Has anyone bought a cheap horse that wasn’t a youngster is it possible?

midnight2025

midnight2025

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Just thinking my horse turning 16 in may 2025 she has arthritis and old tendon injury that is becoming problematic as my horse is getting older. So it wouldn’t surprise me if my horse needs retirement at 19/20 . So is there a chance of getting a horse that’s not a youngster and is quite / kick along for under 5 thousand. My current horse was only 2 thousand and she has been my horse of a lifetime as the years are going by I often wonder will be able to own again.
 
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I wonder too…probably not. Absolute minimum seems to be 5k someone I know has just bought a 4 year old, came over from Ireland so is green but been outwith a hunt/cross country schooling etc…12.5k which feels a crazy amount. There is a cob gelding around 15 hands for sale on our yard for 4k but rumour is he failed a five stage recently. 🙁
 
Yes, quite a few, but they've been sharper than a sharp thing and generally quite quirky! Thankfully the type I like

If you want something quiet and kick along, I think you'll have to accept some medical maintenance or perhaps a ridden quirk that won't impact you personally.
 
I bought a nice, straightforward little QH mare in 2017 for £1500. She was four at the time, but backed and being ridden. I knew she had issues - wonky back feet, one very questionable - and I wouldn't have bought her if she'd had shoes on. Her working life is likely to be reasonably short, I think, but she's a nice mare, who has done a lot of fun stuff, and is cute to have around.

Which is a long way round to say, maybe, but there will be compromises, now or in the future.
 
If you're happy to buy a fairly unkempt cob type with a rubbish advert you could take a punt on a few that are on Preloved - however, the caveat on taking any punt is that you have to A) be willing to treat/PTS if you're not lucky, or B) have/be willing to pay for the experience to sort it if they do have/develop a quirk

Eg:
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/122761530/141hh-heavy-cob-gelding-ride-and-drive.html?link=/search?keyword=cob&maximumPrice=3000&page=4
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/122773784/131h-coloured-cob-8-years-old.html?link=/search?keyword=cob&maximumPrice=3000
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/122772649/bluebell-super-13hh-mare.html?link=/search?keyword=cob&maximumPrice=3000
 
I've never bought an expensive horse. But there is always a compromise somewhere, whether it be management issues, schooling issues, a buck, bad loader, or a confirmation issue. There are things I won't accept (rearing for instance), it just depends what you wont be prepared to compromise on.

For example, I'm not a fan of a coloured, but I might take on something with little white as along as the movement and confirmation was there. I'm not happy riding larger horses, so anything over 15.2 is an absolute no from me, but I'm small enough to ride anything from 12.2hh upwards (if built well). I'd take on a laminitic if I could see x rays and talk to the vet and/or farrier that works with them currently as I have experience there. My place (my own) is a boys only zone (my personal choice) so mares are a no from me.

Just a matter of what you are happy to work around/with.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
If you're happy to buy a fairly unkempt cob type with a rubbish advert you could take a punt on a few that are on Preloved - however, the caveat on taking any punt is that you have to A) be willing to treat/PTS if you're not lucky, or B) have/be willing to pay for the experience to sort it if they do have/develop a quirk

Eg:
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/122761530/141hh-heavy-cob-gelding-ride-and-drive.html?link=/search?keyword=cob&maximumPrice=3000&page=4
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/122773784/131h-coloured-cob-8-years-old.html?link=/search?keyword=cob&maximumPrice=3000
https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/122772649/bluebell-super-13hh-mare.html?link=/search?keyword=cob&maximumPrice=3000
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They’re ponies though. Depends if OP would be too tall for a pony or not.

That said, I bought a 13.1hh cob x trotter for £1k last summer. Forward going but snaffle mouthed, required (still does) considerable schooling, won’t ever jump much height and won’t tolerate a child. But…basically safe and sane.
 
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dorsetladette said:
I've never bought an expensive horse. But there is always a compromise somewhere, whether it be management issues, schooling issues, a buck, bad loader, or a confirmation issue. There are things I won't accept (rearing for instance), it just depends what you wont be prepared to compromise on.

For example, I'm not a fan of a coloured, but I might take on something with little white as along as the movement and confirmation was there. I'm not happy riding larger horses, so anything over 15.2 is an absolute no from me, but I'm small enough to ride anything from 12.2hh upwards (if built well). I'd take on a laminitic if I could see x rays and talk to the vet and/or farrier that works with them currently as I have experience there. My place (my own) is a boys only zone (my personal choice) so mares are a no from me.

Just a matter of what you are happy to work around/with.
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I would put up with almost anything as long as it does the job I want. If I do not buy a youngster, it still has to be less than £1500, so there is always an if or a but, mainly management issues that I have the time and space to sort out.
The best buys I think are two year olds that look at bit cut and shut, You do not have to wait that long and if its not going to do the job you can easily sell it on.
 
Horse2018 said:
I am very short 4 foot 11 my horse is Irish draught crossed with a Connemara around she is 15.2, I wouldn’t mind a pony .
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Your best bet then is a pony that’s not a child’s ride. They go for peanuts because they are useless for their intended market, but often are truly lovely for an adult. I have a 12.3hh NF and my little cob cross - both do not under any circumstances tolerate children, yet are lovely easy adult’s rides (well, so long as you don’t let the NF canter too fast!). New Forests generally make lovely sane adult’s rides, often prefer adults to children, aren’t too speedy in build and mine have never been overly spooky. I would recommend a mare over the age of 5 though - they hit the teen stage with lots of oomph before returning back to sane and sensible a year or so later!
 
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