Is he the right horse?

Question

I have ridden a 9 year old imported warmblood twice and I love how he moves. He is very energetic, but never spooks. If he does spook, he plants his feet and breaths heavily. You just have to talk him out of it. Anyway, he doesn't get ridden very much. The person leasing him right now only walks and trots 20 meter circles. I will be using him for hunter jumping. His owner said that he always tests new people for one week, then he gets used to them and is perfect. Last time I rode him (after we lunged him for about 20 min), when I asked him for a trot he kept getting faster and faster until he was cantering and started jumping around. He wouldn't stop so I had to circle until his nose was close to touching my foot. We lunged him again and when I came back out, we walked around some more and walked over a cross rail to get him used to it. (he hasn't really jumped for about a year except for this june when a trainer jumped him 3'7. he has the potential to go up to 4') He loved going over the cross rail. After we did that a couple times, I asked him to canter and he did beautifully.

Do you think he will stop the taking off and hopping around thing if he's ridden more?

There are 2 other people who might want to buy him (including the mounted police) and his owner said that he will be bought by the 30th, when his lease ends.

Also, he does have a slight navicular change and a small bone spur, but we called the vet and he said it was probably no big deal. We will be getting xrays next week to make sure and the owner said that she will take the money it costs to get him vetted off of the $7,500 she's asking for him.

Answer 1

yes i would buy him he sounds pretty good but just in case as if you can ride him a few more times and see what happens if he gets alot worse dont buy him but if he get better buy him but he sounds very nice and its good having an energetic horse that doesnt bomb off and gallop round fields and is 10 times as strong as you lol

but he sounds lovely

hope i helped:)

Answer 2

Ok, so, to start with. No horse owner will ever tell the immediate truth about their horses. My cousin looks for horses for people to buy. He has been doing so for years and not one owner has told the truth.

The cantering problem you had does not sound great. Do you know for certain that he can jump 4''? And that the mounted police want to buy him? I would test him out again, he does sound great. However a good horse should be willing to let any rider on him and not make a fuss.

I wish you the best of luck. I think that you should test him out quite a few times to see if he settles down with you.

I hope that he is the one!! xx

Answer 3

Hey!

The horse sounds pretty good as far as I can see, because even if he did freak out a bit to begin with, you managed to deal with it. Plus he didn't do it the second time. And the owner said he can play up and test people in the first week before getting to know them, so it was probably a one-off. And also he hasn't been ridden or cantered that much recently, so he'd probably just get used to it after a bit.

Good Luck!  

Answer 4

He is probably "cold backed" which means he needs to be lunged each time. if no he will keep doing it...

Any a horse that has any slightest problem with their navicular bone will go lame... maybe not now but maybe in a year or 2.

There are plenty of other horses that will be more experienced than him to take you jumping...  

Answer 5

I think it is all up to you.  You have to ask yourself questions.  Do you like him?  Would you be willing to ride him everyday if possible?  Is he what you were looking for?  Is he sound enough to do the job you want him to do?  Does your vet think he would be fine for what you want him to do?  It all comes down to YOU.  Hope this kinda helped...

Answer 6

It is really hard to say if a horse will improve. Most definitely he will be a little calmer and probably a MUCH better ride if he is ridden much more. I think however that you should look for a different horse. If you have 7500 to spend I think you could find a amazing much better jumper who is experienced. Why spend money on a 9 year old who is so spirited? But if you have lots of time and a huge amount of experience then buy the horse. but i think that other people want the horse let them have it. You can easily get a lovely jumping horse for that much money. I think it is only 7500 because it is a Warmblood. But to answer your question I think there is a possibility that he will stop taking off and such. However you lunged him for 20 minutes, so that should have worked. But if you work hard I think he might go well. But he may have been hopping and speeding up because the saddle fits wrong, a bug was bothering him, or he has back problems. But all together DO NOT buy this horse. It is your desicion but I think there is just to much problems especially with the spur in the bone. okay that's about it. I leave it up to you.  

Answer 7

You definitely don't want to let the pressure of another apparent buyer push you or alter your decision regarding this horse.  I would wait until he is fully vetted, continue to test out their statement of "After a week, he stops testing you."  That is a lot of money on which to speculate, don't do it...it doesn't mean that you won't eventually end up with this horse, just don't let any outside circumstances influence your decision.

Answer 8

If you want to use this horse for hunter jumping, his navicular and bone spur problem will most likely bother him. You don't want to purchase a medical problem.  I would pass.

Answer 9

This horse sounds great for the right rider. Remember he isnt being ridden all that much so he may have excess energy. If you are an experienced rider im sure you will fare well with this horse.