Horse hunting.....either I’d forgotten how awful it is, or it’s got worse

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Patterdale

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I suspect it’s got worse.

I’m looking for a small event type, 14.2-15.2hh, 5-12 with a BE record. Budget high four figures, which you’d think would buy me what I’m after.

But no.

So far I’ve had offered to me:
9yo 15.2, done BE80. Had kissing spine surgery last year. £7500
14.3 with long but very iffy BE record. Had quite bad ulcers and sounds mareish £13000
15.2 ISH type, very ordinary, no competition record at all. £10k

And that’s just a selection off the top of my head!

And so far, I have had no less than 6 videos sent to me of clearly lame horses.
The videos themselves are usually snippets of each pace, no transitions shown, and often when you get to the jumping bit they hit slow motion a stride out so you can’t actually see the horse jump properly.

I’m only a few days into searching and I’m ready to give up already ??‍♀️??‍♀️?

Anyone else on the hunt and considering taking up golf instead?
 
Well that sounds horrendous. No, I am not on the hunt but my sympathies to those of you who are.

I suspect the market will crash in a couple of months so may have better luck a little down the line?
 
Based off of the numerous threads on the matter here, the market is a bit mad at the moment. Definitely higher priced.

Although, I wouldn't expect to find what you're looking for less than 10k.
 
To be honest, even before Covid hit you wouldn’t have been inundated with decent horses with good BE records in the 7-10k bracket, there is usually a compromise to be had.

Hold tight and don’t rush into anything, mid-winter and redundancies post furlough should see a market correction.
 
I’ve seen a few but I always miss out on them. Saw LOADS over winter.

I’m seriously considering buying a nice youngster and paying to get it produced. Would work out the same price near enough. But I’m just going to wait for a bit now.

On the plus side I sold my youngsters easily to excellent homes!
 
Girl in the yard was looking for exactly the same last year. Spent months looking. Eventually went to Ireland and got a cracking mare.
 
All the horsey groups are similar, people buying unseen, within minutes no vetting just because they’re desperate to buy. If you can, hold off, it’s insane out there currently! Saying that, on all the horse search threads, there are some decent looking horses out there. Are you on Happy Hackers and Family Horses on fb? Someone posted a sporty looking 15hh mare but nobody had responded, I think they’re mostly after armchair cobs!
 
Welcome to my hell! This is a special kind of torture, I am quite tempted to wait until winter but I have a viewing on Sunday which may have restored my faith as at least it is sound in videos! I would recommend putting a couple of ads out I have managed to view a couple before they got advertised because of it. Are you on Facebook? There are a couple a day at least advertised on Eventing UK group, might be worth keeping an eye on it! Exactly what you are looking for came up a week ago in your budget and it was sold to the first person who viewed it - the same day! Have to be prepared to move pretty quickly at the moment it seems!
 
I’d say you’ll need to up you’re budget or consider buying a well produced 4 year old. I know to a few....pm me if you’d like further information.
 
Patterdale.....

Do you have an age limit.
I do know of an older horse (14) he's not competed at any level for a number of years
But..his young owner is facing some tough choices and if the perfect home came up..

He's easy to do in all ways, will stay alone, hacks alone, loads alone, can live out, can go without shoes.
Well schooled.
Has been round be100 courses.

He's not a plod and can be a plonker but in a non harm ful way

( Think heard of cows charging up a field mooing horse can't see them...what does twit horse spook at?, A towbar on the back of a Truck as you try and get out of lane)

Always snaffled mouthed.
He's done everything.

( People please note this horse is not on the open market owners other horse may need an op and she will have to raise funds, or injured horse will be PTS which would be a crying shame )
 
Puzzled said:
I’d say you’ll need to up you’re budget or consider buying a well produced 4 year old. I know to a few....pm me if you’d like further information.
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What do you mean by a well produced 4yo though. Mine is just 4, he's hacking out under saddle and seeing the world. He's done tons of groundwork and I'll maybe sell him early next year/mid winter (not concerned re price). By that point he will perhaps have done a dressage test and be doing some small fences under saddle.

Will people really expect more!? In my mind he shouldn't be "produced" at that age, just "started" well?
 
Michen said:
What do you mean by a well produced 4yo though. Mine is just 4, he's hacking out under saddle and seeing the world. He's done tons of groundwork and I'll maybe sell him early next year/mid winter (not concerned re price). By that point he will perhaps have done a dressage test and be doing some small fences under saddle.

Will people really expect more!? In my mind he shouldn't be "produced" at that age, just "started" well?
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The OP is looking for a big pony/ small horse which is not the type to be 'produced' in the way the purpose bred competition horses are being backed and ridden through from the spring they turn 3, so a 4 year old may be 12 months into it's ridden career by now, that may be 'well produced' but I am not sure it is what the OP wants, they are also likely to be far bigger than required.

Most smaller x breds will be in private hands and brought on much more slowly as they are not under the same pressure to crack on and sell, many will not be sold, others not until they have competition experience as the money is not usually paid for this type until there have proved themselves as the target market is the less ambitious who will pay for a well established little horse but will be less likely to want a 4 year old because they do not want to go through the more difficult stages, that is not being derogatory in any way just being realistic.
 
But are those prices that way out? We sold our FEI full up148cm pony for £12K 14 years ago. He didn't have the best record final PTs but was placed or got DCs in the earlier events, was pretty solid up to a pre-novice (as they were in those days) did a good med test and very straightforward in every way. Would happily jump clear through a 110 sj coourse. Sound as a pound and a looker. He was 9 rising 10 when sold We paid £3250 for him as a 5 year old but put loads of money and time/effort into him and my daughter had a ball but he was worth every penny he was sold for and that was 14 years ago!
 
be positive said:
The OP is looking for a big pony/ small horse which is not the type to be 'produced' in the way the purpose bred competition horses are being backed and ridden through from the spring they turn 3, so a 4 year old may be 12 months into it's ridden career by now, that may be 'well produced' but I am not sure it is what the OP wants, they are also likely to be far bigger than required.

Most smaller x breds will be in private hands and brought on much more slowly as they are not under the same pressure to crack on and sell, many will not be sold, others not until they have competition experience as the money is not usually paid for this type until there have proved themselves as the target market is the less ambitious who will pay for a well established little horse but will be less likely to want a 4 year old because they do not want to go through the more difficult stages, that is not being derogatory in any way just being realistic.
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it just feels like people expect a lot. I wouldn’t want a 4yo that had been produced and done lots personally. I would find that off putting. I really hope if I do sell people will appreciate a 4yo that’s been taken super slow with proper foundations in place rather than rushed so that they can be videoed jumping around a course or winning rosettes.
 
14 too old sorry :(

I don’t accept that anything under £10k will be a talentless mule not capable of jumping 100cm.

Just missed out on an amazing looking one today, £5k wb x Tb, moved fantastic and schooling round 105 nicely but not competed.

They’re out there. Just take some finding and sell mega quick ?
 
oldie48 said:
But are those prices that way out? We sold our FEI full up148cm pony for £12K 14 years ago. He didn't have the best record final PTs but was placed or got DCs in the earlier events, was pretty solid up to a pre-novice (as they were in those days) did a good med test and very straightforward in every way. Would happily jump clear through a 110 sj coourse. Sound as a pound and a looker. He was 9 rising 10 when sold We paid £3250 for him as a 5 year old but put loads of money and time/effort into him and my daughter had a ball but he was worth every penny he was sold for and that was 14 years ago!
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I don't think the prices are way out but do seem to have jumped up recently which is fine if they are sound, have a bit of a record and are reasonably well established in all phases, if they have a dodgy record, poor results or are tricky rides then they are expensive.

A proven FEI pony has always commanded good money, usually well in excess of £20k, friends of mine sold theirs 10 ish years ago for £50k but they are way beyond what the OP wants, she is looking for a little horse, which probably wouldn't measure in, to do 90's it does not need to jump round a novice track anything with that amount of talent will be in a different league.
 
Michen said:
it just feels like people expect a lot. I wouldn’t want a 4yo that had been produced and done lots personally. I would find that off putting. I really hope if I do sell people will appreciate a 4yo that’s been taken super slow with proper foundations in place rather than rushed so that they can be videoed jumping around a course or winning rosettes.
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In 12 months time he would probably be just what the Op wants, unfortunately she needs it now:(
The market for over produced youngsters to do age classes is always there but there will be wastage along the way, market forces demand they are doing more than they probably should.
 
Patterdale said:
14 too old sorry :(

I don’t accept that anything under £10k will be a talentless mule not capable of jumping 100cm.

Just missed out on an amazing looking one today, £5k wb x Tb, moved fantastic and schooling round 105 nicely but not competed.

They’re out there. Just take some finding and sell mega quick ?
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No-one is saying that anything under 10k is worthless, but if you want something with a proven BE record then 10k would be your realistic lower price band.

The horse you say you've missed out on above doesn't fit your criteria which is why it's cheaper. If that's your budget you're going to need to either be very lucky or compromise somewhere, either on competition record, age, health or temperament. Or wait until the recession hits and prices start dropping in 6-12 months.
 
I’d reconsider an older horse (12-15 years). I was looking earlier this year and there were a few experienced event horses stepping down the levels but would do a 100 with their eyes shut. They were mid 4 figures but go very quickly. Yes they may need maintenance but you could go out and compete next week.

I’ve learnt the hard way that not having the budget means you have to work hard and whilst I evented my previous, younger horses a bit they were cheaper than the market average for a reason, and it took a lot of work for them to get there. And are just as likely to breakdown, atleast with an older horse you may get some time competing in before... a younger horse you could bring on for two years and it goes lame before it’s first event.

Hang in there... I think it’s a numbers game with buying. IME For the amount of adverts you scroll past, you call so many fewer, you view even less and you like just one or two!
 
Thanks everyone.
I don’t accept that I can’t find a nice horse capable of BE90 for £9k though.
They’re out there, I’ve seen them. But they go, untried and unvetted. Which I’m not willing to do. Or they’re £9k, done two BE90s and wind suck.

I’m willing to compromise on the BE record, as long as it’s got a good unaffiliated one.
I’m not willing to compromise on age or health problems.

People are just being ridiculous. I’ve just asked the price for a nice horse I’ve seen, walk trot canter jump but not competed. Thinking I can get a pro to do the first few.

£25k. 25k!!!!

I think winter may be my time....I’ve never seen the market so insane, it’s like Black Friday ?
 
Generally I’ve found lately that anything with a BE record starts at 10k. That record can be short and it can even be relatively mediocre but as long as they’ve got round safely without any disasters it puts the price up.
I know that’s a broad sweeping generalisation but it seems to be the case.
A pro rider friend of mine does the occasional sales livery. They have one scheduled to come in after lockdown eases. 12 years, very easy personality, nice looking horse, done BE 100 with a teenager and then moved to BSJA. Not a world beater but a consistent record owners want 16-18k
 
If you can hang fire a bit, prices will crash. They seem to be in a insane high bubble at the moment. The prolonged recent spell of lovely weather and the cocooning effect of furlough seem to have gone to many people’s heads.

The redundancy consultation notices due to the Covid 19 downturn are already being issued hereabouts. Just the start of many. Good professional jobs, too, like in these parts at Bentley motors.
 
Ceifer -16-18k, wow. Interested to know what it sells for but that seems high to me. Depends how it’s done though and those grassroots contenders, if it is one, do go for good money.
 
You’ll definitely find something in the 6-8 bracket, but you won’t find it (easily) with a proven record unless it comes with a major ‘but’
 
Bernster said:
Ceifer -16-18k, wow. Interested to know what it sells for but that seems high to me. Depends how it’s done though and those grassroots contenders, if it is one, do go for good money.
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They sell quite consistently in that price bracket with a mediocre 100 record. Add a few decent placings / potential for novice then 25k is around the benchmark for nice looking, amateur rideable ones.
(Which btw doesn’t mean I think you can’t find a decent horse for the job less than that, all I’m saying is there are plenty of buyers out there that will spend that kind of money for particular horses)
 
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ihatework said:
They sell quite consistently in that price bracket with a mediocre 100 record. Add a few decent placings / potential for novice then 25k is around the benchmark for nice looking, amateur rideable ones.
(Which btw doesn’t mean I think you can’t find a decent horse for the job less than that, all I’m saying is there are plenty of buyers out there that will spend that kind of money for particular horses)
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Not sure if I’ll articulate this properly but I feel like most half decent horses without this price tag can manage low level eventing perfectly well. It’s more the amateur rider that can’t manage it. So they buy something more expensive thats done it, in the hope it will take them around. But I wonder if they could spend the same money on training and paying a rider and ‘make their own’.

I‘d kind of put myself in this bracket. F would go round be 80-90 very capably with a more competent/braver/experienced rider but we’re just bumbling along at unaff. I occasionally think about having a friend take him round a few 80/90s to see if that would help me, but I’m enjoying doing the small stuff too much!
 
Bernster said:
Not sure if I’ll articulate this properly but I feel like most half decent horses without this price tag can manage low level eventing perfectly well. It’s more the amateur rider that can’t manage it. So they buy something more expensive thats done it, in the hope it will take them around. But I wonder if they could spend the same money on training and paying a rider and ‘make their own’.

I‘d kind of put myself in this bracket. F would go round be 80-90 very capably with a more competent/braver/experienced rider but we’re just bumbling along at unaff. I occasionally think about having a friend take him round a few 80/90s to see if that would help me, but I’m enjoying doing the small stuff too much!
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Spot on.
If we spent significantly less on the horse and put those thousands into training then I’m willing to be the partnership would be more successful overall.
But many buying at the high price tag also invest in the training. I suppose if you have the disposable income ten why wouldn’t you spend the money on a horse that has proven to do the job?
Hell, I don’t have that kind of money to fritter on a horse. But if I did I would.
 
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