Buy a cob privately or from a dealer?

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ellerslie83

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Hi, I live on the Bucks/Herts border and I'm thinking of buying my first horse in the next few months - I already look after my boyfriends and want my own as his has a permanent foot problem and can only be ridden lightly. But I don't know who to trust in terms of where to buy from!

I want is a chunky cob 15hh or over that isn't silly or spooky, a good-doer that can go barefoot and live out with our other cob all year, and isn't going to cause problems to a novice like me, I'm not interested in competition, all I would be doing is hacking and a bit of schooling and popping the odd little jump, grooming and making a fuss of them along with our other one.

Most of the ads for horses I see out there though are all focused on their competition potential etc....which I'm not fussed about, or are under 7 or over 15 years old, I just want a reliable friend to get older with (I'm 28).

Plus when you google cobs for sale, there are so many dealers which apparently specialise in safe cobs. Does anyone know places to definitely avoid or to go to?

I've also seen horses for sale at riding schools, but think - if they were that good, why aren't they keeping them?

Need help from someone more experienced who could tell me what I should be paying for a horse like this and the pitfalls to avoid?
 
I've also seen horses for sale at riding schools, but think - if they were that good, why aren't they keeping them?
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You can get some very, very nice horses from riding schools. Remember, not all horses are suited to the life.
 
I bought mine from a dealer and he is fabulous but I took a very knowledgable horsey friend who also happens to be a vet with me, and he still did a full 5 stage with an independant vets too. Is there a horsey expert friend or instructor you can take with you?
Farrington coloured horses (am I allowed to say that on here???) seem to be dealers who have sensible cobs all over horsemart, but I have never bought anything from them, so perhaps other forum members might know better. :)
Hope you find the horse of your dreams!
 
amymay said:
You can get some very, very nice horses from riding schools. Remember, not all horses are suited to the life.
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Some riding schools dont want horses to go stale from going round in circles and being ridden by so many novices etc etc.

But whoever you buy from you are definitely in the buyer beware. Some people have fantastic experiences with private buyers(my cob was private years ago and I got told the truth, was given permission to have their own vet provide me a printout of all his vet history as they had nothing to hide). But I have equally met some dodgey folk...private and non private. I got lied to big time and chucked off the last horse I tried on a second viewing buckaroo who has never ever bucked!! um!!My son was chucked off a small pony that guess what has never ever done that.

Lots of mini dealers out there that are NOT dealers ummmm!

You just have to take things as BEWARE whoever you are talking to unfortunately its not clear cut. Some people have good experiences of dealers as its their livlihood , some bad!
 
Thanks to those who replied, it's scary graduating from having lessons to actually looking after a horse to then going out to buy one!

I haven't really got anyone I can ask in Bucks, as I've just moved here recently from Kent, so may look for something in the Kent area and take someone from there with me.

Thanks :)
 
I bought my cob from Emma at Clip Clop traders in East Sussex. So far he has been as good as gold, quite green in the school but quiet to hack. Emma has a pretty good reputation on here as well.
Good luck with your hunt!
 
Buying a horse is a nightmare as so many people tell porkies (they can't help it as it is genetic in their genes) and some people are just plain ignorant. I have a check list of questions that I ask over the phone before making an appointment to view. I find if they don't want to spend time on the phone answering the numerous questions I throw at them then the horse is not for me! It is always well worth taking someone with you if just to be a witness to what has been said.
Best advice I can give you is take your time and look at a few. Always arrive early and insist that you see the horse being ridden down a main road with lots of nice heavy traffic. If they can't happily plod along in heavy traffic then don't bother.
 
I am also in same position, I'm looking for a cob just as you have described, again I wasn't sure to go with a "dealer" where I hope to have some come back if needs or privately.
 
ellerslie83 said:
I've also seen horses for sale at riding schools, but think - if they were that good, why aren't they keeping them?

Need help from someone more experienced who could tell me what I should be paying for a horse like this and the pitfalls to avoid?
Click to expand...

They're usually sold from the riding schools because they go stale/sour after a bit. I ride mare that used to be in a riding school, She is a star, She just got sick of going around in circles. She much prefers going out for a hack now, and light schooling in the western saddle.

Things to watch out for;

Don't let anyone talk you into buying a horse - If they have to talk you into it this should ring alarm bells.

Don't rush into it out of eagerness to have a horse.

Don't assume you can fix any problems it has, If it isn't for you, walk away.

Always see it ridden and hacked, tacked up before doing anything yourself.

If possible get a more experienced friend, or book a couple of private lessons at a riding school and ask the instructor to accompany you on viewings when they have a feeling for what would be suited to you.
 
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