Does this seem like a good first horse?

okay i've seen this horse twice, and hes really sweet. he has the best ground manners ever, and he lifts up his feet when you ask. hes an ex race horse (a throughbred) and he responds well to leg cues he has a bumpy trot that i can get used too but he has a really nice canter .. its really smooth but the farrier put on one shoe a while ago and it was two sizes to big for it and crooked so he has a little problem where his right hind leg hits his left it doesn't bother him but its a downside and every time before i ride i'd have to put on polo wrap and bell boots( i think they're called )the lady said this problem could be fixed but my trainer said it probably couldn't and the lady said he was 11 but my trainer thought he was probably older by a year or two.. which i dont mind but yeah and also he isn't that great of a trail horse.. he can only do flat work and she said when he goes up or down he doesn't like it and shakes his head and stuff so he'd have to be trained to stop that

Does this seem like a good first horse?
if its gona be ur very first horse....i would say no! but im western and im a major beliver in quarter horses. and a horse shakin his head is a sign of discomfort or irritation...i have been in the horse world for many years and the WORST thing u can do is buy a horse that already has a foot or leg issue......be SURE before you buy ANY horse to MAKE sure you have him vet cheked,,,,...and with that leg issue there could be more harm on the inside so make sure you get his legs xrayed. its best to spend more money up front then deal with surgerys or vet bills later on...it will save you a LOT of money in the long run!:)ALSO TAT PRICE IS WAY TO EXPENSIVE FOR THAT HORSE
Reply:NO WAY!!! Race horses have way to many problems my friend has been riding for years and still has trouble with hers you need something you can trust especially since this is your first horse go to www.dreamhorse.com and look for a horse that has been riden by kids and is good on trails. He soinds like he ha health issues so if you are really considering buying him call out a vet you know and trust and ave him do a pre purchase exam
Reply:he seems pretty good but how experienced are you? how long have you been riding? if you have been riding for a long time (like 5 or 6 years) and are a good rider then you should be okay. if you have only been riding for a year or so then no, he is not a good first horse.





the head shaking thing is a problem but your trainer should be able to show you how to fix that. would you be jumping him (sense you mentioned his jumping ability)? if you are then i would think hard about that, can you handle him being new to jumping? will his foot be problematic if he goes to jump higher? the price seems high to me too.....
Reply:well you should get a easy going horse for your first horse so well he sounds pretty good.
Reply:DO NOT LISTEN TO ANY ONE





There sounds like there isnt that much wrong with the horse AND THERE IS DEFENITLY NOTHING WRONG WITH EX RACE HORSES





If the horse shakes his head it might be the bit they use not his attitude use a loose ring snaffle or something





But the only things i would be thinking of is you said it had aproblem with one of its legs from the shoe it had on i would suggest getting a vet/different farrier from the owners to check it out for u


BUT the horse sounds like it has ALOT of needs and requirements if i were u i would think twice and think of just how much effort u are willing to put in to make this horse work





if he only does ground work i would be concerend if the reason is because it hurts the horse to do otherrwise if so then i wouldnt buy





and try to turn up at the owners house one day with out letting them know that was u can be sure they have not drugged the horse





i he is older that 10 then you probably should just keep looking because u cant really teach him anything now with out and argument between u both


Also that price is absolutely rediculous for a horse wit that many faults and the age





sorry if this isnt the answer u want to hear but





maybe you should just keep looking :(


p.s if u live in the sydney area in new south wales then check out a place called "Endeavour Park Equestrian Centre" the lady who owns it is very nice and knows what she is talking abt and definatly has some nice horses up for sale!





xoxo laura
Reply:keep looking. i wouldnt buy him for a first horse.
Reply:I would say that horse isn't the best. If I were you I would deffinatly go with a quarter horse. They are extremely reliable horses. But start with a horse around 15 or so. Make sure it has no health issues or behavorial problems. And also make sure it's eyes aren't blue or white at all. They are known to have depth perception problems.
Reply:really think about if this is the horse you want, because it's going to be your horse, and it's got to be the perfect one. Try a lot of horses, and you'll know when you have the horse you really want. Good luck on your hunt!
Reply:You didn't really say how you intend to use the horse and how much experience you have, or your age, sex and body size. All of these are important. In any event, based on the info you've provided, I strongly recommend against buying this horse.





You can find plenty of horses for the price range you're considering, without the potential problems and "excess baggage" this horse seems to have. I'm particularly concerned about his uneven stride, rough trot, and unsuitability for trail riding. I seriously doubt that his uneven stride is due to a recent horseshoeing problem. It sounds like a conformational defect.





Personally, I wouldn't restrict myself to a single breed, such as quarter horses for example. Judge the individual horse on its merits - disposition, training, conformation, etc. There's nothing wrong with a good grade horse (mixed breed).





If possible, look at 10 or more horses before making your decision. It will be fun and educational. By the time you've done this, you'll have a much better idea what to look for and how much to pay.





To me, appearance is important. I want a horse who is alert, with good head and neck carriage and good general body shape - AS WELL AS a good, even stride in all gaits.





The size of the horse should fit the rider. The current fashion is for big horses, 15+ hands. To me, this is ridiculous. Many of the best horses will be smaller than this (and lower priced, because of the big horse mentality of most buyers). If you insist on a 15+ hand horse, you are eliminating many of your best prospects.





If you are an inexperienced rider, in general I recommend that you stay away from young horses (under 5 or 6 years of age) unless they are very calm and well-trained. Except under special circumstances, I seldom buy a horse over 10-12 years of age. I expect to put a lot of time, money and effort into training my horses and I want a payback over several years.





Also, older horses may be "used up" depending on how they've been ridden and trained, or have too many bad habits with are difficult to unlearn.





I recommend a gelding for your fist horse, although many mares are also suitable. Do not consider a stallion.





Good luck!



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