Horse for Daughter?

[I Luv Herfrds]

Took 2 of our horses to get a trim and shoes on one and the lady who's place I go to meet the shoer has a 6yo gelding that is around 13 hands high. My daughter went into the round pen and lead him all around. He was very careful around her and never stepped on her or bumper her.
We got her to sit on his back as long as he didn't move. She sat on him 3 different times and each time she sat a little straighter and more relaxed.
She really wants this horse.
The asking price is $1200. Covers the cost she paid for him and the boarding.

Husband is saying no though.
we have been burned on a couple of broke horses so I can understand why he says no. Shoer checked his feet and other then needing a trim no signs of problems. Vet is going out there on Wednesday and I will ask him to take a look at him and give me his thoughts.

Horse has a kind eye.

Would you get this horse if the vet finds no problems? The lady is offering a 30 day return option.
Thoughts on this needed.

[leanin' H]

See below!

[leanin' H]

A little girl oughta have a horse! If you and your husband are experienced and competent horse people and will spend the time needed to teach your girl and her horse how to bond with each other, then i'd give him a try. It's like trying anything new. You get better the more ya do! And even when ya fall off, ya have a blast, if ya love it! But you'll never love horses if ya don't get on every chance ya get! I hope your daughter falls in love with this horse or another one soon. She will never forget it!
Horses, kids and dogs! Ya get out of them exactly what ya put in!

[I Luv Herfrds]

Thanks Leanin H will try to convince the hubby that this one is a better horse for her.
Our other horses are much taller and scare her.

[Faster horses]

A good horseman told me that short horses have broke more kids
arms than a swing set!!!

He maintains they don't have time to break their fall...
FWIW.

My advice would be (and I had a little girl that loved horses)
would be to get an older, been there, done that kind of horse.

6 is a bit young for a kids horse. There are exceptions tho.
What has this horse been used for? How old is your daughter?
Remember, you are trying to build a little girl's confidence and
putting her on the wrong horse won't do that. It will do the
opposite.

I used to produce horse shows for kids and I saw too many times,
mom mounted her kid on 'too much horse.'

So, just be careful. Check him out really good outside the pen. Can
you get on and ride him? You just can't be too careful!!!

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[HAY MAKER]

I think fasterhorses gave you some very good advice,and like she said there are 6 year olds that would make a good young girl horse,this may be one...go slow .
good luck

PS next time take your camera.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I totally agree with FH on this. Puttin a kid on a horse that's not experienced...been there done that....isn't the way to build confidence. But like she said...there are exceptions. But if your daughter is young, I don't know that I'd be willin to take that chance that the horse is an exception. Our 4H horse club instructor said somethin to a parent many years ago. And I just happened to over hear it. He said, "the age of the horse + the age of the child = 21" It's a good reference. Give or take a year here and there. But in general...an older horse for a youngster is always better.

[I Luv Herfrds]

My daughter is 7, going on 8 next month.

FH the other 2 horses we bought that we were told were "great" kid's horses were the most dangerous horses we have ever had on our place.
There was another girl there and she is a more experienced rider then my daughter and she got on this horse bareback with just a bridle and rode him around. She is 8.

We had hoped to go out there today to take another look but it will have to wait since it is snowing like crazy.

[kolanuraven]

Old and slow horse , hands down!!!

You said she was even a bit tense just sitting on this one.


You and or your hubby needs to ride this horse and determine if it's ' kid friendly" as I'd not take anyone elses advice on it.

[Hooks]

.....I'm with the ladies (and Haymaker) on this one............and Lilly's formula would work it about right........gotta be alotta 12-16 yro (and older) dead broke geldings out your way that would teach the girl to ride...............FWIW

[Faster horses]

There used to a 'code of the west' among horse traders. Whatever tales they would tell an adult, they would be TOTALLY HONEST about a kids
horse. Sadly, along with a lot of things, that code of the west has
all but disappeared. I'm so sorry you got stung with so-called kids
horses . Who would want to be responsible for a kid getting hurt because of a lie they told? These people have no conscience.

Pat Parelli says, "green on green=broken bones. That's a good little slogan to remember.

You have mentioned that this other little girl rode him around. Did she
ride him around in a corral or outside? There is a huge difference. If it
were me, I would ride that horse OUTSIDE myself, and with someone on another horse at one point and ride away from the other horse. See how
he handles that. Some horses really buddy up and don't want to leave
another horse. That's getting to be a pretty common problem. I see it'
more now than I used to.
(I went through a similar situation at one point with my daughter. Bought
the nicest little horse, when she tried him out, she rode him around with the little girl who owned him and she rode his buddy horse. Everything was fine. Got that little devil home and he would not go anywhere. The other horse was the leader. He never did get nice about that.)

And, make sure this litte horse yopu are looking at is good to ride with saddled, not just bareback. Believe me, some aren't.

I don't mean to sound paranoid, but there is so many things to think about when buying a child a horse. One thing, if you don't know the
horse, know the people you are dealing with. Or check around and find
out their reputation.

You just can't be too careful.

Again, good luck!!

[I Luv Herfrds]

Here are some pics taken this afternoon of my daughter with the horse we are looking at. She started in the round pen and then took him out of the pen and into the barn. we then walked out to a field. He was trying to eat all the grass he could and she would just pull on the lead rope and he would start following her again.