Beeston horse sale?

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StephanieAnn

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I am looking at getting my first horse, well pony sometime next year after I leave college. I have been wondering whether it is worth checking out Beeston horse sales? I have been to the market and have observed the horse sale part once, I saw lots of lovely horses and ponies that really didn't look too bad at all, they weren't the starving wrecks I had expected. I assume that it is a gamble as most horses won't have been vetted but do you think it is possible to pick a nice pony from there or is it worth buying from a private home and spending that bit more? The riding school I have attended for years have had some success stories from there but also some horrors! Has anyone ever bought from there and what have your experiences been like?

Thanks :)
 
Over the years I've known a few horses that have come from and gone to Beeston and I would say I've never known a 'good' sound horse go there. They might not all look like starving wrecks but you can't always see a behavioural issue. With bags of time, money, patience, skill and experience horses with 'issues' can come good, but as a first time owner presumably on livery do you have this? Why go looking for trouble and increasing the market? There may be someone in financial straits who needs a quick sale, but it is a gamble, and going slightly off tangent there are people who will pass off unsound or horses with behaviour problems they can't deal with and say they are selling them cheap and quick because they need the money only to turn round and buy two more the next week. Sorry not meaning to scare you off buying your first horse, just be aware not everyone is as honest as they might seem!
 
Not a chance !! It is a mine field as it is getting your first horse ! Check preloved and go to Gibsons and see if they know of anyone selling

also try the cheshire horse web site
 
Only very experienced people with the time, money and emotional, hmmm, what is the word, a certain sort of distance or practicality, should buy from auctions. You might get a bargain but you might pick up any sort of behavioural or medical problem and it costs just as much to fix a cheap horse to fix an expensive one.
By the emotional thing above I don't mean to be hard or uncaring I just mean that if you're going to buy from an auction you need to be prepared to do the right thing by the horse whatever it is. For example I know someone who bought a Shetland from an auction - he had an undescended testicle and she had to ask the vet to put him to sleep as she didn't have insurance to cover the £1500 for surgery and being locked in a stable on a livery yard for the rest of his life would have been miserable for him. In the end luckily for her and the pony the vet saw something in the pony and did the surgery for free(!) but that story could have had a very different ending, and I think if you are going to buy at a sale you have to be prepared for every possible outcome with practicality rather than emotion for the horse's sake.
There are some people on here that buy from auctions but they have years of experience and they know from having done it before that they can deal with a lot of behavioural problems and have the knowledge to spot some common medical problems so it's less of a gamble, but still a gamble.
In your case, as it's your first horse and your experience has been at a riding school, I would advise you to steer well clear. Personally I would never go to an auction as I would get completely caught up in the excitement and my emotions and buy the first sad looking horse I saw. Go and try a few horses either at private homes or at reputable dealers and take your riding instructor with you and when you have found one you like then get a five stage vetting done. Buying a horse is a hugely important decision and you want to make sure you enjoy it and get it right so that you and your new friend have years of pleasure together.
 
I suggest that when you are ready to seriously think about getting your first horse that you have a word with your Riding School and talk to your instructor who will know what level you are at and be able to recommend the type of horse, age etc that would suit you for your first horse. The horse selling/ buying game is worse than second hand cars so take an experianced person with you that you trust their judgement and be prepared to pay a little extra for that right temperment.

I believe that apart from your house that you will buy, buying a horse is the second most influental purchase that you will make, and possibly the next big investment you will make - unless your lucky enough for a car to slip into 2nd place !
 
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