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steph02
07 Jun 2010 13:22
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I am going to be buying a new horse soon. I personally thoroughbreds. Any ideas what else is out there which i could look for and why do you like that breed?
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joallan
09 Jun 2010 10:50
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A big question. You need to like the horse, and it needs to fit with your abilities and ambitions.
Somewhere along the line you may have to compromise, age is one factor, they don't come competition ready at three years old, and they need quite a few years experience to be schoolmasters.
Have a good look at the relevant videos on this site.
Price is a big consideration, also the time and the facilities you have available for training, there is a lot of work required to get fit for competition, especially with a less experienced horse.
Attend local events and have a good look at the horses there, this will help you get your eye in.
Well re breed, pure TB's range from weedy and hotheaded to strong, fast, and intelligent, you are looking for mature National Hunt types, not the flat racing types which have been in training as two year olds.
The warmbloods like the Dutch Warmblood KWPN are bred for the job, but there is a lot of variation in them, and some of them imported in to the UK because they failed their gradings in Holland.
Selle France is another breed type, again they vary quite a bit in size and build, but can be very honest.
Traditional breed crosses are still available, including TB crosses (scope, speed, good paces) Irish Draught crosses (strength, soundness), , Connemara crosses (pony soundness and jumping ability)
Personally I would discuss this with your instructor and find out if any horses are available locally, go and look at a few, attend local events, don't waste peeps time, so make sure you get a good description of the animals abilities, current level, and scope before you visit a vendor.
Reputable dealers may have a few suitable animals for you to look at, and they have good facilities to try any you like, make sure you are clear and realistic about your abilities and ambitions when you talk to peeps, this will save a lot of wasted time on both sides, make it clear that the horse will need go through a five stage vetting, this will often save you the trouble of looking at unsound horses.
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steph02
13 Jul 2010 20:56
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Thank you that has been very helpful
I have been looking at six year old thoroughbreds and the otherday we went to see one that had done a tendon on its front leg. He cantered down hill jumped on hard ground and his legs were still cold, I am in 2 minds about this will he be able to go cross countrying and jumping competeting?
I am not looking to spend loads but I want something that will get somewhere, as we have been stuck with a TB x Cob 15hh trotter that we have had to reschool. Me personally I have learnt to ride correctly and get him to go with his head in but he is 15 now and i need something younger, with more potential.
There are so many different sizes, breeds, temperament, has it got good feet, legs, teeth, back ect
its so confusing help!!
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joallan
22 Jul 2010 20:33
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Any known pre existing injury is likely to get an insurance veto, on that leg for instance, so leave it.
You are probably better not to go and see these types of animals or you will have to keep making these decisions. Eventing is hard on horses and if for example, one breaks down, you may have to bring in the vet ..... long term bills or short term bullet!
I am sorry (well, not very sorry) that you feel you were lumbered with something you had to re school, this tells me you are looking for something competition ready, something you do not have to work on, again you will probably have to pay the price, peeps who have a good horse with potential are looking for a good price, anything from £5K upwards, and that is not a world beater.
Without mega experience, facilities, and plenty of time to work on a horse, you are unlikely to pick up a suitable horse at a bargain price, these are the horses the professionals may have in their yard for a year or so, gambling that one of them will make a bit of money for them, you are not in that position, so keep looking by all means, and use the time to save up for a better animal.
By the way my 6 year old 15.00 hh TB x trotter is a fine fellow, he will never be able to event at any serious level, but he is a lovely, sound ride, and that is the main thing for me, it has taken two years to strengthen him up, if I had rushed him he would still be the weedy, unbalanced creature I bought two years ago. He will be starting in novice dressage next year, we are still working on the basics. His cross country jumping will be kept at a low level as he is small, but if he is fit, and he will be fit, I can expect him to be fast.
If I had wanted an eventer, I would have been looking for a bigger type, with good conformation, no existing injuries, probably would have had to compromise on age, or scope, youth, or experience. It takes time to make a horse, it is not a matter of saddling up and off we go. Time costs money and peeps want their investment to pay off.
In the meantime I suggest you start competing your cob, I am sure you can find something at Riding Club level that will allow you both to build up experience.
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Horse Hero Guru
22 Jul 2010 22:17
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Hi Steph02
Joallan is giving you excellent advice. The most important thing to look for is a horse that is sound, has the right attitude and no major conformational faults. If you do not have lots of money to spend you are going to have to be open minded about things like breeding – find a horse that will enjoy working with.
There is no perfect breed for any job – there may be fashionable breeding, but that costs money, so concentrate on making sure that you choose a horse that will not have problems doing what you want to do. That means that previous tendon injuries are a definite no-no. You need clean legs, straight movement (less likely to be injured and better able to do a decent dressage test), a good shoulder and quarters (to give him power to jump) and, most importantly, a good temperament. It is hard enough to train a horse to a reasonable level in any sport so you do not want to start off with one that doesn’t want to learn.
No horse is perfect so it is up to you to decide which minor faults you can accept in your chosen horse. The important thing to remember is that you must not fall in love with a horse until after you have bought it!
Good luck in your search
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steph02
22 Jul 2010 23:11
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Thank you very much
can you tell me what you think of this?
5yr old thoroughbred gelding
cheeky smallish eye
moves straight
good feet, nice quaters and shoulder
no major reason not to buy him
what you think?
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steph02
22 Jul 2010 23:19
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hi joallan
i am 17 and have learnt how to reschool a trotter, wasnt easy but the result is pleasing
I am looking for something to bring on, I have my mum who has been riding since she was 4 and i have been riding for 10 years.
Thank you for ur advice :)
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joallan
23 Jul 2010 19:23
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I give up.
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Horse Hero Guru
23 Jul 2010 19:46
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Hi Steph02
No one can tell you whether you and your proposed horse are going to prove to be Badminton winners.
Without seeing you or the horse you are thinking about I would not think of advising you on its suitability. I am concerned that you class ‘no major reason not to buy him’ as a plus feature for the horse though. If I am looking for a horse I tend to look for the features that make this horse stand out for me, and if I am in doubt I will walk away – that is probably why it can take me months to buy a horse that I intend to keep for me rather than just to school on and sell.
I suggest that the best thing you can do is to take a piece of paper and use two columns, one to write down a list of all the things you like about this horse and one to list all the things you are not so happy about. When you have finished you should have some idea of whether this is a horse you want to invest time, money and effort in or not.
From the list you have given above, I think the answer is probably not, so keep looking
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EquiVenture
23 Jun 2011 13:03
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Some very sound advice is being given on this forum. My 2 cents worth is that I am a fan of eh thoroughbred. In South Africa they are much more affordable than a warmblood and for eventing a good thoroughbred can get you a long way. They do battle a bit withthe dressage as they rarely have the impressive movement of teh warmblood breeds but they come into their own in the country.
Having said that I agree that more important than breed for eventing is that they have clean, strong legs and conformation so that will last against the rigours of eventing. The next most important thing is temperament: Bold, honesst and willing!
My last comment is that you are considering a partnership with a horse. So when you first see them they must have a wow factor to you. This is the intangible thing that draws the horse to you. If it isn't there your bond will not be a strong. But don't let this overhadow the considerations above.
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