buying safe allrounders for 2.5/3k

If you don't mind something a bit older OR young that needs bringing on OR something that's a bit plain, doesn't have much talent then yes.

If you want the finished article, I.e something that's a good age, smart lookin with a degree of ability that's safe, sane in all ways and has competition experience under it's belt and is well schooled then anything upwards of 5k IMO.
 
My super safe girl was £3k 2 years ago - but (big but!) she was as green as they come and although was a def 'potential' allrounder, she was about as far from being ready to get on and go as you can get - I think we would have got along faster if I had brought a youngster and broken it in myself!! However, she is wonderfully safe on the road, has a lovely pop on her, is a real character and now we are getting huge amounts of flatwork under our belt she is developing very nicely. She will hack on her own or in company and will canter across a field and then walk along on a loose rein without being an idiot, she is no slouch either and is shaping up nicely! It took us a long time to find her and we eventually travelled over 5 hours away to see her, and we were very lucky that our diamond in the rough hasn't turned out to be an expensive mistake.
She was a desirable age and height too which made her harder to find I think - if you are willing to take on an older horse that maybe needs a step down from jumping or something then you would have more choice I think.

So yes, it can be done, but you need to be prepared to kiss alot of frogs, look for as long as it takes, travel as far as needed, and have luck on your side. (at that price you will prob also need to have cash for a full wardrobe too!).
 
I sold a Welsh D two years ago, for various reasons I had never ridden her myself and no one had mentioned that she was a superstar in that department, She was sold fairly cheaply to a girl who had never had a canter, and behave impeccably. Section D's are not always quiet, but the price was dictated by my need to sell and the market demand.
Some horses are pretty quiet in temperament, but many are sold when they have had lots of work and not much food! No one should expect to buy a 6-8 year old with top potential in any sphere for £2.5K, but plenty of horses are available, older or younger, ploddy or plain.
 
I got my boy for £1500, safe alrounder (except for stressage but I think that is more due to the fact neither of us like it so don't do it than he couldn't do it). Hacks, SJ, XC, fun rides, hunting etc. Very sensible, has a couple of quirks (e.g. if your hacking alone and don't ride him forward he will slowly turn to walk home - hardly unsafe just a little annoying!) So yes, can be found for £3000. BUT it will take a lot of time and will have to look through a lot of unsuitable horses to find the diamond.
 
My budget is 2.5 to 3.5 k for a safe sensible allrounder. However I am willing to take on a greener Horse that needs a bit off work. I am not fussed about shows either so don't really want a really well schooled Horse with competetions under it's belt. So I think it can be done but you won't get the full package.
 
I bought an super horse for less than that - 16.2 9 year old WB gelding with excellent jumping lines, hacks alone and in company, excellent to handle, well schooled and sensible, evented to novice, BS winnings, BD points etc etc. Super horse for £2300. Reason for low price? He has a heart murmur. He's 16 now and still competing. Doesn't affect him at all. He needs yearly check ups to make sure it isn't getting worse and he's still coping with it, but it hasn't altered since I've had him :) The bargains are out there if you're willing to accept some small faults
 
yes my cob was in your price bracket with about 700 quids worth of tack/rugs included.

14.2 cob is a total star id happily put nervous/novices on him

he passed a 5 stage BUT and heres the but

from hes add a novice or nervous wouldnt of bothered ringing it said he was bad to load and not good with large traffic.

infact the loading was down to young inexperianced owner, i got him home had one session with a dually and bucket of grub and now he marches on up the ramp.

the traffic, we are villaged based but my god do we meet some things, ive been flat out up a track and came head on with a moving digger, and the main road to the pub , yesterday we had motor bikes in numbers al the normal sunday traffic then a huge milk tanker! all the lad needs is a pat and to look at what is coming at him he doesnt do anything atall.

if any thing hes to quiet for me, i find him boring. but he suits my needs and we are having much fun, being able to tie needy to a fence and he isnt bothered if people are on the swings, umbrellas in the wind kids running about, hes happy if he has grass! One of my large reasons that made me buy him was im into showing and i saw he had the raw ingrediants to be suitable for the county level stuff.

sorry ive waffled, what im trying to say is look beyond the adverts, some people have no idea how to write one.
 
Last edited:
It depends on how you define "safe" for example some youngsters are as safe as houses but inexperienced so need bringing on.

For your price bracket you should find something nice (even if its an older horse) if you search really well.
It's also worth looking at some slightly over budget as some people are desperate to sell so will drop their price.

Good luck with your search :D

(Fwiw I think many horses are overpriced, even in the "tough economic climate" where people are desperate to sell).
 
YES it is possible BUT you have to be the first one there to view it, as the first person will buy it!!!

I did it just over a year ago the horse in my sig. 6 yr old WB 16hh green in the school. But great hack, very forward going but never naughty or spooky. Lovely quality little horse with a slight blemish on front fore.
He is an absolute star and with a temperament to truly die for

Never stops or throws his toys out the pram. In the early days he was a tiny bit nappy and threatened to rear but even as a nervous rider I knew it wasn't serious, just him being insecure. He would never dream of doing it now. Gets a bit excited sometimes as he truly loves life. but would be boring if he didn't

I paid £2400 from a small dealer who imported horses, I don't think he knew what he had as he normally only dealt with very expensive competition horses :D
 
jhoward said:
yes my cob was in your price bracket with about 700 quids worth of tack/rugs included.

14.2 cob is a total star id happily put nervous/novices on him

he passed a 5 stage BUT and heres the but

from hes add a novice or nervous wouldnt of bothered ringing it said he was bad to load and not good with large traffic.

infact the loading was down to young inexperianced owner, i got him home had one session with a dually and bucket of grub and now he marches on up the ramp.

the traffic, we are villaged based but my god do we meet some things, ive been flat out up a track and came head on with a moving digger, and the main road to the pub , yesterday we had motor bikes in numbers al the normal sunday traffic then a huge milk tanker! all the lad needs is a pat and to look at what is coming at him he doesnt do anything atall.

if any thing hes to quiet for me, i find him boring. but he suits my needs and we are having much fun, being able to tie needy to a fence and he isnt bothered if people are on the swings, umbrellas in the wind kids running about, hes happy if he has grass! One of my large reasons that made me buy him was im into showing and i saw he had the raw ingrediants to be suitable for the county level stuff.

sorry ive waffled, what im trying to say is look beyond the adverts, some people have no idea how to write one.
Click to expand...

If you get bored with him let me know, I've decided to get another ned and he sounds just right for me :D
 
silverstar said:
Can it be done?? My friend thinks it can Im not convinced.
Click to expand...

Not unless it's quite mature, I would say.

"Safe" is always going to hold value.

I had a look last week in the "allrounder/family friends" sections of horsequest (a mixture of revision procrastination and pondering if we have to buy a new riding horse for my mother in near future) and I was impressed for what you can now get for £3.5-£4K.
 
dawnpetenathshir said:
If you get bored with him let me know, I've decided to get another ned and he sounds just right for me :D
Click to expand...

next year proberley, want to do the uk counties with him first and see how he gets on. and i have to say if i put him up for sale it would me more like for 5k. hes only 10. does everything, never spooks (worse we have ever had is him spinning around when a tiny pony with a grazing muzzle on came towards him LOL i will allow him that one.) can be ridden in open spaces well schooled, jumps, hacks for hours, nannied an x racing arab through the forest this wkend, we used cobby as a brake, showed the arabs nose up cobby butt and job done LOL.

and and he has such personality., although sitting on laps for a bum itch really needs to stop:D theres a load of piccies of him on the last page of the truth and dare thread in soapbox.

they do come up though, cobby was in next county sensibley priced and fitted the bill i had

needed to fit in to a 3.5tn lorry
didnt need to be ridden all the time
was good in open spaces
stayed alone in a field
cheap to keep
hacked out alone
quality enough for county shows.

bit of an odd list buts that what i needed at the time. heights/ages level of schooling etc really didnt matter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top