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

I know of a lovely 5 yr old just about to be advertised. Could win a BE90 now, definite grass roots champs horse and scope and attitude to go on and do more. Has only lightly competed, hasn’t been hammered, Clears BN, one young event horse class Being in top few after dressage and SJ (her height let her down being only 15.2 then - 15.3 now). Very straightforward genuine ride. Asking price 15k.
 
The market is absolutely mad.

I have just seen a 14 year old PRE for sale. Imported last year with no competition record in Spain so at best could have done a bit here.

Established in advanced movements, fair enough, but described as spooky in the ad. Noted to prefer traveling forward or in a trailer which would mean not a completely seasoned traveler to me.

Has melanomas.

They initially wanted £15k for him.
 
This is your criteria but he's 14.1. If interested PM me.

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Thank you! Looks lovely but yes would be a bit small. Plus I’m looking for a small horse rather than a big pony if you see what I mean.
Which is handy as most of the world seems to be wanting a connemara at the moment ?
 
I’ve just seen a 15.2 in your budget, no BE record but done unaff, they think he’ll event but only to 100. East anglia way. If interested I’ll send you the advert on as sweet horse just not forwards enough for me (I don’t think, still thinking..!)
 
rara007 said:
I’ve just seen a 15.2 in your budget, no BE record but done unaff, they think he’ll event but only to 100. East anglia way. If interested I’ll send you the advert on as sweet horse just not forwards enough for me (I don’t think, still thinking..!)
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Can you PM me the link also please?
 
redredruby said:
They are worth their weight in gold. I've seen so many riders lose their confidence because they have unsuitable horses. For leisure riders - the primary purpose surely is fun??
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This is so true, I'm a happy hacker who paid £3250 for my horse, she's worth every penny to me. I paid all that money purely based on her temperament.
 
It has gone mad. Two horses I've viewed this week have sold with as someone turned up with cash and a trailer before I could view! I cannot keep up! For 6k I'm not in a position to buy unseen.
 
I think if you look for a BS record rather than a BE one and are prepared to do the XC and dressage training with it then you would find something nice. It seems to me that SJers are cheaper than eventers for some reason and are often sold reasonably once it becomes apparent that they aren't going over 120 or so, which is plenty of scope for eventing so long as it is brave.
 
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I had 2 I was going to view sell yesterday Jz! 1 apparently had a deposit put down unseen to hold off viewers until they saw it the other was sold seen. Those having multiple viewers says quite a lot in the current market sadly!
 
Having now read the entire thread, the OP seems to want a proven horse for a knockdown price. If you are only seeing horses in your price range which don't meet your criteria and have problems then it is clear you are not looking in the right price range and saying that breeders shouldn't have some expectation of at least covering their costs is bonkers! Even if they breed for fun but, at the end of the day, why would you expect other people to make a loss breeding and training a horse for you to enjoy? Even more so if they have produced the paragon you seem to be looking for? You will likely have to compromise I'm afraid. There is a lovely sounding one up thread going cheaply because it cribs. Do you think a professional would turn down an Olympic performer because of that comment? Why would you not at least take a look? If that is the only thing wrong with it you may fall in love with it and then it would be a bargain! As I mentioned above though, the best way to look at a cheaper price range is not to look at something marketed as an eventer.
 
Leandy said:
Having now read the entire thread, the OP seems to want a proven horse for a knockdown price. If you are only seeing horses in your price range which don't meet your criteria and have problems then it is clear you are not looking in the right price range and saying that breeders shouldn't have some expectation of at least covering their costs is bonkers! Even if they breed for fun but, at the end of the day, why would you expect other people to make a loss breeding and training a horse for you to enjoy? Even more so if they have produced the paragon you seem to be looking for? You will likely have to compromise I'm afraid. There is a lovely sounding one up thread going cheaply because it cribs. Do you think a professional would turn down an Olympic performer because of that comment? Why would you not at least take a look? If that is the only thing wrong with it you may fall in love with it and then it would be a bargain! As I mentioned above though, the best way to look at a cheaper price range is not to look at something marketed as an eventer.
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Cribbers are a nightmare though regardless of price! You might not be allowed on some yards, they cost a fortune in fences and stable doors or metal guards, and it’s often associated with ulcers and causes teeth issues. I’d take a lot of things before I’d look at one that cribs, no matter how much it cost.
 
I've got a cribber (he's really bad) and I have to have electric tape round all my fencing to keep him off it. Stabling him is tricky (luckily mine live out). I'd avoid having another if I could, though wouldn't rule it out if it was the absolute perfect horse in every other way and I knew I could control its environment. I think the OP has her own land?
 
When I was young we had a criber it Really was no problem. I would not be put off, particularly if it only occasionally cribs as stated in the advert .
Sounds a lovely horse just what the op is looking for it’s proven itself so not an unknown but because of its occasional cribbing is actually within budget . Suspect that too will sell quick op I would go and see it sooner than later if I was you .
 
lannerch said:
When I was young we had a criber it Really was no problem. I would not be put off, particularly if it only occasionally cribs as stated in the advert .
Sounds a lovely horse just what the op is looking for it’s proven itself so not an unknown but because of its occasional cribbing is actually within budget . Suspect that too will sell quick op I would go and see it sooner than later if I was you .
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It might be no issue for you, but it would be for me. The noise sets my teeth on edge and the whole thing just drives me mad. I accept lots of things that others wouldn't, but cribbing and windsucking are a hard no from me. Imagne OP feels similar as she has dismissed the crib biter as being unsuitable.

i don't think encouraging comments from others will change her mind!
 
Jeez. OP is hardly being unreasonable in her search or saying breeders shouldn’t make money. We all know the horse market has gone bonkers right now, in some cases that will mean horses are making the money that they “should”. In others it’ll mean people trying to cash in on horses that a few months ago never would have fetched such a price or have some serious faults that people will over look out of sheer desperation. Obviously a horse is worth what people are prepared to pay. I expect people will be prepared to pay a lot less in autumn.

Patterdale can you relax the search a little or hold off until then as suspect you’ll get what you want closer to your budget?
 
A lot of these price increases is due to this virus. It’s CRAZY!! My friend just bought a £2000 connie for £5000 ??‍♀️ and don’t let me even get started on Someone else I know who’s Just bought a £1200 cavapoo puppy for £4000 ? it’s a war zone out there.....
 
lannerch said:
When I was young we had a criber it Really was no problem. I would not be put off, particularly if it only occasionally cribs as stated in the advert .
Sounds a lovely horse just what the op is looking for it’s proven itself so not an unknown but because of its occasional cribbing is actually within budget . Suspect that too will sell quick op I would go and see it sooner than later if I was you .
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Vices are always ‘occasional’ in the ads or ‘has been seen at feed times.’

I’ve had a weaver and I’d consider another of those. Or a box walker. But it would have to be an exceptional horse and cheap to make it worthwhile. And that’s only because my horses live out so I could manage it.
Cribbing? No. Way. Ulcers, broken fences and extremely irritating are not on my wish list!

But we are all different and no doubt there’ll be people flocking to buy it as we speak in the current market...!

Michen said:
We all know the horse market has gone bonkers right now, in some cases that will mean horses are making the money that they “should”. In others it’ll mean people trying to cash in on horses that a few months ago never would have fetched such a price or have some serious faults that people will over look out of sheer desperation.

...

Patterdale can you relax the search a little or hold off until then as suspect you’ll get what you want closer to your budget?
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Yes, thank you this is exactly it. It’s the amount of lame, difficult and badly put together horses I’m seeing, usually for £8-12k and with people falling over themselves to buy unseen and unvetted. The same horses would have been unsellable at £3.5k this time last year.

And I refuse to pay more than double for an average horse just because everyone seems to be wanting a lockdown consolation prize for not going on holiday this year!
That does not make me ungrateful..;)

*Michen* I’ve got one to view this week hopefully which hasn’t been advertised yet. Looks really really promising, but if it doesn’t suit then I think I’ll do exactly that and hold off until the madness subsides....!
 
Don't even go there I sold my lad for 2k to a dealer (Ireland) that I knew. He sold it to scotland for 5k he is now up for 12k pounds no record but I produced him very slowly and correctly. Scope to burn 1.20m at home but has only really done riding club because I wanted him produced correctly. He's sharp and beautiful but this is less than a year before I sold him. I adored that horse but he's not worth 12k pounds
 
Muckymummy said:
Don't even go there I sold my lad for 2k to a dealer (Ireland) that I knew. He sold it to scotland for 5k he is now up for 12k pounds no record but I produced him very slowly and correctly. Scope to burn 1.20m at home but has only really done riding club because I wanted him produced correctly. He's sharp and beautiful but this is less than a year before I sold him. I adored that horse but he's not worth 12k pounds
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Is he grey? Which dealer is it if you don’t mind me asking?
 
If the op wants to buy a horse now she needs to compromise the horse market currently means for her wish list her budget is just not high enough.
I personally would rather go for proven with a vice , obviously depends on the degree of vice but without visiting the horse you can’t assume the seller is lying and putting occasional when it’s frequent , if they are you discount it, if they are not you just may get your perfect horse.
Occasional Cribbing really is not the problem people are making it out to be , electric fencing and turnout as much as possible can eliminate it , my friends horse of a lifetime ( now dead ) also cribbed and quite a lot , she bred it , it was not a stressy horse just cribbed no one could work out why it started. It lived in and out with my horses no other horse ever copied, really not a problem. A lovely horse.
 
I really don’t get why people are trying to convince OP to buy a cribber. There are some things that are just total no’s for us for whatever reason. It’s all very well saying a cribber is fine you can do xyz but that’s irrelevant. If OP wants a horse with a vice to have a horse proven in her price bracket she can find one with a vice she can live with- which is obviously not cribbing!
 
I won’t be electric fencing 15 acres just to allow me to buy a cribber.

And I don’t want a horse ‘now.’ Everyone else seems to want a horse Right Now which is why all these yaks are selling for £££££££ with their vices, unsoundnesses and crap records.
I want a nice horse for life, and I’m not willing to pay five figures for a lame talentless mule. Ungrateful of me apparently but I think I’d rather wait until things settle down than throw my money down the drain.
 
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