Agents for horse shopping in Ireland?

[DabDab]

I have to say, I agree that I'm surprised it's taken so long. I've often cringed in the past at threads dragged almost completely off topic by IG promoting her services.
And like Cortez I also get rather irritated that she persistently insists that decent, sound, amateurs horses are only found with huge price tags.

 

[spacefaer]

I have to say, I agree that I'm surprised it's taken so long. I've often cringed in the past at threads dragged almost completely off topic by IG promoting her services.
And like Cortez I also get rather irritated that she persistently insists that decent, sound, amateurs horses are only found with huge price tags.

I've always been wary of agents, and this is in fact not directed at IG, but a general observation, that I've always understood that agents benefit from getting the highest price from vendors, either on a commission basis, (eg 10% of sale price) or by adding their "cut" on top of the sale price. I have experienced both methods, both as a vendor and as a potential purchaser, and I also have friends who act as agents. I can appreciate that agents can take the hard graft out of searching, and reduce travel time/costs by presenting the purchaser with (theoretically) suitable horses, but I would hesitate to use one, on the basis that there is bound to be a degree of bias - even if only on a "promise to return" basis. (by which I mean, that the agent will keep bringing clients to that particular vendor)

 

[onemoretime]

We've spoken previously Spinner and I'm not saying this for any reason apart from forewarning you. If you're going to the sales here then you need a highly experienced horse person, preferably Irish with you.

There are wonderful horses to be bought there but there are also rushed horses, who will look good for the day under professional riders but can become unmanageable when they're brought home. Many people are simply not prepared to put the time and work into amateur horses, unfortunately, as they don't feel there's a big enough return on them.

I even know of one producer who was so infamous that UK professionals used to say his 'horses lost the ability to jump crossing the Irish sea'. What I'm saying is that it's actually more important to know who not to buy from at the sales than anything else.

So you'll need someone from the Irish horse industry with you or a British dealer who knows the score. Then you'll be properly equipped for the sales!

I sold a fab horse last summer to a lovely Scottish couple. They had previously picked up a bargain at Goresbridge. He wasn't such a bargain when he started rearing out hacking which seemed to be an unpleasant but ingrained habit.

Completely agree with this. You need to be very careful all that glitters is not gold!!

 

[onemoretime]

To be certain I've just read back through as many of IG's posts as I could find, and I find myself in disagreement with you and that there's no insistence that I can see, that 'certain magical' people even exist! What she has suggested, and I'm in agreement with her, is that horse research from the buying standpoint is vital, that there are those in Ireland who are adept at dressing mutton up to look like lamb and that unless a buyer is highly experienced then finding a trustworthy agent would make for a sensible approach. That to me sounds like simple common sense as I'm sure it does to you.

The rules certainly aren't applied in a even handed fashion, and that must be obvious. There are those who whilst perhaps not directly offering horses for sale, will certainly refer to an animal which they've sold, and at the price realised and also mention that they sell home bred youngsters. They're promoting themselves and seem to do so with impunity. I've no problem with that, or wouldn't have if the same usage of Nelson's patch was applied to everyone. Perhaps it's just a case that a decision is only made following a report. The problem which I would have however, is with those who report posts in an attempt to settle old scores.

Alec.

Well said Alec!