Buying agent recommendations South West please

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poacher82

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Can the HHO hive mind recommend any buying agents? For a 14yo coming off a pony looking for a first horse, to mainly SJ.
Non-horsey family (hence they’ve picked on me as a friend of a friend and their nearest horsey connection, but I haven’t bought in 15 years!) so I think an agent would be more help than sending them to dealers on their own (assuming there is a trainer involved but yet to confirm!) they are south west but presumably it doesn’t matter where the agent is based?
 
Local Pony Clubs would be a better idea. See if there’s an experienced jumper who can teach child the ropes, one that’s been through the levels with other riders. Personally, I’d be wary of using agents, unless it’s someone known to and recommended by the child’s instructor - who can also be involved.
 
I think they’d be better asking her instructor to accompany them on viewings.

I’ve used two horse agents in South West for similar criteria. They weren’t good experiences - they had no more contacts that I did and would just keep sending me unsuitable ads on horse quest. The one viewing we did have, the pony was completely unsuitable and she got shirty when I said there was no point even getting on.

It’s a rollercoaster so having impartial support is key.
 
Fizzandfun said:
I think they’d be better asking her instructor to accompany them on viewings.

I’ve used two horse agents in South West for similar criteria. They weren’t good experiences - they had no more contacts that I did and would just keep sending me unsuitable ads on horse quest. The one viewing we did have, the pony was completely unsuitable and she got shirty when I said there was no point even getting on.

It’s a rollercoaster so having impartial support is key.
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Fizz would you mind PMing me the names of those you didn’t rate please? It sounds like they are inexperienced as a family and need help to avoid pitfalls as much as they need help to get it right! I’m trying to find out if there is a decent coach involved.
 
Sj at what kind of level?

If UL junior stuff then ignore the below, but otherwise Connie Owers from project ponies would be a good shout. She is mostly event orientated but would know of the ones that would cross over to sj. And she is very good at matchmaking.
 
poacher82 said:
Can the HHO hive mind recommend any buying agents? For a 14yo coming off a pony looking for a first horse, to mainly SJ.
Non-horsey family (hence they’ve picked on me as a friend of a friend and their nearest horsey connection, but I haven’t bought in 15 years!) so I think an agent would be more help than sending them to dealers on their own (assuming there is a trainer involved but yet to confirm!) they are south west but presumably it doesn’t matter where the agent is based?
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I was in a similar position around that age, which was about 4 years ago now.

When I was first looking I wanted a sj horse/pony, which was, quite honestly, the last thing I needed. That was with a horsey family (although they hadn’t been actively involved in horses/the community for 20 years).

I think for a kid in a non-horsey family looking for a 1st horse, then they probably actually need a nice, safe, low-level allrounder (who is capable of just being a relaxed weekend horse) to show them the ropes (unless they’re some kind of showjumping child prodigy - in which case, I’m envious). Plus, that’s the kind of horse that’ll be easy to sell/loan/share when they inevitably go off to do their own thing in life without a horse-knowledge family that can help.

ETA: I found agents pointless while I was looking, the 14yo is better off taking an instructor or someone who knows their abilities along with them and sending ads through to them. It’s a painful process!
 
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