Buying from Ireland... need help..

Currently on the ferry on the way to Ireland as I type, for our first trip to the sales! We paid £214 return holyhead-dublin (one adult & 1 student) and for reasonable times (really early morning was cheaper). Stenaline were the cheapest because students travel free. Ive been told the cheapest/easiest way is to fly & hire a car, but as 21yos unfortunately that wasnt an option as we can't car hire. Ive got to admit the drive to the ferry was a bit of a trek, and fairly stressful driving down the A5 - single carriageway twisty and you are on it forever which when stuck behind a car doing 30mph watching your satnavs ETA creeping up is fairly stressful, its stunning countryside to drive through though, but for the most part I couldn't enjoy it whilst desperately watching for a safe spot to overtake!. However that said in future I'd just leave even more spare time (in case we try to go to Scotland instead again! - 30min detour after inputting wrong postcode *doh*), ignore the satnav as it is paranoid - we arrived 45mins early in the end, and the drive would be fine :). Catching up with some sleep on the ferry and then have 1 1/2 hour drive at other end. It helps that we both share the driving too :). I will be keeping my eye on prices at the sales since not buying this time just going for interest and to get an idea for the future :).
 
I got a connie last year from Ireland. I used an agent; told her what I wanted, the budget and she went out and found a list of what I wanted. I could have bought 5 from the 15 or so that she found for me in a week.

The above poster who said that they will charge for an English accent is correct; plus you need to go to the good breeders. I got a 4 yr old, had 5 stage vetting with xrays of hocks and stifles and transported to England. Overall, cost what it would have been to buy said Connie here, however there is so much more choice in Ireland and also I didnt have to spend time going round looking at horses that turned out to be not as described etc etc.

Over height connies are cheap; mine is 14hh ish at 5, should make 14.2hh full up. He was a bit more expensive as has good bloodlines and won various shows as a yearling/2 yr old. He was just backed, turned away and then brought back into work when I got him. There were some ridiculous ones though, a very nice chocolate dun which was 3, just backed for 1,600 euros and also unbroken 2 and 3 year olds which were around 600 euros. all were registered class 1 (or eligible) with good back breeding as I was very particular about what I was looking for.

The transporter I used was great; again, all arranged through the agent. I "know" her through a friend of a firend though so I knew I could trust her as opposed to just being someone I found on the internet who might run off with my money! she also did all the haggling etc which I find awkward. and she took loads of photos and videos of the horses being ridden/lunged/handled both in and out of stable etc]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top