Finding the right horse...

After riding for several years, I've decided that it's time to get serious and find a horse to call my own. Finding my first horse is proving to be challenging. I need a seasoned horse that I can handle. I admit that I'm not considered an "advanced" rider yet, and don't want a horse that will prove to be to much for me. Also, I absolutely love jumping, and I need a horse young enough to be able to safely jump. The last thing I would want is to hurt a horses legs. I'm currently riding at Walnut Creek Stables and am learning and showing all aspects of eventing. Any tips on finding the right horse? Love to hear how you found yours!

Thanks, Elizabeth.

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Comment by Elizabeth on January 28, 2010 at 5:18pm: Wow, there's so much useful information here! Thanks everyone. :)

Comment by Jennifer Lamm on January 26, 2010 at 8:54pm: Hello, this turned a little ugly so I am not going to read the whole thing.... good luck finding your horse... any horse can be your own if you work at having a relationship... I have 2 completely opposite horses... I did have my trainer find my horses for me, and I did do the joining up with both of them, and still do to this day.....

Comment by Tiffany on January 26, 2010 at 2:54am: This is what I dislike about horse websites. Horse-people can actually be very, very arrogant sometimes. Especially the textbook, closed-minded ones.

Elizabeth, don't be afraid to try something new. Although looking for a horse for your riding level is appropriate and much encouraged, I highly recommend you try to find at least ONE personality trait in the horse that appeals to you. I rode a horse meant for my riding level once but I couldn't find one thing I liked about his personality and thus, catching him, grooming him and riding him was no fun at all. I just barely enjoyed my lessons. I told my coach this and she put me on a new horse that I greatly appreciated being with. Wouldn't you know it that I was happy. I would even show up an hour earlier then the designated time just because I wanted to stand there and groom him the entire time.

But like Slc2 said, don't try finding your dream horse just yet. But do look for something enjoyable in the horse. If you happen upon your dream horse, congrats then hehe. =)

Ps. I really recommend the tarp exercise. You'd be surprised what kind of unpredicted personality traits arise. Also, try tying the horse to a post or walk the horse near odd objects. It's best to make sure that the person selling you the horse, isn't trying to cover up some kind of vice the horse might have. Someone sold a horse to my coach once but didn't saddle it up when it was tied to the wall. When she brought it back to the farm, any time you tied the horse to the wall it would pull back instantly and break a halter. Everytime. He broke his leg when someone tied it with a real knot. -__- We just learned to saddle him without tying to the wall.

ANYWAY! Best of luck! =) Try new things!

Comment by Tiffany on January 24, 2010 at 2:04pm: Hello Elizabeth! ^^

Unfortunately, my story is too long to tell how I met my horse but I'll list some things that I like to do when searching for a horse.
First thing I like to do is something called Join-up by Monty Roberts. I like to do this to new horses I've just met because it gives me a general understanding on how interested and curious the horse is as well as how respondent. I get to see their mind-gears turning as they contemplate the scenario.

Next thing I like to do is throw in an Aerobic ball into a round pen with the horse. I do this just for entertainment purposes. I like to see horses play. Haha. ^^

Another thing I do is bring in a giant blue tarp. One thing I test for is bravery and confidence. Especially in jumpers. The people who trained the horse might not have trained the horse to accept a tarp but that's ok. I use this opportunity to train the horse myself by encouraging it to walk over the tarp. I also gauge spook-level. Some horses spook to a dangerous level. I like to see how the horse deals with something new and how willing they are to accept it. The more willing, the more trainable the horse. Also, if they accept the tarp, generally, it's a giant confidence boost. The more things you expose the horse to, the less afraid they are of the jump.

Actually, all of these are just personal experiments. I have a keen eye for personality and I can tell when it changes for the better in a horse. I like to have a playful horse because when I have off days and don't feel like riding, then I just throw the horse into a pen and throw a giant ball at it while it bounds around. Or maybe I like to do groundwork sometimes or some desensitizing.

Although conformation and whatnot is important, I think the temperament and personality is right up there as well. Goodluck in your search. ^^