Horse fairs - How when where and should you buy a horse there?

[blitznbobs]

Any one who has read any of my previous posts will know I'm desperate to find a BIG traditional coloured cob... and not having much success. So if I'm not successful over the next couple of months, I've been thinking about travelling to Ireland to have a look over there... I've been reading about horse fairs over there but their aren't a lot of details about how the fairs work, how to transport afterwards etc.

So has anyone done this? How do the practicalities work? Do youtake possession of the horse on the day and have to have transport /stabling that day or what??? and if so how did you do this?

Have bought at the german performance sales before but that seems very much more organised that the 'horse fairs'...

Blitz

 

[natalia]

Well, I would say seeing as you had one fail the vet and didn't buy it because it failed, don't bother going to a fair! You wont be able to get it vetted and they will see you coming! Really to get exactly what you want your best ringing round every trader in the country and asking. And I don't mean the one's that advertise, you need to really go to people who import in directly themselves, or go to a few of the horse markets here and ask the dealers as chances are they will know a source. Big trad cobs aren't really "posh" horses, and you'll get a better one from going to a *****! Appleby would have been the only real major fair that you could have gone to in the UK which has nice cobs, but again you would have been seen a mile off and prices doubled. I know a few cob breeders but the big ones are a bit out of fashion at the moment and they are all breeding the mini trad's with loads of hair. I know of one very very nice 15.1hh (may mature a bit bigger) red and white trad cob who would be for sale for the right money (he's a 4 yr old and I backed him for his owners) but he's in Surrey, pm me if its not too far.

 

[blitznbobs]

TBH I don't care if they 'see me coming' and double the price, I know that I'm not going to get 'local's rates,' but I'm certainly not getting 'locals rates' with the dealers I've visited in this country - doped horses, lame horses yes, mates rates NO!. TBH I've never had a horse vetted before in my life, but I kinda KNEW this horse was lame when I hacked him out but I hoped that he was just an unbalanced baby. I REALLY liked him tho' so I thought I could prove myself wrong... unfortuanately I was right.

How would I get a list of the dealers in this country if they don't advertise? All I can find googling is breaders who seem to sell foals which I don't want.

I'm willing to travel wherever come September but before that I've not got enough time to go to the other end of the country...

Blitz

 

[Cuffey]

I cant comment on going to Ireland but there are plenty bred in UK, particularly Cumbria, North East and Kent

Kirkby Stephen Sept sale will have around 500 entries, the best often do not sell in the ring but could be bought afterwards.

When you say BIG there are not many much over 15hh at the sale

http://www.livestock-sales.co.uk/stock/horses.html

This is the type you will see in Cumbria--agreed many not as good as this!!

http://www.stallionsonline.co.uk/viewitem.php?id=15385&t=Ready Teddy Go

 

[smudge99]

A dealer in the same area as me normally has quite a few big cobs in, not too far from you either, I believe they get them straight from Ireland etc.

HANCOCKS HORSES LTD

WOODHOUSE FARM,
REDHILL
TELFORD
TF4 2NX
Phone: +44 (0) 1952 612822

Just to add I am not connected in any way but they do take a few hunting and ride them in local RC comps.

 

[natalia]

You really need to go to a few sales and just introduce yourself to a few people, give your number and what your looking for. You need to ideally get to the people who supply trade horses in your area. I would be at the sales asking the driver of every lorry! The UK horse dealer market is a funny thing, most dealers that advertise have a big supplier of horses who know what they are after and source the horses accordingly and then send stock down on SOR. In our yards case, we deal with two main suppliers of irish horses, these importers are in ireland weekly looking for horses (although some will also be english!) we are then sent a full load to work with, if we don't like a certain individual, it can be sent back no problem. You need to get hold of either an agent who will help you in your area, or find who's importing locally and ask them to source you the horse. You will always be better off going down this route as if horses isn't right it can go back, if you go buy from a sale direct your stuck with it.