Help! Can't find right horse to buy!

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TJ08

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25 September 2008
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Berkshire
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Can anybody help?

I've been looking for a horse to buy for the last couple of months and am really stuggling to find what I'm looking for?! Perhaps I'm being too fussy??!!
I have literally exhausted all websites I know of, horse...mart, exchange, deals, & hound, quest and also free ads, ad trader, right horses, adhorse!
I check all of these websites pretty much every day and am getting a bit a bit disheartened now! There are bucket loads for sale but not what I'm looking for.

If anybody reads this who knows of a horse for sale that fits description below please let me know!
What I am looking for:

-Gelding
-Preferably in the south of england (east or west). I'm based in Berkshire, happy to travel up to 2 hrs north of Berkshire
-14.3 - 15.3 - would consider 16hh if a small, compact horse.
-5 - 11 years old
- No cobs or plods (sorry all cob owners)
- Ideally breed to be arab x, tb x, connemara, irish sports horse...but not essential
- I love showjumping, I used to do a lot of local level, up to around 3'3 when i was younger so would like something with scope to do that. Must be careful and be able to move up a gear in a jump off.
- Also to do general hacking, sponsored rides, and possibly some xc. Preferably to have some level of schooling as would like to do some local dressage. (My old horse was a fab show jumper but dressage def wasn't his thing!!)
Must have a kind nature, doesn't need to be super affectinate but happy to be fussed and cuddled.

Colour not important but would prefer not to have a grey as that was the colour of my old horse who i lost in the spring :-(

Any suggestions, please let me know :-)
 
If you go on NFED there is a nice bay mare on the first page and on the second someone selling home produced horses up to 7 years in Hampshire,it could be worth a call.
Try the PC site there are usually a few that are not so expensive.
 
Thank you so much for those suggestions!
I've enquired about a few on the NFED website, i didn't even know that site existed!
Also enquired about the grey on the BE website... he does look lovely! He's dappled and looks nothing like my old horse so will be keen to look at him.
Unfortunately I can't look at mares as no room at my yard for any more which is a shame cos I've seen some lovely ones.
Thanks again :-)
 
Don't despair, it took me much longer to find mine, we'd been looking for over a year when we found our mare, and she didn't tick many of our criteria but she is perfect!

Just keep looking and mention your search to all your contacts, our horse was spotted by our old instructor on a facebook group!
 
Hi

I have had the same problem. My own verdict is horses menaged to death! Boxed and showed then back to menage. I think there are few people who have genuine all rounders..that will hack and do road work etc. Well thats my verdict. Talking to my old farrier we were discussing that so many people came into money moved to the countryside got horses(which is great in a way)...BUT menages have popped up all over the place in our area then they pay people to ride/groom etc and dont hack out etc etc
Wrap them up in cotton wool.
Riding schools have a tough time with insurance ie no win . no fee etc and are reluctant to take children out so the cycle continues.

So I gave up looking and am having a break as I decided to go word of mouth route and see what comes along locally. i think I might be waiting a long time though.I registered with a dealer but have heard nothing too. Looks are very unimportant to me(someone said oh you must have a good looking horse..ur no safe one is important)

Good luck I wish you a lot of luck and dont rush. I nearly parted with £3k recently and on the 2nd viewing the horse that never bucked did a mighty one and off i went. It then bucked the full length of the hedge with its owner. Um never bucks!!
 
Have you tried Elite Irish horses there based in Berkshire, did go and see a horse there before, never bought but was happy with the guy...Gavin i believe
 
They do exist. BH isn't far off being in your category and he is a bit of an all round type of guy. he is a bit green and is an ugly brute but he'd turn his hoof to anything you asked him to. Or at least try. I can't be the only person in the world with a well rounded riding horse so I'm sure there is one out there for you!

Puppy's suggestion of the PC is a good one I think. That would be where I'd look if I was after what you are. Good luck and don't give up :)
 
ellie_e said:
Have you tried Elite Irish horses there based in Berkshire, did go and see a horse there before, never bought but was happy with the guy...Gavin i believe
Click to expand...

I can also recommend Gavin at Elite Irish. I had a bad time with a horse that I bought from a private buyer, he turned out to be quite riggy and just very difficult.Looking back at passport you could see he was passed from pillar to post. I could not get on with improving my riding as constantly overcoming bad behaviour. Luckily I sold him on to the perfect place & he is much much happier......well you live & learn, but then left me looking for another horse and who to trust.
I went to Elite Irish thinking they would be way over my budget & probably wasted on me - but I gave Gavin my wish list that I wanted a safe all rounder ( I spend a lot of time at the yard alone and hack out alone) and something I could learn dressage on together & a little bit of jumping, but something that looked good too.
My new horse Mags , a Rose Grey mare is to die for. She is very pretty and most important has the most lovable easy going nature. But fairly bright too - I'm not looking to set the world on fire but I think the two of us will have fun learning. We can enjoy the countryside together and will embark on bringing each other on in the dressage ring too.
There were some pretty super duper show jumpers there too if that's your bag & you have the budget! I would say Gavin will take on board what you want. I did like the look of another horse but he said the character would not be right for me - even though more money - he sold me a lower priced horse.
Mags also came with a 30 day guarantee so if we did not get on I could take her back & he'd find another horse. Luckily I did not need that but believe some others have used that and then been happy. It gives a lot of peace of mind especially when you have had a bad experience ....

Worth giving a call & he will look out for a horse that fits your wish list.
 
Have visited/ called almost every dealer in Sussex and Kent in the past few weeks.

The Best: Michael Drea at Rapkyns Irish Horses in West Sussex

I just bought a 5 yr old 16.2, bombproof all-rounder for an excellent price - I have owned him for 2.5 weeks and I couldn't be happier, he is everything I thought I bought and more. I tried 3 horses in my price range while I was there and actually found myself debating between 2 of them.
Micheal really knows his stuff and is as straight as they come. Facilities to trial in were unbelievable and the stables were filled with good looking, healthy horses.

Rapkyns also offers to exchange at any time if you're unhappy.

Happy Horse Hunting!
 
Amberslack - welcome to the forum!! Thats 3 posts you have made so far and 3 threads you have posted on tonight - all just to big up Rapkyns Irish Horses......the other 2 threads were old ones... why did you feel the need to bring them back to life.......looks like a bit of free advertising to me:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Sorry to interupt your thread OP, but this forum helps genuine people to find genuine recommendations and I just feel this is very underhand.:(
 
You can read a similar response that I wrote on one of the other threads.

I would retract my postings if I could now seeing the way that it looks.

Im not affiliated with Rapkyns other than I bought my horse from them - dont know how I can prove this though.

I had a hard time finding the right horse. Now that Ive had the right horse for almost 3 weeks, I felt like I should say something great about the guy that I got him from.

I have literally been to 7 different dealers in the past month - I have tried 18 different horses. Every horse except for the ones at Rapkyns and Sport Horses Int'l in my price range had something wrong w them or the dealers weren't up front about etc.

I googled "horse dealers" and replied to every thread i found w a copy and paste. I realize now that wasn't a great choice.

Look, believe me or don't but in the end its your choice where you want to look for a horse - you can waste time and money like I did or learn from my mistakes. When I was "dealer hunting" I went through all the old H&H posts which is why I posted on them just now.
 
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