Hey everyone! I'm turning 16 soon, and my parents have been promising me for years that I will have my own horse by the time I'm 16. Much to my surprise, it's seeming like they might be able to make good on this promise! Today we went and checked out a facility in our area. It's a thoroughbred rescue, basically. The owner was super friendly and gave us a tour of both of the barns and told us all about all of the horses. For all of the horses she offers unlimited lessons for the first 30 days that you own the horse. She really wants her horses to be a good match for their riders.
I'll get right to the good stuff! :]
Harp- TB, 16.1hh, 5 years old. He has been on stall rest for a few months because he had an ankle injury, so he's got basically no muscle right now. She turned him out for us and he seems curious, smart, but a bit skiddish. I can understand why, however. He's been in a stall for months and not exposed to anything! I don't know if he'd be the best first horse choice, however. He has more of a quarter horse build and the owner thinks he'd do great with any sort of discipline, really. She thinks he'd be great for dressage because he's got awesome movement. She hasn't started riding him, however. :/ $500
Harp - a set on Flickr
(sorry, they only have one horrible picture of him.)
Might Brave- This is the horse that she seems to like the best for me. He's 4 years old, started over fences, and recommended for a beginner. She said he's a little pokey, but I honestly like that better than a horse that wants to run constantly. He has never been on the track, but was owned by someone who's husband wanted him to be a steeplechaser. But the wife insisted that he just didn't want to run. He's the most expensive at $3500, though. I don't really mind this. OH! One problem, he cribs. In the stall, at least. The owner says that when he was out in the pasture he didn't crib. I'm going to have to keep the horse on pasture board, anyways.
pics with kodak 203 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
(he is being ridden by their 13 year old daughter)
La Decadence- 2 year old TB filly. Never raced, 16.1 hands and her brother on site was HUGE, so I think she's going to mature to be 17+ The only thing I didn't like about this filly is how young she is. She had a super cute personality and seems very curious and intelligent. The owner claims she is great on the trail, super fun to ride, and has potential for eventing, H/J, dressage, polo, etc. I'd wait at least a year to even start thinking of introducing her to fences. She's $1500
107_2704 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
A little bit about me: I took a year of saddleseat lessons about 3 years ago, but stopped saddleseat after showing twice and not really enjoying the disapline anymore. I took a few lessons at various riding places. I jumped a few times and really loved it! But then I found my friend who owned 2 OTTB's, and I rode several times a week with her for about 5 months. I got at least as good as I was when I rode once a week in lessons. Now I haven't ridden in 8 months. I fell about a year ago, and so my confidence isn't rock solid. I'm interested in jumping, trail riding, and maybe trying some ranch sorting somewhere down the road. I'm 5'10", so I need a horse that is tall. I'm really interested in natural horsemanship methods and I learned a lot from my friend on how to get a horse to respect your space and trust you, as well as desensitizing horses to various objects. I'd say I'm an intermediate rider? But I'm definitely going to take a few weeks of lessons(hopefully on the horse I am interested in), and then purchase a horse.
If you guys could just give me your opinions on these horses, that'd be great! I'd love some input on what you think of their conformation, too. :]
I'll get right to the good stuff! :]
Harp- TB, 16.1hh, 5 years old. He has been on stall rest for a few months because he had an ankle injury, so he's got basically no muscle right now. She turned him out for us and he seems curious, smart, but a bit skiddish. I can understand why, however. He's been in a stall for months and not exposed to anything! I don't know if he'd be the best first horse choice, however. He has more of a quarter horse build and the owner thinks he'd do great with any sort of discipline, really. She thinks he'd be great for dressage because he's got awesome movement. She hasn't started riding him, however. :/ $500
Harp - a set on Flickr
(sorry, they only have one horrible picture of him.)
Might Brave- This is the horse that she seems to like the best for me. He's 4 years old, started over fences, and recommended for a beginner. She said he's a little pokey, but I honestly like that better than a horse that wants to run constantly. He has never been on the track, but was owned by someone who's husband wanted him to be a steeplechaser. But the wife insisted that he just didn't want to run. He's the most expensive at $3500, though. I don't really mind this. OH! One problem, he cribs. In the stall, at least. The owner says that when he was out in the pasture he didn't crib. I'm going to have to keep the horse on pasture board, anyways.
pics with kodak 203 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
La Decadence- 2 year old TB filly. Never raced, 16.1 hands and her brother on site was HUGE, so I think she's going to mature to be 17+ The only thing I didn't like about this filly is how young she is. She had a super cute personality and seems very curious and intelligent. The owner claims she is great on the trail, super fun to ride, and has potential for eventing, H/J, dressage, polo, etc. I'd wait at least a year to even start thinking of introducing her to fences. She's $1500
107_2704 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
A little bit about me: I took a year of saddleseat lessons about 3 years ago, but stopped saddleseat after showing twice and not really enjoying the disapline anymore. I took a few lessons at various riding places. I jumped a few times and really loved it! But then I found my friend who owned 2 OTTB's, and I rode several times a week with her for about 5 months. I got at least as good as I was when I rode once a week in lessons. Now I haven't ridden in 8 months. I fell about a year ago, and so my confidence isn't rock solid. I'm interested in jumping, trail riding, and maybe trying some ranch sorting somewhere down the road. I'm 5'10", so I need a horse that is tall. I'm really interested in natural horsemanship methods and I learned a lot from my friend on how to get a horse to respect your space and trust you, as well as desensitizing horses to various objects. I'd say I'm an intermediate rider? But I'm definitely going to take a few weeks of lessons(hopefully on the horse I am interested in), and then purchase a horse.
If you guys could just give me your opinions on these horses, that'd be great! I'd love some input on what you think of their conformation, too. :]