Buying an older horse for competition?

Traks

Traks

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I know this has probably been done to death and the answer is probably that it depends on the horse etc but just wondering what people’s views are on buying an older horse for competition?

We are about to move onto a 14.3/15hh type competition horse for my daughter to work up the levels and hopefully get her doing PC and low level eventing etc at 90/100cm, we have a reasonable budget for this one. In my head I was thinking of something younger (under 8) but would consider up to about 12.

However…a friends previous pony has come up for sale and he’s 15. He’s done a fair bit with the current teen (SJ, showing, XC and team chases) but before that my friend just had fun with him and did some ODEs, showing, riding club stuff and low level dressage and SJ. He’s got lower mileage on him than perhaps your typical PC pony of a same age which is probably why he is priced as he is.

His full history is known which makes him appealing and he is a good price (under 7k). We are going to view next week and hopefully try a couple of times as they are not in a hurry to sell and he’s not been advertised yet.

We can afford a fair bit more than him but I find the fact that we know his history very appealing! If we like him and he ticks the boxes would we be mad to get something that age? If obviously want a 5* vetting and appreciate at his age there may be something. He’s slightly smaller than we were looking for too so I’d anticipate in 3 or so years we would be looking to move up to something bigger again.

We keep at livery sadly so keeping them forever is not an option however my friend (and his old owner) could have him back once he’s hung up his boots…or he’d be looking at a lower level hacking etc home.

Are we better getting something younger for more money or would you go for his type with the expectation of losing the value and possibly vet bills? Saying that I do know a few like him who are older who are absolutely flying but with a bit of maintenance (regular physio, some have had injections etc).

I appreciate we may not even like him but on paper he ticks a lot of boxes and at a good price x
 
If he does the job at the level you want to compete and your daughter likes him I wouldn't hesitate to buy him.
I bought a pony of the same age for one of my daughters a few years ago and I never regretted my decision for a moment. Our pony is still going strong at 18 and I've no doubt if I wanted to sell her I'd have no issues finding her a new home.
 
Absolutely go for him. There’s nothing like an established pony who knows his job for building confidence. Many of the top competition ponies are at least 12 and frequently in to their 20s. It’s a shame so many people have to keep ponies on yards but if the set up is right and you have a long term plan it’s definitely worth a look. Be aware that a 5 stage vetting is an opinion on the day as to whether the pony can do the job you want and if there are issues can they be managed. Good luck we’ll need pictures!!
 
gallopingby said:
Absolutely go for him. There’s nothing like an established pony who knows his job for building confidence. Many of the top competition ponies are at least 12 and frequently in to their 20s. It’s a shame so many people have to keep ponies on yards but if the set up is right and you have a long term plan it’s definitely worth a look. Be aware that a 5 stage vetting is an opinion on the day as to whether the pony can do the job you want and if there are issues can they be managed. Good luck we’ll need pictures!!
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Yes absolutely this will be our 3rd pony over the years so we know the drill 😂 oddly enough our first one was 15 and flew through his 5 stage with clear flexions, I was gob smacked 😂 still going strong now at 22 with the family we sold him to x
 
I bought an older one from a friend, and a friend bought a BSJA older one for her daughter for PC, that did all the teams and apart from being aware that you have to make sure they are not run ragged from the field I think these are a good buy.
They are athletes and not the that you can just get out of the field do no prep work and fitness work, or you end up with problems. No matter how good they are they will always have a way of doing things, and its better for the rider to try and adapt rather than start fiddling and cause a problem.
The fact that it is not advertised means nothing, everyone a PC will be looking now for the season and the good ones are sold word of mouth, so I would make sure they know you are seriously interested. Easter and just before is like transfer season.
 
honetpot said:
I bought an older one from a friend, and a friend bought a BSJA older one for her daughter for PC, that did all the teams and apart from being aware that you have to make sure they are not run ragged from the field I think these are a good buy.
They are athletes and not the that you can just get out of the field do no prep work and fitness work, or you end up with problems. No matter how good they are they will always have a way of doing things, and its better for the rider to try and adapt rather than start fiddling and cause a problem.
The fact that it is not advertised means nothing, everyone a PC will be looking now for the season and the good ones are sold word of mouth, so I would make sure they know you are seriously interested. Easter and just before is like transfer season.
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Yes will see how it goes, we’ve still got to sell our current one first ideally but can have a small cross over if we need! I wasn’t going to start looking till our current PC pony had gone 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m going to advertise her word of mouth too x
 
I wouldn't hesitate! If he's within budget, you know him and his history makes a huge difference!
Rog was 17 when he came to me. My friend had owned him from a 4 year old and he was ideal. He was looking for a a slightly quieter time so loved hacking round the countryside here!
 
Another who would go for it - Anything over 12 seems to be dismissed these days yet they have so much to give. The fact his whole history is known and he's coming from a friend also makes it a no brainer for me.
 
Squeak said:
Another who would go for it - Anything over 12 seems to be dismissed these days yet they have so much to give. The fact his whole history is known and he's coming from a friend also makes it a no brainer for me.
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Thanks well the friend had him age 4-12 and he’s been with another teen until now at 15 x
 
At that age I had a 15yr old pony. I didnt truly appreciate her at the time, but clearly remember doing two time tempi changes down the centre line for fun. When I look back now I realised how lucky I was. She was a very tricky ride but once you understood her and learnt to sit up and use your seat she was amazing. I never did find out her history but someone at some point had put an enormous amount of effort into schooling her.
 
At that price he sounds like a bargain if he's everything you say he is. In today's terms 15 is not too old, there are many more treatments available to promote longevity than in the past. As you say, a full vetting is essential, I would also ask to see hs veterinary history if possible. If you decide to purchase him it would be wise to invest in regular maintenance such a physio etc.
 
Puzzled said:
15 is no age for a competition pony and he’s VERY reasonably priced
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Yes I thought so, after some further questioning it turns out he has a very mild bout of laminitis some years ago after being over fed by a freelancer while the owner was on holiday 🙄 but never had a problem before or since (used to live out 24/7 for years in the previous home). So I think that may be the reason he’s less...not sure what to think about it to be honest but we will go and look anyway as he sounds ideal in a lot of respects.
 
Traks said:
Yes I thought so, after some further questioning it turns out he has a very mild bout of laminitis some years ago after being over fed by a freelancer while the owner was on holiday 🙄 but never had a problem before or since (used to live out 24/7 for years in the previous home). So I think that may be the reason he’s less...not sure what to think about it to be honest but we will go and look anyway as he sounds ideal in a lot of respects.
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Do let us know how you got on?🙏
 
Definitely sounds great if already doing the job you want. Playing devil’s advocate here- for that resume at that price, given age, I’m not sure I’d vet. As you say, there might be something and you could end up racking up instance exclusions? Obviously, not an issue if you don’t plan to insure and depends whether £7k is too much to gamble. Definitely request disclosure of vet notes though and perhaps make that decision from there? At £7k I would think you’re below the insurance requirement for a vetting anyway?

Sounds amazing- let us know how you get on!
 
Melody Grey said:
Just found the bit re:laminitis. Might be worth checking when last front feet x-rays were and what they looked like?
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Yes I was thinking this I actually know the farrier it’s the same one we use, so I was going to ask him too how the feet look in his opinion. But yes vet plus probably X-rays of feet even though he’s not a lot of money…knowing it was a one off is a good thing I guess but obviously it’s a risk long term and will affect value etc
 
Melody Grey said:
Definitely sounds great if already doing the job you want. Playing devil’s advocate here- for that resume at that price, given age, I’m not sure I’d vet. As you say, there might be something and you could end up racking up instance exclusions? Obviously, not an issue if you don’t plan to insure and depends whether £7k is too much to gamble. Definitely request disclosure of vet notes though and perhaps make that decision from there? At £7k I would think you’re below the insurance requirement for a vetting anyway?

Sounds amazing- let us know how you get on!
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No it’s £5k for most insurance policies alas. Well this is the risk and ordinarly
I’d probably not bother but having just spent £1k on Arthramid for hocks for our current pony who ended up with arthritis I think we would have to insure!
 
Traks said:
No it’s £5k for most insurance policies alas. Well this is the risk and ordinarly
I’d probably not bother but having just spent £1k on Arthramid for hocks for our current pony who ended up with arthritis I think we would have to insure!
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Understandable. I’d still look at vet notes first to establish there’s enough ‘imsurable’. You could also ask if the current owner has insurance and what their exclusions are? Sounds like a great prospect though!
 
Melody Grey said:
Understandable. I’d still look at vet notes first to establish there’s enough ‘imsurable’. You could also ask if the current owner has insurance and what their exclusions are? Sounds like a great prospect though!
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That’s a good idea I will, my friend who had him before never bothered with insurance and never had an issue it was just with this owner that he had the laminitis episode so that will obviously have to be declared.
 
I have a slightly different view on older horses in that I tend to think if they've reached their mid-teens and had a fairly busy life and stayed sound enough to pass a vetting then they're generally pretty tough cookies and the sort to just keep going - so I see it as more of a positive than a negative. I've seen (and had) much bigger problems with younger horses who once put into a full workload it shows up any conformational weaknesses and niggles, and I think they're a much greater unknown on the whole than a horse that has proven to stay sound while out competing and cracking on etc. My own dearly retired horse did absolutely nothing other than the odd hack up and down the road until he was 9, was started late and everything done slowly and correctly, he struggled to have a sound day beyond the age of 14, he just had a whole load of issues nobody could ever have known about. Current horse was 12 when I bought him and had spent a few years hunting and team-chasing, flew through a vetting, is 15 now and never has a lame day. He's had a couple of joints medicated but that's more because I'm OTT and get a full performance work-up done every 12 months, he's only every been slightly off under flexion, always trotted up sound and still in full and hard work quite happily.
 
Thanks all im excited but the episode of Laminitis does slightly concern me, I’ll have to do some more digging and let you know how we get on 🙂
 
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