So DH has agreed...

[OscarWinningActress]

...to a horse purchase in the new year. I've just returned to riding after a long break (am 37, have three school-age kids) but had my own horse and did lots of showing (hunter and jumper) when I was a teenager (stopped riding when I went off to Uni). I really want to get back to having that partnership with a horse again and be able to ride every day (when the children are at school) and school horses just aren't going to cut it. I don't want to show and I'm not interested in crazy jumper shenanigans anymore. I suppose what I'm after is a 'ladies' hunter type' (do people still use that term anymore?). Something that I could work mainly on the flat, take hacking and allow me to focus on my equitation and perhaps a bit of dressage. Anyhoo, because I've been out of the loop for so long, just wondering what you horsey people think to what sort of age horse I should be looking for? What are some important things to consider before venturing into ownership? Any other advice, caveats? Although I owned a horse previously, it was a very long time ago and I was very, very young. She was an in-barn purchase so I already had got to know her (and her vendor) so didn't have to negotiate potential swindlers etc. I'm in Canada, so not all advice will be applicable, obviously, but any general pointers/thoughts would be greatly appreciated. It's odd coming back to all this...a newbie in some ways, but not in others .

[Plomino]

I think going by age can be a bit of a red herring to be honest - I've bought horses of 5 and 6 that have been the most level headed , placid easy going unfazeable creatures , and equally at the moment have an 12 year old Belgian Warmblood and a 23 year old Danish Warmblood who has done loads , who can both be complete divas when the mood takes them . If you were I, I'd probably look at something about 8 years old , probably something with a bit of Irish Draught in , or a lightweight cob - don't fall into the trap of thinking cobs are ploddy and don't do dressage ! Something with a nice temperament and plenty of common sense, and odd as it sounds , I'm a great believer in gut feeling . It's very hard to describe , but you'll know if it happens . When you do look , get it vetted and test it in very possible way , from basic stable manners to traffic tolerance , because life's too short to take on problems when you won't have to . Says she who has never listened to her own advice !

[NigellasPeeler]

hard to reply without knowing the state of the market in Canada - here in the UK people are literally giving horses away for example. so a loan horse would be easy to find.
why not start with a loan or share?

[Jonkastique]

How exciting! I am your opposite,am 36 and just had my first baby, so my 19 year old Belgian wb is having a holiday, and realistically won't go back in to competition (sj / eventing).

I agree with Plomino BUT I bought my guy at 12 and it was a good choice for us.I disagree with her on subject of cobs though! Sorry, they do nothing for me!

I think you should find a trustworthy horsey person who is well connected and can put you in touch with sellers. You'll probs need to pay for that service but it's so easy to be sold a pig in a poke, wherever you are in the world, and it would be reassuring to know that someone is on your side.

I'd go for something not too big for you, age between 8-12 and perhaps Irish with a bit of TB.

Good luck and keep us posted :)

[OscarWinningActress]

Thanks everybody. I'm stupid-excited but trying to be sensible and rational...but there is a bit of 'heart' that has to go into the decision, isn't there? It's a partner that you're looking for, in a way. Non-horsey DHpeople don't get this part, I think. My barn specializes in sales so I hope to pick their brains a bit too.

Nigellas, I don't think our equine market is quite like the UK, in that we're not overrun with horses for sale, HOWEVER I do think that there seem to be a lot of thoroughbreds on the market as hunters/jumpers that may or may not have been raced previously. Any thoughts there? Is that a complete no-go? My teenage horse was a thoroughbred. She wasn't an ex-racer but she did come with a unique set of challenges. I feel I'd be better equipped to deal with those now than I was as a slight and nervous fourteen-year old. I like the idea of 'rescuing' a TB that wasn't quite up to snuff for the races as I know they can make lovely hunters with the right temperament (and that sometimes a more gentle temperament may have been what made them unsuitable for racing in the first place). What medical things would I need to have checked in a horse with a racing pedigree? I imagine that are some ex-racer red flags?

Irish Draughts/X-s are not something I've come across here but you do quite often encounter Clydesdale crosses. Would that be comparable? They always seem so MASSIVE in size and scale to me (I'm quite petite) but I appreciate that they may confer some temperament and conformation advantages (TB-Clyde crosses are one of the most common).

[FlipFlopFatality]

I'm also Canadian, in Ontario, so my knowledge is from there. We don't really have many cobs, the closest is definitely the draft cross. I'd probably start your search by looking for some sales pages near you, there are many horses advertised right now. The market isn't great, so I've seen some really nice horses for sale for pretty decent prices.

After reading your first post I thought, hmmm, sounds like she needs a nice draft cross. Mine (TB x Clyde x Paint) is the perfect all rounder and has been since around 8 yo (she's 11 now), before that she was a little more difficult in that she was very strong and, quite frankly, I'm not. You do get used to the size, I'm 5'5" and mine is 16.3hh and I don't look ridiculous on her, but it did take some getting used to. So much wider than my TB! I compete in the hunter ring now but she's evented and done show jumping and dressage as well.


I definitely like TBs but their resale value is pretty poor. Many people are after the warmbloods or warmblood crosses and won't even consider TBs. If you are thinking about a long term partner, though, I certainly wouldn't rule them out entirely. If you are looking at a recently off the track rescue then I'd want to know I'd have the help of a trainer to bring it along. I'd do x-rays on the hocks at the very least and see what else my vet would recommend.

You sound like you're pretty open to different types of horses, so if I were you I'd go and try some different ones within your budget that you like the look of and maybe you'll find something you really like. An Appendix sounds like it would suit your needs as well, or a pure Quarter horse. If your barn specializes in sales they probably have good connections with other barns who might be able to set you up with several horses to try on one day, just to see what you think.

[mrslaughan]

hmmmm - have you not ridden since a teenager - I understand wanting to get a horse, but think you should do some lessons in the short term, to find your balance and seat on a horse, also by riding lots of diff school horses that will help you decide what "sort" you want. Not all schools are full of old nags.

[OscarWinningActress]

Flip-Flop - Hello! I didn't know there were any Canadians in the tack room . Thanks for taking the time to reply...really useful advice. I've been looking at a website called EquineNow. There do seem to be a lot available in my area at reasonable prices. Spoilt for choice really, but I want to make sure I do everything right.

MrsL you're absolutely right. I'm not planning to purchase until February (we're going away over Christmas and all three of my children have birthdays in January...crazy!). I'm doing two private lessons (working on my equitation and some hunter and dressage) and a practice ride per week. I first started back at another barn where the school horses were all in their dotage. The new yard is a much better fit and the horses are all more challenging.

[Pixel]

I've got a clyde cross and yes he does feel wide to my little legs (I'm 5'2") but not so much when I'm he's fit and toned. He's very comfortable though with a nice floating trot and a solid feel that means that even if he puts in a buck you never feel in danger of falling off. He's handsome too, if I say so myself, and gets many admiring comments when we are out and about .

[OscarWinningActress]

I do think that crossing a TB with something more 'solid' is a very sensible and practical idea. TBs always look so spindly and delicate and fragile on those twiggy legs. How big is your horse, Pixel? Do you jump him?

[Pixel]

He's 15.2hh. He hasn't really been taught to jump properly as I don't any more and I've had him since he was two. However he jumps on the lunge and my friend has taken him over jumps sometimes and he has quite a pop in him when the mood takes him. I think he'd have been a good hunter if I'd had the nerve.

[Pixel]

His legs are anything but spindly that's for sure! Also he's never worn shoes in his life - very strong feet.

[OscarWinningActress]

He sounds darling...and little . I always thought that any kind of Clyde-X would be at least 17 hands. I'm not crazy about jumping either but I feel like I should be open-minded about it so that I can keep the horse's and my options open. I'm really looking for a 'forever' horse that I will keep through retirement but if I had to sell-on at any time I think I'd probably be wise to have a horse that had kept up with some jumping, right? If you've had your boy since he was two, you must have built up a real partnership with him? That's lovely .

[Pixel]

We have our moments . He always comes galloping down the field when he sees me but he's on a steep bank at the moment so he scares me to death. Yesterday I was shouting "slow down, you aren't Champion the Wonder Horse" but he skidded and only just managed to stop before he hit the gate. I think it's known as 'having character'.

[Pixel]

My mum had a shirexTB who was only 15.2 as well. They don't always come out tall.

[OscarWinningActress]

UPDATE:

Introducing OscarWinningHorse .

Mine as of last Tuesday, after all his checks. After a good chat with my coach and the trainer at my stable, I was allowed to try out this guy for a week. He's a four year-old TB gelding and he's lived at my training barn since he was a weanling. He's very sweet, gentle, affectionate and CALM. He's obviously a bit green and we've got lots to work on together but I am madly in love with him. I wasn't planning to buy until the New Year but he was available and I've got loads of time with the kids all back at school now so decided to go for it. Have been doing lots of schooling this week...circles, serpentines, figure eights and leg yielding and we also went for a hack. I jumped a whole course on him and he's very willing but does get quick (and excited!) so we'll have to work on that too. He's been outside all summer so needs to put on a bit of weight but he's now on full-board (livery) and getting lots of treats so he should fill out well . I am tired (it's like having a new baby!) but very, very happy.

[Pixel]

Congratulations, he is gorgeous! Sounds like you two are a good match .

[OscarWinningActress]

Thank you .