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

[LEC]

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.

They also offer a 2 week no quibbles return if you buy from them. Plus you can get a uk vet to inspect. So all in all worth the mark up!
The lovely thing about auctions is all the prices are published and tbh they only usually put a £2k markup on. Theirs is a stack em high, ship em out fast without being too greedy and it works.

 

[lme]

They also offer a 2 week no quibbles return if you buy from them. Plus you can get a uk vet to inspect. So all in all worth the mark up!
The lovely thing about auctions is all the prices are published and tbh they only usually put a £2k markup on. Theirs is a stack em high, ship em out fast without being too greedy and it works.

I am sure it does work and they always seem to have some nice types. I just found it interesting spotting the Goresbridge lots I'd seen in the sale as they came onto their Instagram.

 

[onemoretime]

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

Try Lorraine Keith she has a Facebook page and is in Ireland. She has some lovely horses and would know of other horses in the area.

 

[Clover Girl]

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).

The Go For Gold is also a minefield, we bought a 3 year old there 6 years ago, paid a lot of money x rays were approved by their vet. Within 12 weeks of arriving in Uk he had windgalls popping up in both hind fetlocks (clearly had been drained prior to sale) further x rays showed arthritic changes which had been disguised in sale x rays, like Instagram angles are everything! He is still a field ornament.

 

[Clover Girl]

???
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!

I sell in Goresbridge at every sale and find it less stressful than selling direct to Uk customers who often over estimate their ability to produce a young horse then blame the seller when it goes pear shaped. The sale protects sellers to a high degree, it’s pretty hard to send a horse back.