Do you mind buying a horse 12yrs old +??

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tinker88

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Ive been to look at a horse that needs to come into work again (time off - not from injury thou)

but she is 12yrs old, i know i wont be keeping the horse for ever, so at what age do you think ... ohh "too old" mine is normally 10/11yrs old. So would a 12 or 13yr old horse put you off?

if not would you want it to be cheaper or not? she has competed at a good level before
 
It would depend on what it had done in the past and what I wanted to do with it. I bought my last mare at 12 years old to do a bit of everything and get my confidence back. She did just that and was old enough to be sensible about everything. So I would say if its what you want, and the price is right, then definitely go for it!
 
I've always had youngsters because I didn't want to inherit a problem, however, I'm not getting any younger and though a 'been there, done that' horse would be nice. Bought a cracking 12 year old mare. Fully vetted...arrived not quite right- and to cut a long story short, turned out to have navicular. Guess is she had been jumped into the ground.
That said, there's an element of luck with any horse, even youngsters can sometimes get so far before problems arise with soundness.
I would buy a 12 year old and older again, but only with a vet history, owner history, and probably xrays.
12 is no age, there are 17 year olds out there competing at the highest levels.
 
I have so manny friends who are like 'oh no not over 8/10 years" and look at me in disgust that I bought an 11 yo like 'oh thats so old'
It really gets on my wick to write off just because of it !!
My horse is 12 and has as much energy as a 5 yo, hes 15hh and clears 4ft easy peasy, not exactly an old shuffler !

Unless you are wanting to train it yourself, turn around a profit, or seriously compete I dont see any problem, age is just a number :D

(oh and I bought him back into work too ;)
 
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No i wouldnt put me off. As long as it ticked all the boxes when tried.

I would have it fully vetted, and i wouldnt expect to pay too much for the horse, as you dont stand much chance getting money back if/when you sold.
 
12 is no age at all! Racehorses are just retiring then and starting a new career from scratch! I would quite happily buy a 12yo horse. I wouldn't go for anything 20 or over though without a very good reason, full vets reports and the likes unless it was just as a companion.
 
12 is no age but you have to think about reselling as lots of people wont buy a horse thats in its mid teens. i now have a 14 and 19 yr old and would not buy another teenager whilst i have them ,as they would all be pensioners together...
 
debsflo said:
12 is no age but you have to think about reselling as lots of people wont buy a horse thats in its mid teens.
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I'm really glad this thread has popped up, as I'm trying to make a a similar decision at the moment too. Whilst I know the horse would be fine for what I'm after, he wouldn't be a 'forever horse' I don't think (time and money unfortunately, so that space is already taken) and I wonder about the logistics and fairness of selling on a 17 year old five years from now.

By the way, Headpiece - your horse's ears are amazing!!
 
No it wouldn't put me off at all. In fact I'm just getting one now thats 14 and she has plenty of life in her :D ( as it shows when she decides something is 'scary' :p )
 
When I go to buy in a few years, 12 is about my ideal age: experienced, but with years of riding still left. When it's time for them to retire, then they could become a companion for the next horse - probably a younger, typical second horse. Now to just raise the money to live up to the plan... lol.
 
It would me, just because of reselling the horse at a later date. Most of my horse I have had for 4ish years so buying a 12 year old would turn to selling a 16 year old. Now I'm awful at saving so the money I get from is the money for the next, so age pays a part in that. I also don't have any where, that I could retire the horse, so age comes to play there. I know that horses can get written off, and I could send it at my aunts if that did happen, but I try to advoid that all costs, as it wouldn't be fair on the horse. Other than that it could be loaned out, but never sold, as I don't believe in that.
I only sell horses that are fit and can do a job, so there for I buy in ones that hopefully fit this category when the time comes to sell
 
We bought a mare that was 13 i was worried as well about the age

Best thing iv ever done !! She is fantastic, she was not expensive under 2K..does everything we want..hacks ..jumps..quiet...been their done it and is the best horse iv ever bought ...iv had loads of youngsters...expensive ones from Germany spent thousands...and this mare is the most user friendly iv ever owned..just get it vetted and insured
 
Headpiece said:
No i wouldnt put me off. As long as it ticked all the boxes when tried.

I would have it fully vetted, and i wouldnt expect to pay too much for the horse, as you dont stand much chance getting money back if/when you sold.
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Don't really have anything to say other than I LOVE the ears on your banner sig thingy! Can we see the whole horse please......?!?
 
Buzz was 12 when I got him and had been heavily competed in Ireland, he is now 18, fit as a fidle and giving the youngsters a run for their money, went jumping on easter monday, was third to go in a class of 35 entries and won it, second place was 2 and a half seconds slower so my old man has still got it :D
ps did not have him vetted didn't pay a fortune but seemingly more than anyone here is willing to pay for any horse not matter what age, and i have never regretted it. i was recently offered £5000 for him off a pony club mum who know his age/history etc. i politley explained he is not now nor will he ever be for sale.
 
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debsflo said:
12 is no age but you have to think about reselling as lots of people wont buy a horse thats in its mid teens.
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Quite, if you buy a horse at 12 there is only one way it's value will go and that's down. You really need to consider whether or not you can offer that horse a home for life.

I bought my current one at 12 and my previous one at 14. The previous horse died at 18 and he was still with me at the time. I expected him to go on for a few more years, but sadly, it wasn't to be. The current one I intend to keep for life.

I wanted older horses, I wanted something that had been there and done it all as since having children I don't have the time for something that needs bringing on.
 
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