Buying Travellers Horses

TheresaW

TheresaW

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 January 2006
Messages
9,323
Location
Nottinghamshire
Visit site
Around where I live, there are lots of Travellers ponies tethered on the verges. My friend is totally in love with one of them, and she is wondering what the chances are, that if she can find an owner, of him being sold to her? Anyone ever done this?
 
About 15 years ago my Mum was desperately hunting for the right horse. We were based in derbyshire and were eventually referred to a fairly reliable dealer. The poor dealer spent 2 months trying to find the right horse for Mum, and in the end, by chance, mentioned about a tethered mare and youngster she was trying to rescue from a playing field.

The travellers who owned them wouldn't deal with a woman, so she sent a male friend along with the cash. The mare was in a bit of a state and struggled to work out she was no longer tethered when turned out at the dealers yard, so the dealer decided to keep her herself to rehabilitate slowly and keep as a companion horse. My mum fell in love with the youngster, he was totally not what she was looking for, 3 years old, unbacked. Local people said children used to feed him their pack lunches and climb all over him. The dealer backed him and we took over. After a while, my Mum swapped onto my 14.2hh older pony and I took over 'Minstrel', now a fabulous bright bay lightweight cob and did the pony club, local shows, hunter trials etc etc. by the time he was 7 is was doing local open classes in both Sj and XC and trained to elementary level in dressage with him. He was fabuous!!!!! The only slight issue I ever had with him was that he used to leap and squeal going past playgrounds, schools or large groups of children. It was definitely an excited reaction though, not fear based.

Good luck!!!!! Hope you find a gem like we did! :)
 
If it is from an owner who is caring and treats the horses well, I wouldnt have a problem with it - I wouldnt give money to someone who treated horses badly - rescuing one would just condemn another and fund the abuse.

Assuming they are well treated then by all means go ahead as long as (i) it hasnt been tethered with no care as to whether the spot is full of ragwort which is unfortunately often the case (ii) it hasnt been hammered along the road since it was 15 months old, in which case its legs will be knackered in later life. Both are problems that may not show up straight away.

Do bear in mind it isnt unknown for travellers to sell horses that either dont belong to them or that they later come and snatch back/steal back. Unlikely, but be aware that it isnt unknown.

Personally the risks of the legs/ragwort would make me look elsewhere as it would be impossible to know the status of that when trying the horse.
 
You might be okay. Trading in horses is a fairly big part of their community I think. They have the annual Appleby horse fair where you can buy them. They're as happy to sell to non travellers I think. I've never bought one from there but I went once (in my mind I was seeing sort of a country show type event so massive culture shock) but when I was looking at one of the cobs a guy told me a price and asked me if I was interested (which ofcourse I was but probably wouldn't have been able to fit it in my ford ka (:rolleyes:) .
 
It depends on the travellers. I'd also be wary of the ones they've driven since they were tiny, they REALLY hammer them. Round my way it's all the light framed trotter types that they drive, not cobs, but I expect it varies from place to place so it's as well to do some local research.

Having said that, if you do find a good one they can be fab. We've had 4 horses from one lady and all have been exactly as she described. The lovely cob we bought for my Dad did him proud, and is now enjoying a long retirement :0)
 
Thanks everyone. I will pass it all on to her. He is quite a chunkster, and does look in pretty good condition, so looks as though he has been cared for as much as they are.
 
You should be fine.

But they will probably way overprice the horse. Don't be scared to haggle with them - they expect it.

I've dealt with a fair few travellers in my time. Most are fine.

A cautionary tale though; I had a friend that bought a little pony mare that she felt sorry for and the travellers offered to deliver her, only to let their kids thrash her about and jump on the little thing before loading her. When the pony arrived the seller sneered that they'd backed her ready for my friend. The little mare was quite traumatised and it took my friend the best part of a year to get to handle her properly.

Some of them can be downright nasty.
 
scrunchie said:
You should be fine.

But they will probably way overprice the horse. Don't be scared to haggle with them - they expect it.

I've dealt with a fair few travellers in my time. Most are fine.

A cautionary tale though; I had a friend that bought a little pony mare that she felt sorry for and the travellers offered to deliver her, only to let their kids thrash her about and jump on the little thing before loading her. When the pony arrived the seller sneered that they'd backed her ready for my friend. The little mare was quite traumatised and it took my friend the best part of a year to get to handle her properly.

Some of them can be downright nasty.
Click to expand...

Awww that poor mare.Glad your friend sorted her out.Sounds like she has a wonderful home now.
 
Mmmm - there's some travellers in a "static" site (that doesn't make sense???? ;) ) not far from us and they've sometimes got a gorgeous coloured horse tethered on the grass verge. All on his own, but he doesn't seem stressed by that, plus the road where he's on is a rat run.

I've got a coloured boy of my own, and this one would make a lovely pair for him! Every time I've driven past I've thought how lovely he is - and fingers have itched to get scissors, trimming tools etc out (plus some wormer) and tidy him up a bit.

One thing for sure is that he'd be quite happy on his own and wouldn't stress if he was in the field and everyone else had gone out to a show or whatever (a lot of horses would panic about this), plus you know he'd be 100%+ traffic-proof.

I bet the "owners" would want their price for him though ......... but methinks there's a lot of untapped potential there which seems such a shame - I reckon he'd make a lovely show cob if he was broken to ride (dunno whether he is or not but if he IS then he'd be a fab ride & probably drive too).

But I'm full up at the mo - but he IS a lovely boy .............
 
I have often wondered this as there is a local family that has horses, including an extremely good stallion. There seems to be quite a turn over of mares and occasionally they have one that stands out and I thought about maybe trying to buy one if and when I needed a new horse.

I would be worried about the lack of worming, although these local ones always are well fed and have hay throughout the winter, the grazing does get poor. Take on board the warnings about hammering young driving ponies and the "breaking in" methods. They will probably ask loads of money too, but you could be lucky. Maybe if you buy it you could walk it home.
 
The rs i work at has a lovely rising 3 year old cob from a dealer who got it from travellers. He's sweet, level headed and built lovely, confident too. It would be so tempting to back him too early as hes so mature, been there done that for his age.
 
there is no point as you would never get one any cheaper they have an over inflated idea of the value of their horses you would get the same type of horse from a market for a fraction of the cost man down my lane wanted 800 for a hairy cob that would only of made 13 hands but i just felt sorry for it and thats what they prey on suckers sorry to sound harsh but have had many of a run in with them over the last 30 years
 
Ive got 4 from travelers 2 drivers and 2 riders. Full of worms one was traumatised and it took a year to get her right. Some of the best horses I've owned. And yes, they will try to rip you off. offer a fair price and stick to it.
good luck
 
cassie summers said:
there is no point as you would never get one any cheaper they have an over inflated idea of the value of their horses you would get the same type of horse from a market for a fraction of the cost man down my lane wanted 800 for a hairy cob that would only of made 13 hands but i just felt sorry for it and thats what they prey on suckers sorry to sound harsh but have had many of a run in with them over the last 30 years
Click to expand...

Ha ha! That's nothing.

A traveller I knew wanted £3k :eek: for a ride and drive cob with the biggest head I have ever seen on a small body. It was honestly like someone had taken a head off a draught horse and stuck it on a pony. I really do believe if you had tried to jump him he would have nosedived into the poles on take-off! It was a shame as he had a really sweet nature.
 
iv done it 15 years ago from some in bradford was told she was ride and drive lol she was drive but very very green and full of worms but all in all didnt pay what he wanted haggled of it thats not a problem with them theyr happy to do that . she was very bomb proof in traffic never had a rug on and been handled a bit rough but it worked out with me and her she was brill given time to settle lol but hated my dad he,s irish as soon as he spoke and use to try and lead her of stroke her she would see him off
 
I wouldn't have a problem buying a horse from a traveller and in fact almost did a few years back before I got mine. Having said that I think my cob has come from gypsies anyway because the ancestry of the stud certainly points to that being the case. Loveliest horse I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and very, very genuine.
I think Theresa that if your friend goes along with the same open mind you would have with any other seller and looks for any conformation/health issues that are visible then it is no different from buying a horse from any other Tom, Dick or Harry.
I agree about pricing though as travellers are known for trying to haggle, pay the cheapest they can and yet charge as much as possible.
If they like the horse and trust their instincts go for it but if any doubts surface then walk away or else haggle down to as low as they can get.
Good luck
 
I've bought alot of cobs from travellers over the years, never had a problem, don't beat around the bush, always haggle on the price, always pay cash, don't expect to have a vetting!
 
Well my foal Lenny I bought off some traveller friends,they bought him and his mum from a sale, mare ride/drive they didn't want the foal and he'd never been touched in his short life, bought him for £200 and I think I've got a bargain, and they did worm the mare after I had said most probable needs worming and the foal certainly did, 10 weeks on, he walks,stands,moves over and has his feet picked out everyday, he still unsure about strangers and since being microchipped a little headshy. But if you see what you like go for it as most travellers ponies have seen it all heavy traffic etc:- And some travellers like some static people can be scum bums, but most I've met are decent people, but I'm talking about the English Romany, not the Irish travellers, as I wouldn't touch anything of theirs with a bargepole.
 
I've seen a baby that I would be interested in, a perfect markings match for my boy, I believe it's owned by trotter people, not sure how to go about contacting them though, I would prefer to get it before they start the "training"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top