HORLICKS - Good news... and not so good news...

Zoeshiloh - I wouldn't say she is a straight forward ride. She has a few quirks and does buck when asked to something challenging. She can be a bit mareish, and will pull faces etc. Some people (even experienced ones) struggle to get a good "tune" out of her. In fact one of the girls in my lesson said she hated riding her, as she just couldn't get her do anything! So I would say she is a particular type... not your "novice ride" thats for sure!
 
If the YM is genuine about wanting you to have her (and not just piling on the emotional blackmail) she'll be willing to negotiate I'm sure. Surely the 4k is the opening move in a game of horse-buying chess and she doesn't expect you to just say yes stright off, she's probably going in high to come down a bit and maybe hoping you're too head over heels to barter for her. Printing all this out would prbably help for negotiation purposes as not one person here has said "it sounds like she's worth the 4k to me" We're all saying £3k tops so that's likely to be what other viewers will say about her as well. I'd agree with putting in a firm offer for a set time though so that the YM doesn't get beaten down by somebody else thinking you're not interested at all.
 
SusannaF said:
What Chavhorse said - they know you want her. I think the vetting and a lower offer are a good idea.
Click to expand...

Ditto!

Don't give up on her though. If you try and don't get her then at least you'll know you made an effort and won't regret it down the line.

Tell them you're interested but want to be sure about the price first. Would they honestly sell her from under your nose like that?
 
I think your YM is banking on the fact that you really want Horlicks. I can't see many other people being willing to pay £4000 for the horse that you have described with those issues. If you really want her and think that the issues are surmountable offer to pay what you feel is appropriate and ask for the tack to be included. And bear in mind that once she's yours you can keep her anywhere you like!
 
There was a horse for sale in a riding school I used to attend years ago (before I had my own horse). They wanted £2.5k for this horse, and I would have paid more than that for him at the time, but I did not have the money. Looking back, I can see the reason I wanted him was emotional rather than him being worth that (the same horse now I would pay about 1k for).

I firmly believe "Everything happens for a reason" - if it is meant to be, it will be. Every time I have seen a horse that I just had to have, someone has made me a big offer for one I have for sale, or something has happened to mean I have the cash/space to go for it. Those that I have 'missed out on' have turned out to either go lame or cause no end of problems for their eventual homes.

I think you should offer the YO 2.5k on the proviso she passes a full 5 stage - say you will pay 3k including tack/rugs. If she says no, say the offer is on the table (as someone else has said) for x number of weeks. Hopefully she will realise you are offering more than horse is worth and give in!
 
Me again:p

If you are seriously considering buying Horlicks, in that case you could probably afford another horse if push came to shove. Why don't you have a look around at what else is out there and compare. Go try some more. Try a 16 hh coloured mare much the same as her with her scope and compare. You may find she isn't your absolute dream horse after all and you fall for another. I doubt it from what you say but you never know. If your YO knows you are looking elsewhere too she may think you are too good an opportunity to miss and come down on the price.

I am really, really keeping my fingers crossed.

Good luck, hun x
 
I agree with Archies mummy - you may have fallen for Horlicks purely because she is there / you know her already.

Go and try horses that are for sale in your budget - you may find something you like within your budget without having to scrape pennies together for Horlicks!

If however u decide she really is the one - you can at least then have a true value in your head for her!
 
with no tack/rugs etc... she has only just come back into work after being off for 6 wks due to her back, and then loosing her shoes. She has whiteline disease at the moment and has a funny rear fetlock - not a lameness, more of an unbalance, which is helped by good farriery. has not done any competing I wouldn't say she is a straight forward ride. She has a few quirks and does buck when asked to something challenging. She can be a bit mareish, and will pull faces etc. Some people (even experienced ones) struggle to get a good "tune" out of her. In fact one of the girls in my lesson said she hated riding her, as she just couldn't get her do anything! So I would say she is a particular type... not your "novice ride" thats for sure!

and at age six? I have no idea where that price has come from
 
Personally taking into account she has vet history, is unfit, little/no competition history and is 'quirky' I'd be pushing the boat out to say I'd pay £2500, perhaps allow an extra £500 to come into play for the emotional attachement.
The fact she goes better for you goes against the owner- if she does want to sell her it may be hard for another potential buyer to get on well with her/want her therefore dragging out the sale process, I'd play this card personally to try and get the price down.
Yes when something's your dream by all means do what you can to chase/achieve it but you do need to be practical, and if you don't have the money you don't have the money, there's no way round it. If you can afford it by all means pay over the odds for the right horse because it will be worth it as otehrs have said but imho not worth it if you can't physically afford it in the first place.
 
Thanks guys!
AMum - I'm going to have a look at what is out there for 4k, that way I will have something to go on, when it comes to bartering.
Zoeshiloh - I totally believe if its meant to be etc, so am putting car up for sale this weekend, and if someone makes me a good offer, I will have the cash! Then I will tell YM I am interested, but want a vet's opinion on her health first and if all OK, make an offer and go for the full vetting.
 
I agree it is way to high. When you have a look at other horses for sale for prices, make sure you print the adverts so you can show them to her to prove she is very over priced. Fingers crossed!!!
 
Yo mate!

She is definatley asking too much - there are fab horses out there without as many health problems for 2.5/3 k at the moment - lower your offer and she may well take it - saves them the hassle of faffing about with anyone else - Id go for 3k including tack if it was me or ask for her on a loan to buy say with a time limit of 3 months on it

I'd go for it me duck - but remember horses are for life not just for nice summers ;) ;) ;0)
 
Thanks Callly - I know how much you want me to have this mare!! I had a chat with OH, and he is thinking about it today (I hope!)
Had a look at some similar horses for sale and TBH, most of the ones that are asking for 4k are all proven competition types, with rosettes under their girths!
 
Wow this really illustrates why I decided not to even consider buying a horse from the RS.

It sounds like the YO is hoping that you are soft enough to pay anything for the horse because you love her and has basically doubled what she could realistically get for her now. If she could sell her at all now, afterall the market is slow and she's got an unfit recovering from injury quirky youngster. She has two options to shift this horse, reduce the price so that people can see they are getting a bargain, or spend time and money producing her to a decent standard. But if she goes to for the latter she will be selling at the end of summer, not the best time when the show season has finished, teenagers are off to college and the winter is looming.

If this was a genuine slowly started, low mileage 5 or 6 year old that is a straight forward ride with no health problems or quirks and decent scope then the price would probably be realistic if she had done some competing too. But she's none of those things. Add to that, she has been plonked in a riding school as a youngster being ridden by novicey clients and she isn't going to be a nice blank slate.

Just the thought of her being a riding school horse will put off a lot of people with a decent budget looking for a RC/low level competition horse. Ex-riding school horses are generally only appealing to novices, and she isn't really a novice ride. Add in that lots of people won't even look at mares and you can see that she won't be an easy horse to sell.
 
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/6_yrs_16_1_hh_coloured_irish_sport_horse_kent/108844

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/5_yrs_5_mths_16_0_hh_coloured_irish_sport_horse_east_sussex/108796

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/9_yrs_16_2_hh_coloured_irish_sport_horse_kent/108847

Just had a quick look on horsemart and found these. They seem to be a reasonable comparison for Horlicks from what you've said. Compared to these with her lack of quality schooling, competition experience and back / foot problems I'd say she was overpriced and the owners are trying to play on how much you love her. if you feel brave enough I'd be brave, offer 2.5K cash straight up. I think it's true that is you wave cash in front of someone there is a lot of temptation to take it. It's hard though as your heart will say one thing and your head the other. Good luck.
 
Only you know what you are willing to pay and / or sacrifice for this horse...

... however, will she pass a vetting? do you really think someone will pay £4k for her? would the current owner take less? are you willing to hold fire and see what response she gets and hopefully get her at a reduced price if she can't sell her?

Horse sales do seem a bit slow at the moment but you never know, she could go very quickly.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Walrus said:
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/6_yrs_16_1_hh_coloured_irish_sport_horse_kent/108844

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/5_yrs_5_mths_16_0_hh_coloured_irish_sport_horse_east_sussex/108796

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/9_yrs_16_2_hh_coloured_irish_sport_horse_kent/108847

Just had a quick look on horsemart and found these. They seem to be a reasonable comparison for Horlicks from what you've said. Compared to these with her lack of quality schooling, competition experience and back / foot problems I'd say she was overpriced and the owners are trying to play on how much you love her. if you feel brave enough I'd be brave, offer 2.5K cash straight up. I think it's true that is you wave cash in front of someone there is a lot of temptation to take it. It's hard though as your heart will say one thing and your head the other. Good luck.
Click to expand...


Really like the look of number 3!
 
Archiesmummy said:
Me again:p

If you are seriously considering buying Horlicks, in that case you could probably afford another horse if push came to shove. Why don't you have a look around at what else is out there and compare. Go try some more. Try a 16 hh coloured mare much the same as her with her scope and compare. You may find she isn't your absolute dream horse after all and you fall for another. I doubt it from what you say but you never know. If your YO knows you are looking elsewhere too she may think you are too good an opportunity to miss and come down on the price.

I am really, really keeping my fingers crossed.

Good luck, hun x
Click to expand...

I agree with this, don't let them take you for a ride, then if you decide you like her, get her vetted, if she passes make an offer. She is such a lovely horse, but there are others out there, with more experience and not as expensive and not with health issues.

(sorry have not read all of post just like this comment and am going to read rest now)
 
I saw no 3 first ;-) lol!

*frantically pulls sofa apart to see if there are by anychance any £50 notes hiding down the back*
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top