Help with buying a new horse? ?

Question

Okay, so i've had horses all my life, that i have shared with my mum. All f them have been youngsters, and all though i've learned so much from having them, i'm now going to study horse management at brooksy and i need something i can just go out on and do eventing. My mother also wants it to do well in dressage and we just want something that is not going to rear/spook or be very green.

We currently are selling a 16.2hh well bred, warmblood x irish draft. He rears, is only 6 and is a hand full. I love him to pieces but my mum and i have to sell him as we can not fit him in around college. He needs constant training and our yard has few people at, so if i'm at college there's no way id let my mum ride him on her own incase of an accident.

But today we went to see this :

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM830J1A5/Page/8/Referrer/DisplayResultsHorses.asp/Web/DisplayHorseDetail.asp

Took a while to get used to, not my kind of horse. I'm only small but i love something big boned and aroun 16hh. I felt like i was on a pony. But this gelding was a sweetheart, just wanted to please, the school was very spooky but he did not bat an eyelid at anything. And this is the temperment we need. Now heres the problems, he has a carcoid and they cost allot to remove, it is also in a place that my be obviouse if it leaves a scar. It has only came back into work for the past 3 months, and is only getting ridden 3 times a week whilsy my mum and i ride 6. So there's a chance he may get fit and all of a sudden be a handful. Also, i'm not sure if he will do the cross country, he had scrapings on the front of his back legs. The owners said it was from kicking a gate, but my mum and i found from jumping him, he doesnt really "clear" the jump, not exactly got a big pop in him... So we personally think it could of been from scraping his legs on a cross country jump at the back.

But heres the plan, we said we'd need it on trial (for as long as possible) as we have had horses in the past that have been great for the first couple of months then just turned into a terror. We also are thinking it's not worth anymore than £4000. A horse with a carcoid instantly can not be covered by the insurance and we do not want it leaving, all though they said his had it for years and its not changed, my mum and i would want it proply moving which was £500 last time our horse had one. Also this horse has not done allot, and i just feel they are asking too much.

Is it worth it? or shall we just keep looking?

Answer 1

Okay I personally like a big boned tall horse too. This horse is great looking but I wouldn't buy him if I was you. Technically with the scars on his legs he doesn't have clean legs. You said he didn't have the pop that you like when you jumping so there would be a problem in the future. I know you want a calmer horse, believe I've been there just 3 years ago. If I was you I would keep looking even if you think he is a sweetheart. I think for what their asking you could find a horse that meets all your needs. It sounds to me this horse would be suited for a first time jumping person. If you have any doubts just keep looking, I'm not saying give up on this horse because I don't know how much you like him. But if I was you I would buy him for $3000 because you have to have vet bills as soon as you get him. Hope I helped you some.

Answer 2

I am thinking no to buying him. If it appears he's not clearing jumps properly and you want him as an eventer it's probably not a good fit. That and I think that the fact you're unsure and questioning would mean to me that he's not the right GG for you.

Good luck in finding a new one.

Answer 3

I would say keep looking. If you are looking for something to be eventing on, and he has proven that he doesn't "clear" the jumps, then he probably won't do well with the cross country. If he has a sarcoid and can't be covered by insurance, that's another negative. Also the fact that you weren't 100% comfortable riding him is another minus.

There's bound to be a horse in your range that you are much more comfortable with and does better with what you want.

Answer 4

Well i think you should keep looking. he doesn't sound like a good horse for the money. I would keep looking to see if you can find a better horse. I don't think he would do on very good on the cross country corss if he hits this legs or don't clear the jumps