Horse Hunt 2

I think the ones I bought are Sabre 54 inches long.
I have small hands and these leather reins are thin and soft. I expected Ella's other sharers to go on using her previous rubber reins, but they were difficut to fasten on the bridle and it seems everyone else just accepted the new ones. I bought them for a purpose - to stop her leaning on the reins.
But I also knew them well from my previous share. Our RI used them or similar on all her horses. However, I do think hers were longer.
 
54" is standard full length @Skib , but I woder if the school ones get so much use that the leather has stretched? I have 1/2" or even 3/8" with rubber only on the inside, it gives a bit more grip in the wet but isn't bulky in my hand. I can't say I've ever noticed the rein making a difference to a horse leaning or not, but maybe if they alter the contact the rider takes it has an impact though if that's the case I'd say it's a rider issue.
 
Going to see the mare I was supposed to see last week, plus 2 others. So who knows. I have chickened out of the grey £10K 7 year old maxi cob who is lush but I think he would be wasted on me. So seeing the chestnut and piebald who is very like Basil and said to be a bit naughty on the ground so we'll see. There is a second horse with the chestnut mare, Mabel, so may see two there. Feels like last chance before winter. May be a bit difficult to get a vetting done as the ones i tried folks on holiday or 2-3 weeks lead time which won't work.
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So you have loads of conversations with a horse dealer, who tells you the horse is the best thing since sliced bread and you like her and arrange to see her and then after all the videos and chat just as you are getting ready to go it is cancelled. When just that evening a second horse was being offered to see while there.

"No thats ok 2.30 works for me
She has old scabs on back legs as got caught in fence at her owners but vet wasnt needed and healed itself x
Fri 21:20
You sent
See you then other phone is xxxxxx as I will be driver. Will bring my tack as well

Fri 22:08
Apologies for the late message.
On reflection, with regards to what you are looking for I don’t think any of ours will suit you
I wish you luck in finding your new horse
 
Hmmm.
My guess would be they know someone you have interacted with before.
The horse world is small. People know people. That can work in someone's favor or against it.
I could be totally off of course.
But that would be my best guess
 
Hmmm.
My guess would be they know someone you have interacted with before.
The horse world is small. People know people. That can work in someone's favor or against it.
I could be totally off of course.
But that would be my best guess
My trainer suspects afraid of reviews but who knows.
 
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My two pennies worth it's the fact you are bringing your own tack.
Stirrups I get if you have big feet with big boots. The rest you sort after purchase.
 
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One of the worst viewings ever today. 15'1 cob, 13 years old, on paper perfect. Was only one of the three booked for today that happened. 2 hours away. Was surprised that the owner wasn't present. She did not mention that the yard he was at was not where she was and that she would not be there.

On arrival, almost turned around and drove off again. Typical Durham based trotter dealer. Breeder of cobs etc. Big man and 5 kids/friends of around all a bit intimidating. Bit hostile. Oh well nothing to lose stand your ground. Said he had another one i could see, 17 years old vanner been off work 4 years, I politely declined. Very interested in coloured stallion standing at stud where we live and wanted to do the common riding as it was the most extreme. Yes I know that and I hate it but kept quiet.

Had had the horse 3 weeks, knew nothing about him. Poor horse was tied up very tight with a Monty Roberts control halter. Eyes bulging, rigid, he was scared. I had been told he could be a bit bargy/pull on the ground so I asked if I could do some work with him. Gave him lots of scratches and spoke gently to him, then put on my rope halter took the other one off as don't like them and it was too low down and very tight. Played with him in the school, he was sweet, nuzzled me, licked and chewed. Had a connection with him instantly, we liked each other. Took him onto the yard and backed him in and out of obstacles. Did everything easily. Could see nothing wrong with his ground manners.

Mallenders all 4 legs, but what concerned me was his breathing, he was flaring his nostrils a lot, not a hot day, only normal when standing. Suspected something wrong with his wind, or allergy. Commented about his mallenders, told all cobs have them, said well I have had three and none of them have them. His nostrils were very flared at slow walk only normal when standing still.

Tried my saddle on, was not bad but would need adjustment. Had a made to measure saddle which didn't fit all that well. He had broken the bridle he came with, hard to bridle. Brought mine over and put it on him on top of my halter, no problems, fitted well. Big man rode him in school, a bit as expected stirrups far too short. His breathing was much worse when ridden. His nostrils flared and inflamed as if done a stiff gallop. Didn't cough. Asked if I wanted to ride him. Swapped my stirrups over and got on a picnic table to climb on board with everyone watching. Asked if i wanted to ride him in the school, said no, he has to hack so will hack him out if ok. OH says there was a bit taken aback but didn't want to ride in front of them really and he seemed ok.

Rode him all of 10 minutes, very foot sore behind, worse than the one last week. Not shod behind - not allowed as they have a mixed herd. He had a quick whinny as we left and I thought oh shit but no he went on. He pooed twice the breathing was worse, making a gut noise as well. I turned him around and we were coming up a tiny hill and he was really labouring. Got off him as I honestly thought he was going to collapse. Made a fuss of him, hugged him and felt rubbish. Needs shoes on behind and needs a bloody vet. Compared to Freckles and his copd/roaring, this horse was so much worse he could hardly get a breath.

Their reaction give him a good kick and off you go. Horses in the wild manage without shoes - well he isn't in the wild and he isn't on grass. It was a really rough stony track, they have been trotting him up it of course. Claimed he had been ridden for an hour day before.

Owner rang me later to ask how i had got on. I explained about the breathing and being footsore, never even got as far as the legs which were bad. None of this existed as far as she was concerned. Poor poor boy. If i could have got him cheap, and I mean cheap, I would have sent a lorry for him unvetted and got him the hell out of there. On for £5,500.

He and I connected. And I feel horrible walking away but he had so many issues.
 
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If you said you were bringing your own tack, I actually would not let you on my horse with it, and probably would decline the sale too.
I was bringing my own tack to see how it looked on the horse not to ride in it. This has already been clarified in earlier posts. The horse had to be ridden in my bridle though as his had been broken by him earlier.
 
If it was the coloured you saw then he's so fat I'm hardly surprised he was puffing and labouring, and if he was stressed then that's only going to make matters worse. How he's stood in that photo would make me question if he's laminitic too - would explain the footsore and also the breathing when moving. If you really liked him that much then make a silly offer, you've nothing to lose.

I'm with the others who've said about the tack, if you said that to me then I'd say forget it because it would make me think you weren't taking a viewing seriously - if the saddle doesn't fit are you not interested? And given the vast;y different types of horse you look at I can't believe the saddle is going to fit them all well even with adjustment.
 
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I don’t think anyone is ‘jumping on you’, you keep being frustrated by sellers and we have tried to suggest a few things that may be impacting it. Taking your tack could be off putting to sellers. I heard your reasons why you want to do it, but I still think it could be off putting, it’s quite a novicey thing to do and screams not enough money to care for the horse if that’s a priority, it would make me think twice too!

We also suggested not being negative when you turn horses down, but here you go again and you wonder why word is getting around not to deal with you!
Owner rang me later to ask how i had got on. I explained about the breathing and being footsore, never even got as far as the legs which were bad. None of this existed as far as she was concerned.
 
I don’t think anyone is ‘jumping on you’, you keep being frustrated by sellers and we have tried to suggest a few things that may be impacting it. Taking your tack could be off putting to sellers. I heard your reasons why you want to do it, but I still think it could be off putting, it’s quite a novicey thing to do and screams not enough money to care for the horse if that’s a priority, it would make me think twice too!

We also suggested not being negative when you turn horses down, but here you go again and you wonder why word is getting around not to deal with you!
Thanks for all your help in my horse hunt. It will be private from now on.
 
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This reply is why it's not working with some sellers.

Look forward to the horse arrived thread.
 
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