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Need Help Deciding

2K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  cedarane 
#1 ·
Today my husband and I looked at 3 horses (out of the many I've seen for sale, about a dozen were worth making a trip to look at and test ride), 2 of which I find suitable, but I'm having trouble deciding which one. I'm waiting to hear back from my trainer and wanting a few other informed opinions.

On me - I've been riding English since I was 9, but took a 15 year break off until I turned 30 this year. I'm an advanced beginner and want to do jumping, hunting (raw beginner there) and a little showing. Below are the two horses that I viewed today and I need your opinion on which will be a good fit.


GoGo


From the owner: "GoGo is a 13 yr old double reg Paint/QH. He is 16 plus hands tall and is fairly stout. He is predominantly white, but has Chestnut patches as well. I think his coat pattern is Overo, but I am not sure. I dont really know a whole lot about paint patterns. The horse was bought as a yearling from Nebraska I believe, and then shipped to SC by some friends of mine. He was professionally trained and then they just used him as an extra trail horse. He has been all over SC and NC trail riding. They have taken him to the mountains, swimming, you name it he has been there. Their daughter became very involved with barrel racing and he just kind of sat out in the field for a bit after that. Then another friend of mine bought him from them. He is overweight and has a barrel full of serious health problems. He only rode GoGo several times before his health became to bad to ride. He had another horse that was out there with GoGo that absolutely beat the starch out of him and ran him off his feed. Poor GoGo literally hid behind the barn for about 2 months. I went to visit my friend and saw his condition and offered to take him. When GoGo came in here in the Spring, he was literally a frame. Probably a 2 on a body scale for a horse. He has gained so much weight!! There is not a mean bone in this horses bady and he won't run my mini horses off their feed! He is definitely low man on the totem pole as far as dominance goes. Anyway, I have only ridden him twice since he has been here, mainly because my focus was weight and calories rather than exercise. He rode fine the two times I rode him though. Once I rode him in the arena for probably 30 mins and put him through his paces and he was a little jumpy putting the tack on, but rode fine and settled nicely. The second time I rode him approximately 3 weeks ago bareback in the field for probably 45 mins. He was fine then too. I jumped up on him from a log and we rode all over the place, and away from all his friends and he did fine. He walks very quickly, as fast as a gaited horse travels."

Me:GoGo - REALLY liked this fella undersaddle. He was worried about my English tack and nervous, but not mean about it. Just didn't understand. He responded quickly to my leg pressure and was very willing to please. A kind horse with a TON of potential!



Juliette

Juliette is a TB Mare 12 years old ex-racer Dark Bay with a star. 16.1 hands. Trained for Jumper/Cross country/little Dressage. She needs a firm hand who is an intermediate rider but she is a fast learner. She is a lovable horse and needs someone to advance her potential. She competed in California in Jumping shows up to 4 foot fences for 2 years, and won several ribbons (including Blue).

Me: Juliette - Fun personality and a jumper at heart! Definitely been there and done that. Outgoing and silly, she moves well in the round pen, but I ran out of day light to get her undersaddle.


 
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#3 ·
GoGo looks like a great prospect for a trail horse, but I'd be leery of retraining him to jump especially since his 'health problems' haven't been elaborated on other than the starvation. Paint/QHs can be great jumpers, but often don't hold their own against lighter flightier breeds like TBs.

Just my thinking, but I'd go with the already trained TB who's used to competing if you think you can handle her as an advanced beginner since she was advertised as an intermediate rider horse. She could make you improve your riding in leaps and bounds, but it could also be a dangerous situation. It all just depends.

I think GoGo is a nice looking horse, but Juliette seems ready to go already. I think I'd look at the price, my budget, etc as a big factor too. Ask yourself how much time you have to retrain etc as well. That could be a big factor.
 
#10 ·
GoGo looks like a great prospect for a trail horse, but I'd be leery of retraining him to jump especially since his 'health problems' haven't been elaborated on other than the starvation. Paint/QHs can be great jumpers, but often don't hold their own against lighter flightier breeds like TBs.
The current owner was referring to the previous owners health problems, not the paint's.
 
#4 ·
Agree

I have the time to put into the Paint, but I'm not made of money either. He's a good opportunity but I'm just not sure. I need to get the TB under saddle and she how she and I get along.
 
#6 ·
The Paint definitely sounds like the type of horse I would advise for someone who's an advanced beginner - if he was trained to jump already. He sounds like a nice, quiet, level headed horse. But there's the fact he's already 13yrs old & you have to put extensive amounts of training into him. I'm also leery to say go with the TB mare since she requires an intermediate rider. I would see if they'll let you try her for a week before throwing down all your cash. That way you can see if you'll be able to easily handle her on your own & be that firm, strong rider it sounds like she needs.
 
#17 ·
To be honest Im not a big fan of either one. I think you you should try out a few more. If you're looking for a horse that will take care of you both, you need to find a horse who is seasoned enough to be ok with anything you ask of it. Im not sure that either horses are quite there yet.
 
#18 ·
I'm mainly doing flat work at the moment and the paint is great with that. My trainer has suggested him as opposed to the TB. Which took us 30+ minutes to catch... She was sweet and eager to work, but the more I ride TBs the more I wonder if they are just not the right breed for me.
 
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