[HorseRidinCutie4224]

Hey guys. As most of you know I am selling my horse soon, when his training is done. I am going to be getting a new horse, most likely a saddlebred. I am just wondering how you guys knew when you'd found the 'right' horse. Since I am selling mine, we oviously didnt click right. There is one horse I like, he is the horse I am taking lessons on. He is only five, but really calm and easy to ride for his age. He has his moments under saddle, but after he is warmed up and gets relaxed he is great. He is a super friendly horse. He isnt exactly for sale, but the 'philosophy' at that barn and most of the boarders is that if you give the right price, any horse is for sale. My dad is willing to pay up to 10,000, and my trainer saids thats a good offer for him. After I sell joe my dad said we could offer her, but I dont want to make the same mistake of getting the wrong horse again. How do I know if I should get him, or keep looking for another horse? Thanks!

[WR Fancy Dancer]

Well, my family has a history of buying the horse we fall off of right away...

Joking! The first time my mom rode her standardbred gelding jake, he threw her, and 5 min later she was writing out a check for him,
The 2nd time I rode Fancy, she threw me into a fence, and I bought her a few months later. The Fay family method of choosing horses continues through the generations...(lol)

Seriosly: I like to ride the horse for a while, get to know their real personality (not the fake layer they put on for new riders, either to test them or figure out how to read them) and if I like the horse after a month or so, I will consider purchasing them. I very rarilly buy a horse right off the bat, I believe in getting to know the horse first, to not make the mistake your trying to avoid.
The horse your describing sounds great for you. If he is resonably calm, enjoyable to ride/work with, and you just plain like his/his attitude, then I say go for it! If when Joe is sold you still are having a good time with this horse, than make an offer. Sounds like the making of a good relationship to me!

[HorseRidinCutie4224]

Thanks for the advice fancy! With joe, I only rode him once and bought him. I wont make that mistake again! I am not saying joe is a bad horse, he has taught me more than any other horse probably will, I will never ever forget him. Its just we didnt click, and he needs a more experienced rider. The horse i like, he barn name is "Sparky". I will be getting to know him, I ride him at lessons once, sometimes twice a week, and I will keep doing that until joe is sold! Sparky is a great horse, when I lose my balance (I am just learning to ride saddleseat, its HARD), he just stops and lets me try again. He doesnt gait much really, just has a more expressive trot, (he doesnt have shoes), so he could do saddleseat if we put pads on him, or he could also do country english pleasure, or hunt, or even western for fun. Up till now I really like him. The only thing that I worry about a little bit is that he is so young, but he is amazing, you wouldnt believe how young he was compared to some of those other saddlebreds! Thanks I would really apreciate any more advice!
Oh yeah, one more thing. Sparky likes to grab on to people's clothes, his bridle, his blanket, anything in his sight. He doesnt bite, and he doesnt do it to be mean, he is just playing. How do I discourage him from doing this?
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[HorseCraze120]

I would keep your options open. If you seem to *click* with him then its usualy right. Bascially you want to be able to have connections with him meaning get along with him under saddle and on the ground. He seems like a sweetheart.

It took me about 8 months to find Sarge, then i bought rules like 2 months later..then i traded Sarge for Sebastian. You'll *know* the right horse feeling.

GOOD LUCK

[WR Fancy Dancer]

The whole grabbing things to be playful sounds like my bro's horse, Caramba. He'll grab anything, even your hand (he grabed mine once while I wasn't paying attention, it was in water so I didn't notice for like a minute, but he didn't bite, just held it, the weirdo) anyway, we give him a tap on the mouth when he does it, and he has plenty of things to play with in his paddock. (examples:sticks, his feed bucket, the hose when it's in there, he will play with anything, the goofball!)
Anyway, that's what we do with Caramba, and it does work, he only does it when he's really bored now. (Like in halter classes, lol )
Good luck with Sparkie, hope you two click!

Oh yea, I agree, saddleseat does deffinitly take some getting used to!

[HorseRidinCutie4224]

Thanks for your adivice, I will try that!

[gummiponys]

Well, for Mickey, I had tried six other types of horses: too beginnerish, sluggish, stubborn, NOT a born jumper.
I was going to try out Mickey, I had showed my mom this ONE WEBSITE that I had been showing her for a year or so. She was never interested in it, as we weren't looking for a horse. So I showed my mom it again, and she phoned the place. We were invited out there at oh..... say 9:00pm pitch black. We got there in an hour and a half, and I the moment I sat on him, he was jiggling and prancing around like a stallion. lol. The moment I trotted, he wanted to go faster faster and faster, I knew i LOVED him. Key: Keep your specific ideas(jumper, or dressage...etc. thats calm, or spirited....etc. the horses personalities.) of the 'dream horse' and 'wait' for the horse. Dont jump at any other horse that really doesnt suit you.
Like my instructer liked the one horse she found for me. I HATED him. I KNEW I was not getting along with him and I couldnt list ONE advantage I liked about the horse.