choosing a horse

[Tomas123]

I've been having riding lessons for the past 8 months. i and my instructor feel i will be able to handle my own horse now.
i'm a male,20 i am 5ft 11 and weigh about 16 stone. my instructor reckons i will need about a 16-17hh, broad and a quarter mix.
does anyone have any advice about what sort i should preferably get?

[jules77]

Take someone experienced with you. I know people who have bought a horse that seemed fine when they went to see it and even took it for a ride, to find it had been drugged to calm it down.

[Prudie]

What do you want to use it for, just hacking? I'm no expert but I'd look for desriptions such as bombroof, schoolmaster or perfect gentleman rather than going for a for a specific breed mix.

[jules77]

Pressed send too soon.......If you have only been riding for 8 months and have no experience of looking after a horse, you may be best having one on loan with the owner at hand for advice.

[Prudie]

^ 'scuse the typos

[icemaiden]

Welsh cobs (section D) are nice beginner horses. Tough, sturdy and kind natured. Good weight carriers too. Will your instructor go with you to see any potential horses? Always best to have an experienced person with you.
Once you have found one, get it vetted.

Some other advice- don't buy a chestnut mare. Not good natured when in season. My one almost killed me!

[icemaiden]

Just read jules post. Great advice re loan/share.

[Purple_Popple]

Yup Welsh Cob, Section D all the way...dependable, reliable and very good natured...but dont get a mare...very moody lol. Well my mare was, she wouldnt stand still for toffee, and I could never catch her from the field first time around without some form of bribery....miss her though, she was a character but very forward.

[Euphemia]

I agree with Jules that a loan might be better in the first instance - otherwise on trial. Don't forget to have it vetted.

[gsr600]

most mares are moody lol.
have you considered the cost of "keeping/Owning" a horse - stables - food - vet bills etc, getting to it in the winter months.
hard work & time consuming.

[ruthann58]

wrong time of year its all hard work and mud with no daylight hours to ride after work , i would carry on with the lessons and wait till spring

[Tomas123]

my instructor will be coming with me to view the ones i suggest and then he will tell me which one i should go for, and i want it for casual riding and will eventually go into hunting.
with the cost of the stuff needed i have that already set aside and I've started farming at the place so i will be able to go on it during the day.

[Chaffinch]

I have 4 horses, and think a section D is far too small for someone who is 5'11", a section D is about 14.2hh (if its registered), just go for a happy hacker (no specific breed) But 8 months of lessons is not enough time in which to learn all the things you need to know about owning a horse, unless your putting it in full livery.

Always get any horse vetted

[icemaiden]

We have a Welsh section D at our yard and he is 15.3!


I understood they can be any height over 13.2. with no upper limit height.

[Chaffinch]

The Welsh Cob, is covered by section D of the, Welsh Pony and Cob Society Stud book. Welsh Cob height 14hh to 15.1 (typically around 14.2hh) Welsh Pony, not over 13.2hh.

Of course you will slight variations, but Tomas123 is looking for something 16 to 17hh, so not a Welsh Cob. I like them very much, but they can be very strong, and zippy in some cases so I would not reccomend for a beginner, the ones I have had have also loved to jump and have quite a scoopy jump, so again not for a beginner.

I still say a Happy Hacker, not to strong or willfull. (if such a thing exists, my 22 year old TB ran off with me a few weeks ago "and" cleared a 4ft stone wall, with me hanging on for grim death lol)

[sallybb]

Shire/ shire cross, Shires are not as wide to ride as people think, they would be up to size and be able to carry 16 stone comfortably. If your near the lake district there is trekking centre that uses Shires and other heavy horses, they do fantastic beach rides.

[Chaffinch]

Shire cross, yes, nice temperament too, and not skittish or flighty. and dispite their size cheap to feed.

[Bambiagain]

A nice Irish Cob. Don't buy one that's young and inexperienced - as Prudie said go for one that's described as a schoolmaster. I've got nothing against mares - my favourite horses have all been mares - but they can be temperamental, and thus not ideal for a beginner. After eight months, you are still very much a beginner, and riding a school horse is entirely different from riding a horse that isn't used to novices. Good luck!

[Bambiagain]

Oh, and if you do choose to buy, try to get a horse for a trial period. After a couple of weeks, it will be clear whether it was drugged or not when you first rode it as per Jules77's post.

[Tomas123]

i have brought my horse he is a 7 year old, skewbald Irish sports horse and is 16.2hh, i have got him for a month at first to see how he settles in and if i will enjoy riding him over the month and then find out his personality better, incase he was drugged at viewing.