I am sorry but I tend to disagree with your post Barry G.
Asking for some advice online is not a fact of not being capable of looking after a horse. I have owned horses years but still ask advice on here and between people I know because I think it is better to ask than to get it wrong especially with, as you say, a living creature which is highly dependant on ourselves. She should not be critisized for asking advice from fellow horse owners and lovers when as we all know, in the horse world EVERYONE has a difference of opinion. Loads of people made an opinion in my choice of horse but it was my horse, my choice and turns out it was the best choice I ever made.

I agree that obviously you have an opinion and your opinion is blatantly in the best interest of the horse which is how I think more people should act but I also think that you can never truely understand owning until you do.
I have found with my horses that each one if soooo different that it makes no difference if you have experience with the previous one's as you will find that you are looking after the new one completely different anyway.

Dusty... This is your decision so either way I'm sure it will be the right one. Just have lots of people around who have lots of experience so that you always have help if you find he is a bit much at first. Even if he is you will soon get used to it. My moto is that you have to put your worries at the back of your mind when you have no choice but to look after an animal like a horse. You cant just leave him so scared or not he will have to be fed, groomed, mucked out etc so just gotta get on with it!

Best of luck and let us all know what you decide xx