CAVAN Horse sales

J

JANANI

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Just a few queries on the horse sales held at Cavan as I thinking of heading down at the end of the month. So anyone who has been there

How do you cope with the amount of horses for sale ie you can't view them all?

Are the horses vetted when you purchase it?

How do you find out if they have funny quirks etc?

Or is it something for dealers only?


Thanks

Jana
 
Hi I've bought one and sold 2 at Cavan - definitely not a dealer tho!!

Suggest if anyone is going to go through catalogue in advance if you after particular size / breeding and watch them being ridden etc. You can ask for them to be trotted up for you. they are vetted in advance (for vendor) but you can get a re-vet on site (pay cash I think). Have a ride if you want. Vendor has to tick boxes e.g. to say if novice ride (look at info in office) and declare vices.

Ask about funny quirks - but you take the same chances as anywhere else. Have fun!
 
Have a look carefully through the catalogue and mark anything interesting, but be prepared to be open-minded - I have often bought horses that I just happened to notice, and completely disregarded others that looked good on paper but weren't much good in the flesh.

Get there early and go up to the stable and look at them there. You can go in and feel legs and things even if the owner isn't there usually.

You can inspect all the passports in the office on the day of the sale.

You can see the horses being trotted up, being worked in the outer arena, and most are jumped in the indoor before going under the hammer.


The horses have all passed a vetting and any vices or physical problems will be stated in the catalogue or by the auctioneer when they come in the ring. There is a vet on site, and if you buy one it is always worth asking for a revetting - costs about 35 euros I think - and if it fails you don't have to buy it.

Sometimes the dealers operate bidding rings - they won't bid against each other if one of them particularly wants something, or occasionally they will approach a seller and offer to bid a horse up for a fee. I have been told not to bid on certain horses! I basically ignore them, don't want any part of that sort of thing.

On the plus side, I have bought some really nice horses at Cavan, so they are there to be had, and the prices are not huge at the moment.

What day are you planning on going? I may be there and am happy to help if you like.
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Go as early as you can, Normally they will be jumped if its a performance sale ( I used to jump the ponies there when I was younger for my old boss )

Majority of them are sold with a vet cert . I think thats one of the rules now .
You can approach the rider and ask them to do what you would like to see, Perhaps have them jump a fence of a particular height etc .



Did you have a look in the farm week this week ?

Il pm you OP
 
Was thinking of going to the sales at the end of November. I am currently looking for a project, 3-4 years old.

Have been looking in Farm Week but I was recommended by a friend to go to the sales.
 
At the performance sales the 3 year olds sell at the end of the day, so if you are lucky the dealers will all have gone to the bar and there will be less competition.
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Beware of the 3 year olds that have been loose jumped excessively - their legs will be shot to pieces already.
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Right, you need to know what your looking for and not go for pity, the horses are there in stables and you can look at them, they are generally ridden for a bit before they are sold and you could ask around to see when its being ridden, ask at sales office etc. Sometimes you can try them.
The horses are vetted pre purchase, many people vet after purchase and there are very good vets on site to do this.
There is also a paper document in the office stating lumps/bumps/vices.
I would advise taking an experienced person, plenty of money (they're not cheap at cavan) and going several times without money first. I thoroughly enjoyed the cavan sales I have to say.

Any of the decent loose jumpers will sell for mega bucks.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Rowreach. How do you know if they have been loose jumped excessively. Is there anything I should be looking for.

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite often it's stated because they are strangely proud of the fact
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and there are people who will pay a lot of money for a young horse with a big jump. Look closely at the legs of any 3yo you are interested in, and ask questions. I'd rather buy one that's maybe a bit rough and has had less handling than one that's been loose jumped to Cork and back
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Be very careful at Cavan, not wanting to put you off, there are some very good horses there but also some dodge pots. Always be wary of putting in an early bid, its best to avoid something the locals arent bidding on! and i talk from experience! we accidentally bought a professional broncer on a first bid, the hammer went down far to quickly for my liking and that was it!
You MUST get it re-vetted if you are spending a decent amount, the original vetting canbe done a couple of weeks previous, plus then if you pay for a vetting, its then vetted for YOU by a diff vet. have blood taken as well.
also, be very wary of comments in the catalogue ie seen hounds (yeah, from across the field!!) and good to shoe (whilst ACP'd!!) as you do get a warranty but its very hard to return stuff once its in England! dont believe what you dont see with your own eyes.
good luck, i believe there are some bargains to be had at the moment! and i LOVE irish horses!
 
Havent been to Cavan horse sales, but been to Gorsebridge which is very similar. Can find some lovely horses but be careful as the Irish ride well and can make a difficult horse look easy to ride!

If you see something you are interested in from the cataloque I would see it in the stables been tacked up and mounted. You can also ask to ride it if broken.

I went with a regular buyer and she new that difficult horses seemed to be ridden by the same jockey and hence to stay away those one.

Saying that I ended up with a lovely just broken 4 year old that I wouldnt swap for the world (although currently injured 2 years later). Be careful it is hard not to come home with just one!!!
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