Horse market at present

Fizzandfun said:
We have had three years of awful experiences buying my daughter’s ponies. One retired after 3 months (5 stage vetting), and other who we had via PC who sadly we had to PTS after 8 months, and finally our wonderful coblet who I would buy all over again and has been everything the previous own said. Fantastic all rounder, done everything, a little bolshy on the ground but that’s all sorted now.

I think it’s down to pure luck, and also not being afraid to questions. A decent seller won’t mind you asking many questions. I came across a few, especially dealers, who got shirty for the “Spanish inquisition”. No, if I’m buying I want to know the history and what I’m getting for my money. This time around I also spoke to the previous two owners and the PC instructor.

I found him by placing a wanted advert. I still had lots of responses by owners with youngsters who were completely unsuitable for our experience but had the pick of three in the end.

I feel lucky. I know friends with double the budget and way more experience who have had their fingers burnt and now have horses with significant health issues (even after vetting). It’s a minefield. Good luck!
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Yes, attitude to questions 🤨 I walked away from a very sweet mare because the dealer/agent (only a youngster but obviously experienced) had a very odd attitude and claimed to be ignorant of a lot of things. Having failed to find myself a truly suitable horse, I regret it now but hey ho.
 
First Frost said:
I'm afraid that the best way to get a quality allrounder is to make your own. Both of my horses do everything including hacking alone and in company to a good level. I have owned them since 3 and it took at least 4 years to get them to the type of horse i wanted.
That's the trouble with creating an allrounder, it takes time and once there, they are rarely sold on. IMO it kmuch more effort to produce a good allrounder than a specialist competition horse but people are not so prepared to pay the price.
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Some of us are too old for that.
 
This has kicked me up the arse to advertise mine. I have just been waiting to get better videos as been focusing on the other horse but it sounds like he will be good value at £12k. Will do it next week.
 
What you're looking for OP is what everyone wants! I think at this time of year, barring disasters, all the private owners who have these paragons are out there riding them!
A good time to see them is often mid summer onwards when the teenage riders are looking to upsize or going to uni.
 
Asha said:
I’ve just seen one of my mares sister for sale . If she’s anything like my mare she would be well worth viewing . She must be a 16.1 ish pure bred draught by Avanti Amorous Archie .
My mare is easy every way
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Ive never seen a horse by AAA who wasn't a lovely easy person!
 
TheHairyOne said:

I love this horse and for some reason I keep coming back to him even though I have no space for another one, no money to spend since its all going on getting my 4 year old produced and he is too small for me really!

Someone on here buy him as I want to keep seeing that face!
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Me like
 
This is the classic catch 22 when horse shopping - the 'perfect horse' people want ie. pay more for the ideal been there done that, does not exist (or command a massive price tag), and those that do someone has put the time and energy into them and therefore they are not for sale as they are out enjoying them - or sometimes sold by word of mouth. Those that are for sale are the ones, that they didnt quite get on with, didn't have the time for, with the exception of those that are being grown out of.

They are what you make them, and the 'perfect horse' can often be a nightmare with a novice owner (not saying you are obviously)

I compromised and bought a backed 3 /rising 4 year old, who's now out hacking alone, doing dressage, and fun rides etc. 5k but she is only 14.1 as Im only short, who was never advertised we had spoken to this girl and made a comment about if she was ever for sale, and a few months later she was. larger afford a larger price tag for the same
 
First Frost said:
I'm afraid that the best way to get a quality allrounder is to make your own. Both of my horses do everything including hacking alone and in company to a good level. I have owned them since 3 and it took at least 4 years to get them to the type of horse i wanted.
That's the trouble with creating an allrounder, it takes time and once there, they are rarely sold on. IMO it kmuch more effort to produce a good allrounder than a specialist competition horse but people are not so prepared to pay the price.
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Agree completely


And better the horse you know
 
Just adding, that some of the 4 year olds that come on our yard are way safer and level headed than quirky older ones that come through ie. correcting other mistakes/ set bad habits that old owners have let them get away with. Equally, someone on our yard has bought from a dodgey dealer 12year old been there done that, we half had a heart attack when she said what dealer he was coming from but hes actually been a cracking sort so far. As long as they dont have underlying issues, pay your money take your chance and put the effort in and enjoy the process, if not a good fit sell on.

There's no such thing a safe horse really, or a sound investment any horse could go lame tomorrow, but lifes for living, for me its worth the risk so I crack on
 
I know how you all feel who are horse shopping.

I am not currently but came across a lovely little mare recently by accident. Just backed (March) after being a broodmare all her life. No history as current owner bought her from a stud as a feral mare last year who then turned out to be in foal again. Has done a bit of hacking (she is a nice hack tbf) has wobbled a round a 30cm clear round class with her head in the air, head shakes (but not sure the reason why) has had rain scald in the past and is quite thin and under muscled. I enquired to the owner as I really liked her and she wants £7k for her!
 
starbucker said:
This is the classic catch 22 when horse shopping - the 'perfect horse' people want ie. pay more for the ideal been there done that, does not exist (or command a massive price tag), and those that do someone has put the time and energy into them and therefore they are not for sale as they are out enjoying them - or sometimes sold by word of mouth. Those that are for sale are the ones, that they didnt quite get on with, didn't have the time for, with the exception of those that are being grown out of.

They are what you make them, and the 'perfect horse' can often be a nightmare with a novice owner (not saying you are obviously)

I compromised and bought a backed 3 /rising 4 year old, who's now out hacking alone, doing dressage, and fun rides etc. 5k but she is only 14.1 as Im only short, who was never advertised we had spoken to this girl and made a comment about if she was ever for sale, and a few months later she was. larger afford a larger price tag for the same
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I had a generous budget but couldn't find what I wanted hence the 4 year old with the knowledge that I would have to budget generously for good professional help.As a nervous rider temperament (and workable soundness) were key for me.My very best horse ever I bought knowing that he was what was called broken winded.It was a long time ago now and everyone warned me off him but his temperament was superb, as was his schooling and I got him at a reasonable price for what he was.My reasoning was that he was capable of doing everything I wanted to do and I might be able to manage his wind.The people I bought him from were clueless about things like that.I did manage his breathing and had years of fun with him.
 
HaffiesRock said:
I know how you all feel who are horse shopping.

I am not currently but came across a lovely little mare recently by accident. Just backed (March) after being a broodmare all her life. No history as current owner bought her from a stud as a feral mare last year who then turned out to be in foal again. Has done a bit of hacking (she is a nice hack tbf) has wobbled a round a 30cm clear round class with her head in the air, head shakes (but not sure the reason why) has had rain scald in the past and is quite thin and under muscled. I enquired to the owner as I really liked her and she wants £7k for her!
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Good Lord.
 
I sent a brief message this morning enquiring about a nice LW cob that NB equine advertised this morning and got told they were looking for 10K. I mean he was a lovely mover but young and green at just 5!
 
I have just had a discussion with my freelance help. She has four to sell, most of which are family ponies from a client who's children are just not interested, and she has been looking after them for about six months, one of which would make a small mother daughter share. She had no idea how much a mother daughter share was worth, and even the LR/FR. I have had a tried to get her to double the prices at least, just to weed out the dealers and time wasters.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I don't mind at all, I used Adam Ferris - he has varying types but does have a good ID thrown in if you keep an eye out or message and buy him, he's friendly and helpful, he buys them as foals and then sells either unbacked from the field, or he then goes on to back them if they don't sell I presume.
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I've seen his adverts they often look like just what I would go for
 
I've given up buying horses. The last one I bought as a baby (she's still with me, she'll be 6 in September), I bought with the view of making her what I wanted... She didn't reach the expected height, and then a month or so after backing (where she was fabulous!), she had a field accident which damaged her SI and goes unsound whenever she has weight on her back since. So she's a field ornament! The other two were "gifted" as they have their own issues and aren't ridden because of it. I'd hate to part with the money some people are asking for, to end up with another quirky, misunderstood pet, so for that reason and a few others, I'm giving up riding 😂
 
AutumnDays said:
I've given up buying horses. The last one I bought as a baby (she's still with me, she'll be 6 in September), I bought with the view of making her what I wanted... She didn't reach the expected height, and then a month or so after backing (where she was fabulous!), she had a field accident which damaged her SI and goes unsound whenever she has weight on her back since. So she's a field ornament! The other two were "gifted" as they have their own issues and aren't ridden because of it. I'd hate to part with the money some people are asking for, to end up with another quirky, misunderstood pet, so for that reason and a few others, I'm giving up riding 😂
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Gosh.Bad luck but your horses are lucky to have found you.
 
honetpot said:
I have just had a discussion with my freelance help. She has four to sell, most of which are family ponies from a client who's children are just not interested, and she has been looking after them for about six months, one of which would make a small mother daughter share. She had no idea how much a mother daughter share was worth, and even the LR/FR. I have had a tried to get her to double the prices at least, just to weed out the dealers and time wasters.
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would it be possible to have some details please? genuinely looking for a mother-daughter share in the near future x
 
OP - I was looking for exactly the same as you 6 months ago.
I originally had a 15k budget, but then personal circumstances changed and so it dropped to 10k max.
That basically meant that rather then maybe finding something that had was a bit more established and maybe been out to arena hire or a little competition,I was now looking at freshly backed youngsters. I am not the bravest rider but do have a good support network, so just had to try and find something with a sensible head on young shoulders.
I ended up buying my guy from Emily Chambers. She was very honest about how green he was, and that he had only arrived from Ireland 5 days before, so they hadn't been able to properly assess him. But Emily was very easy to deal with through the whole process.
And so far my boy as been fab. Lots of holes in his education, but an honest horse with a great temperament.
 
I did contact the owner of the ID mare in the advert mentioned by Asha. The horse sounds and I am sure is lovely but wasn't backed until she was six and has been turned away for the last six months. The owner wants 12k for her, I am not disputing that she isn't worth this, but she needs an owner who is much more experienced than me. For me saving and waiting and spending more on something with a bit more experience of life and consequently me being a bit more confident that I am the right human for the horse is what I need to do.
 
If anyones looking for a lovely 4yo 14.2 welsh d type in the north there's a lovely mare for sale on our yard, yard owners also just sold a lovely overheight connemara for mid 4s. It went to someone on our yard without even being advertised - They are out there if you can get in with the community
 
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Waxwing said:
I am not far from Broadhill Stables and they appear to have several that sound suitable. However I am put off by the fact the same horses have been advertised for the past few months. If they were all as advertised they would have sold in a few days.
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I didn’t have a good experience with Broadhill Stables. Wouldn’t go near them again. I suspect they have cashflow problems when horses on trial go back and refund needed. All fine if the trial works out I guess as lots of good reviews.
 
Last time I bought I put a wanted ad specifying in detail what I needed on the site for the type I wanted. I got approached by people who hadn't advertised their ponies yet but recognised they would suit me. It worked for me.
 
Shantara said:
Reading this had made me realise that I probably won't ever be able to buy a horse again. Unless I want an untouched foal with dubious lineage.
My budget is £1k. It's depressing to be priced out of my passion.
I'm enjoying Serenity as much as I possibly can while I have her.
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It's possible. Our new pony was very low 4 figures (and the seller was fighting off dealers and other unsuitable people the whole time she was advertised). She has issues but nothing we feel is unmanageable (fingers crossed!). I think the only way - if you don't want to back a youngster - is to deliberately seek out the imperfect horse that those with money would pass by.

(After our previous experience I felt strongly this time that I would be more comfortable taking on honestly disclosed issues than an expensive bundle of issues as yet undiagnosed).
 
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