[HorseBliss]

i know that feeling. there are these 2 girls at my barn who each have green horses. the girls are green as well. the parents know nothing, and don't even seem interested, so attempt to be. but whatever. the girls have a trainer working with them and things are working out for them now. but for a couple weeks it was a total disaster. we all said the 2 girls needed A 20 yr old school master.

[eventer77]

Is there anyone that this girl respects who can talk to her? It sounds like if she buys this horse that it will just be heartbreak. My parents bought me my horse when I was 13 and we searched for about 5 months. Funny thing is that he's the first horse I looked at... Anyways, why don't you suggest that they look at some other horses if that doesn't upset the girl too much.

[eventer77]

I know I just posted something but I just got an idea. Why don't you suggest, or have someone else suggest, a full lease. This way the girl feels like she owns the horse but there is no long term commitment if it doesn't work out.

[tbtrainer]

I watched a friend of my sister buy an unsound horse... I offerred my assistance to the mother when they were still looking, but was turned down... they had a "friend" to help... I knew this lady was a little shady, and looking for commisions. So I just kept my mouth shut.

Saw them at their first show with new horse... Mom couldnt figure out why horse was refusing, stumbling around ring, etc... And asked me to look over the horse. The horse was lame... huge ankle that know one had noticed? The "friend" aka shady lady had told the mother that a vet check was not neccasary... horse was retired... lesson learned.

[SUNKIST090888]

A younger rider at the barn where I ride just got her first pony...a 13.2 paint mare with a desire to run and no desire to brake, and throws "temper tantrums" that put two year olds to shame. Before the girl was riding an 11.2 been there/done that pony who knew when a beginner was on his back and gave them a fun, safe ride every time. Now, the girl isn't necessarily a beginner, she's just extremely novice. She started riding when she was 5 and I believe she's 9 now; however she's extremely short and very overweight for her age, and that combination throws her balance completely off. She was up to cantering and jumping small X's on her own with the schooling pony...but since she's had this new pony she's only been allowed to trot with someone running beside her and the few times she's tried a "fast trot" on her, the pony has taken off cantering and the girl has no control over her--resulting in her falling off every time. The barn manager/riding instructor was working with her parents to find the perfect BROKE pony for the girl, but the parents got impatient and wanted the girl to have a pony for Christmas and wanted to get her exactly what she wanted: a black and white paint. So they rushed and bought their daughter a pony that she can't even ride without someone walking beside her the entire time.

Another client of my instructor signed his three daughters up for riding lessons, and after two lessons went out and bought two horses and a pony. The first horse was a Tennessee Walker who couldn't be caught. It took 7 people and 5 hours to catch her the first three times they tried (she's catchable and ridable now though). The horse was at our barn for training for one month. The horse was actually for the dad, who'd never been on a horse in his life and thought he wanted to be a cowboy and have a horse to just ride around their farm all day long. She's decent now, as far as her being skittish and him being an extreme beginner/novice goes. The second horse was broke when they bought her, however she was also pregnant. The people they bought her from told them she was due in October. She had her foal mid-August after only having been off grass for one month, and now the little filly is extremely small/premature looking. Also, these people have no idea what having a baby involves...and even went as far as suggesting (seriously) that the baby would be the "perfect size for our two year old to ride." And finally...the pony they bought. They were told this pony was "dead broke" and extremely child safe. She's a three year old Arab/Hackney who broke out of the crossties when they tried to get her weight. She was in training with my instructor for three months and was finally to the point of being walk/trot/cantered by not only my instructor but also some advanced riders at the barn. The family decided to pull the horse out of training (against the suggestions of my trainer) and because they'd seen a 12 year old girl (who's been riding for 8 years) riding the pony, they decided that it'd be safe to let their 10 year old (who's been riding for 5 months) ride her. The girl broke her arm, and now the pony is right back to where she was before my instructor started working with her. They wasted 3 months of training because of their own stupidity and unwillingness to listen to advice, along with injuring one of their children.

As far as this girl goes, have you tried suggesting to the parents all the possibilities of what buying the wrong horse could happen? If the parents are willing to give in to their daughter's "this horse or no horse" attitude, then maybe they should take her up on the "no horse" offer. How old is the girl anyway? If she is so dead set on that one horse, and refuses to look at any other horse, then I'm willing to bet that if her parents refuse to buy her Chewy, after awhile she'll come around and be willing to look at other horses. If she doesn't, then at least her parents didn't waste their money or risk injuring their daughter. Also, if the horse has all the faults you mentioned, why are the manager and instructor letting the girl ride the horse in the first place?

[EQRider]

Originally Posted by Amber.Ali

My mom bought me a random horse when I was 12 and she was a little nutty - didn't have much breaks, liked to rear a little, stuff like that. I took lessons and such on her for the first year, and from there we just putzed around. I had her till she was 22. I believe that the reason I ride how I do today is because I learned a lot from her. As long as the situation is controlled I dont see it as an issue. Just an opinion tho..

I agree!! My silly parents bought me this welsh/appy cross that knew how to follow the trail horse in front of her, wasn't registered and didn't lope. She taught me how to fall off gracefully, duck under low branches, always steer around tree's (OW!), never leave gates open and be positivly sure that the grain room door is locked. I really lucked out with her, the more I learned, the more I taught her and now she rides walk trot canter, drives a cart in the summer and a sleigh in the winter and trail rides like a lady. I wouldn't trade her for all the money in the world, but then again I think I was lucky. I know a lot of times the above problem doesn't work, especially if its a health/soundness issue I' really try and discourage her, maybe even suggest to keep looking around.

[horsefreak10241]

MY parents had horses when they were little but they didnt really know that much, so i am making them read Horses ecause it is the perfect book to help them!

[E90Style]

My Mom (who is terrified of horses) bought me my first horse in 2000, I was very green when it came to horses. 8 years later and 3 more horses later, I'm a Grand Champion Rider and my horses are earning points with AQHA, my Mom is still terrified of them lol.

[Reitpferde]

I think you should care...and you did. I have seen young girls getting young horses from the non-horsey parents, because they thought: How wonderful!! My daughter and the little horse can grow up together!!! Drove me crazy. Unfortunately, both times I saw that - the horse was already bought.

[angie j]

Is this horse a match for her, in the saddle? And how often will she be using it?
There's a good possibility that she willl grow with it for a year, out grow it as a beginner horse, and by then be ready to move on to a more suitable horse. If she can't trail ride it, or ride very frequently, the physical issues might not be so bad..( a lessons pony would get more riding than a stabled on, I pressume).

Good luck, and keep educating her.. for the next one... Count on it, she'll want a next one... didn't we all?)

Angie J