Thanks for your reply, spacytracy. Posting photos of her feet is a good idea, but it’s too late! I’ve already told the owner to prepare the contract.
I will say that the vet completely trusts the farrier. The vet asked me who would be shoeing her, and when I told him, he said that our farrier is “the best” and that if he thinks he can fix the mare’s feet, then he will. So that is good.
Dewey, I’m so sorry to hear about the mare’s feet. Even if it wasn’t a surprise, that extra cost can’t be sitting well with you. I had someone offer me a pretty nice dressage horse for free … but he’s in his late teens and had arthritis in his front legs. Plus, he had very little jumping experience (crossrails) and I wasn’t sure if the arthritis would prohibit him from jumping at all. I decided to pass because I wasn’t sure if I could cope with those problems.
I really hope the farrier and BO can come up with a reasonable plan to get her feet fixed. And I also hope things go well with the owner … I definitely wouldn’t disclose anything else to him other than you’ll buy her or not. He seems extremely attached to the mare. And coupled with his lack of experience, the whole process is probably doing a number on him anyway.
I wish you much luck. I’m definitely rooting for you. 
[QUOTE=Dewey;6169951]
By this time next week, I should be a horse owner!:eek:[/QUOTE]
Wow. Congrats!
Sorry. All this news came up while I was composing my last message. I kept getting bothered by work and couldn’t quite finish it in time.
Thanks Opus. I could have saved you that extra reply if I had been able to refrain from posting all those panicky messages. I should have waited till all was resolved. But I couldn’t help myself!
And he IS attached to her. His granddaughter rides at the same barn, so I will continue to see him all the time. He expects to see me having big-time success with this mare, hahaha!
So … I rode my lease possibility yesterday. It was 85% walk and 15% trot, but I finally got to meet him and he’s so pretty! And he’s built nicely – not too thick like a WB, but not skinny like a TB. A nice in between. It sounds weird, but he felt perfect in between my legs.
Of course, I was also riding in a Black Country saddle, which is quite possibly the most comfortable thing I have EVER sat my ass on – be it saddles or furniture. So, it could be less horse and more saddle.
The owner was nervous. He hadn’t been rode in over a month, so we lunged him first, which was fine. She made sure I kept my seat deep, used leg pressure to move him, and not get too forward in the saddle. And to watch my legs because he would break into a canter if I hit the wrong button, so to speak. He’s sensitive, but not in a bad way.
I thought he was great. His trot was pretty smooth, and he wasn’t jumpy or even remotely a handful. I want him. Badly. Even though I think the trainer thinks he might be too much for me. She kind of wound me up and then I got on him, and I was thinking, ‘This is like the other guy I ride at my other trainer’s place. This isn’t anything new.’
We’ll talk numbers later this week. I did say I could do a 1/2 lease with lessons for a month and then go to a full lease if we both decide he’s a good fit. I did tell her if someone was interested, who was more experienced that me came along, that she could take it. I know, I know. But he’s a really nice horse with upper level dressage buttons and a jump height that I’ll never get close to.
The kicker is: If he works out over the next couple weeks, I want to buy him. Well, make payments in addition to paying full board/upkeep costs. To be able to do this, I’d have to keep him at the place he is now, which is close to where I work. So, bonus. On the downside, I wouldn’t be able to move him to my other trainer’s place until fall at the earliest. So, if I want to show, I’d have to trailer him.
I also don’t know how to approach everything with the owner. Like I don’t know the proper ratio of groveling ‘I WANT HIM! I NEED HIM! PLEASE!’ and being professional and slightly detached - playing it cool. I don’t want to overwhelm her ‘ME GIVE YOU KIDNEY!’ but I don’t want to be so detached that she thinks I don’t like him enough, or that I have no emotional investment.
Sorry y’all. My head’s all over the place. It’s like having a Yugo budget while having someone dangle a similar priced Audi in front of your eyes.
[QUOTE=Dewey;6170017]
Thanks Opus. I could have saved you that extra reply if I had been able to refrain from posting all those panicky messages. I should have waited till all was resolved. But I couldn’t help myself![/QUOTE]
I think I know how you feel. Or partially feel. My head’s all over the place about this lease and the only thing that comes through loud and clear is ‘I want him!’
I have a feeling I’ll be making my own share of panicky posts soon enough. :yes:
Okay Opus and Dewey. You guys are coming through loud and clear. I have purchased 5 horses and leased one in the past 6 years. Here’s my best advice…SLOW DOWN!!! Take a deep breath, sleep on it, whatever cliche you want. You need to do all this stuff 90% with your head and about 10% wtf! I made a lot of mistakes and have learned that you need to not rush these decisions. If they are rushing you, take a giant step back and breathe. Yes you can afford to buy or lease the horse. It’s keeping the horse that costs the money. And they get sick and injured when you least expect it (like a week before Christmas when your VISA is maxxed out). And when they are yours you are even more emotionally invested and trust me the decisions don’t get easier. The time to make cool level-headed decisions is now. Buying a horse you “love” but have only ridden once is not cool and level-headed. Buying a horse you “love” but can’t afford to feed and shoe is also not cool and level-headed. I’m not trying to be the Grinch, just trying to save you from some of the heartache I’ve lived and learned from.
Listen to your experts, crunch your numbers, including unexpected vet bills for emergency weekend vet calls for stitches, take a deep breath and use your head as well as your heart. No rash decisions in the horse buying world. And most importantly listen to that quiet inside voice in the back of your head. I wish I had.
Keep us posted, checking in regularly for updates!
It’s freezing rain up here, absolutely awful, no turnout, grumpy horses, grumpier riders, and I’m the worst
As right as Opus is - I am guilty of riding once and buying. However, my story, and I am sticking to it, is that I had known this horse for at least 4 years. I know the trainer (my b/o) so I know how he was brought along. I know the ladies that bought him off the track, I know the kid that bought him when she thought she wanted to do hunters. Like I said, I know Opus is right, but… (not that I am trying to enable or anything).
In the meantime, my barn has a new baby. My trainer bred her TB stallion to her Holsteiner mare. At less than 24 hours old, the filly with the mile long legs sticks at 10.2 and has tons of personality. Scratch me there, and there, oh yes there too. Totally a cutie pie.
[QUOTE=HazelG;6170083]
The time to make cool level-headed decisions is now. Buying a horse you “love” but have only ridden once is not cool and level-headed.[/QUOTE]
Although to be fair, I said I’d see how it went over the next few weeks and then I’d see about buying him. Just sayin’. 
I can’t speak for Dewey, but it seems like she’s proceeded ahead fairly cautiously. Me on the other hand, I’m a basket of nerves and I’m excited and jittery and nervous. I try to leave the dry stuff for people who have no clue, and leave the detailed, frenzied accounts for those who know what I’m babbling about.
Sorry to hear about your weather though. I hope it clears up soon enough!
Good luck to Dewey and Opus and anyone who is in the process of acquiring a horse! I hope it works out for you.
Dewey, Opus, how exciting and nerve-wracking! Your ups and downs definitely make me think twice about acquiring a horse of my own right now. It’s a big leap! I hope it works out for you both… remember, it’s a thrilling venture, but not worth a major headache. Some things are meant to be, and some aren’t.
Speaking of leaps…leap day…
Here’s me and Dash in a freeze frame of one of the videos of us doing courses today. First day back in the saddle for 2 weeks for me, so my lower leg is really weak. I’m going to also work on giving a bigger release next time. Any critiques? I hope to post a full video soon! Dash is coming along SO well and we hope to do a show soon She’s a cutie! I think she would make a perfect pre-children’s horse. She’s bombproof and she can easily do 2’6" - 3’.
Opus that’s true you did say that. I re-read my post and it sounded less than supportive so I’m sorry. And yes I agree Dewey has done her due diligence. Just some of the posts sound so frantic, I just don’t want anybody to feel like they are being rushed into making decisions. I’m just hoping to share some of my emotional errors so you can add that to your decision-making process. I know you are all adults and will make the best decisions for yourselves. I really do have all my fingers and toes crossed that everything works out the best way for everybody. And I’m sorry if I sound like I’m raining on anyone’s parade, or being judgmental, it’s really not my way.
So glad things are going well for you and Dash, Pancakes
[QUOTE=HazelG;6170306]
Just some of the posts sound so frantic, I just don’t want anybody to feel like they are being rushed into making decisions.[/QUOTE]
No worries.
I’m really not being rushed. I’ve had a good 4 weeks to mull everything over – especially the money part. It was actually just getting on him that was taking forty forevers, due to the weather. Seriously – we had to reschedule 7 or 8 times over the course of 3 weeks.
Anyway, I’ll try to tone it down. I have Trainer No. 1, Trainer No. 2 and CoTH to talk to. That’s pretty much it, so sometimes I can’t help myself.
Opus1 and Dewey… congrats and the best of luck!!
You guys look great Pancakes!!
Jaslyn1701- I think we need a picture of that baby!
Happy Riding
Shel
Opus, he sounds divine. So let me get this straight: you get to half-lease him for a month as a trial period? Then full lease with option to buy? Sounds like the perfect set-up. You’ll probably know within a month if this is the right horse for you or not.
(Just make sure that he has good feet! :lol::lol::lol:)
Hazel, I really appreciate your post. You have outlined all the reasons why I did not want to buy a horse at this time in my life. The only reason I am buying her is that I adore her, and I don’t want to lose her.
I think I can keep my head above water, but I don’t have a lot of extra just now for emergencies, and the fact is, though I have tried to budget carefully, no one can really know how everything will play out ahead of time. I have been trying to think of things I can give up to save money so I can have an emergency fund or even insure her. Believe me, I have seen enough heartache at the barn over the past ten years to give anyone pause. One woman I know (actually, she’s a bit older than I am) paid for three colic surgeries on her lovely young gelding, and then he died anyway. Another woman’s mare died of an allergic reaction after a routine shot. Our barn owner bred her favorite mare to a lovely warmblood, and the gorgeous yearling filly died of sudden colic. And the stories go on.
On the plus side, the B/O, whose experience and friendship I trust implicitly, is trying hard to help make this work by giving me a very good deal on board. She is doing this because she likes me and likes the mare. I am going to go ahead with this; I’m going to do my best to be careful, knowing that there are no guarantees. Call this a cautious leap of faith.
Pancakes, the picture is lovely! I won’t presume to offer a critique. You seem to know what you want to work on anyway. The two of you look great together, and you both look as if you are enjoying yourselves!
Thanks to all for your good wishes. I really appreciate them!
Sorry I have been going on and on. I am really wired! The owner is bringing the contract to the barn tomorrow, so I will finally stop jabbering about it!
Dewey and Opus - congrats! I think it was about a month between me finding the ad for my horse and his purchase. I definitely recognize the nerves in your posts! I think my friends heard a lot from me when I was going through the purchase process last June! The slow-down-breathe advice from HazelG is perfect and wise. Best decisions should be made with a clear head. Oh, and Hazel - I was DEFINITELY there with the “emergency right before Christmas” fun. Got to send my OTTB to Rood and Riddle for emergency medical colic in the middle of December. You can’t plan for every little thing, but do what you can to think and set aside for those “unexpected times.”
Dewey, thanks for your third-last post, and Dreamin thanks for yours. I’ve been feeling like I spoke out of turn. Dewey it sounds like you have all the right things in place and that you will be okay. Let us all know when the contract is signed, congratulations.
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