Buying a 5yo from the field - would you?

muckypony

muckypony

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Long story short I've seen a pony that has really caught my eye. Lovely 5yo Sec D gelding. Owner was pregnant and now had a premature baby that is unwell and needs to stay in hospital - pony has been out of regular work since the winter.

Arranged to view on Saturday (is over 100 miles away from me) and she said she can't ride at the moment (just had baby) so will need to get someone to ride him. I said not to worry I don't mind hopping on.

Received a message today to say that as she needs to stay longer in hospital than first thought so is willing to let him go from the field for less money. I asked if I could still view on Saturday to which she replied of course as whatever happens she wants to know who he is going to. I also asked if I can have him vetted and she again has no problem with that.

Should I be put off? My feeling is no... I really like him and as hes been out of work since the winter he would need brining back anyway. I know anyone can sound nice over email/phone but she really does seem genuine.

What aare your thoughts?
 
Great thanks guys :D hoping I wasn't being silly and impulsive!

I'm assuming selling from the field means not ridden?
 
I wouldn't be put off at all. Sounds like she's going through a difficult time with her baby and her own health and she wants what's best for her pony. If she's open to vetting etc then there's nothing to say this isn't an honest sale.
 
muckypony said:
I'm assuming selling from the field means not ridden?
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Absolutely not - you should still ask to hop on and have a wonder around - being realistic on fitness!!

I was going to ask why she thought your viewing and 'from the field' would be any different?!? Maybe she won't have time to ride him for a few days before the viewing - so if you aren't happy to hop on yourself take someone with you who doesn't mind sitting on something that hasn't been ridden since Nov.

I'd be concerned if she point blank refuses to let you/ someone you know ride him in walk for 5 mins - just to prove he is at least broken!!

I had my baby 7 weeks ago, my boy hasn't been sat on since November and hasn't had much more than a pat twice a day. I lunged in walk for 5 mins with tack on then the next day tacked up and went for a 20 min hack in walk - even after that time off he didn't seem to behave any different to when I left him in Nov. He is much older and used to breaks but a 5 year old thats been ridden for a while should be able to cope with a little.
 
Sold from the field where I live means exactly that, it's sold from the field. The horse won't be shown (although some people will let you hop on it's back and have a little wander around the field) hence the (usually) seriously reduced price for a sold from the field horse. It's often done by people who either don't have the time to show the horse or who aren't competent enough to do a showing.

OP it wouldn't put me off the horse either. Good luck.
 
I brought my welsh at 7yrs old had been gelded at 6 backed purchased by the person i brought him from then left in a field for a year until I came along!

my set up at the time (teenager with v little money) meant I stabled at a old farm with no facilities and didn't do much for the first year or so in terms of ridden work we just hacked and did some local shows I then joined riding club and he blossomed.
 
Like others, it wouldn't put me off.
However, I'd like to spin the pony on the lunge for 5 mins each rein (as per Polo'smum said above) and also sit on pony if I had a trusted friend with me.
The price would have to really reflect you NOT being able to try out properly.

Also - put your sensible head on - any whiff of a problem then do walk away
 
Sounds pretty genuine, I'd just understand that it is difficult for her to arrange him being ridden, and ask to handle and maybe tack him up. Take another person with you and if all seems well and he seems happy you could have a sit, your helper could lead you around for a bit first, just proceed with caution.

That would be enough for me and the vet can check that he is ok physically.

My horse is the type who can be left for months and then pick up where you left off, she is only just turned 6 so hopefully this chap will be the same!
 
Wouldn't put me off either, but I would insist on handling the horse myself, assessing the ground manners, lunge on both reins, tack it up and girth it up and send out on lunge again. I would then have a crash test dummy, (def not me !! too old), get on it. All I would want to see under tack is a willingness to go forwards quietly, leave the yard/home environment without issue and have a look at a little traffic. If the horse is genuine and the seller is telling the truth you may have found yourself a bargain.

On the other hand, it could be a 'sold from the field' because it is a monkey that has got topside of it's current owner. Eyes wide open at the viewing and if you can't trust your own judgement take a good knowledgeable friend with you. Good luck, hopefully he is a gem.
 
As long as its cheap enough it wouldn't put me off at all. I would expect the worst and hope for the best. My mare I bought as a 4yr old backed and turned away "from the field". They showed me her lunging (which was hideous) and the pro chap was willing to lie on her back only. I am pretty sure that she had terrified her previous owner and that's why they sold her like this. She has done some rather challenging things since I bought her, but I paid 1500 less than she was worth as nothing but a broodmare, so I felt worst case scenario I could sell her as a broodmare and get my money back. As its turned out, despite the quirks, she is very talented.
 
I went to view a wee ex racing mare last week in the field. Not really done anything since she retired from racing two years ago, hadnt been sat on since last year. Saw her being lunged and popped on for a tottle round the yard. Luckily for me the owner has kindly allowed me to have her on a months trial. Perhaps that may be an option for you if you like the horse??
 
Thanks everyone!

He doesn't lunge, owner did a lot of long reining and just never lunged him (I know this would put some people off but my last pony didn't lunge and was 7 when I got her!)

Personally I would like to handle (catch in, pick up feet, tack up etc) and at minimum see him trotted up. I'm confident that I can make the right decision and see a good horse.

So... Watch this space, fingers crossed this time next week ill have another four legged friend! :D (just need to keep my sensible head on rather than my 'ooooh pretty pony' one!) :p :D
 
Have to agree, although I am still yet to see him I have a really good feeling about him. Was looking for a project but hes what I've wanted in a horse so I hhighly doubt I will be selling anytime soon (oops!) :p

Went to see two at a dealers last week and had a bad gut feeling as soon as I spoke to the person.... Dishonesty at its best, sheath was covered in sarcoids, should have gone with the gut feeling and not wasted my time!
 
muckypony said:
Thanks everyone!

He doesn't lunge, owner did a lot of long reining and just never lunged him (I know this would put some people off but my last pony didn't lunge and was 7 when I got her!)

Personally I would like to handle (catch in, pick up feet, tack up etc) and at minimum see him trotted up. I'm confident that I can make the right decision and see a good horse.

So... Watch this space, fingers crossed this time next week ill have another four legged friend! :D (just need to keep my sensible head on rather than my 'ooooh pretty pony' one!) :p :D
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No matter how good your judgement, If this horse is being sold as broken and ridden, you must have this 'field horse sale' tacked, girthed properly, mounted and ridden away. None of us can predict a bronc or chronic napper prepared to stand up.

A friend bought an off the field, broken and hacking out 4 year old some years ago, with a sob story reason for sale. It was super looking, sweet on the ground and walked on the lorry like an old pro. Given a month to adapt to it's new surroundings. My friend went back to basics and had a nasty shock when it reared whilst she put the bridle on, reversed, all guns blazing, into her on the long line, turned in and at her on the lunge kicked like a mule when saddled and bucked like a bronc as soon as a bottom touched the saddle.

It went through every veterinary investigation possible including KS. Nothing found and a lot of money spent on a horse that cost £750 to buy and had the breeding to event. It was turned out again, tried again a year on and the same behaviour was produced again and the ground manners had disappeared, leading the horse turned into a hat, gloves and hope you didn't get a hoof on your head affair. After many tears I persuaded my friend her safety was more important and the hunt was called.

Obviously this was an extreme case, but had the horse been tacked up at point of sale it would have been a different and much cheaper outcome.
 
Be careful. I agree is all sounds very genuine and the reason for sale wouldn't even slightly deter me.
Two years ago I had a horse "from the field" recommended to me by friends- belonged to their friend. She was pregnant a-nd couldn't ride him but I was assured he was safe and had a months trial, but actually the owner said at any time even 6 years down the line she would have him back if need be. All sounded great
He was the quietest sweetest horse on the ground and to tack up etc etc. Twice out of the 3 times I sat on (cant even say rode as my feet didn't even touch the irons) I ended up in hospital. I had my face fixed by a plastic surgeon the second time.
I now trust no one when it comes to horses and have pretty much lost the desire to ride- I don't feel scared so I don't think its confidence as such but I just no longer want to ride.
I just would be uneasy about jumping on yourself first time and I would be wary of asking one of my friends too tbh. Surely the owner has someone/anyone who is willing to sit and walk round the field for a few minutes?
 
I would buy it s if it had never been backed and then start from scratch if it is a project for you and he is easy to handle then go by the vetting and how he is to handle
 
I think it would be very unfair to drag in a horse who's been turned out since November, tack it up and expect to ride it straight off, especially a youngster- don't be surprised if it plays up. On the other hand, if you do and it behaves ok, well, impeccably etc I think you're onto a winner (providing no tricks have been played by the seller)

It's a risk buying from field but if it's cheap......I may risk it if it was ridiculously cheap but personally I wouldn't buy it not knowing its back ground. You could always do some digging around :)
 
ThoroughbredStar said:
I think it would be very unfair to drag in a horse who's been turned out since November, tack it up and expect to ride it straight off, especially a youngster- don't be surprised if it plays up. On the other hand, if you do and it behaves ok, well, impeccably etc I think you're onto a winner (providing no tricks have been played by the seller)

It's a risk buying from field but if it's cheap......I may risk it if it was ridiculously cheap but personally I wouldn't buy it not knowing its back ground. You could always do some digging around :)
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I don't think anyone is expecting a balanced, schooled ride. It wouldn't be too much to ask to be able to sit on its back and walk a few steps to ensure that it has been broken in and is not insane or otherwise unridable. Horses remember their training and if they were rideable 6 months ago they won't object to being sat on. Conversely if there were problems with the horse not understanding, or being frightened they won't forget that either. Its like putting a bike in a shed with a puncture - it will still have the puncture when you get it out next summer.
 
I went with sis as the experienced friends to try a 7yr old ex-broodmare, who had previously been broken to ride and drive, for her children.
We arrived to see the pony on a very busy yard being hosed off to get rid of the mud she'd accumulated while being turned away on a large acreage with other horses and cows. After seeing her led round the yard with a large horsebox started up next to her, we took her for a walk round the local housing estate. All was well, so we brought her back, I legged sis (the lightest among us) up and she walked and trotted her bareback in the arena, on the lead.
This pony had had nothing done with her for well over a year, she behaved impeccably and friend negotiated a good price for her 'from the field'. The pony has proved to be an absolute gem.
OP, I'm not sure I'd travel so far to see any horse but the story sounds as if it is genuine. Just make sure you try the pony in as many situations as you possibly can under the circumstances, listen to your gut instinct and be prepared to leave it alone as soon as you feel the slightest unease. Good luck!
 
I'll definitely ask to tack him up, I also know he was professionally broken so will ask for contact details for them.

I too think it would be unfair to expect him to be perfect, I am wondering if thats why hes now being sold from the field, perhaps she is worried that if he does do something babyish ill fall off and sue or something. (Lets be honest it wouldn't be the first time a complete novice has turned up to see a youngster and blamed the owner for falling off!)

Fingers crossed!
 
ThoroughbredStar said:
I think it would be very unfair to drag in a horse who's been turned out since November, tack it up and expect to ride it straight off,
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How do you bring horses back into work then after a break?

My boy has been off since November while I had a baby, I don't want to lunge him as small circles tougher on unfit horses IMHO so I tacked up and hacked out - only 10 mins to start with in walk but he was impecably behaved. i wouldn't do and hours jumping lesson but 10 mins walking in strainght lines - what is the risk/ issue?
 
Polos Mum said:
How do you bring horses back into work then after a break?

My boy has been off since November while I had a baby, I don't want to lunge him as small circles tougher on unfit horses IMHO so I tacked up and hacked out - only 10 mins to start with in walk but he was impecably behaved. i wouldn't do and hours jumping lesson but 10 mins walking in strainght lines - what is the risk/ issue?
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You get them back into routine, lunge them, long rein them, etc etc, all the basic rules of breaking :)

You also know your horse, OP doesn't know this horse at all.
 
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