Previously on Saddle Seeks Horse my trainer and I were about to journey south to San Diego County to try out a bay and gray, both 10 year-old Thoroughbred geldings standing 16.2.
The bay is being boarded at the owner’s friend’s house in a very rural area. There were goats in pens lining the dusty arena where we conducted our test rides.
The bay is gorgeous. He looks like a Fred Stone painting or a regal marble sculpture of a horse. The owner hopped aboard and rode him around for about 5 minutes, during which time I thought, “there’s a hunter.” He just flowed on a loose-ish rein. Mesmerizing.
My trainer remarked he looked sticky behind. It was slight and I didn’t see it because I was enthralled with his good looks. He worked out of it a bit and then the owner jumped him over a one foot vertical. (There was only one jump in the arena because it’s a community arena and it seemed like the community was more Western).
As the horse approached the fence he had an alert, gorgeous expression, ears pointed at the fence. Upon landing his demeanor changed to agitation and his ears went back. Every time she popped him over the small fence, the expression changed on landing.
My trainer rode him next and he was not a fan of being ridden a little more on the bit, but he complied. She rode him in circles and figures of eight popped him over the same fence. He had the same gorgeous/alert expression that switched to irritation.
It was my turn and I felt guilty getting on the horse. It was about 97 degrees, he had only been ridden about 3 times in the last month and here I was, the third person on him in the span of 15 minutes. I loved how responsive he was and once I picked up the canter, I could have cantered him all afternoon (not really because it was too hot and I’m not in that awesome of shape), but it was super comfy. I didn’t jump him because I had already seen enough.
“So does he receive any injections?” my trainer asked.
He’s had his hocks, stifles and coffin bones injected.
Hocks, I get. Stifles I’m not sure I’ve heard of. Coffin bone? That was the last nail pounded into the coffin where my hope–that he might be the one–died.
He also had special pads in front and shoes all the way around. Even if he did pass a pre-purchase exam, the thought of the expense for his upkeep was too much.
I knew my decision at that point but I didn’t have the courage to be that up front. I did just email the owner (two days after the fact) .
Hi —-,
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geoff says
hi love this blog……im a uk riding boot lover and wearer…..Your blog is great..
judi nealy says
Hi, I do so enjoy hearing your stories.
I am glad you don’t purchase the first one..but then again that might have been the one.
I am glad that I learned about horses from Barbara.!
love you,Judi
Wanda says
Horse shopping, how fun!! Though frustrating sometimes 🙂
Just wanted to note that Stifle injection are not too uncommon and certainly not scary. I know you mentioned a concern about that. Of the 30 jumping horse’s I have in my barn, I have 4 that currently receive stifle injections for routine maintenance. So…. not super common but acceptable in my opinion. It is quite a bit more common for my competitively jumping horses to receive Hocks and Coffin joints instead. Just depends on the individual needs.
However, I can see where once you add them all together in the same horse it starts to become daunting. Stifles, hocks, Coffin joints, special shoeing with pads, AND the note that he seemed disgruntled or uncomfortable on the other side of the fence starts to be just too much to swallow financially and makes you wonder how the pre-purchase vet exam is going to go.
I was cracking up about the Big Grey Pony 🙂 Definitely have met a few of those, love them! They are worth their weight in gold for those “new rider” adult amatuers that maybe would be better off with a horse NOT listening to their confusing aids. LOL
It’s like their saying “Look lady, I know what I’m doing. You just stay out of my way, don’t argue with me, and for god-sakes try to stay on please”
Thanks for sharing your experiences, Good luck on your search!!
Rodney's Saga says
Horse hunting. Gaaa.
Susan Friedland-Smith says
Maybe I should look for your horse and you look for my horse. We can expand our geographical reach that way. 🙂
Shirley Burns, 1958 classmate of your MOM says
Enjoyed reading about your search for the perfect new horse. Best of luck. Love reading your blogs. sure enjoy seeing your Mom each month too. Se sent me a picture of you and your sisters. Best to you, Sincerely, Shirley Burns
Susan Friedland-Smith says
Thank you, Shirley. I’m honored you read my blog so faithfully. I hope it’s not too technical in the horse department. I want experienced horse people and non-horse people to both enjoy reading it. 🙂
Midwestern Plant Girl says
Wow. Much harder to find a house than a good man. …
Lauren says
Sorry about the bay. Stifles and hocks wouldn’t both me (I do hocks and financially would love to do stifles as well) but I agree with you. Coffin joint and I’m out! Especially depending on how young that horse was.
Susan Friedland-Smith says
Yes, the coffin joint sounds ominous. The horse was 10. Unraced. Current owner bought him as a 4 year old. She claimed all the injections were preventative because a previous horse really broke down, so she wanted to give this one a greater chance by pre-empting the problems through injections. I have never heard of that either. I actually feel a little sheltered in that my previous three horses have all been pretty sound.
carey says
Too bad neither worked out, but it sounds like you made the right call. On to the next one!
Susan Friedland-Smith says
And I just saw video of a cool Irish sporthorse. He slipped through my hands. Someone put a deposit down on him. The breeder was sweet and asked me what I was looking for. I gave her my wishlist in a text message. She said she needed to clone this horse that the deposit is on, but that she would ask around to see if other friends of hers/breeders have anything. I’m learning through all this there are some really nice strangers in this world. People who don’t even know me are pulling for me. 🙂
carey says
Yay! You’re going to find something great!