Budget for hunter...

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Aleka81

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Hi All
Starting to become a little disillusioned with horse hunting.
My ideal is 16.2-17hh gelding (not grey!lol) and about 7.
Preferably not full TB. Needs to jump but not silly stuff. Must be safe ish and would be awesome if it would jump a 100 cm SJ track when I fancy the odd competition.
What sort of money do I really need to be spending?
I have tried my regular sources but can't seem to find anything to fit the bill so I figure my budget must be the issue...
 
Very hard to say if buying a made hunter for MrGS I look at between 5 and 12 k but would pay more for a all singing and dancing made hunter with good manners who jumps well .
I have however bought some great hunters very cheaply .
Upping the budget increases the number of horses you can view .
At seven hunters who have been properly produced are coming to their peak in price so that will be not helping .
 
Clodagh said:
Made hunter, that age and size, good in all ways and clear SJing? £10 - £12000 at a guess.
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Interesting. I was hoping £7k ish as it does not need to be brain dead or a weight carrier. I guess I may have to wait till the end of the season and see if I can get a bargain...thanks both
 
Aleka81 said:
Interesting. I was hoping £7k ish as it does not need to be brain dead or a weight carrier.
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I have had the privilege of riding quite a few made hunters.

None have ever been brain dead, quite the opposite -although it's true that one was a substantial weight carrier;)

End of season, or otherwise, to get what you want you're going to need a fairly deep pocket. And I'd be amazed if you could pick one up for £7k.
 
Aleka81 said:
Interesting. I was hoping £7k ish as it does not need to be brain dead or a weight carrier. I guess I may have to wait till the end of the season and see if I can get a bargain...thanks both
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You could import one from ireland yourself and save a bit. Legwork though.
 
amymay said:
End of season, or otherwise, to get what you want you're going to need a fairly deep pocket. And I'd be amazed if you could pick one up for £7k.
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I am guessing Heythrop/Bicester country OP from your Oxfordshire location so would concur with the 10k plus figure, dependent on your willingness to accept any quirks, or at end of season, soundness issues. :(
 
If you are going to buy at the end of the season get in quick before they have had a rest and vet with lots of flexions .
Hunters are very difficult to buy IME the truly wonderful ones are sold as soon as the thought enters their owners brain .
Every time I look at Fatty I think how lucky I was to find him.
 
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gunnergundog said:
I am guessing Heythrop/Bicester country OP from your Oxfordshire location so would concur with the 10k plus figure, dependent on your willingness to accept any quirks, or at end of season, soundness issues. :(
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Spot on and I think travelling might be the answer!

On another theme having not been actively buying anything for many years how much percentage wise do you offer under the price?
 
I bought a 16.2 12yr old bay mare, Hunted regularly when young then show jumped for 3 years by a young girl not high about a meter, She is completely safe and goes and does anything I ask. She is no race horse CBXWB but at my age that's fine. I paid £2500, A friend has just sold 16.2 gelding TBxID been there and done it sort for £4500. So I suggest you travel a bit further.
 
Welly said:
I bought a 16.2 12yr old bay mare, Hunted regularly when young then show jumped for 3 years by a young girl not high about a meter, She is completely safe and goes and does anything I ask. She is no race horse CBXWB but at my age that's fine. I paid £2500, A friend has just sold 16.2 gelding TBxID been there and done it sort for £4500. So I suggest you travel a bit further.
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Thanks welly. That's making me feel a lot more hopeful!!
 
You did want a 7 year old ish though - the peak age, a 12 year old hunter is worth less.
I used to ride for a dealers that sold hunters and they said everyone wants the prefect horse - stands at the meet and by covert, doesn't pull, kick or fidget, jumps anything you point them at and is handsome to boot. Those horses cost a lot of money. Not having a dig, just saying. Good luck with your search.
 
Clodagh said:
You did want a 7 year old ish though - the peak age, a 12 year old hunter is worth less.
I used to ride for a dealers that sold hunters and they said everyone wants the prefect horse - stands at the meet and by covert, doesn't pull, kick or fidget, jumps anything you point them at and is handsome to boot. Those horses cost a lot of money. Not having a dig, just saying. Good luck with your search.
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This - they also wouldn't make it onto the open market too often!

reading this i had no idea how much a nice hunter would cost, makes me grateful that mine took to it so well, but if she doesn't buck her ideas up in other areas i know what market to advertise her too! she's exactly what you describe but 15.2 :L
 
Maybe think 'out of the box'? My best two hunters have been older, been there done it types but neither had actually hunted. I paid £2800 for one, and £2500 for the other.

My only criteria was that they were good xc horses and could cope with the buzz of fun rides, and had a good temperament, then just kept everything crossed that this would transfer to the hunting field.

Good luck in your search.
 
Clodagh said:
You did want a 7 year old ish though - the peak age, a 12 year old hunter is worth less.
I used to ride for a dealers that sold hunters and they said everyone wants the prefect horse - stands at the meet and by covert, doesn't pull, kick or fidget, jumps anything you point them at and is handsome to boot. Those horses cost a lot of money. Not having a dig, just saying. Good luck with your search.
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As per the norm that was ideal world. I am now off to see a 4 year old mare.... I don't know why I ever try bothering to have a criteria! lol
Any idea if a 4 year old will grow much more?
 
Well if you adjust your parameters enough to consider a grey, I've got one in Oxfordshire that would be a long way below your budget! He's 8, we bought him in Ireland in very poor condition and we have been giving him some TLC and discovering what a really lovely chap he is. He has hunted a bit with the Galway Blazers and we will take him out next week to test brakes & sanity and then he will need to be sold........
 
It's funny how if anyone wants something on here then it costs a fortune.. if anyone has something to sell it's worth ****** all! Just an observation!

As you've said you doesn't need to jump huge stuff and you haven't said it needs to be a perfect mannerly hunter, I think you should be able to get something for £7k.
 
Starbucks said:
It's funny how if anyone wants something on here then it costs a fortune.. if anyone has something to sell it's worth ****** all! Just an observation!

As you've said you doesn't need to jump huge stuff and you haven't said it needs to be a perfect mannerly hunter, I think you should be able to get something for £7k.
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Thanks Starbucks...I have to say I agree with your first statement...
 
Clodagh said:
You did want a 7 year old ish though - the peak age, a 12 year old hunter is worth less.
I used to ride for a dealers that sold hunters and they said everyone wants the prefect horse - stands at the meet and by covert, doesn't pull, kick or fidget, jumps anything you point them at and is handsome to boot. Those horses cost a lot of money. Not having a dig, just saying. Good luck with your search.
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I have this type of 'perfect horse' ..... But can't seem to sell. It's only 4 so I understand it can't do the work load of an older one, but if people don't want to spend the higher prices and are prepared to spend a season going a little steadier, what do you think the budget would be for that? Thanks
 
Another pinch myself moment reading this thread, lol ... He is grey though, lol! Right place at the right time meant I got my boy for a pretty awesome price :)
 
I'm sure location must have something to do with this. I posted a similar thread a while back and all the responses from the SE estimated higher values. Up north I'm sure you could find what you wanted for £7k. I found two horses this summer from Facebook groups at fair prices which are exactly as described and good hunters. Try joining groups like horses for sale in Cheshire/Derbyshire/Staffordshire/Shropshire/North Wales etc.
 
rrua said:
I have this type of 'perfect horse' ..... But can't seem to sell. It's only 4 so I understand it can't do the work load of an older one, but if people don't want to spend the higher prices and are prepared to spend a season going a little steadier, what do you think the budget would be for that? Thanks
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I have no idea! Is he 16.2? If you advertise him next week he will be 5 and people really are dim enough to think that is older than 4 this week. Where are you in the country? I think OP was Leicestershire or similar, so more expensive there. (Just went and looked, Oxfordshire, so expensive holds)
 
We were looking for an all rounder and safe hunter for my daughter last year. We saw a few nice 16.2s and 10k was absolutely top whack. If we werent bothered about competitive sj we could have had our pick of several around the 6k mark. We are sw.
 
bakewell said:
You could import one from ireland yourself and save a bit. Legwork though.
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Our secretary buys for Irish horses for people. PM me if interested. You should get a much better deal, but probably be prepared to bring him along a bit yourself. I also agree with the other poster - every horse ever sold from Ireland has hunted, so be a bit careful. She got me a fantastic 5yo IdxCob who is a ***** coloured, but he's hunted all season with the B&SV having come back from a fractured leg. Total trooper ( who jumped a metal gate from a trot t'other day, albeit a bit vertically!)
 
orangebadger said:
Our secretary buys for Irish horses for people. PM me if interested. You should get a much better deal, but probably be prepared to bring him along a bit yourself. I also agree with the other poster - every horse ever sold from Ireland has hunted, so be a bit careful. She got me a fantastic 5yo IdxCob who is a ***** coloured, but he's hunted all season with the B&SV having come back from a fractured leg. Total trooper ( who jumped a metal gate from a trot t'other day, albeit a bit vertically!)
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Thanks all. Have still been looking but very little about that I like. Saw one advertised on H and H which I loved then I googled the sellers name and that was the end of that...

Buying just isn't as easy as I remember it being
 
There is a nice 17.3hh 'made' leciestershire hunter, 11 yrs old, just come on H&H today - chestnut gelding at £8000…..might be worth a call?
 
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