Any advice? Buying at neddy at auction.

G

gadeke

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 June 2009
Messages
59
Location
Lancashire
Visit site
Anyone done it? How much would you expect to pay? Looking for something over 16hh gelding either young-done little/nothing or a project to work on over winter. I don't have a big pot of cash to play with, so was just wondering what kind of horses usually end up at auction. Are they all going to be ex racers (which I'm not adverse to) but are any others likely to be loony tunes or insound. HELP!!
 
I have been very lucky and bought a few excellent ponies through auction, the last one cost £90. I have never bought a horse through auction. If you do go please take an experienced friend as you may go for something you feel sorry for. Are you buying at auction because you think they may be cheaper than private/dealer? There were a couple of horses on here yesterday in yorkshire advertised for £495 each and some one posted that all their horses seemed cheap.
 
you could probably get something nice privately right now if your prepared to look around . if i were you i wouldnt bother getting anything from a sale. they are always there for a reason and most of the reasons are not good ! or regular dealers put them through and they are the ones that are so bad they cant sell them at home ! these days with peoples knowlege and horse popularity its hard to find a genuine bargain. if someone genuinely couldnt pay their livery bill or had to disolve a partnership or was going to uni or abroad dont you think someone would know someone who would snap up these horses and they would never have to go to market . so think about it carefully.
 
Oh god so scary. I only have about £800 to play with. I can't seem to find anything within 100 miles of me that seems suitable. Should I just stop being impatient and save up some more?? Aren't prices going to go up again in the new year when evryone is out buying horses ready for the new comp season. I don't want to wait I'm sick of being sat at home bored to tears watching people riding outside my window. It's depressing.
 
Sorry but I have to disagree with you there as your post makes it sound as though horses and ponies from auctions are likely to be no good!
One lady who used to be on here could tell you otherwise as she has bought many nice ones from horse sales.
I indeed bought my beautiful cob from a sales, Leominster in fact and I wouldn't change him for the world. Nice breeding, superb temperament and gorgeous to boot.
So please don't tar every auction horse with the same brush and try not to make such a sweeping statement unless you have all of the facts to back up what you are saying.
You are right about one thing though. All the animals are there for a reason, to be sold!
But isn't that also why horses are advertised on websites and in newspapers and magazines for the very same reason?
Auctions can just be a quick and straightforward means of selling a horse or pony. No nuisance phone calls etc.
Auctions have warranted sections or buyers can have them vetted at the site so there is little way of duping buyers as they have protection in those instances.
If op wants to buy from an auction try and go to a reputable one like Leominster and try and buy a warranted horse or get it vetted at the time of sale.
Good luck to op.
 
I know how you feel. When I sold my old horse I was lost without another. But there is no point rushing into it then ending up with something you can't ride. Have you had a look on project horses? At least you may be able to visit the horse a couple of times before making the final decision? What about a loan with view to buy? Might give you a bit more time to save up?
 
Fantasma I agree with you totally, there are alot of nice horses to be had at sales if you are experienced to know what you are looking for. The reason I would say steer clear if you are not that experienced is because I used to work for a dealer and saw a couple of lovely horses go through the sale, that we had had at the yard, and were unrideable. One was a super pony, fab on the ground, to tack up etc, try to get on and would rear over backwards every time. Went to sale and saw same pony all tacked up and advertised as a childs pony!! Other was a beautiful chestnut mare, had her a couple of days then went lame as a dog. She was also at the sale and funnily that day was sound!! If you can get a horse with a warranty, vetted etc then you reduce your risk massively of buying an unsuitable horse.
 
I've been riding for 20 odd years but havent for the past 12 months as I lost my horse he had a tumour and ended up bleeding internally. I've looked on project horses but nothing catches my eye really anything that does is out of my price range. Are there any people out there willing to loan? The only ones I've found aren't willing to have them move from theire current yard. Which doesn't suit as I have my own livery yard so would be daft to travel when I have great facilities outside my back door. Can you all keep your eyes and ears open for me? thankyou
 
well im sorry but i must disagree. im assuming that the many nice ones were youngstock from places like the new forest sales and yes they are wonderful ponies for the future but op said she wanted a 16 hand young riding horse and to find a genuine one at a sale with limited funds would be almost impossible these days.unless you buy an ex racer . i expect your cob is lovely although hes probably not 16 hands and you wouldnt sell him for 800 you wouldnt put him through a sale and wouldnt have to because if you were in difficult position someone by word of mouth would home him . not everyone advertises in a magazine is genuine but the majority who respect their horses want a decent home and to know where the horse is going. a person with limited funds would not get a warranted vetted 16 hands riding horse at a sale such as leominster for 800 and if the horse is genuine it would be snapped up at home and not need to go to a sale .and the warrants at cheaper sales are not really worth having especially at 800. and no you dont get nuisance phone calls from miserable buyers if you sell dodgy horses at auction. and yes i do have the experience and the facts to back up what i say. thank you.
 
My lord, I paid £5k for a horse from an auction he was 3yr old unbroken - i guess i got stung then considering peoples opinion that they are there for a reason and generally not a good one!
Oh dear my dreams of being at hoys have been smashed!

I would consider buying at auction if I was experienced enough to see through the descriptions given, if the auction had trial areas to ride and if the horse was warranted. I probably wouldnt buy if i had no idea and was only going because of a small budget.
 
Oh and by the way, said horse has just been backed and proving to be a little star - i also have a dealer friend who sells at auctions infact he sent 2 last week lovely riders and they were there to be sold. Not because they were about to drop dead or because they wanted to kill you rather than you ride them. Yes there are dodgy dealers out there but then there are some good horse people who are too dealers.
If you can increase your budget slightly edthened then I may know someone who can help you.
 
OP why not rehome a ex-racehorse from a rehabilitation charity? They may well have a selection of suitable horses, you could take your time getting to know one and making sure it's the right one and there would only be a donation fee (which I think is pretty reasonable in most cases).
 
hi all. i am about to do this very thing.... i consider myself to be very experienced, having shown at county level for many years. i am on my way to ascot sales on 3rd dec to buy an ex racer to do showing and hopefully some dressage....but even i have done my research before i go. i am taking 3 other experienced people with me. 1 ex jockey, one dressage rider, and one person from the showing world..... with all this help i hope to come away with a lovely horse to retrain for the show and dressage ring. if you get there early.. you can see the horses in the stables, and talk to the staff that are with the horse. take note of the horse in its stable... is it calm and contented or is it pacing about or showing vices ect.. if you like it... you can ask for the horse to be bought out of the stable to view it for conformation ect and have it trotted up. you can only do your best to choose correctly at auction. there is a vet available. but even with all this, it is a bit of a gamble.... here's hoping i acheive my aim.... i will update you all after the sale x
 
I got very badly stung buying a warrented horse from Malvern. Warrenty and vetting turned out to be a total waste of time. Would never go that route again. Have bought from the TB sales no problem but I would never touch a general sale again
 
All I would say is if you are after a particular horse because of its said breeding then check the passport BEFORE you bid. I bought one because of its stated breeding and it turned out incorrect. in the passport it said breeding unverified. I did some checking and what I thought was a horse with some ID (King of Diamonds lines) turned out to be an ex racer that ran over 19 times. Brightwells were great and arranged for seller to collect horse and I had a full refund. So while I had a not so good experience the outcome was much better than if I had bought privately. so yes I would go to the sales again if I ever needed too, but only buy warranted horses!!!!!!!!
 
you didnt pay 800 for said horse did you !!! please read what i said carefully. did your dealer friend get 800 or less for his genuine riders --- if so i cant understand why he couldnt sell them off the yard. my family and all my friends have been in the game a long time and all can sell a genuine horse or pony any time - especially at that sort of price !!! they are difficult to find in the lower price range. pm me if your mate has any more cos my mates cant buy enough to meet demand. genuine that is
grin.gif
 
hello, im new!! i bought my tb at august ascot sales and was best thing i ever did. he came from a fairly well known yard and the people showing him were v helpful and honest, even took us for a drink after! maybe not everyone selling there was quite so nice and i was probably quite lucky but i would definately buy from sales again. originally i was going to buy from the sales then after a few unsuccessful visits i decided i wasnt decisive enough and started looking privately. went to see one horse who i was told had been bought at ascot the previous year and who was for sale for 2500. the girl selling had admitted she had probably not ridden him more than 20 times and all they had really done was fatten him up so i checked the results online and found she had only paid 400 for him! he was fine (bar one splint), sound, calm and seemed healthy enough. prompted me to go back. went early and found one i liked so spent most of the day with him to be sure as poss. was still pretty scary though! i could hear someone bidding but wasnt quite sure it was me!! ended up with a lovely 16.2hh 5 yr old. hes pretty green and kinda stupid (was catalogued as 'big and backward'!) but hes brilliant and i love him! i would go straight back to ascot if i was buying another
 
Was that this years sale? I was there too - got a lovely 16hh arab, who has been nothing but fab so far. I also spent time with him in the stables, watched him be handled by lots of people, trotted up many times and talked to the girl who looked after him and another girl that often rode him out. I went there knowing it was a gamble but then again buying privately can be as much of a gamble you just pay more for the priviledge.
 
I've tried everywhere rehoming wise i've sent application after application but nothing. Can't believe that even tho I have 20 odd years experience riding all shapes/sizes/ages etc even ex racers and still nothing. I thought they were struggling to rehome horses but I can't even get a reply from anyone. Its just plain rude grrrrrr rant over .... sorry Just annoyed
 
Some horses are there for genuine reasons often the sales are the way horses are disposed of if they are the assets of a business that is being broken up, or even a marriage.

They are sent to the sales as you are bound to get "market value" and the sale will take place that day. There is no scope for one party to be unreasonable and delay a sale waiting for an unrealistic price or to sell at an undervalue. The sale price will be to the highest bidder on that day.

I know of a riding school that disposed of all their horses and ponies at auction, there was no option to sell them privately under the legal proceedings breaking up the partnership despite there being sellers queuing up for them.

They would also have gone through a sale if the riding school had gone bust.
 
No the bargains were not all New Forest types or similar. You are right about my cob though because I wouldn't sell him at a sale. In fact I wouldn't sell him full stop. If things got tough I would either get a sharer in or put him on loan, but I would not get rid of him.
He was not in the less than £900 bracket and he isn't 16hands either. However if I was going to a sale now I would feel more confident in taking a risk and buying a cheaper horse that may have issues. At the time I got him though I wasn't as he was my first bought horse. He was green and recently broken in so was not a been there done it type. He is still green in some areas but has come on in leaps and bounds since we have had him. We have also ironed out issues we had at ground level with him as well. Through patience and consistency. He wasn't particularly cheap due to the time of the sale and the fact that Leominster had omitted an auction and there were a lot of ex riding school/outgrown types at that sale too. A couple of years down the line though and he was in fact a bargain.
But I still argue my point that there are bargains to be had now at sales with 16plus handers if you know what you are doing.
If someone is a complete novice then I would never advise them to buy at an auction. I would recommend a loan, loan with a view to buy or go to a reputable dealer.
But OP has already stated that she has experience of horses and many years at that, so sorting the wheat from the chaff should be easy for her.
But just in case either herself or somebody in a similar position wants a safety net that you don't always get with private sales ( unless you get a vetting) then you have the option of a warranted sale or else get them vetted there and then as the hammer falls down.
You are correct about the price though because most of that price bracket at an auction I regularly follow ( but don't attend) of the size OP wants are mostly tb's or ex racers with a few young stock and older ones that need bringing back into work etc.
But OP did also state that she was not adverse to an ex racer or indeed an older horse that would be a project.
As for doing homework as someone else suggested prior to going to a sale it is a good idea. I did before I went and got my horse. Mainly to see what kind of price they were fetching, to suss out the dealers/breeders and to see if any no sales from a previous auction turned up at the one I went to.
In racehorse auctions it can also pay to do some homework especially with one's that have raced before, either under rules or point to points. So much information about that horse can be gained from various racing and form websites that can tell you about the horse's character ( ie refusing, falling, unruly, sweating up or a consistent type) and also if it has had any injury on the track which is worth noting. Ok so it doesn't tell you the whole picture but surely it is better to have some knowledge of the horse you may bid for if that information can be gained prior to the sale.
 
Hiya Edthened here is some information I have just gleamed from a few sale reports from York auction this year ( which should not be too far away from you).
All these lots were warranted. Some unwarranted one's that did sound ok on paper and were being sold to clear a debt or due to divorce etc sounded ok and went for some silly low prices.
These sale reports are public and can be accessed by signing up to the auction website with a valid email address. There you can access future sale catalogues and updated ones that are complete with the sale reports.
If I get the chance to buy again in the future I am very tempted to buy from there and would have gone there the day I went to Leominster but there were more suitable types ( on paper) there than York.
The following are all youngish types. Mostly ex racers or tb's. There were some older ones that went for a lesser amount and also if you were flexible on the 16hands there were some that sounded ok around the 15.2 mark.

27th November 2009

57 The Property of Mrs B Wild NO VAT
SWINGING SARAH (GB) GSB
Chesnut mare 16.1hh 10 yrs
Sire: Dr Devious (IRE)
Dam: Lupescu (GB) By Dixieland Band (USA)
Passport Number: GB20002973
Sarah has raced in the past and has since been a broodmare; recently brought back into work - basic walk, trot and canter all there. She hacks out fine in traffic and pops a small fence. With more training and some TLC she will make someone a nice riding horse or has the breeding to be a quality broodmare again. Her sire was a Derby winner in 1992
290 GNS

62 The Property of Miss L Bate NO VAT
LIL MISS ROO (SHELLEY) GSB
Bay mare 16.0hh 6 yrs
Sire: Gran Alba (USA)
Dam: Gibralter Queen By Kinglet
Passport Number: GB26060320
Shelley has been with the Vendor for 2 years, as a 5 yr old she was successful shown in ridden classes and SJ at Novice level including jumping at Bishop Burton College. She was then put in foal and this year bred a stunning cob filly foal; proved to be a fantastic Mum. The foal was weaned almost 3 weeks ago and Shelley is now ready to make a good project for someone to bring back into work or she will continue as a lovely brood mare. She has a lovely temperament which she passed onto her
foal. She was good in traffic when she was hacked out and is good to handle and catch. She is only for sale due to desperate lack of space and time; microchipped and wormed to date
400 GNS

63 The Property of M Inchley NO VAT
WORKING CLASS HERO GSB
Bay gelding 16.1hh 10 yrs
Sire: Royal Applause
Dam: Dream Baby By Master Willie
Passport Number: GB20000588
This gelding has a kind nature and is good to do in all ways. He was used in a riding school until closure in April 2009 and enjoys jumping as well as coming into an outline on the flat. He is good in traffic and it is a regretful sale as the Vendor needs to reduce numbers. He will NAP going out of the yard on his own
600 GNS


23rd October 2009
41 The Property of A Lady NO VAT
BARNEY'S LYRIC GSB
Liver chesnut gelding 16.0hh 9 yrs
Passport Number: GB20030873
Barney is a well put together TB retired from racing due to a high handicap after a successful hurdling career. He is a lovely horse, kind to do, trustworthy and easy to bond with. He is a good ride and hacks out well alone or in company and has a good temperament. He will walk, trot and canter when asked in a school and is a good, careful jumper. He hunted several times last season with the Middleton and led a child on a
pony on the last day of the season. Barney understands normal riding aids and accepts contact. He is good to load, shoe, clip and is good with other horses in company and turned out. He would make an ideal lady's or gentleman's ride and will adapt well to life as a riding horse, hunter, team chaser or endurance horse
500g


52 The Property of A Lady NO VAT
BUMPER (FR) GSB
Bay gelding 16.2hh 8 yrs
Passport Number: 01340818N
Bumper is a strong TB gelding and won 2 races under Rules then retired from racing due to his high handicap. For sale as the owners cannot keep him. He is good to clip, do, box and shoe; is kind and very good with other horses in the paddock. He will suit an experienced rider.
310 GNS

55 The Property of A Gentleman NO VAT
KITTY GSB
Bay mare 16.1hh 5 yrs
Sire: Robertico
Dam: Polly B By Distinct Native
Passport Number: GB26068175
This TB mare is half sister to Rosie entered today (Lot 58 ) . She was broken and ridden away last year but never ran due to rider's injury. A potential P to P or RC horse; she is wormed and vaccinated to date. Good to box, shoe and in the stable. She is for sale as the owner is giving up breeding interests.
500 GNS


63 The Property of Kirsty Naylor NO VAT
DESERT LARK (DESSIE) GSB
Bay gelding 16.1hh 4 yrs
Passport Number: 8260GB45061514T
Dessie finished his flat racing career in February 2009 and the Vendor has hunted him, hacked him out and done pleasure rides. He hacks out alone or in company and is good in traffic. Good to do in every way; he is for sale due to lack of time and facilities
540 GNS

11th September 2009
20 The Property of Mrs J Mills NO VAT
TURNBECK MOONSHADOW AES
Bay mare 16.0hh 6 yrs
Sire: Privateer
Uranium (AES) Bluff Anabella
Dam: Bromcote Centenary
Alleging Fishpond
This quality, well schooled mare is a snaffle mouthed, forward going ride. She has a kind and willing temperament; is brave and sensible. Shadow will hack alone/ in company, is well behaved at shows, around traffic and tractors. She competed at RC, dressage and pops a fence. Good to handle;she has lovely stable manners, is friendly and loves attention. Good to
box, farrier, catch and trim.
820gns

31 The Property of G Dovey NO VAT
TILLY IHS 4046551
Chesnut mare 16.2hh 7 yrs
Sire: Bavard Prince
Dam: Knockalla Lady
This mare would benefit from schooling
375gns

21st August 2009
53 The Property of S Bushby NO VAT
BLUE EMPIRE
Light Bay Gelding 16.1hh 8yrs
Sire: Second Empire
Dam: Paleria
Zil Zal
Passport Number: IRE22072009
Empire is good at hacking out alone or in company in open spaces and on roads in heavy traffic. He has good paces and will be good in a show or dressage. He is an easy ride, he is not strong, good to catch, trim, shoe and box. A sad sale due to moving.
600GNS

71 The Property of Fell View Stables NO VAT
LUNAR
Bay Mare 16.0hh 7yrs
Passport Number: 5795331801
Lunar is a lovely mare who hacks out alone or in company, works well in the school with straight even paces; jumps coloured and natural fences. Easy to manage.
680GNS

85 The Property of J Roseberry VAT REG
ARDMULCHAN LAD (PRINCE)
Bay Gelding 16.3hh 9yrs
Sire: Treasure Kay
Dam: Simply Class
Simply Great
Passport Number: IRE20037957
Prince has had some schooling and jumps a course of small coloured fences, he is good in traffic.
440GNS

90 The Property of A Lady NO VAT
UNNAMED
Bay Gelding 16.0hh 8yrs
This ID x TB hunted all last season. Owners daughter going to
college hence reluctant sale.
750GNS

26th June 2009
91 The Property of V Wedgwood-Jones NO VAT
MEMO OF NEWHAGGART
Bay Gelding 16.2hh 4yrs
Passport Number: 372003003076083
Sire: Pacom Of Newhaggart
Crossdrum Spurs Royalbrook Ruby Royale
Dam: Sophie Of Newhaggart
Oscar is a lovely big horse that was lightly hunted in Ireland as a three year old. Very friendly and good to do in all ways.
825gns

114 The Property of A Parveen NO VAT
EASTERN CHARLIE
Chesnut Gelding 16.0hh 4yrs
Sire: Dow Jones
Sovereign King Ciba Reagy
Dam: Captain Caroline
Loch Pearl Fabia
Passport Number: 826041000143374
Charlie has a superb temperament and is not easily fazed by
anything; he has been long reined, lunged with a saddle and sat on, walked out in traffic. He is fully up to date with vaccinations and worming. He is good to box and good with the farrier, now ready to continue his education. Full time work commitments forces sale.
280gns

22nd May 2009
49 The Property of J Sellers NO VAT
LA PETIT DIABLE
Dark Bay Mare 16.2hh 7yrs
Sire: Trans Island
Selkirk Khabuza
Dam: Mevlana
Red Sunset
Passport Number: IRE24070754
This well bred mare raced as a 3yr old and then retired sound from the race track to be a broodmare, she has bred two foals and is now ready to either continue her breeding career recently backed and ridden away to be a riding horse but needs more schooling. She is eligible for race horse to riding horse classes. She is recently shod and teeth done, fully vaccinated, microchipped and wormed.
800GNS

77 The Property of R Wood NO VAT
EQUAL STATUS (WILLY)
Dark Bay Gelding 16.2hh 9yrs
Sire: Humbel (USA)
Dam: Butlers Lady
Deep Run
Passport Number: IRE20016763
Willy has hunted and point to pointed in Ireland with lots of wins and placing. His last race was in February 2009 and he was placed 4th, now retired from racing 100% sound. He has done unaffiliated SJ whilst being in England. He is a very brave easy ride, he is good to box, shoe, clip and on roads. He would make a fantastic hunter, SJ
or eventer.
580GNS

Good luck and I hope you find something suitable wherever you decide to go
smile.gif
 
Blue was bought from Ashford Market, must be just over 6yrs ago now... he was a fantastic bargain we realise now! He was just turned 3yo 16hh coloured for £950 (i think).
grin.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top