A few questions about buying horses.....

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Walrus

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Hello,

Just interested in people's opinions really...

firstly would you buy a horse that was a known crib biter or wind sucker (price reduced accordingly) if the horse was what you were looking for in every other way?

secondly what are your opinions on buying from a dealer? I suppose if they are reputable and come with recommendations then it's not a problem?

thirdly if I had 2K do you think I could get a nice 16 - 16.3hh chunky TB or IDxTB (or something similar - not really bothered by breed), aged 4-7, willing to work on education, doesn't need to have done much but must be have a sensible temperament and ok on the road (or at least give the impression they will be ok on the road if haven't done much). Doesn't have to be a world beater but capable of being fussed and adored and with time do riding club, unaffiliated dressage, sj, xc, fun rides, hunting etc etc. Like I say, willing to take on sensible baby to bring on, not wanting to go out and do all this stuff immediately.

I'm just trying to get some things sorted in my head and also my new years resolution of organising my finanaces and setting some goals.

Red wine, sloe gin and / or dark chocolate if you've ploughed through all that!!

smile.gif
 
Yes to all though might take a little while to find one for the price. Be careful with dealers but it can be fine obviously. How exciting, good luck!
 
1) Would depend on severity. If they did it a lot, or they did it in the field as well as the stable the no, no way. Otherwise yes.
2) As long as they are reptutable then I would have no issues, there are good and bad in both dealers and private sellers
3) Yeah you should be able to. You will probably come across a few party reschooled exracers which would fit the bull.
 
Windsucking wouldnt bother me but i've heard some horses can copy windsucking so some yards might not be too happy about this.

I wouldnt mind buying from a dealer especially if they specialise in what you want. I think you can tell good dealers from bad dearlers when you visit.

And I would say you could get a decent horse for 2K especially if you were willing to carry on with its schooling. And in the current climate, prices are going down, people are selling due to weather/money
 
Cheers guys.

Unfortunately not in a position to look just yet - fingers crossed it wont be much longer, I'd hope by the end of this year but who knows!!

Interesting about the cribbing, I'd always thought no - I'd never buy a horse that cribbed or windsucked as then you're already starting with a problem but seen a couple advertised that crib and therefore obviously the price is reduced! I suppose it would depend on how severe the cribbing was - I'd worry about ulcers and weight quite alot though!

Just interesting to get some thoughts. Cheers *hands round wine/gin/choc*
 
i always said that i would never buy a horse with a stable vice, I also said i would never ride a TB again....so i bought a ex-race horse that cribs!
but apart from the cribbing (he wrecks fencing) he is my boy.
don't rule out a horse with a stable vices but you should consider that people will bitch about your horse to your face and behind your back to other people.
I just ignore em!
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Yes I think you could get an ex-racer for that price - ask around a few race yards - or even one of those retrained race horse charities.
 
My horse was supposed to weave..... he did it when i brought him - but i have only ever seen him weave 3 times in 2 years - and these are when he is watching me do his tea and i am waiting for his calm and conditioner to soak.... so i make sure he never sees me doing his tea. His management was also totally changed he went from 24 hour stabled to turn out for 8 min hours and 24/7 in the summer and he gets fed ad lib hay now rather than minimam quantities of horsage. The other thing i stopped was giving him a tea spoon of salt twice a day - never found out why they gave him this - so any suggestions welcome
 
1) Cribbing yes (as it is commonly defined here (biting/chewing stuff with no sucking in of air) rather than the "bites stuff whilst sucking in air" which I have sometimes seen it used). It is destructive, but can be reduced by turnout and reducing available surfaces etc, an I dont think it does long term damage to the horse.
I would be much more reluctant about windsucking (intake of air through mount in any fashion) as the associated colic risk would worry me, so could be a false economy.

2) Yes. You get dodgy private sellers and dodgy dealers, and good private sellers and good dealers. Only difference for me is that dealers have a reputation you can learn before hand, and a reputation to protect when dealing with you.

3) I think you would be lucky unless you are prepared to take on one which is unbacked or has vices or minor conformational defects. The 16 -16.3 is the most popular height range, and decent all rounders are very much in demand. 4-8 is also a very popular age range. Not saying it is impossible, but I think if you found one you would have to turn up prepared to buy on the spot.
 
"What a horse does in his own time is his own business" - now didn`t some famous show jumper say that I vaguely remember?
Personally wouldn't care too much about cribbing, or windsucking or weaving as I would have all mine live out and these sort of neurotic vices soon disappear when there is good grass to eat.

As to getting a good horse for the kind of money you have you should have no problems getting a good unbacked 3- 4 year old in Ireland (now) or up north be prepared to travel though. I saw several IDx recently backed but green last year up North at around £2000 or less. They had both been sold by the time I got there though so you have to be quick.
ATM I am looking at a lovely 4 year old /ID cross for £1450 and he is 16.2hh and gorgeous. They re out there if you hunt about on obscure websites etc.
try www.sjhorsesandponies.co.uk
they have some cheapies at times and lots of TBs, ( 3 y.o grey IDx 16.3hh last spring and gorgeous) and are well recommended
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I think you might struggle at that price unless the horse has some issues that reduce his price.

However an ex-racer might do the job for the price you want!
 
There was a very good quite sciencey article in (I think the anniversary edition of H&H last year). The gist was that research has established some interesting differences in the brains of cribbers and they have great potential for learning - it quoted a top eventer (think it was Andrew Nicholson) who would never go past a cribber due to their tendency to be better learners. There is also evidence that it is an inherited problem or at least the tendency to it is.

There is also good research to show that horses do not learn cribbing from one another - it is however a view that is well established in the industry!!

Good luck in your search
 
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