Re: buying a horse...

Janet Evans (JEvans@linotype.co.uk)
Fri, 18 Oct 1996 18:34:28 +0100

Lucy,
When I bought my first horse in 1989, I wanted the same spec as you.
I ended up buying a 14.2h part bred Arab, that was Anglo Arab and New
Forest Pony breeding. The Native pony in him, has given him a sensible
nature,a hardy type, and he keeps condition easily, I've had no leg
problems with him at all. The Arab part, has given him a typical wide
action behind, helps to keep him out of trouble, and of course a
beautiful look, the throughbred part adds the "go faster stripes" he
loves speed.

This horse was advertise as an 11 yr old,vetted as a 13 yr old, I
later found out he was in fact 15 years. However, for all that, I've
had real fun with this old timer. We did our first 50 at 18yrs and in
1991 at 19, he completed the Golden HorseShoe Ride at Exmoor, one of
our most prestigous rides, .He was the oldest horse on the course, and
got tremendous applause at the trophies ceremony. I've now retired him
from competition, but at 23yrs I'm still riding him around the local
area.

I've always stuck to Geldings myself, because as a first time buyer
the hormone problem seemed an extra problem to cope with, and I want
as few as possible! However several friends of mine have mares, and
wouldn't have anything else. If things don't go to plan, and you have
to retire a mare early, it at least might have a future as a brood
mare. With a gelding, it future is pretty bleak.

Good luck, and have fun

Regards

JAN EVANS, Starlight and Al Rajul


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: buying a horse...
Author: Lucy Chaplin Trumbull <elsie@calweb.com> at email
Date: 15/10/96 11:25

I think I'm going mad - I thought I'd sent a whole
lengthy message to ridecamp yesterday about vet checks,
but it never showed up - goodness knows what I did...

So, to repeat... (sigh)

I'm anticipating the completion of part of "Lucy's Life Plan"
in the next six months - the purchase of my very-own, first ever,
in the flesh horse.

Two questions:

1) choice and cost

Bearing in mind I don't want to buy a "super-horse", I just
want an easy-keeper who will be capable of some limited
endurance-type activity, some dressage, some jumping, ...
nothing fancy. Ideally >10 years, arab-type (I have a soft
spot for arabs)... etc.

I'm hoping to spend no more than $2500 (preferably less). Does
that sound doable?

I see horses advertised in this area a great deal, but most
of them seem to be mares. Can anyone see any reason for this?
Are they all in my price range because they are green-broke
brood mares? Any thoughts on mares v. geldings? I read that
mares can be a pain because they are walking hormones, but
how much of that is true...? I have this nightmare thought of
going out in public with a mare in season and being jumped
by someone's eager stallion... is this a reality, or am I
letting my paranoia show?

2) pre-sale vet check

Apart from obvious illness/lameness/unsoundness, what should
a vet check for?

Thanks

Lucy [who will no doubt post more and more as she becomes
more and more anxious, and thinks of more and more worries] 

-- 
************************************************************** 
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull - elsie@calweb.com
Displaced English person in Sacramento, CA 
     
http://www.calweb.com/~elsie
http://www.calweb.com/~trouble
**************************************************************