Clitheroe Horse Auction

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nikolethompson

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Has anyone any recent experience here?

I am going tomorrow to have a look

I am going to write numbers down of any I am interested in and go to the office and check passports, and am also taking someone very experienced to give them the once over ... yes I know this is a huge risk!

I just wanted to know if anyone else had been, I've heard that people buy in guineas still???

I am not actively going there to purchase unless I am 100% that it seems sound, just after advice on the auction itself if anyone has been

thanks x
 
A guinea is £1.05. It was traditionally £1 to the owner and 5p to the groom.

Please dont buy a horse from an auction. There is a reason they are there, and thats becuase they havent sold the convetional way. There are diamonds in the rough to be found, I've had 2 of them, but both were unbroken youngsters so a much higher chance of it working out. You have to be prepared that if they dont work out then you PTS or send them back through the ring. The chances of you finding a safe, sound easy going hack from there is pretty much zero.

I'm not sure how you are going to be 100% sure its sound either, given the many ways of masking lameness, no matter how experienced your friend is.

Given whats just happened and what you are looking for it is absolute madeness to buy from an auction!
 
have to agree with LW. I know you desperately want a horse but am 100% convinced this is the wrong way to do it. I'd not buy from an auction-the only way I would would be if I had the land to keep it so I wouldnt lose out on livery money when it turns out to be unsuitable and even then there are better ways to buy a horse.
 
Agree with Leo.

I think I said in your other post that if I were you I'd make sure I found a horse I could go back and ride on a few occasions in different circumstances (school, hack etc). Make sure it hacks alone and go and ask to do everything with it, tack it up, pick its feet out, bring it in/out of the field. Any decent seller won't mind letting you do all these things to make sure it's the right horse for you.

I've never been to an auction, but I know I would not have the skills to take on an auction horse as many are projects or unbroken. Given what's happened with your last horse, I would set yourself up to find a nice sensible horse, which you are unlikely to find at an auction.

Not having a go or trying to make you feel bad! Just think that you should set yourself up for success with this next one. Why not join one of the dodgy dealer sites on facebook? They will tell you who to avoid and there will probably be recommendations of some good dealers on there too who can help you in your search. :)
 
Have bought a lot at auctions but no experience of that one in particular.
Basically in a general sale there is no way to know what you're buying really. You just pick a type you like, check that there isn't anything obviously amiss with it, pay your money and take the hand that lady luck deals you.
 
Please don't buy from an auction, no one sends a horse there unless it can't be sold any other way.
Start saving the price of your weekly livery until you have enough to buy a horse that is already doing the job you want it for. Livery isn't cheap so you will soon have a decent sum to spend.
 
Genuinely trying to understand why you'd go down this route when you're confidence isn't the greatest and you're looking for something you can safely hack? Given what you were saying about being more cautious since having a family surely you would want to find a horse that you can try multiple times in different environments to make sure it really does meet your needs?

I think when buying at auction you have to be prepared to take a punt and accept that you may end up losing the money if it doesn't come right. In the nicest way possible given your other commitments and your last post I would worry you don't have the time or confidence necessary for taking such a punt.
 
I'm not sure it's the best idea buying from an auction to be honest if you're looking for a safe, steady no issues hack. I've had a couple of crackers from auction but they've always been unbroken youngsters or unhandled under 8 with one exception who turned out to be 100x more than what she was described as.
On the other hand I was riding for someone who was buying with the intention of selling on. One ditched me in full rodeo mode and turned out it had a history of this. Another was sold as broken and ridden away, doubt it had ever been sat on but turned out to be ok in the end. One they bought as unbroken but used to bolt under saddle, another was unhappy ridden and i heard had decked someone on the road after a melt down though they didn't do anything with myself. 3/4 of these went back through the sales I believe. I just used to get told they'd been sold. Another they bought rode fine at the sale, I got on it but was a rearer at home
Maybe they just had back luck but maybe not....
 
If I were you, having read your previous posts, I would take a breath and spend some time working through your ideal horse must haves. Write a list, what is absolute, what is potentially negotiable and what is just a nice to have. Once you've dove this use every bit of your network (I think you mentioned your mum is horsey etc) and get feelers out for horses that might suit. Trawl the good sale sites. Get yourself a short list and go and try some.

I've had a terrible run with horses - 5 years wasted on two that were unsuitable (my own fault). Now I have one that ticks the boxes (and those boxes have changed so much due to my bad experiences) I can't explain how it has changed the part of my life that is horses. I am enjoying it again, I can see us achieving things. Life is too short for the wrong horse so please set yourself for success with your purchase - there are lovely horses out there, they just take a bit of finding. Best of luck and keep us posted with your search.
 
You can view the catalogue on line to look at what's for sale.

But of course, like everyone else, I agree that it's the most terrible idea.

Get rid of the loan horse first, then start looking.
 
Go for it. I've got a lovely horse who was sold at auction last year and bought by a dealer as an unbroken 3 yo. She backed and produced him and I bought him off her. Yes it is a risk but sometimes people have a perfectly good horse they don't want the hassle of having to sell privately.
 
Back with a bang said:
Go for it. I've got a lovely horse who was sold at auction last year and bought by a dealer as an unbroken 3 yo. She backed and produced him and I bought him off her. Yes it is a risk but sometimes people have a perfectly good horse they don't want the hassle of having to sell privately.
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I think that's a bit different to going to an auction to buy a broken unknown quantity tbh. And given the OP's current issues with the cob she's had on loan, I think she'd be much better looking for a safe and sane happy hacker from somewhere where she can actually try the horse multiple times before she buys.
 
I have been to only one auction and it was the Clitheroe one. It seemed to me that there was a lot of buying and selling going on outside, before the horses even hit the ring.
There were a lot of sorry sights in the stalls :(, put me off ever going to an auction again. Having said that both my ponies were purchased via other channels and have a multitude of problems !
 
I'd never buy anything other than youngstock from an auction, certainly nothing broken, and Clitheroe auction has some real rough stuff. Did buy some nice ducks there though :D

edit... Just realise you are the person who had a horse on loan. Go and look if you like but for goodness sake don't come home with anything, it's a lottery for people with a lot of buying experience never mind someone without.
 
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I would occasionally go to Reading Auction back when it was active, I bought 2 youngsters over the years, 1 turned out incredibly well the other not and was pts

I am the wrong type of person to go to auctions my heart sometimes rules my head, in fact quite often not sometimes :)

I have seen so many real stunners being sold due to livery debt with all the details on their pen, they stand there all rugged and booted and I think I would sell my soul rather than ever let that happen to mine but no-one really knows what life has in store I suppose so no judgement really can be made

I also watched the most stunning police horse arrive, with police, it didn't quite make the crowd and flags grade so it ended up at Reading Auction, the handler was all decked out with hat, gloves, boots and uniform to trot it up and all the dealers were giggling, it was immaculately turned out and all I could think was where will it be tonight

I did buy a bag of carrots and put it on someone's lorry, she had bought a pity buy with foal but I knew they would be in safe hands and well cared for, wish I was a farrier as I would of sorted the mares feet out for her prior to the journey, I've seen much worse abroad but then again I have seen much better

I kept away eventually and obviously it closed to once a month horse auctions but I do go to some breeders buy and sales, I am well aware that whatever comes home with me will stay with me, probably cost me a small fortune and possibly a lot of heart ache so I am slightly tougher now but my heart still sometimes rules my head
 
Cecile said:
I would occasionally go to Reading Auction back when it was active, I bought 2 youngsters over the years, 1 turned out incredibly well the other not and was pts

I am the wrong type of person to go to auctions my heart sometimes rules my head, in fact quite often not sometimes :)

I have seen so many real stunners being sold due to livery debt with all the details on their pen, they stand there all rugged and booted and I think I would sell my soul rather than ever let that happen to mine but no-one really knows what life has in store I suppose so no judgement really can be made

I also watched the most stunning police horse arrive, with police, it didn't quite make the crowd and flags grade so it ended up at Reading Auction, the handler was all decked out with hat, gloves, boots and uniform to trot it up and all the dealers were giggling, it was immaculately turned out and all I could think was where will it be tonight

I did buy a bag of carrots and put it on someone's lorry, she had bought a pity buy with foal but I knew they would be in safe hands and well cared for, wish I was a farrier as I would of sorted the mares feet out for her prior to the journey, I've seen much worse abroad but then again I have seen much better

I kept away eventually and obviously it closed to once a month horse auctions but I do go to some breeders buy and sales, I am well aware that whatever comes home with me will stay with me, probably cost me a small fortune and possibly a lot of heart ache so I am slightly tougher now but my heart still sometimes rules my head
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Error this machine doesn't write what I tell it

Breeders Show and Sale
 
Oh, OP, I'm afraid I'm going to be blunt again.....
Do not under any circumstances buy or allow anyone to buy on your behalf any horse from an auction.
For heaven's sake OP, you still have the unsuitable cob, you would almost 100%certainly end up out of the frying pan and into the fire.
 
Back with a bang said:
Go for it. I've got a lovely horse who was sold at auction last year and bought by a dealer as an unbroken 3 yo. She backed and produced him and I bought him off her. Yes it is a risk but sometimes people have a perfectly good horse they don't want the hassle of having to sell privately.
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You bought a nicely started young horse from a professional and paid a premium for it. Factored into that price will have been the ones he had PTS or more likely, just sent back through the ring.

You didnt take any risk at all.

I am shocked that you are suggesting the OP takes a massive gamble, being neither a professional nor experienced with tricky and/or young horses and looking for a safe and steady happy hack!
 
Landcruiser said:
Oh, OP, I'm afraid I'm going to be blunt again.....
Do not under any circumstances buy or allow anyone to buy on your behalf any horse from an auction.
For heaven's sake OP, you still have the unsuitable cob, you would almost 100%certainly end up out of the frying pan and into the fire.
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This ^^^^^^^
 
I'm sorry but I really don't think going to 'look' at the auction is a good idea and I am surprised that your YO and semi-professional mother have not strongly advised you not to do this.

Try contacting your local riding and pony clubs to see if they know of any suitable horse that is for sale. From your previous post where you said you have lost some confidence I really do feel that you need to have a thorough trial of any protective purchase, have someone xpetienced go with you and get a vetting with bloods taken.

Have you thought about becoming a sharer before jumping back onto horse ownership?
 
I wouldn't go anywhere near an auction any more than I could trust myself to go to a dog's home or a cat rehoming show. I know I couldn't be trusted to come home without a pity purchase.
 
My auction story - went to buy some tack for my sister's youngster. Went for a wander around the horses, fully intending not to buy anything. Most of them at that auction were actually in pretty decent conditon and certainly looked nice. To cut a long story short, we ended up rescuing/buying a tb who was definately worse for wear and in a bit of a state. Both my sister and I are pretty experienced, we rehabbed him, got him healthy and a decent weight. Had been riding him about 6 months when he spooked as I got on, we ended up flat out gallop around the school and long story short (again) I ended up with bilateral ankle fracture dislocations which has left me permenantly disabled.
It was in no way the horses fault (we later learned that he had been race trained and never properly retrained and that combined with his 'switch' into blind panick at certain things) but despite both of us being experienced and confident riders (with over 30 years experence between us) it still went wrong. He went on loan and had a really good few years with a loaner (full disclosure etc etc) but his issues ended up killing him when a spook that unseated his rider panicked him, he ran and ended up in a catle grid.

Part of me wouldn't change anything as my accident sent me down a route that means I qualify as a doctor next year, one I wouldn't be down if not for being broken, but....horses are at auctions for a reason usually and unless you are very very experienced and confident and able to deal with significant issues then don't buy there. Aside from his ridden thing he had a lot of things on the ground from his previous treatment - he was the softest horse you'd ever come across and the nicest nature, he was just scared and damaged :-(
 
Sparemare said:
I wouldn't go anywhere near an auction any more than I could trust myself to go to a dog's home or a cat rehoming show. I know I couldn't be trusted to come home without a pity purchase.
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this was my problem, unfortunately at the time I was not old enough to be that raltional - was sure we could go buy tack and not a horse.....bad idea :D
 
Some years back I bought a totally unsuitable and dangerous horse from a brother/sister duo who span me a right tale (known the horse for years, selling for a friend yadda yardage) , which I fell for. Won't go into the boring details, but after threatening court and two weeks of stress, an injury on my part (from the horse) they agreed to take the horse back. I lost money and a whole load of confidence.

About 2 years later I went to Clitheroe Horse Auction with a friend who was looking to buy some cheap tack. Was sat watching the horse auction and who do I see bidding on all the poor looking horses, yes, the brother of my nightmare duo.

Discreetly asking around and it turns out he is low end dealer who regularly along with lots of other low end dealers buys from this auction and sells on as family horses.

This should give you an idea of the type of horses that you will see there, luckily the horse I acquired only injured me, could have quite easily killed me.

Please don't do it.
 
At the risk of sticking my neck out, we're all being had:-

she/he is 27 married with kids?
Riding from 3 years to 20 years. (17 years) stopped riding 7 years ago?
Owned her own horses from 11 years til 18 years old. (6/7 years)?
Or owned horses for 15 years. different post?
But not ridden anything in past 7 years?
Mother is a semi professional dressage rider?
Sister hunts and competes?

Someone's having a laugh :D
 
You know I was just thinking that chillipup - I had a feeling there was a post abt her (I assume female as has a 'husband' and kids but, this day and age could be either) being somewhere near Hampshire or similar... couldn't be bothered to read all through previous threads but it did seem like a long way to go for an auction...

Also: the picture of the cob - no leaves on the trees in the background... in June?
 
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chillipup said:
At the risk of sticking my neck out, we're all being had:-

she/he is 27 married with kids?
Riding from 3 years to 20 years. (17 years) stopped riding 7 years ago?
Owned her own horses from 11 years til 18 years old. (6/7 years)?
Or owned horses for 15 years. different post?
But not ridden anything in past 7 years?
Mother is a semi professional dressage rider?
Sister hunts and competes?

Someone's having a laugh :D
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Well some sort of yarn is being spun that's for sure.
 
amymay said:
Well some sort of yarn is being spun that's for sure.
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I thought this so had a look on Facebook. Her story seems to check out and OP is very easy to find with posts in the HHO facebook group and public photos of cob. Looks to be legit; she still seems to have this cob who she bought (?)
 
Maria13 said:
I thought this so had a look on Facebook. Her story seems to check out and OP is very easy to find with posts in the HHO facebook group and public photos of cob. Looks to be legit; she still seems to have this cob who she bought (?)
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I just had a look on the Horse and Hound Forum Members - just to browse, not especially about this thread - is that the one on Facebook? Most of the posts seem to be from the same person for the past few weeks, is that the right group?
 
Funny, it was my initial thought - see the very first post answering the OP in the thread about the cob. I became convinced she was genuine but then this thread appeared and stirred up my suspicions again...
If you are indeed genuine OP, do you wonder that people are beginning to think that you are not, due to the nature of your posts? I think everyone on here is unanimous that given your apparent circumstances you should get rid of the cob and look around at leisure for something suitable - not rocket science. The whole auction thing smacks of a wind up TBH.
 
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