300 mile round trip to see one horse ... am I crazy!!

muddy_grey

muddy_grey

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Guessing you guys won't be the most unbiased, but....
Am I crazy considering a 300 mile (6 hour) round trip to view a horse!
I have been looking on and off for about a year and I really like the look of this one, but have I lost my mind?
OH is very understanding and said if I really like the look of her then we should go and see her, but I feel bad making him travel for 6 hours on a Sunday. Should I just wait and see if something comes up closer to home?
 
A few weeks ago me and a friend did a 9 hour round trip to view a horse (which fortunately she did buy!) It was a seriously long tiring day but was definately worth the journey.
 
If you can afford the time and the petrol, then definitely go - she might just be the one
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I did that and I also bought him so it was 2 lots of that, one to view and one to pick up. It might be a wasted journey but it also could be the horse of your dreams, personally if you have got all of the right answers to your questions then go for it. Good luck!!
 
Nope, I drove from London to Stanstead, caught a flight to Edinburgh and then drove another 80 files up to Kenmore in Perthshire to see Farra.

I had spoken to the owner for a few hours before and seen lots of photos so had a fairly good idea that she was exactly what we wanted before I booked the flights.

My mate and I travelled with a grand under each boob in our bra to pay for her and I had also booked the vetting at the same time so I could speak the vet who was doing her.

Long way, but I have yet to see anything of her age and type for sale since - and we bought her August 08. Young 4 year old and backed sabino clydesdale mares are a bit like hen's teeth down here.
 
Have you asked tons of questions and got loads of photos of the horse? If so and you are still happy with what you hear and see then you're not crazy!

It would be a shame if you travelled all that way though if the minute you see the horse you realise it has been described wrong (eg. advertised as 15.2hh but is really only 14.3hh).
 
The only time I travelled a long way to see a horse - a 24 hour journey in total, I arrived to find the horse was lame ! The owner just said she was as disappointed as me ! no apology, no nothing .....so be careful !
 
If you have the time and the funds to then yes deffinately go and take a look. like others have said might be the horse you have been looking for., if you dont know you will never know and always have a doubt in your mind
 
You should ask every question under the sun first and get photos from every angle. So many horses are simply not even the size they are described as when you arrive. Ask if the height is guessed or measured.

I have to ask though, given that you are in Kent and not the Outer Hebrides, why you have not managed to find a horse that would suit you in a whole year. It really does sound as if you are asking for the impossible, to be honest.

Given that you have found it so hard to find the right horse locally, I have great doubts about whether a 300 mile trip will be time or money well spent.

Is there something very special about this one that you can't find nearer home?
 
Have seen a few picks, but she is only 2 so not much to tell really. Lives in a field, but has been handled and played with. They have a school I can see her run around in. Breeding looks good too. OH just likes to rub their ears and see what they think about it. I'm sure he really wants a dog.
Knew you guys wouldn't think I'm crazy
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Hopefully be a hapy post on Sunday
 
I did exactly that when I bought my Arab some years ago. It was the very end of October, lashing with rain and blowing a full gale (much like today) and road reports kept coming on the car radion with the Police asking people not to travel unless their journey was really necessary and reporting roas closed owing to flooding. (I'm going to look at a horse, OF COURSE it was necessary) All the way there my husband kept saying "you'd better buy this bl**dy thing". I replied that as it was Arab (which I'd always wanted) if had four legs and was upright and mobile, I would buy it . . . . and I did!!!
 
been there done that.just think if its the right one it will be worth it and youll never know if you dont go.what would you be doing if you dont.have you asked for photos,video if possible and asked all the questions you can think of.
 
Well you are beating me then. I have a 260 mile round trip tomorrow, but I am seeing one horse in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. Just hope the forecasted rain and strong winds don't actually happen! Good luck x
 
Go for it!! If you really like the look of it you will only regret it if you don't.

Also, if it's 300 miles round trip it will prob only take you 2 or so hours there and 2 or so hours back (unless it's lots of rural roads or you're taking the lorry/trailer). It'll fly by. Esp if you travel early on a Saturday morning which is the best time to travel!! Make it a road trip, get lots of your (or OH's) fave CDs or better still a story tape/CD and pack a picnic with cake for the journey to break it up!! (can you tell I'm always trying to cajole my hubby into long horse related journeys??)

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I don't think I am looking for the impossible. I think I have probably been looking a bit halfheartedly as I wasn't ready having lost my mare.
We are regular travellers and even went to Birmingham and back on Saturday then Southampton and back Sunday just for Karate, so I guess it's not that far. OH was suposed to be going to Newcastle for Karate on Sunday, so this is only half the distance
 
I'd go for it! if you like the look of the horse then what have you got to lose?! ( well only a bit of petrol!), just go in with your eyes open, ask loads of questions, and you'll be fine!good luck!
 
I travelled a 402 mile round trip when I bought my cob - so no, you're not at all mad!
But don't feel you HAVE to buy just because you travelled that far!
 
No, not crazy at all, she may be just the one. I'd take a trailer if I was viewing that distance away, if you do buy her you'll have to do the entire trip again otherwise
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300m isn't really that much of a trip.

I am delivering 2 foals (bought unseen) down near Detroit tomorrow, that's about a 300m round trip give or take a few wrong turns, I am a crappy navigator
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Then on the way back I'm stopping in to have a look at a bunch of carousel ponies as it is only 50m out of our way.

Good Luck.
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do it! I wouldnt have my mare now if I hadnt done a 300 mile round trip - I had spent ages looking locally but that limits your selection - either way its worth the journey if its the right horse, great, if its not, it makes it clearer in your own mind what you want, good luck!
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Not crazy at all - I travelled for 2 hours to see my current horse and I went with a friend to view one that was in Oxfordshire (but it was the same weekend as Blenheim Horse Trials) so we did some shopping too. We eventually found her new horse in the next village to us!

If it sounds like the right horse and ticks all your boxes on paper, on photo, and on the phone then go for it.

What are you looking for though - why have you been looking for a year? Can you see any others while you are in that direction?
 
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