Buying a Hunter Direct from Ireland- Help !

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ellietaylor10

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Good evening everyone,

I'm looking to buy a nice hunter for myself, and in order to make my money go further, I am going to try and buy a well hunted horse from Ireland. Has anyone had any experience with this? If so, can you recommend ? I'm thinking of Goresbridge- any help would be appreciated !!

Ellie
 
yes, don't buy direct from goresbridge! your better off going to a bloodstock agent for a decent hunter or contacting a hunting yard. If you want a hunter you need to see it on the hunt field!
 
depends how big and how much you want to spend? The real good hunters still leave ireland at about 5k ish, so you might not save an awful lot by looking there. The best thing to do is normally go over for a sale like cavan or goresbridge and get chatting to a few people! The irish are very friendly and often the better horses won't go through the sales anyway, you often have to persaude them quite hard to part with them! We buy ours direct from an agent there, but have bought them out of ireland from such strange places as in the back of someone's taxi!
 
I think you'll struggle to buy a well hunted horse from ireland as many of the ones that are for sale, are generally hunted for a season (or so they say) and then sold over here. However we got 3 from ireland as hunt horses, one is an amazing hunt horse but a nightmare to do everything else with, very spooky on the roads, the other was very nappy and could not be hacked alone, an the 3rd was not a fan of the field to begin with (was a whips horse) but settled well and jumped ditches as a canter stride, but only my dad could hunt him, anyone else he just took the p**s and chucked them on the floor!
 
Good advice- I thought it would be a good plan to get chatting and drink some guinness while i'm at it !

I'm looking for something around 17hh- 17.2hh , I don't need it to jump massive country as we are in wales there are more hills than hedges !
 
I suppose it depend what your looking for, a horse that could hunt or an out and out hunter with experience?
I have had 4 horses from Goresbridge, all have been as they were sold, ones in a new home doing everything well, ones BE eventing with DC's and the 4 and 5 year old are coming on really well and have been what i expected, actually more to be honest.
Here they are:
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The grey is only 4 and has hunted half a dozen times already!

So maybe don't discount the sales - just go with your eyes open - good luck :)
 
Thanks for the advice guys, yes will definately try the sales, even if it's done one or two seasons at least it would have seen hounds. The last three horses that I have owned I have taken hunting for the first time, so this time I wanted something that already know's the job. Does anyone know of any good agents over there? Ellie
 
You might be taking a risk buying from the sales, the thing with horses over here is that while most of them have hunted- it's just how they're hunted and who hunts them is the problem! Trying to find a horse who's been hunted well and has learnt manners etc. is a bit tricky. Also alot of horses will have hunted but not done much else!!
If you're interested a friend is selling her horse who is a lovely genuine ISH - 5 yo, 17 hand and as well as being a fabulous hunter- is very well mannered and great over a ditch!!- he has done FEHL, riding club and eventing. PM me if you want more details
 
Personally I wouldnt buy a WELL hunted horse from Ireland. My friend bought an ISH for her daughter that had been a huntsmans horse in ireland in a former life then an eventer.. They paid almost 10 grand and in 18 months he's spent more time in hospital and in his stable than you could ever imagine. Its one thing after another with him and he's a super lad. His body, joints and legs are just giving up on him.

I would love to go to Ireland to buy horses, they have some of the best in the world, I just wouldnt buy a "Well" hunted one!
 
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