She looks like an endurance horse already! Keep us posted.
I went and rode her again and sadly I am going to pass. The owner said she’s approximately 6 but these are her teeth. I sent the photo to my vet and he’s guessing she’s more like 15. I am not scared off by an older horse but not telling the truth is a red flag. There are some arabs at there doing long distance rallys in their 20s. I also think I am too big for her. We measured her and she is slightly under 14.1. She weighs around 740lbs approximately and I’m 5’7 and weigh 155lbs. My tack is an extra 15lbs. I’m probably better off looking at arab crosses.
Oh also the owner sent me different photos of her teeth. Teeth that belonged to a much younger horse… So another red flag.
That’s a shame. Good luck on your continued search!
One of the best bits of advice I got from COTH was vet the seller, rather than (or in addition to) the horse. Once you catch them in a deliberate lie like sending wrong teeth photos you can’t trust anything they say.
I love me a wise fit middle aged mare, but one that’s green, unfit, and of absolutely unknown provenance is too big a risk for what you want.
I don’t understand the lie. Especially in a small country like Costa Rica. He added me as a friend on FB and knows a lot of people I know. How he thought he would get away with it and everything would be ok?
I too love an older horse, but she is really skittish and needs to decompress and see humans aren’t too bad. 18 years of being treated harshly like that seems hard to break.
We also arrived 20 minutes early just as he started lunging her and he stopped immediately. She wasn’t as cooperative today because she wasn’t lunged to death but pretty impressive this little old mare has so much energy.
Now he is trying to lower the price. If he wants to sell her for around auction price I’d buy her… So then I could have two semi retired horses. I have 5 acres though that’s not mowing itself.
Well, you are talking to a bunch of enablers, so may I just slither in with the thought that 18 is not old, and everything my totally non-expert eye sees is just horse with no muscle/fitness/consistent good education. You could fix all that up in no time! And, did you see how well she handled the motorbike going by? There is a fine brain in there.
(Fortunately for my bank account, she is definitely too small for me!)
Edited to add: I think I have the same riding shirt that you are wearing, OP. And I am of the belief that Arab mares are higher life form. We have the same shirt, I like Arab mares… you should get her.
Honestly I keep thinking of her. I know she has potential. Her age doesn’t scare me off. I just think I am too big for her too. She’s a hair under 14.1, weights approx 740 lbs and I’m 5’7 and 155lbs (on a good day .) Maybe that’s the motivation I need to lose 20lbs. I didn’t look as big the first time I rode her in the western saddle with the stirrups hiked up but when I put my saddle on her I look huge.
I think you need her.
agree. Her change in demeanor under your calm and steady hand sold me - go get her.
I’m 6’ tall with long legs and look like you on even big Arabs. She’s a little mare but appears to have no problems with your riding her. Looks very game to me.
Advantages of a little horse:
Easy to mount
Cheap to feed
Trailer size is cheaper
Not as much to brush
Can more easily go under branches on the trail
Not as far to fall
Good luck with whatever you get!
She needs you!
And she’s not that small for an Arab mare, is she? And she could easily put on a bit more weight in terms of muscle.
When I said in my previous post that she looked young, that was based on how long her legs are relative to her barrel. She’s obviously light-boned, but even so she could put on some extra pounds/muscle.
You’re talking to a bunch of enablers, but she seems like such a kind, forward-thinking mare, that she’d probably give you her all just out of gratitude!
She’s a beautiful mare and looks like she likes you very much. I hope you go get her.
I used to ride ponies her size and I am about your size, we did ok together.
I caught you smiling in the video. Busted!
My daughters mare is 14.0 hands and she is 5’7 and probably 140 pounds but has my long legs and she is fine on her 22 year old mare.
I am 5’9 weigh 155 and have ridden this mare and I feel too big only because she is more narrow bodied then the 2 barrel shaped horses I am used to.
This mare needs weight and condition and I bet you will feel just fine on her when she gains weight and fills out a bit. You really can’t pass up a sound mind and body with a lower price
My best horse ever was a pony sized Uruguayan Criollo. I’m 1,70 m and weigh 70 kgs but he carried me everywhere without any problem. He was sturdier than your mare but I bet with your TLC she’ll bloom
You do not look huge.
You know you want her. LOL
Not to add any pressure. . . but I found myself randomly thinking of the mare this morning. I think she is special.
Sadly he doesn’t want anything less for her now and is trying to trade for cows instead. Also still advertising her as 6.
That is sad. You might hear back from him in a month if nobody buys his line of crap.