Confused and worried, what do you think?

twisteddiamond

twisteddiamond

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 October 2006
Messages
1,195
Location
rowlands gill, gateshead
Visit site
Now before you all go button pushing crazy, im posting this re a potential purchase my mum wants to make, so its a kind of a how much but not because i want to sell but i think my mum might be being swindled and as she is far too trusting for her own good i thought i would ask you lovely ppl your opinions

The horse in question is a 2yo rising 3 shire x trakener colt (but ad says make nice gelding), registered as a part bred shire, he seems nice enough in the pictures she has shown me, but he is relatively unhandled and im just wondering exactly how much he would be worth, she has told me his price and i think its a bit high personally

I just dont want her getting ripped off :(
 
Very hard without seeing pics and knowing more about him but with the information you have given not a huge amount, maybe £500 at a push.
 
Its hard to picture such a horse, is your mum looking for a happy hacker or something that may be a potential show cob etc etc..?

If there was a definite job it was bred for and it was suitable for such a job (eg great conformation) then it would be worth more than an accidental or random cross that would make a nice ploddy hacking horse

For the former I guess I would part with £1500, for the latter no more than £600 in its current unhandled state

Thats my personal view though!
 
WelshD said:
Its hard to picture such a horse, is your mum looking for a happy hacker or something that may be a potential show cob etc etc..?

If there was a definite job it was bred for and it was suitable for such a job (eg great conformation) then it would be worth more than an accidental or random cross that would make a nice ploddy hacking horse

For the former I guess I would part with £1500, for the latter no more than £600 in its current unhandled state

Thats my personal view though!
Click to expand...

Welsh D put it so much better than me!
 
this is him

limitededition_zps83439109.jpg
 
I take it that she hasn't seen him in the flesh?
That cross could be fabulous with the Shire temperament with a bit more 'go' from the Trak, or it could be a nightmare being as sharp as the average Trak with the build and obstinacy of a Shire. For the former, ungelded, I might be prepared to spend about £800 for the second, well I wouldn't want it frankly!
If she is really interested in it, go with her and test out its temperament fully and be prepared to knock the price down.
 
Last edited:
Pearlsacarolsinger said:
I take it that she hasn't seen him in the flesh?
That cross could be fabulous with the Shire temperament with a bit more 'go' from the Trak, or it could be a nightmare being as sharp as the average Trak with the build and obstinacy of a Shire. For the former, ungelded, I might be prepared to spend about £800 for the second, well I wouldn't it frankly!
If she is really interested in it, go with her and test out its temperament fully and be prepared to knock the price down.
Click to expand...
no she hasnt, and this is the issue, i have a clydie x warmblood who is lovely but is as stubborn as a mule sometimes

you all seem to be around where i was thinking price wise
 
twisteddiamond said:
no she hasnt, and this is the issue, i have a clydie x warmblood who is lovely but is as stubborn as a mule sometimes

you all seem to be around where i was thinking price wise
Click to expand...


IME the big draft horses can be incredibly stubborn and think that they know best in most situations, if this lad combines that quality with the flightiness of the Traks that I know, it's asking for trouble. If the cross has simply produced a lighter build of Shire, it could be a gem but you won't know without meeting him. Is it within easy travelling distance of you? If not I'd avoid it like the plague.
 
I'm sure there'll be something suitable much nearer to you. These days I have a rule to never travel more than 50 miles to view a horse, as experience has taught me that the further you travel, the less suitable the horse is likely to be.
 
twisteddiamond said:
It was purposely bred, as in not random but not bred for a specific purpose if you see what I mean, shes looking for a steady allrounder to hack out with the grandchildren (or at least that is her plan)
Click to expand...

A steady hack to take the grandchildren out? I'm kind of failing to see why a 2yo shire x trak is a good idea, irrespective of price!
 
the grandchildren are just starting to learn to ride, only being 22 and 18 months, so it would be left until the summer, backed and then when the little ones will be ready so will it
if i thought she was endangering my child i would tell her to get her head examined and do one, but thanks for your concern
 
If she wants something she can ride, and the grand kids, I would be looking for something that won't need a much work, and a lot smaller too!
 
The main problem, as you probably know is that horses are not guaranteed to be perfect after breaking, and they may also take a while to settle in to the required role, it is more risky with unbroken horses but if you have the time and the resources it is a worthwhile risk, just be prepared to sell it on if it does not suit.
I don't like the ungelded, could be the owner has not enough money to geld him, what else has been subject to economic corner cutting.
If she just wants something to be taken out of the field and hacked with kiddies, I don't think this is suitable. A lot of work, and ongoing, better to get something older and steadier and smaller if she is going to mount and dismount easily.
 
Last edited:
twisteddiamond said:
the grandchildren are just starting to learn to ride, only being 22 and 18 months, so it would be left until the summer, backed and then when the little ones will be ready so will it
if i thought she was endangering my child i would tell her to get her head examined and do one, but thanks for your concern
Click to expand...
I would think twice about this combination even 3 years down the line you will have a young horse and very young children.
 
I have a shire cross who looks a lot like that in build. He's one of the hottest horses I have ever ridden, and I include ten ex racer tbs in that!!!

Plod along with the grandchildren is most definitely not a job he would suit.

I'm with everyone else on his value.
 
With a bi horse they on't physically mature until 7 or even 8 so you're at least 5 years away from proper work. Why would you want to pay costs for a horse that may or may not be what she wants in 5 years surely better to find a nice happy hacker ready now - if budget is tight I'd look older rather than younger - an 18/19 y/o would have 8/10 years of happy hacking with the grand kids and be low priced.
 
Janee said:
I would think twice about this combination even 3 years down the line you will have a young horse and very young children.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

It would be much better to buy a horse that knows its job.
Nor a big youngster that is slow to mature, expect it to nanny young children when they are know to be stuborn and opinionated!
 
Polos Mum said:
With a bi horse they on't physically mature until 7 or even 8 so you're at least 5 years away from proper work. Why would you want to pay costs for a horse that may or may not be what she wants in 5 years surely better to find a nice happy hacker ready now - if budget is tight I'd look older rather than younger - an 18/19 y/o would have 8/10 years of happy hacking with the grand kids and be low priced.
Click to expand...

This, and also its not easy to ride and lead a small pony from a big horse, which your Mum may well need to do in the early days.
 
Is he gelded? if he is then £500 -£800 if not then £200-£500. I bought a similar type, a colt, 3 years ago for £210.
There is a massive over supply of horses at the moment and it will take some years to sort out, people literally cannot give them away,. Also the rscues are bursting with horses, if your mum gets intouch with Redwings, RSPCA, WHW they will find her something suitable which they are trying to rehome.
Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
I think my Shire cross started becoming a respectable, reliable equine citizen at around age 10 or 11. She could be pretty sharp and was regularly tanking off with me, even at 7 and 8.

She is 20 now. Sometimes she still needs to remind me that age is no barrier to those spooks where they leap from 0-60 in less than a second. Never does it when anyone is around, though! I got asked by a fellow livery if she has ever in her life "freaked out." ROFL. Well played, Gypsum, well played.
 
Last edited:
AdorableAlice said:
What a strange cross. Never assume Shires are dopes on a rope, they are not.
Click to expand...

Agree with this - I have a 22 year old Shire X TB and wouldn't say she was a nanny type of horse. She is extremely forward going - I just have to think about upward transitions. She is fab and great fun, jumps everything and is always up for fun (usually at speed). Out hacking she out walks everything so a steady child's pony would never keep up. My daughter used to spend more time trotting than walking when she came out with me. She is a 'hot' horse and has been since I got her aged 10. People still ask me if she is a baby when they see her getting excited at sponsored rides etc.

Having said that I do like the look of the horse in the photo. I just think that a lot of good points have been made. When I took my daughter out on her pony she was quite scared riding next to mine due to her size (17hh) so I could never lead her. I would think a smaller older more established horse would be more suitable for the job.
 
I really wouldn't want a youngster for nanny duties with children. My daughter is just 2 and when she rides I often go on my tb and my mother leads her pony. The tb is fabulous, walks at the ponies speed and nothing would induce him to shy onto the pony. You wouldn't necessarily think an ex racehorse would make the perfect nanny but then every horse is an individual regardless of breed.

I would look for an older horse who has possibly already been a nanny so you are confident he knows his job.
 
A lot of people refer to Shires as 'gentle giants' and dream of owning one. Most are pretty good most of the time, but when they get their knickers in a twist, they're one heck of a lot of horse. I've had a few, pure and crosses, not one of them was the sort I'd be looking for to take my grandchildren out hacking, in fact, just the thought of it gives me palpitations.
 
sorry but OP, why has the age of the horse considering these are your children that you mum wants to take riding out, not been more of an issue for you rather than just its price?

its size and age mean you have no idea if it will be suitable for acting as a good influence for your children's ponies, more likely it wont, so why on earth wouldnt you be looking for a proven, quiet hack/cob cross/connie/native of smaller size and of which there are thousands available for sale in the uk (as your mother doesn't mind travelling), instead?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top