Horse purchase questions

Not that we are ready yet, but now its getting known we will be buying horses in the near future I am getting all sorts of information as to what I should be paying, getting etc.

At this stage, E just wants a farm plodder to regain her confidence on. similar for me too, nothing flash. NO thoroughbreds.

I have spoken to a couple of horsey people and a farming neighbour, the FN says he just gave away his horse for free that would have been ideal. the horsey people say I should expect to pay about $5500 or so for a 8 - 14 YO experienced horse. $3800 - $4000 if its younger..

I am not sure that E wants to do pony club, but she might get that interest back when she is confident. either way its her call... SOH feels $5500 is way too much for a farm hack. We also had an earlier offer of 2 horses who looked the part, but I haven't ridden them and didn't want to muck the owners around with waiting for our stuff to sort itself out for them to achieve a sale...

E's last equine teacher recommended a minimum size of 14.2 hands as E will grow quite tall and C didn't want her to grow too quickly out of her purchase.
E's first lot of teachers had her riding a 15 hand horse which in E's mind she wants again, as long as she can get the same placid personality.

The horsey people say i should start her off on something 13 hands or so now, and if I tell you that e currently stands about 1.35m does that help?

I see horses on trademe that sound suitable, but the sellers never seem to reply... and they are usually then sold or removed by the seller as an the expired listing.

I don't doubt the good intentions of the advices being given to us, but I am not sure in some cases its what we would be after. Is $5500 odd the right amount if E just wants a safe farm plodder?

Far too much Swaggie. Believe me, horses are not selling at the moment and for $5500, I'd be expecting an experienced competition horse, not a plodder.

When you are next in Pukekohe, have a look at the noticeboards at all three horse businesses - Fiskens, Saddlery Warehouse and just up the road from there the one that fixes covers as well - sorry can't remember the name. That may give you an idea of prices locally as a start. AMS in Takannini is another.

Incidentally, my now 5' 10" daughter had the best fun around E's age riding an awesome 15.1hh Northland horse. The only reason to stay on a 14.2hh Pony is for Pony Club competition. She left PC at 17 from memory and went to Horse Trials just because the longer courses better suited her 16+hh horses.

The 16.1hh horse we have here for Sale is definitely not for an inexperienced rider (still greenish ex race horse) but absolute magic on the ground. I have two male chestnut TB's here and they are both brilliant horses to handle and ride so I hate to see the TB label used on all of them. Shame the older one won't float or truck because I would give him to you in a heartbeat - for you. I'll keep an eye out for you over this way..

many thanks Didi for the thoughts.

Our farm is mostly steep hill country and it was felt that TB's wouldn't be as sure footed as a more rugged breed... thus no TB consideration. My other neighbour has one decorating her paddock that she cannot ride either. So I want to ensure I am fully armed with information before we go down the purchasing track later on.

I agree, $5000 far to much for what you want. Will keep an ear out around here. How old is E?

Also look at equinetrader.co.nz and nzhorses.co.nz.
I would not only want to see it been ridden and try it but also handled. Tie it up. Does it stand nicely so you can groom it. Does it pick its feet up. Can you open its mouth (impt for getting bit in and drenching) Does it come when called in the paddock (bribery is acceptable apples, feed etc) but chasing you horse around the paddock to catch it is a pain in the a*.

Also check that it floats/trucks. Watch them put it on the float/truck and if your E is confident get the owners to work with her so she can load it on the float/truck.

Stick around the 14.2 -14.3 mark as that is still a pony. A stationbred is often a good way to go. Sure footedness and good temperement Quarter horse or cross, Welsh pony cross, Appy cross.

Although every horse is different and some TBs are placid as, your fizzy breeds are generally the TB, Arab, Warm bloods, Hanoverian etc in purebreed.

Not knowing much about your situation but for Paddock hacking maybe something like this
www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Equestrian/Hors...uction-187476244.htm

if E wanted to go to PC I would look at something like this possibly
www.equinetrader.co.nz/listing/7092-great-allrounder/

The other place to contact is your local Pony Club. Up here they have an email list and regularly send around horses for sale.

Only advice i would throw in, is make sure you or your daughter catch the horse in the paddock, Too many times ive heard of problem ponies that are hard to catch. Easy for the 'owner' because they feed it, and if its in a small pen, they are easy to catch.
I just re-homed Shilise's pony, but he was probably too much of a beginner for your girl.
Maybe one of the local RDA horses are available? IE not quiet suitable for RDA but not speedy enough to do the whole show circuit.
ill keep an ear/eye out, but cheap, good ponies are as rare as hens teeth, people think they are worth gold, and yet Alot of young kids miss out because of the almighty greed and ponies end up going to waste.

From what I've seen the only horses not selling are tbs.
I've people constantly chasing my crossbreds and they are not even for sale[:0]
You can get nice tbs, I've had one, but I always recommend against them because they are so high maintenance.

Whether the price is too much depends on whether you want a farm hack or something that will do more? As you don't know yet, the question becomes... if E wants to do more will you replace a farm hack or do you want the one horse to step up? If you think you think you want one horse that can step up if required then, sorry, the price bracket is realistic.

In the last few weeks I've had three different people ask me to find what you're describing, but only want to pay $2000-$3000, and sadly the only horses I've been able to find are young. In your situation I don't recommend young
I personally can't see why there is all this drama about keeping kids on ponies. From your description a nice 15hh hack would be a sensible idea.

Just keep looking. It takes AGES. The right one will show up.

Many thanks all for your suggestions and thoughts. Tis appreciated!!!

E will be 11 in February. She started riding when she was just 5, absolutely loved it and the horses, however had a bad fall when she was 8, and because of the circumstances of her instructor changed shortly thereafter, she didn't get the opportunity to regain her confidence as she should have.

She loves horses to bits. Loves the thought of riding again and going "down the back" on her own with horse, dog at heel etc etc. Down the back for us means the forestry acreage with numerous wonderful trails and sights to see.

She represented her school the year before we left Aussie and Roger an older wiser man than I (well me being a female and not so wiser but getting older) who came along for the drive (as our instructors had a few other older girls representing their school,) and who has been involved with horses for most of his life, pointed out whilst everyone else was stuffing themselves with cakes etc during morning tea, E was the only one to ensure ""her"" horse was ok and was gently grooming and talking to her.
It impressed the heck out of Roger, who I suspect had seen it all before he met E.

I spoke to her again today, what do you want i ask, a farm horse or a PC horse? Well she said, once I am ok again I would like to do a few shows..... ok i said, but that is a bit of a way off.

To me, I don't think she would want to part with her first love, but we can always look at improved varieties once she is confident again. but its going to take time and I want to ensure before anything else, her confidence and trust can be restored!

Paramount!!

I have a 14.2hh older bombproof gelding if you are interested, I brought him 1 year ago (for $1800) a farm hack for my kids to ride.

He has been there done all that, you can stand on him under him and he comes when called etc he is older so really not a PC pony. Much to my disappointment my kids just haven't got into riding or horses at all they are more interested in motorbikes. I hate seeing him going to waste as he has a fantastic personality and not getting the attention he deserves and to top it all off I now have to keep him seperate from my horse as she kicks and bites him on a semi regular bases.

PM me if you are interested would like to recover close to what I paid for him and I will throw in all his gear I have for him.

HI Swaggie, I was 11 when I got my first horse. I'm sure E knows the hard work ahead of her to care for the horse.

A good size would be anything from 14hh - 14.3hh at this age, she's not thaaat tall, but in saying that, in a years time, she could have doubled in size - haha! You know what I mean, the "string bean" stage!

You want something with a bit of age on it and that has done some miles.. you DO NOT want E getting another "scare" from horses as such -losing confidence for a true horsey girl is one of the most shattering experiences in life.

Ask every question you can think of and more than we think of too... no question is a silly question! Even if you ask it twice!!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a farm hack going to a few shows... !!! They all scrub up alright!!

If you need any help - go on, post up - we are all more than happy to help and we'll all be rootin' for ya to find "the one" for E. If I could I would clone my Buddy for her.

Sundays

Ziggy;216730 wrote: I have a 14.2hh older bombproof gelding if you are interested, I brought him 1 year ago (for $1800) a farm hack for my kids to ride.

He has been there done all that, you can stand on him under him and he comes when called etc he is older so really not a PC pony. Much to my disappointment my kids just haven't got into riding or horses at all they are more interested in motorbikes. I hate seeing him going to waste as he has a fantastic personality and not getting the attention he deserves and to top it all off I now have to keep him seperate from my horse as she kicks and bites him on a semi regular bases.

PM me if you are interested would like to recover close to what I paid for him and I will throw in all his gear I have for him.

Pming you ziggy for details....

Nothing wrong with a bit older for PC. If you are just going to local PC and doing your D cert -C Certs older calm and sensible is the way to go. One of the nicest ponies I have known has just retired from PC aged 25 as her last rider has outgrown her and they have decided to retire her as company for the new horses. She was still winning ribbons and has taken 3 families of riders through PC.

Look for an app, and no, I'm not just touting my fave breed They tend to be quite surefooted, quite hardy, rather unflappable, and can handle being both a paddock hack and a show mount, should she want to go in that direction.

Diane

I agree with Diane Worked for us!

Older is fine at the level E is at. We had one pony here that was rocking around pony club at 36. He could only jump 60cm but that was perfect

Try www.hobbyhorse.co.nz there are some good ones on there from time to time or www.cuttinghorse.co.nz some of the cutting horses that don't quite make the grade for cutting (but are good stock/trecking/hacking) horses come up on there as well