Been offered a horse...What would you do?

NU ABO

NU ABO

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We've been offered a horse for £120-£150.
She's apparently broken to ride, but we know she's been left in a field with a herd of mares for at least 5 years (since we've been around).
She's a part-bred Arab, roughly 14.2(ish), no idea how old she is though. She doesn't look that old and her back isn't sunken. I would put a rough estimate of about 12-14 years on her.
Her feet are a mess, her teeth have never been done as far as we know, she would definitely need worming and having her shots done.
She's a very curious, friendly little mare. Seems to love a fuss and isn't nippy.

The idea would be to fix her up, bring her on under saddle and then sell her on. Only thing is how much time we'd need to put into her. I already have my boy to work, plus full-time work and I do worry we'd be taking on too much.
But I dread to think where she might end up otherwise...


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Much love to anyone for looking, and for any possible advice :p
 
She is a nice size and the sort that would be quite easily sold with some work and maybe a couple of shows behind her

At that price though I think I would be suspicious and would think it worth the money for even the most basic of vet checks if only to try to establish her age which could be a make or break thing

Edited to add that if they are selling her there must be a passport and so a year of birth...
 
mulledwhine said:
She is very pretty, with TLC she could be stunning.

I can't offer any advice, other than if your head is saying no, then I usually find that the first instinct is the right one.
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My head is being a problem and not knowing what to think. My heart is all for it because she's such a sweetheart.
When I first got told my head said 'Yeah go for it!' and now it's alternating between that and 'Do you have enough time to do this?'

I mean, I do have my mum to help, so that's at least some of the pressure off.
 
Do you have time/funds/ a back up plan if she doesn't sell before winter?

I too would get a basic vetting/ once over - if she turns out to be 20 (my 21 y/o does not look or act his age and no sign of dippy back at all) selling might be tricky or be blind in one eye or have a heart murmer etc.
Yes she's only £120 but it'll still cost you £180 ish to have her PTS if there is something major wrong.
 
WelshD said:
She is a nice size and the sort that would be quite easily sold with some work and maybe a couple of shows behind her

At that price though I think I would be suspicious and would think it worth the money for even the most basic of vet checks if only to try to establish her age which could be a make or break thing

Edited to add that if they are selling her there must be a passport and so a year of birth...
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Polos Mum said:
Do you know her history, why has see been in a field doing nothing for so long?
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According to the current owners (man and woman) she used to be ridden by the woman, but she then stopped riding and as they run a 'stud farm' (I use the term very loosely here, they own a few stallions and every now and then someone uses one of the stallions), she got left out with the broodmare herd.
And as far as we can tell that's it... she's just been left there in the herd.

I would imagine they have a passport for her, I think that could be what could make me make a decision. A vet check would definitely be happening regardless.

The price thing doesn't make me too suspicious knowing the people. We think they're selling up to leave and the man only wants to keep the small mountain and moorland types he has.
They've had two put down that would have been impossible to give to anyone (both in their 30s with no teeth).
 
Polos Mum said:
Do you have time/funds/ a back up plan if she doesn't sell before winter?

I too would get a basic vetting/ once over - if she turns out to be 20 (my 21 y/o does not look or act his age and no sign of dippy back at all) selling might be tricky or be blind in one eye or have a heart murmer etc.
Yes she's only £120 but it'll still cost you £180 ish to have her PTS if there is something major wrong.
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Yeah, Vet check is a definite. I would be tempted to ask a vet to come out and taken bloods to get tested at my lab, so then I'd know if anything was wrong internally for virtually no cost.
 
Why cant he just give her to you, £120-£150 why? I'm sure he would be just glad to have found a good home. If I was you I would ask him, he can only say no, then start at £50 explain to him why farrier/vets/PTS in worse case scenario .
 
She is lovely, personally I would buy her, but you have to consider if you really want her, can afford the time and money to keep her.
 
She's very pretty, and sounds like she has a lovely nature. It would be fantastic if you could give her a chance. Good luck with her ;)
 
Champion1969 said:
Why cant he just give her to you, £120-£150 why? I'm sure he would be just glad to have found a good home. If I was you I would ask him, he can only say no, then start at £50 explain to him why farrier/vets/PTS in worse case scenario .
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Because some people think price equals value?
 
personally, i wouldn't unless you can afford to keep her as a field ornament if things don't go to plan..it's a big risk and she isn't exactly young...but i would love for you to prove me wrong :) :)
 
NU ABO said:
The idea would be to fix her up, bring her on under saddle and then sell her on.
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Haha! Good luck with that! I've still got mine, free to good home 2 years ago, hopefully he'll be sold this year but being that he was mentally 3 when I got him although rising 10 he's quite stuck in his ways, improvement is slow and he goes backwards really fast. If you're going to have her, I wouldn't offer anymore than £1 just so that money has changed hands
 
Thanks for all the advice guys.
I think we're going to have to have a serious talk with the current owners. I would sooner pay out money if they would get a farrier and dentist at least out to her.

I'm also going to have a sit down with mum and ask her if she reckons she has the time as well, as it would have to be a joint thing. I definitely don't have the time if it's just me.

I think it's going to need serious thinking about and I'm going to need to know if she has a passport before I even consider handing money over.
 
Not helpful, but she is very pretty... And I'm a sucker for pretty arab mares! Seriously though, some good advice above - I think you know what you have to do.
 
I would. Yes there is a chance that she could end up costing your more than you could make, but everything isn't about money. She looks lovely and deserve a chance.
I thought I was 'cold hearted' but I have had a few horses I have got for next to nothing just because I thought they deserved a chance, and they have never let me down.

Not everything is about money, she looks like she could be a fun horse, and potentially a great project.
 
A friend of mine got an arab mare in not dissimilar circumstances. Turned out the horse was a nut-job to ride but my friend being a stubborn teenager at the time, persisted and she did calm down a little. Be careful.
 
If you really like and want her, and can afford to keep her long term/permanently then yes go for it, it's so rewarding when they come right.
However do be aware that she won't be worth much more than a few hundred in todays market, and that's assuming she's something like quiet and not older than early teens.
If she doesn't come right or has lameness issues then she'll be worth practically nothing (even the meat men don't like greys)
 
I would hesitate a lot unless she was a keeper. You will put a fair bit of work in to her and possibly say £350 getting 2 stage vetting, teeth, jabs, worming etc. You might just cover your costs.

I presume you are aiming to do a bit for the summer and then sell before winter? She will still be 14 year old green pony then so value wise - £700? If you don't sell her until next spring she may well be 15 so value wise - £700?

Is she registered with AHS? Could you do a bit more digging about her history - how much she was ridden etc?

Years ago I would have just scooped her up and taken her home but the second that headcollar rope is in your hand your bank account starts to empty :D
 
She looks very sweet.
But only do it if you will enjoy it don't do it to make a profit because the chances are you won't but the time you have fixed the feet the teeth etc etc costs mount up but if you have the space and you will enjoy and get pleasure from doing it go for it but I would want a vet check and a passport before taking her on.
 
Personally I think if your gonna struggle with time then I wouldn't!! And agree with the others who say you probably won't make any money out of it either.

I got given a 9yo unbacked warmblood a year ago as my mare had to have a year out of work. I had no intentions to sell him on so didn't rush him but even though he is probably saleable now he is still a very green 10yo so I probably wouldn't recoup the money I have spent. Also now my mare is coming back into work it is very hard work!!! I too have a full time job and doin that and excercising 2 horses a day (especially as they both need so much attention) is really hard!!!

Wouldn't swap either if them now and only did it as he was for keeps but if i did it from a business point of view then I would of steered well clear.
 
Buying her for yourself is one thing, buying her to sell on, another.

If you have the time and money for her and you want her for yourself, get her.

However you may struggle to sell her on and it's very unlikely you will make money out of her even if she does sell...so don't buy her.
 
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