So, I went out on a trail ride with the giant gelding, aka the Moose (cause he's so tall and leggy with antler ears!). I really have mixed feelings about the experience...I must admit, he was spookier than I expected he would be. Now, some excuses for him were that he was with another horse that was pretty spooky and he was wearing a fly mask due to the evil deer flies. You know, he wasn't nervous or tense at all about the situation...he was very relaxed, actually. He just happened to do a few of those giant spook in place moves over the deer that kept friggin popping up in front of us - and the tiny rabbit - and then he moved onto one big spook and pivot over something silly I never even saw. Squirrel, maybe? I know for most people his minor spooking wouldn't be a big deal...unfortunately, spooking is something that really gets to me. In order for me enjoy riding, I have to have full trust that my horse isn't gonna spook at everything. I've had too many falls from spooky horses. Its just something I dislike immensely.
On one hand, he's such a neat horse and really fun to ride. On the other hand, he's so fun to ride because he's really BIG and powerful, so unfortunately, anything he does unexpectedly can quickly turn into a disaster. We trotted and cantered around a big cross country field and he was really good...nice and adjustable...but, he stumbled at the canter once and got the horse sillies and tossed his head around for a few seconds. Now, on Hobbes, this would have been no big deal, but on this horse, since he's just so big and strong, I had a moment where I was certain I was gonna eat the dirt. We worked through it, I picked my stirrup back up and took a deep breath and we carried on. The horse sillies don't bother me at all, its more my lack of ability to easily ride through them on him.
On the good side, his owner had me take him over some maiden CC jumps (including a dreaded ditch) and he was a superstar...very fun. I bet he would be awesome to start out my eventing career with (if I ever really want to).
Sooo...after being all long-winded, now I'm just confused. Because he's at the very top of my price range, I'm a little more resistant to just overlook little things that aren't perfect. I don't think he's overpriced or anything, I think he is a really nice horse and I don't think the opportunity to have such a nice horse that you can afford comes along that often. My issue is more that something about him makes me nervous...probably that he's just so big and powerful. I don't know if I'm a confident enough rider to deal with silly little things that would be NO BIG DEAL on any other horse. Argh.
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Ugh, they always end up imperfect somehow. Of course, no horse will be perfect so how to decide which faults are ones to overlook or not.
I guess it depends on how often you want to go on trail rides. I think it's probably going to be hard to find a horse who's a super-star inside and outside of the ring, so figure out which you want to spend more time doing. Also, how often is he taken out on the trails and allowed to gallop in the field? If he only does it once or twice you can cut him more slack for looking at stuff than if he goes out two or three times a month.
That stinks.
Would they allow you to lease him for a month? Say you ride him 2-3 times a week and after a month you like him? Buy him. If not, then you are only out the cost of the lease and not tons of money.
I would want to make sure that you were nervous b/c he was big and strong not because there was something NQR. You can get used to big and strong. ;)
My instructor's advice, which I think is good:
"Ok - this is really tough. Good news - as you get used to a horse, moves that left you in space become predictable and easy to stay with. Lily no longer catches me by surprise, and nothing she does seems to unseat me now. I actually sort of enjoy when she spooks because it reminds me I still have a good seat.
Bad news - that kind of spookiness can become worse if the rider begins dreading it and anticipating it. Deer popping out are enough to send any horse into a spook, but it can be exaggerated if the rider is not confident.
My advise would be to ask to come back several times. Either he will seem to "shrink" and you will become comfortable with his way of going, or he will remain a stranger and you will move on. He sounds too nice to just write off, but never buy a horse that you aren't totally confident on on the chance that you will adjust. Those are the horses that trainers love - they get to ride them a lot while the owner never really bonds."
I don't want to annoy the crap out of the owner...but she seems to understand that its important to me to keep trying the horse and making sure we're a good match.
Andrea: He was an event horse...he gets out and about pretty regularly. He's only 7, though, so there's still some silliness in him!
Alex: No trial/lease at my barn. Already asked. I could do a lease at her trainers barn, but I can't afford it and its 2 hours away.
Sounds like your trainer has a good plan and is doing a proper job of making sure you're comfortable with the horse. I have a friend who's trainer encouraged her to buy this horse who's not suitable for what she wants (yet) and I can't help but wonder how much of that was the trainer wanting to keep the business of doing training rides 2-3x per week.
So, good luck with the Moose.
I think that he totally had an excuse for spooking. If the other horse was spooking, and "Moose" had a flymask on, he couldnt see as well to tell that everything was fine.
And the thing about him throwing his head after a stumble... my horse gets pissed when he stumbles. Its like he is mad he messed up.
You were concerned about jumping a horse you didnt know well, and you jumped x-c jumps fine with him. That says ALOT!!
I wouldnt let this one go.
ok, I just re-read that he is only 7. I personally think he is worth buying. If I were still looking, Id buy him if you didnt.
And just think, he spooked in place, thats the best kind. My 20 y/o takes off at a run.
I'm not at ALL concerned about the head tossing. I think he's perfectly normal to do it...I'm just saying I don't know how strong of a rider I am to stay on!!
I'm not ruling him out or anything; I'm just going to go back and ride him some more to see how I feel. I had just been totally prepared to make an offer if he was super...now I'm just going to take it a little slower.
The saga is not over yet!
Even though I'm not blogging here at this point, I'm still enjoying everyone's rides!
I had to pipe in on this one and say that when I got Keil Bay, he was HUGE to me. I had mostly ridden 15h QH types, and Keil is 16.2 and as broad as the side of a barn. Plus everything he did just seemed BIG.
It took me a good solid year to really get comfortable with his big trot. He accommodated for me and got sluggy until I was ready to build, and now we're able to really go. It took another year to get comfortable with his canter!
Some of this was my own remedial work after so many years not riding, but a lot of it was truly that he is a big horse with the possibility of big movement. (I say possibility b/c he's not a hot, forward horse by nature - and that is a good thing for my level.. :)
He did a couple of big spooks right after I bought him that proved to me I could stay on. That was the turning point both for the trot work AND the canter work. His spooks are very elegant and I didn't lose stirrups - and that was my biggest fear at the time.
The other thing in my case was that I totally fell in love with him the first ride. Not just with the idea of riding him, but with HIM. I felt an instant bond and it has carried us through.
Now when I get on the QH (who is pretty big and still growing at 15.3) I feel like I'm riding a midget! :)
It sounds like a great plan to do more rides and see how they go. Good luck!
And good work, everyone. I'm staying inspired and reading along!
I know just how you feel...especially after being with Pro for awhile, I've become a wimp with big horses misbehaving. Pro's spazzes and tantrums don't really bother me (he's 14.3!!!) but other horses do. :( Nothing to feel bad about!!!!
I can't offer any definitive advice, but I really like that you have a hugely supportive trainer who's going to help you no matter what horse you buy. Trust her opinion!
Best of luck in making your decision!
Hmmm...
It probably did affect him being with another horse that was spooky. At least he spooked in place. It sounds like, to me, that you would be able to adjust to him and his spooks would not leave you in space, if they even continued. Deer can be spooky, especially when riding with another horse that is spooking and wearing a fly mask that might impair his vision/senses some.
It is good that he was nice and adjustable in the field, and that he was fun and you were comfortable jumping him! I think you would get used to each other and not have an issue. JMO based upon what I am reading between the lines...
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