also be hot headed and a bit stoopid too, just as some TBs can be saints.

Donk · 23/05/2009 22:19

Dooit - and some section D's can be conveniently thick...

Donk · 23/05/2009 22:19

Dooit - and some section D's can be conveniently thick...

Donk · 23/05/2009 22:24

Ooops!

Stannie · 24/05/2009 08:20

I'm a TB fan and think that they can be unfairly stereotyped, like any breed really I love them though and had my first TB at the age of 12!

My current 17hh, 7yo, TB, who I have had since last March, is one of the sanest, most laid back horses I have ever had the pleasure of owning. He is an ex racer who was straight off the track. My non-horsey OH can potter about the arena safely on him and my 13yo nephew is learning to ride on him! My old man , who I lost last summer, was a very sharp ride until the day he died at 19. I would never have let anyone else hack him out as he could be so ditsy..

I would go and see the horse before you make any decision on suitability - would that be possible ?

As comparision - my friend has 2 Welsh D's - one is an absolute looper!

Owls · 24/05/2009 21:01

Have they offered it to buy or loan? Why do they want to sell/loan? Is it just outgrown? Sorry for questions but think I would be a bit careful as it sounds like your DD is doing really well and it would be a shame to over-horse her with her first horse and shake her confidence.

Oooh don't forget to check it's flaming TB feet! See other thread. And agree with the others about Sec Ds. Two I've known have been stubborn, wilful and downright grumpy.

smackapacka · 24/05/2009 21:04

We have a Welsh D (and have had him for 16 years) Did all sorts from dressage to XC - too old now.

Much easier to look after than TB (grass kept all year round, no special/high amount of hard feed)

He has a great temperament and has suited competitive me and happy hacker Mum.

I would personally avoid a pure TB TBH.

HTH

Original poster
seeker · 24/05/2009 23:25

I've got a friend who knows to go and look at her for us. She's for sale because the owner is emigrating (that's what they all say). I just never imagined giving a home to anything but a native and I'm very wary of the whole thoroughbred thing. we want something that will "muck in", not go all hoity toity with us!

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 24/05/2009 23:30

I like natives too but any of them can be a bit "touched" (my first was a SecA stallion who thought he was running wild with a herd somewhere in America I think )

It is true that some TBs can be fab little things, not at all flighty. You may get fewer of them to the handful than with your average Cob but they can be great, sensible horses.

Butkin · 26/05/2009 12:07

Working in Newmarket I don't think I'd want my daughter to have a TB at 13yo - unless she was already used to riding it and it was an older, quieter one.

With such a massive choice - see horsequest etc - why would you go down that route when there are plenty of natives and crosses to choose from. Perhaps a warm blood may suit if she wants a big horse or if she wants more speed for cross country perhaps a TB cross.

I've owned and ridden lots of TBs and they are my livelyhood so I'm not particularly down on them but do consider them to be more an adult ride.

Original poster
seeker · 26/05/2009 15:14

I agree, butkin - it was just that this horse ticked so many of our boxes on paper (apart from being the wrong breed!) that it seemed a shame not to look at it.

We've decided against it anyway, so our quest for the perfect native continues.

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 26/05/2009 15:45

I have no idea what your price range is so this may be a bit pie in the sky but www.safecobs.com have some wonderful horses available, they are well trained bombproof and star rated to help you choose. They have a sister site www.hackinghorses.com which has a similar calibre of horse but lower prices.

KingCanuteIAm · 26/05/2009 15:46

They also own all of my dream horses, I am a sucker for a decent cob

Original poster
seeker · 26/05/2009 16:55

I love a cob too - wish I hadn't looked! A bit out of our price range, I'm afraid, but lovely for window shopping!

OP posts:
KingCanuteIAm · 26/05/2009 16:58

There have been some real corkers on there, if I ever could afford to buy one I would have to purcahse and then tell them never to contact me, ever again or I would end up collecting them

Ponymum · 27/05/2009 22:40

Kingcanute that safecobs site seems to sell my dream horses! I love what they do. A sensible Irish cob would do me nicely.

Seeker I have had three bad experiences with TBs but have now finally learned my lesson - no more TBs for me EVER AGAIN! Every horse is different so I don't really like making blanket rules, but I am glad you decided against it for a 13 year old.

KingCanuteIAm · 27/05/2009 22:53

They are rather fab aren't they Ponymum!

Pixel · 28/05/2009 21:52

There is another site advertising safe cobs (that I suppose I'd better not name), that looks really good. Some beautiful horses and lots of convincing stuff about how they assess your riding before choosing which horse will suit you best etc.

However, after chatting for about an hour on the phone with the owner and stressing that I was extremely nervous, coming back to riding after a long break and what's more wanting to be able to share a horse with my pensioner mum, we got there to be confronted with a lunatic that took two people just to get the saddle on it. After seeing it charge up and down snorting, rolling its eyes and tossing its mane, we declined the offer of trying it out!
(It was really eye-catchingly beautiful though, would have made some brave person a gorgeous horse eventually - just not a 'safe cob'!)

KingCanuteIAm · 28/05/2009 22:34

Is it a different one to the ones listed above Pixel?

I had a similar experience with a dealer years ago, stupidly I was sold on his looks (and he was pretty) actually it all went well until the day he carted me through a barbed wire fence, across a dual carriageway and finally rolled over me at full gallop. I was paralyised with suspected broken spine(in two places). Luckily it turned out to be shock and I was fine but it taught me a very tough lesson in trusting what someone says when they are trying to sell you a horse!

Pixel · 29/05/2009 00:08

Yes it was a different one, but it has 'cobs' in the title.
What a terrible experience, you certainly were lucky. When dd was at primary school I used to see one of the other mums in her jodhs every morning. Then I didn't see her for a while and when I did she was in a wheelchair (permanently). Her horse was frightened by a trials bike on the Downs and fell trying to jump a five-barred gate .

Mind you, my friend broke her back falling over on the beach which seems really unfair, not even taking part in a 'dangerous' sport!. She had to be airlifted to hospital because the tide was coming in.

We got dhorse from a dealer, but it was suggested we take a look by someone I've known for years who in turn knows several people who have bought from her and been perfectly happy. We wouldn't have considered it otherwise. Even then she lied about his age! But then she was spot-on about his temperament so we can't complain really.

KingCanuteIAm · 29/05/2009 08:42

I think it is a disease that all dealers suffer from, even the honest ones have to find something to fabricate about

What was odd with my horse was that I had already had him 2 years, I had jumped him 5ft bareback in an open field and he didn't bat an eyelid (I was young and crazy). I was later told that he was known on the X Country circuit for being a bit of a split personality. As I had always used him for show jumping I had never met anyone who would have known him IYSWIM, I suspect that is why he was sold out of his discipline into a new one.

Ponymum · 29/05/2009 17:38

I suspect that there are some dealers out there who try to take advantage of the very good reputation that safecobs have, by pretending to be the same or similar. Safecobs have a really intensive training system and have not just appeared overnight, unlike others (I'm not sure which one specifically you are talking about, of course!). I suspect some of the websites that turn up are just the same dodgy dealers re-branding themselves on a regular basis.

There are good dealers out there but they keep the same name/location for many years and have customers' testimonials on their websites. I can tell you my sorry tale of good and bad dealers if you like, it's a cracker. But don't want to hijack this thread... maybe I'll start another one when I have time later.