Best place to horse shop for talented youngster?

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BritishEquestrian

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Hi

Can anyone recommend good places to shop for either potential junior event horses or showjumpers with potential to do 120/130cm, horses must have had a little competition experience preferably although not fussed if its just a little showjumping would be for a teenager so no where with super green horses (Must be 5-8yrs old).

Looking at Vere & Clea Phillips, Billy stud etc but not sure what kind of prices you'd be looking at? Wouldn't have to be a 4* Olympic horse but as stated above wouldn't be looking at the super green 4yr olds.

Also opinions and recommendations on going over to Germany/Holland or Ireland? Have a fairly good budget but not huge, would definitely use an agent if I went overseas.

Thank you!
 
Well from a quick look on the Billy Stud website - they advise prices start from £10k, but they are for the 'competitive rider' so not sure how well suited they'd be for a teenager (likely they could be more suited towards professionals or very competitive amateur adults).

I bought my yearling from Alvescot Stud - I'm an amateur so not a professional by any stretch of the imagination, he is for dressage (could possibly event) but they breed a lot of jumping horses, all a more reasonable price than your high profile studs like Billy etc. They dont have many horses over the age of 4, but their 4 year olds are great so maybe you'd consider a younger horse if it meant better value? Or you could always give them a ring to see if they have any rising 5 year olds this year - they dont always put every horse they have on their website.
http://www.alvescotstud.co.uk/

Have you tried the BE/BS websites? And had a look on Horsequest? Horsequest I find has the better horses on it, always lots of good competition horses on there rather than your usual riding club types.

Personally I wouldnt really bother going abroad if you are wanting something that has already competed - going abroad for a youngster makes sense (i.e under 4 and not backed) but something that has already done some work you are running into the issue of it bringing points over from abroad (not sure how BS and BE work but with BD if you import a horse it automatically comes with points, and there will be more points for those that have been out competing).

There are enough horses in the UK that are 5-8, with some competition experience, that would be suitable for a teenager - going abroad you run the risk of not properly understanding the language, the buying process....its like buying from a dealer in the UK, you never really know what you are going to get so you could end up with something that was great in Germany for example but then as soon as you get it home it becomes completely un-rideable.

If I were you, I'd do some research into what stallions you are interested in - that was how I chose my yearling, he's by Treliver Decanter who is known for very trainable horses yet is a WB so has the movement I need for dressage. He is also known for breeding good eventers (many of his offspring have gone on to event) so I know I have a good all-rounder on my hands if I ever decide dressage isnt for me!

Once you have selected a couple of stallions you like the look/sound of, start shopping around on the main horses for sale sites to see if any of that stallions offspring are available in the criteria you are looking for. That way you know you have the breeding you want, plus hopefully it will have had some competition experience over here that you can weigh up to see if it would suit the teenager.

Good luck with your search!
 
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