First timer going to Goresbridge. Where to stay and any other hints/tips please

[Vekoma]

Hi all!

I used to be a member on this forum many many years ago and have rejoined as I know it was such a good place for advice.

I’m hoping to make my first trip over to Ireland this summer for the Goresbridge sales in the hope of finding a nice 3 or newly backed 4yo with the hope of eventually producing it for myself for novice level eventing.

I will be flying into Dublin and then hiring a car for the drive down. Can anyone recommend anywhere to stay that isn’t too expensive (more money to spend on horses!) and any other hints/tips they have for the sales themselves?
Thankyou

 

[spacefaer]

We've done it but we found it an expensive way to buy what we wanted.

Work out your budget and don't forget the exchange rate, the vat and the buyer's premium which aren't added on in the ring, but afterwards on your invoice!

It's a fun and exciting thing to do but high pressure if you haven't bought at auction before.

We also found that an English accent made the horses more expensive ?

We've never stayed overnight but the breakfasts are legendary in the on site cafe! We drove over on the ferry and so got there for about 730 - could see the horses arriving etc.

Not every horse turns up and they're not always the size stated in the catalogue. Height is a flexible measure ? so just be aware if it's important to you ( it is to us)

 

[spacefaer]

You could probably get what you want by going direct to either a UK or Irish breeder but it wouldn't be as fun!

Vet certs are lodged in the office - make sure you read them carefully before as although they're announced in the ring, it's too late by then (and often too hard to hear, so easi to miss something important)

 

[Squeak]

I went to Goresbridge to see what it was like and to decide if I was brave enough to take the plunge and actually buy. It was a great experience and they have some cracking horses but I thought it would be very very easy to get it wrong.

I ended up going to Irish Horse Imports by Reading as they take out a fair bit of the risk for you as they know which buyers to avoid and they've already imported the horses. They wouldn't suit everyone as they are clear about the fact that the horses have literally been bought from the sale and will have arrived with them a day or so beforehand but it gives you a chance to get something from Goresbridge, still covered by the warranty and vetted without going to Ireland yourself.

 

[Nicnac]

It is great fun. We flew to Dublin and rented a car and stayed in a nice hotel in Kilkenny for a couple of nights where there is loads to do and some great bars. None of us actually bought anything, but was very tempting. There was one I liked but the vet certificate was only handed into the office about 20 seconds before horse went into the ring. Had a couple of things on it that would have needed looking at before bidding but no time. Every trick in the book is used.

I found the auctioneer quite difficult to understand and there were definitely lots of pro-bidders in there. I also ended up using IHI in Reading and got, I am sure, a far better horse than if I had bid myself and also far less hassle.

I think it's somewhere you go a couple of times and not buy the first time until you have sussed it OR use a local agent to bid for you once you've selected a few.

 

[teapot]

Go in with your eyes open - every trick in the book is used, and if it's ticking every box/seems too good to be true ask yourself why it's being sold at sales...

I've ridden a fair few that have come from there (and Cavan) and within weeks of them arriving, I've watched as they were sent back...

 

[Vekoma]

We've done it but we found it an expensive way to buy what we wanted.

Work out your budget and don't forget the exchange rate, the vat and the buyer's premium which aren't added on in the ring, but afterwards on your invoice!

It's a fun and exciting thing to do but high pressure if you haven't bought at auction before.

We also found that an English accent made the horses more expensive ?

We've never stayed overnight but the breakfasts are legendary in the on site cafe! We drove over on the ferry and so got there for about 730 - could see the horses arriving etc.

Not every horse turns up and they're not always the size stated in the catalogue. Height is a flexible measure ? so just be aware if it's important to you ( it is to us)

I hadn’t thought about exploring the ferry option for getting there - thanks for that I’ll have a look and see if it’s a better option

 

[Antw23uk]

There are a couple of good companies who will do the bidding for you, they will also source or potentially source. It might be worth 'hiring' them for the day and sticking by their side.

 

[Xmas lucky]

It’s great fun I am Irish it’s a great day out. It’s not doggy as people are betraying it’s as . It more breeders overpricing there horses and they can’t sell them on the current market because nobody will pay that much for low level horse. There good deals though if you bet on the right horse.

 

[Cortez]

I prefer Cavan sales for ridden horses, Goresbridge for unbroken, but haven't been for years now. If you know what you want, and know what you're looking at then it's a great place to view 100's of horses at the one time. But the average non-pro buyer is often overwhelmed and I have seen people make some very poor decisions.

All horses offered for sale are pre-vetted, and buyers have the option of immediate re-vetting on site with the sale to be null and void if issues are found.

I'm curious, what are these tricks that are in the book? And where is this book?

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Go in with your eyes open - every trick in the book is used, and if it's ticking every box/seems too good to be true ask yourself why it's being sold at sales...

I've ridden a fair few that have come from there (and Cavan) and within weeks of them arriving, I've watched as they were sent back...

???
Oh dear, if you truly have the experience you are claiming of buying or riding horses from Ireland you would not be querying why a very good and genuine horse might well be offered for sale at either Cavan or Goresbridge. But like any sale either here in Ireland or there in the Uk you do need to know what you are looking at.

Rather unfortunate that such a high percentage of Irish horses you know or have ridden have apparently had to be returned to Ireland. One can only assume that high percentage could well indicate that the buyers obviously did not know what they were looking at or bidding on did they?

I agree with Cortez for already broken and ridden away Cavan would be your best bet, but definitely Goresbridge for unbroken young stock. I would suggest coming over with a steady friend you can trust to curb your over enthusiasm when the bidding starts!

 

[teapot]

???
Oh dear, if you truly have the experience you are claiming of buying or riding horses from Ireland you would not be querying why a very good and genuine horse might well be offered for sale at either Cavan or Goresbridge. But like any sale either here in Ireland or there in the Uk you do need to know what you are looking at.

Rather unfortunate that such a high percentage of Irish horses you know or have ridden have apparently had to be returned to Ireland. One can only assume that high percentage could well indicate that the buyers obviously did not know what they were looking at or bidding on did they?

I agree with Cortez for already broken and ridden away Cavan would be your best bet, but definitely Goresbridge for unbroken young stock. I would suggest coming over with a steady friend you can trust to curb your over enthusiasm when the bidding starts!

Didn't say I'd bought them did I? I have ridden enough that have come over though, and I would actually say the various purchasers had a lot of experience in doing so. Perhaps they were unlucky, perhaps they weren't spending enough, perhaps they were seen coming, but please do not tell me every single lot at Goresbridge or Cavan is as honest as some make out they are to be! Hence why I said you have to go in with your eyes open

I am not including the Go for Gold sales here btw, nor am I talking unbroken or youngstock, which is an entirely different market (just to clarify for OP).

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Didn't say I'd bought them did I?

Precisely why I wrote buying OR riding.

but please do not tell me every single lot at Goresbridge or Cavan is as honest as some make out they are to be!

My goodness I do wish you would read and digest my post fully before completely misinterpreting or perhaps you are being deliberately obtuse? Or perhaps your attempt to justify your sweeping and largely inaccurate post. Hence my statement repeated below that obviously passed over your head.

But like any sale either here in Ireland or there in the Uk you do need to know what you are looking at.

 

[Cortez]

Didn't say I'd bought them did I? I have ridden enough that have come over though, and I would actually say the various purchasers had a lot of experience in doing so. Perhaps they were unlucky, perhaps they weren't spending enough, perhaps they were seen coming, but please do not tell me every single lot at Goresbridge or Cavan is as honest as some make out they are to be! Hence why I said you have to go in with your eyes open

I am not including the Go for Gold sales here btw, nor am I talking unbroken or youngstock, which is an entirely different market (just to clarify for OP).

What I think you need to remember is that the vast majority of Ireland's young horses are sold at auction, unlike in the UK where I get the impression that sales are regarded as somehow bin-end places to offload dodgy horses. Of course there are some misrepresented horses, just as there are in adverts in H&H, or from any private buyer. That's why you have the right to re-vet, to return within a certain number of days for warranted ailments and vices, and to try horses in a variety of ways.

 

[teapot]

What I think you need to remember is that the vast majority of Ireland's young horses are sold at auction, unlike in the UK where I get the impression that sales are regarded as somehow bin-end places to offload dodgy horses. Of course there are some misrepresented horses, just as there are in adverts in H&H, or from any private buyer. That's why you have the right to re-vet, to return within a certain number of days for warranted ailments and vices, and to try horses in a variety of ways.

Youngstock I absolutely agree, but a question many would ask is why would 7-12 year old supposedly excellent horses be at sales, aside from trying to get as much money as possible? Surely good horses sell by word of mouth/locally just like the UK?

My goodness I do wish you would read and digest my post fully before completely misinterpreting or perhaps you are being deliberately obtuse? Or perhaps your attempt to justify your sweeping and largely inaccurate post. Hence my statement repeated below that obviously passed over your head.

You might like to read my orignal post too where I said you have go in with your eyes open as well I can only speak from my experience watching multiple horses time and again arrive, fail do to the job they were purchased for (whether because of soundness, temperament or both) and then leave again, back to Ireland usually. Again as I said, maybe that was solely down to the purchaser and budget, who knows.

Any sales come with a risk, of course they do, but Goresbridge is sometimes viewed/commentated on like it's a horsey pot of gold where everything's 100% perfect, and that simply isn't the case, especially given the size/numbers involved

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Well I have personally sold amongst others, a 7 year old show cob via Cavan sales to Germany, another 9 year old all rounder to Scotland. Both went in fully vetted as per the rules and neither were returned to me and I know for certain one buyers still has their horse and sadly the other PTS from colic at age 21.

From my point of view as a seller, and living in close proximity to Cavan Sales it was a no brainer. It would probably have been more time consuming, more time wasters to deal with plus I do not have adequate facilities for the horses to be trialed properly here. At Cavan they do have those facilities, and with owner's permission prospective buyers from many parts of the world can try the horse before they bid on it in the ring. I was never a dedicated producer, breeder, dealer or whatever but many are and how much more sensible to bring a number of their stock to one venue with a large cross section of buyers looking for the sort they might have on offer.

Before the Celtic Tiger rolled over and died we had many foreign buyers at both Goresbridge and Cavan, not sure if that is the case these days, probably not. It certainly worked well for me and those buyers. We aren't all bog trotting, 'begorra' and 'top of the morning to ya' wicked gobshites just waiting here to cheat you out of your money you know! ?

 

[Widgeon]

Youngstock I absolutely agree, but a question many would ask is why would 7-12 year old supposedly excellent horses be at sales, aside from trying to get as much money as possible? Surely good horses sell by word of mouth/locally just like the UK?

"To get as much money as possible"- what more reason is needed?! I jest....but surely this would be the primary reason for many, many people?

ETA and I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong or dubious about this as a motivation

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I love buying at auction. Enjoy the day and don't worry if you come back empty handed. Study the vet report but also study the horse in front of you. Decide how much is your max bid and don't exceed your limit. Good luck and have fun.

 

[The Bouncing Bog Trotter]

It’s a brilliant trip, as is Cavan. A great chance to see a good volume of horses in one place. Read the catalogue carefully, check out the vet reports, go look in the stables/school and enjoy. Make sure you let your head rule your heart, stick to your budget and what you are looking for, and watch several go through the ring before you bid: it takes a while to ’tune in’ to the bidding process if you are not used to auctions.

 

[irishdraft]

Along time ago I went to goresbridge and bought a gorgeous unbroken ID mare . The biggest problem I had was with the transporter who tried to scam me, long story , but I got her in the end . A friend of mine regularly buys there and currently has a fabulous young horse she bought just broken for 7000 about 18 months ago but is probably worth about 20,000 in today's prices but she has a great eye for a good horse .

 

[pinkypug1]

Youngstock I absolutely agree, but a question many would ask is why would 7-12 year old supposedly excellent horses be at sales, aside from trying to get as much money as possible? Surely good horses sell by word of mouth/locally just like the UK?

it’s much easier and less time
Consuming to sell via an auction where you show your horse/horses off to lots of buyers on one day, rather than waste time with dribs and drabs of buyers & often hoof kickers coming to your home to view over many days or weeks. If u only sell one horse a decade then selling from home is no issue but if it’s a regular thing auction is a straightforward way to sell.

 

[laura_nash]

Youngstock I absolutely agree, but a question many would ask is why would 7-12 year old supposedly excellent horses be at sales, aside from trying to get as much money as possible? Surely good horses sell by word of mouth/locally just like the UK?

Coming from the UK to Ireland there absolutely isn't the same attitude to selling at auction here. It is the expected way unless you do happen to sell by word of mouth. "Why would a good horse be sold at auction" makes as much sense to an Irish person as "why would a good horse be advertised in H&H" would to someone in England. The answer obviously being because they want to sell it and don't know anyone who wants to buy it. It's basically sell at auction or advertise on Done Deal, and the better / higher value horses would be more likely to go to auction. The Irish, generalising horribly, treat selling horses more like a financial transaction and less like an adoption, the assumption is a good horse will find a good home, they don't do the whole "vetting the buyer" thing so much.

 

[Vekoma]

Lots of good advice and things to think about on here - Thankyou very much!
If anyone knows of any reputable breeders we could approach instead of going the sales route that would also be much appreciated.
Ideally looking for something 15.3-16.1hh 3 or 4yo unbroken or just backed and green. Connie x or ISH type for Novice level eventing eventually. Thankyou

 

[LEC]

I have been to goresbridge a few times, I genuinely love it but you need to be super sharp and experienced. I am going back this year but mostly to take 2 people who have never been for the craic and if we buy one, great, if we don’t, we don’t. It’s got to be right. There is all the normal crap that goes on - upbidding by friends on a horse etc but that’s standard at any auction I think. You just need to set a price in your mind and stick with it.

when I first started going the quality was better. It has dwindled with internet selling getting better. The monart and going for gold have also taken a lot away from the October sale which used to be decent. There is definitely more crap going through than there used to be. Horses with sarcoids etc as can be sold much easier at sales at appropriate price which they won’t privately.

A friend bought an expensive horse a few years ago and it was a disaster. they didn’t do enough due diligence of watching it and I didn’t see it jump. It passed a vetting at sales but later turned out to have absolutely screwed suspensorys. I had been trying to get friend to visit Kilcandra stud who had a cracking 4yo but she wanted to stay at Goresbridge. Ironically the goresbridge horse purchase was PTS and the Kilcandra horse won Dublin YEH and is now 3* in uk.

 

[LEC]

My final point actually is the difference between novice and lower eventing. I produce horses for novice and the calibre I need is very different from a 100 horse. People have this perception they want to go novice but the reality is 73% of BE membership is 100 and below. You are better off buying for 100 and it might go novice rather than looking for a 4yo who will go novice as price points are very different especially in 15.2hh. The breeding needs to be better, the athleticism etc though some people say that breeding doesn’t matter, it does! It’s a roadmap in a young horse of will you have a higher chance of getting the end product.

 

[lme]

I wanted a nice young 4yo mare to bring on slowly for hacking / low level competing (BE 100 would be aspirational) and found a few I liked on the Goresbridge site. Looked at their sale photos / videos and also found some more information on FB. I noticed that Irish Horse Imports bought a few and had them up for sale the next day with a substantual mark up.

 

[Cortez]

I noticed that Irish Horse Imports bought a few and had them up for sale the next day with a substantual mark up.

Well, yeah: that's the way it works.

 

[Squeak]

I wanted a nice young 4yo mare to bring on slowly for hacking / low level competing (BE 100 would be aspirational) and found a few I liked on the Goresbridge site. Looked at their sale photos / videos and also found some more information on FB. I noticed that Irish Horse Imports bought a few and had them up for sale the next day with a substantual mark up.

To be fair they will have had to pay for the transport of the horses as well as the additional fees (is it tax and auction fees?) so the mark up might not be quite as substantial as it would initially seem.

 

[lme]

To be fair they will have had to pay for the transport of the horses as well as the additional fees (is it tax and auction fees?) so the mark up might not be quite as substantial as it would initially seem.

Yes definitely auction fees. Not sure re tax (though they charge VAT anyway so I guess that’s not applicable) and they did pick what appeared to be some nice ones.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

To be fair they will have had to pay for the transport of the horses as well as the additional fees (is it tax and auction fees?) so the mark up might not be quite as substantial as it would initially seem.

Plus they will have saved Uk buyers coming over, not a clue what they are bidding on, and going home with something totally unsuitable. At least those for the most part, that the more reputable UK dealers have bought at Cavan or Goresbridge give UK buyers a selection of Irish horses to look at and trial and even have their own vets do another vetting if they wish.

Why wouldn't they want a decent profit, they aren't dealers getting you a supply if Irish horses to look at for a bit of pin money are they?

Have to admit though, I do know some UK Irish horse dealers who come over here and buy the real bin end stuff privately, from low end Irish dealers and at some Marts. Again you need to take all precautions whatever horse you are buying don't you?