Eventer Shopping

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Celestical

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I'm shopping for a young eventer for my daughter, we came across Bosanko and the straightforward selling experience combined with lots of options is very appealing! I've read up on the info and reviews here (Thank you very much!).
Are there any other similar options for sellers that we should be considering? They do not need to be in the same geographical area as we're willing to travel!
 
Are you looking to buy a 3yo?

I would go across to Ireland and buy one from Monart. Buy a super friendly and inquisitive one who isn’t jumpy and doesn’t mind you standing on a mounting block next to them if unbroken and you touching their back.

I think Bosanko has got very expensive for his horses who are often x ray fails or stud writes offs on the continent. Some have terrible conformation which always fascinates me.
 
Unless you and your daughter are experienced buyers and your daughter an experienced rider plus you are prepared to take a biggish risk, then I would avoid Bosanko.

I’d put out some wanted ads and see what it yields. Plenty of breeders have 3/4yos sitting in fields! At least you know they aren’t the European rejects then.
 
They buy bin-end youngstock from Europe. You can’t land quality horses in this country for that price, so think about what have been the short-comings in that young horse's production so far, or what physical reason has reduced its value over there.
Of course, they also end up selling some real gems, so you could get lucky. But it wouldn’t be my first port of call.
 
I'd be looking for something bred in this country, rather than something imported last week with no history.

I'd agree with some wanted adverts and find people/studs where you can speak to the people who bred the horse and have looked after it since birth and know it well and know the dam etc.
Find something with sound parents, who are doing or have done the job you want and proved their soundness.

They might be a little more expensive than a cheap import but it's not much in the scheme of what a horse costs you over it's lifetime.
 
When I was looking for my next horse, I specifically went for something that was bred in this country, I could see the parents, had full history of both parents, both parents had proved themselves and remain sound to this very day and the breeder was open and lovely to talk to.

The result was Rabbit and although he wasn't cheap, I'd happily shell out what he cost me again and again for another horse from his stud - they're all cracking horses, bred with love and the added bonus of you know everything that has happened to them in their life.

Rabbit is only 2 years old so I've a while to wait before I can back and ride him away - but for me the bonus of knowing exactly what has gone on in his life outweighed looking for something ready to bring on.

If your daughter is wanting something to bring on and has had some education, I'd deffo make sure to speak to the breeders and check the parents out too.
 
millitiger said:
I'd be looking for something bred in this country, rather than something imported last week with no history.

I'd agree with some wanted adverts and find people/studs where you can speak to the people who bred the horse and have looked after it since birth and know it well and know the dam etc.
Find something with sound parents, who are doing or have done the job you want and proved their soundness.

They might be a little more expensive than a cheap import but it's not much in the scheme of what a horse costs you over it's lifetime.
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https://thebillystud.co.uk/ might be worth contacting ?
 
Thank you for these thoughtful replies! I would like to connect directly with some breeders and have received some good leads. We are experienced and looking at 3-4yr olds, I know exactly what we do and don't want, and feel confident making quick decisions if we were to visit a dealer. I appreciate the insight and will some more reading here for references. We are on a slim budget so diamonds in the rough are where we are looking ;)
 
Celestical said:
Thank you for these thoughtful replies! I would like to connect directly with some breeders and have received some good leads. We are experienced and looking at 3-4yr olds, I know exactly what we do and don't want, and feel confident making quick decisions if we were to visit a dealer. I appreciate the insight and will some more reading here for references. We are on a slim budget so diamonds in the rough are where we are looking ;)
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It costs a lot of money to breed and raise a competition bred youngster regardless of a polished or rough diamond. A slim budget won’t buy you quality bred here or in Ireland. Bosanko or Irish Horse Imports source and move on horses quickly. The Billy Stud is more elite purpose bred competition horses.
 
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