Horse Training Success

These sorts of emails on choosing a suitable horse or buying a horse (see below) are frequent enough to prompt me to write a general 'how to' response. Sorry guys, there's not enough hours in the day to reply to individual queries. I hope this helps instead. The 'buying a horse' info will be posted in stages over the next week. For now, here is the main email that finally pushed me into action:

Hi there...I need some advice.
There is someone selling an old schoolmaster, he is 14 years old.
He sounds great, has done A grade shows in the past. The owner wants to
sell, she has a yard as she do not have time to ride him any more. She has 2
new horses. She says that he would be great for what I want to do...dressage
smaller jumps up to 1 meter, hacking and eventing. He is a thoroughbred
gelding by the name of BOB.

I am not knowledgeable enough to ask the right questions. I know he eats 4
kg of food and keep his condition, he has good feet and only need to be shod
on front feet.
Never been sick or had colic. Shots r up to date and he has a passport. I am
waiting for her to send info on sire and dam.

See her comments = (Bob is 14 and definitely  wise enough for you, no he
hasn't got any leg problems, he need only to be shod on the front legs, he
is 16'2 hands high, his hooves are healthy and he is a full bred
thoroughbred. Bob is definitely an all rounder, he is kind and would be
perfect for a novice rider, he is perfectly schooled and would not harm a
fly, he is well schooled for dressage and hacking, he has not jumped for
years, but I am sure to pop him over a few jump's won't harm him, I don't
think that he would compete in jumping again, the reason being is that Bob
did power jumping all his life, I will send you a pic with to see. Jumping
him over small jumps up to a meter is fine but he would not go A grade.
Other than that is he fine, never been sick or lame.  The only reason I am
selling him is because I don't have the time.  I have two youngsters of the
track and are busy schooling them , and that takes allot time.)

I have been told a schoolmaster  is a good option. Do u agree?
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(email has been edited for privacy)

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Labels: choosing a horse, equine, Guide To Buying A Horse Intro, horse training, horses