Horse market at present

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Waxwing

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Is it just me or have there been some significant shifts in the horse market in the last few years. I have tentatively started the search for a new horse: I appreciate the fact I am probably a bit more discerning this time round having learnt from previous purchases about what I actually need , but there is very little for sale that I would actually want to view. So far when I do see something, further information comes to light that means I don't want to go any further or the horse, even to my eye, looks lame in the videos. Since I last looked, just over two years ago, the number of dodgy sellers appears to have increased, alongside the rising number of scammers.

I enquired about one horse and found myself added to a Whats App group entitled "Waiting List" for that horse. A number and pictures and videos were uploaded onto the group, including one that showed the horse had a number of sarcoids. There was no information provided about the horse's background experience etc and the seller announced on her Facebook page twenty fours later that the horse had been sold via an equine agent. I suppose the waiting list group was meant to increase the sense this was a desirable horse but it just made be uncomfortable. I just wanted pictures, videos and some background information about the horse.

I requested information information about another horse yesterday, from a reputable sales livery who seem to predominantly selling family horses/ lower level all rounders. It seemed fairly evident to me the horse was unsound, particularly in canter. I sent the videos onto my instructor, wondering if I was seeing something that wasn't there. She confirmed that the horse looked unsound.

When I purchased my last horse I looked for about six months but within that time there were several I wanted to see that sold before I could get a viewing and a couple I did see where nothing was wrong as such, they just weren't for me.

I am not buying a horse unseen and ideally want to be able to view twice and take my instructor with me for a second viewing if I like the horse. I am in no particular rush and I accept the fact that to get what I want I am going to have to spend a reasonable amount. I would however like to feel that there are horses out there that I would want to view and potentially purchase. I accept that fact that what I want (16 h ish middle weight low level all rounder who hacks alone, is good in open spaces and is a nice person on the ground.) is going to be at least 10k -12k.

I am open on breed, age, gender and if I have to spend a bit more then I will keep saving for a bit longer. It just feels at present that even if I had another 4 or 5k there isn't much for sale that I would want to buy.

I am just finding the amount of scammers, the apparent increase in buying unseen and the number of potentially lame horses rather dispiriting.
 
If your current budget is £4-5k less than £10k then you are going to struggle - the standard horse with no real 'compromises' in health, age or behaviour will be £10k starting I'd say. I do agree there is more lameness in sales adverts now, I think less and less people can see it, but if you are looking around the £5-6k mark, for what you want, this may be why you are having the result you are.

That being said I also see horses advertised for a lot more that are also lame.
 
I can’t bear horse shopping, it’s like all the hassle of clothes shopping with added emotional attachments. That’s why I bought a youngster unseen and just decided to deal with whatever came off the lorry. Not everyone’s cup of tea that, though.

There does seem to be more and more lame horses about too.
 
ihatework said:
Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be trying to buy a good egg allrounder these days. Minefield.
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This! Its dire out there. I just messaged a friend on behalf of someone looking. Said friend does some sales livery and agent stuff and she said its HARD! Her last 2 clients went for young horses and had them schooled on, their budgets were 8k so something had to give.
 
Its really tricky.

I agree here really isn't much around and everyone seems to be.a 'producer" these days. I was looking for my daughter and really did not want a 5 or 6 year old. Lots of the dealer that are recommended regularly only seem to have youngsters off the boat from Ireland. You might be able to work with a youngster but we couldn't.

Lots of dealers seem to get the horse in for a couple of days, carry out their assessments and then sell them on.

I have notice lots of scammers on Facebook since the begining of the year.

Tbh I have found the whole horse buying process pretty miserable
 
I decided to cut down my numbers and ear marked a few of ours for sale. It was a toss up between 2 mares. One of them is the mare my daughter rides. As my daughter has been spending more time with her new fella i decided to test the market and posted a photo of the mare on a wanted advert. Shes 15.3, 9yo and just an absolute poppet . Even down to being clean in the stable. I was inundated with messages. In factt i was still getting messages 2 weeks later. Daughter then took her new fella with her to do some XC schooling and they both had a great time. Needless to say i have removed the photo and the mare isnt for sale until my daughter gets even more loved up and ditches us all in favour of the new fella.

My point being, the demand for what you are looking for is very very high.
 
It's terrifying.

It's just so much money to spend with the associated risks that come with buying horses.

I think if I was buying now, I would get myself a 3yo. Spend a year bonding and getting to know him. Then send him off to be done professionally for a few months.

It hurts me. My current horse (out on loan) was advertised at just 3.5k about 10 years ago. A 15.2hh all-rounder, confidence giver over fences, does a nice dressage test, hacks alone and in company, competed up to 3ft successfully. Perfect for child coming off ponies or mother/daughter share type.

I swear they don't make them like him anymore.
 
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.
 
Exactly my experience of buying a horse. I got one eventually, you just have to keep looking. I increased my budget but there were plenty lame horses for sale for 5 figure sums.
 
The risk of spending so much for them to turn out not as described, or pass a 5 stage only to come in from the field lame 6 months later is exactly why I spend less than 1k on a ex racer.
It's a gamble either way I just prefer to play with lower stakes.

My current TB hacks alone or in company, is bombproof in traffic, took to jumping in one lesson and happily pops a course.
We've hunted and done fun rides, are going to our first endurance ride next weekend and he even has the decency to make sure he catches me when he spooks at daffodils.
I took him up the gallops yesterday for the first time since he came out of racing. Admittedly he was a bit keen, and I thought he was pulling hard, but we still had enough brakes to pull up, then I remembered he was in a hackamore and deserves a lot more credit!

I know a tb isn't for everyone but if you have the funds and the patience then it might be worth considering an alternative route. A sound tb or a youngster that you can put money into professional training may work out more cost effective with the advantage of knowing its history.
 
Nocturnal said:
I can’t bear horse shopping, it’s like all the hassle of clothes shopping with added emotional attachments. That’s why I bought a youngster unseen and just decided to deal with whatever came off the lorry. Not everyone’s cup of tea that, though.

There does seem to be more and more lame horses about too.
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I'm with you on this. My last three buys have been youngsters, foals and yearlings. They are what they are,we do what they can do. I go with them and their abilities and love them much.
 
Waxwing said:
Hi just to clarify I am looking at horses 10k upwards. It is more that I am aware I may need to increase this to the low teens. I have around 10k available at present. I paid 9k last time was prepared to go up to 12 if required.
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My mistake, I mis-read your post!

Everything on this thread is exactly why I bought a rising 3yo from Ireland unseen but the exact type I wanted (other than being grey), meant I didn't have to undo or deal with the injuries from things other people had done. He still cost me £7k delivered though. I was going to send off for backing once rising 4 but we knew each other so well and he was so easy that I just did it myself in the end.
 
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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.
 
My impression of the horse market as I've made my first proper venture into it over the last month or so...

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And that is looking up to £15k, with as few criteria as possible for a novice first time horse owner.

My instructor is rightly steering me away from younger horses but the idea of buying a 4/5yo and putting the budget into the extra help instead is tempting!
 
Waxwing said:
Is it just me or have there been some significant shifts in the horse market in the last few years. I have tentatively started the search for a new horse: I appreciate the fact I am probably a bit more discerning this time round having learnt from previous purchases about what I actually need , but there is very little for sale that I would actually want to view. So far when I do see something, further information comes to light that means I don't want to go any further or the horse, even to my eye, looks lame in the videos. Since I last looked, just over two years ago, the number of dodgy sellers appears to have increased, alongside the rising number of scammers.

I enquired about one horse and found myself added to a Whats App group entitled "Waiting List" for that horse. A number and pictures and videos were uploaded onto the group, including one that showed the horse had a number of sarcoids. There was no information provided about the horse's background experience etc and the seller announced on her Facebook page twenty fours later that the horse had been sold via an equine agent. I suppose the waiting list group was meant to increase the sense this was a desirable horse but it just made be uncomfortable. I just wanted pictures, videos and some background information about the horse.

I requested information information about another horse yesterday, from a reputable sales livery who seem to predominantly selling family horses/ lower level all rounders. It seemed fairly evident to me the horse was unsound, particularly in canter. I sent the videos onto my instructor, wondering if I was seeing something that wasn't there. She confirmed that the horse looked unsound.

When I purchased my last horse I looked for about six months but within that time there were several I wanted to see that sold before I could get a viewing and a couple I did see where nothing was wrong as such, they just weren't for me.

I am not buying a horse unseen and ideally want to be able to view twice and take my instructor with me for a second viewing if I like the horse. I am in no particular rush and I accept the fact that to get what I want I am going to have to spend a reasonable amount. I would however like to feel that there are horses out there that I would want to view and potentially purchase. I accept that fact that what I want (16 h ish middle weight low level all rounder who hacks alone, is good in open spaces and is a nice person on the ground.) is going to be at least 10k -12k.

I am open on breed, age, gender and if I have to spend a bit more then I will keep saving for a bit longer. It just feels at present that even if I had another 4 or 5k there isn't much for sale that I would want to buy.

I am just finding the amount of scammers, the apparent increase in buying unseen and the number of potentially lame horses rather dispiriting.
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I saw a very nice horse at a low level ODE about 10 days ago. He is 5, 17hh, shire/tb and did a nice little test, then double clear. He is bombproof in traffic they told me. I liked him! But I’m happy with my pony these days. He is in sales livery in Somerset, and on Horse quest, they told me. I looked him up, he is £10k. Owner bought him as a foal but has started breeding. The owner that is!
 
I bought my mare unseen from Denmark. Granted, with the transport and import taxes it wasn’t as cheap as I first thought, but still below £8k for a mare in foal (with a lovely lineage). She’s giving birth next month or so and in several years I’ll have two horses to ride, hopefully!
 
I've looked at the broadhill horses for sale and they have a great reputation but every horse sounds too good to be true.

I also liked the idea of a trial but it was either a viewing or a trial. I don't have my own transport so it would cost me £300 to get the horse to my yard unseen and then potentially £300 to send it back.

I also question why any any amazing confidence giving 14/14.2 ponies end up in dealer's yards for months when they are literally like gold dust and can be sold over an over.

I ended up buying private and 2.5 weeks it's been a rollercoaster so far 😱
 
I had an exploratory nosy the other day for a later sound teenage horse (16 and above) and there's sod all. The odd crock but to me it seems everything is 3-5 years old. Or 10-12 and eye wateringly expensive.
 
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've been on and off looking for a few years, I eventually found my new partner earlier this year. He'd been floated on the market last November but not properly advertised. He was then advertised properly this year and was for sale 3 months. I kept going back to his advert and in the end went to see him. Turned out they'd turned away quite a few people at viewings because they weren't suitable. He's an absolute dream and better than I could have hoped. Not broadhill though
 
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!
 
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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Just to add, our new one wasn’t advertised at all. The owner had been considering selling for a little while as her children had lost interest and she saw my advert first.
 
When I went shopping for my last horse my ideal would have been a 14.2 heavy weight cob gelding,minimum age 8.Would have been happy with a golden oldie.Unflappable, been round the block a few times, low level alrounder type.They are almost impossible to find.People don't sell them and if they do they are well known locally and quickly snapped up.My two fixed priorities were temperament and soundness.
Rang well known cob dealer in area.She had a 4 year old mare which she described as very quiet.Discussed with then trainer who said "Well at least you won't be buying anyone elses scre w
ups".
Went to try her with instructor.I felt very safe on her and a tractor flew past the school at speed with a trailer on the back and a dead sheep bouncing around on the back of it She just ignored it..The dealer was honest about her greeness.
We have had some ups and downs because the team that I thought that I had assembled to help with schooling/riding/exercise ext.didn't work out and I don't want to discuss that online.She was and is what I thought I was buying.We are now with a wonderful trainer and a lovely professional yard and both of us are very happy.
Would I do it again?Well I think that this will be my last horse but if I was horse shopping again then yes provided the temperament was right and the back up team was right.
 
I don't think the quality of horses is worse these days as everyone keeps saying, I think it's more that people expect something closer to perfect and forget that these are sentient beings who are designed to break. How many posts do you see on the Dodgy dealer page of someone having a horse for a week and complaining it's unsettled? There are also far more novice and numpty riders buying into the sport now who're completely overhorsed when the attitude 20 years ago was you've got what you're given and now you work with it, or, You'll get a horse of your own when you're good enough.

I would tear my hair out being a dealer these days. It's funny because it seems the only people willing to take a horse with a blemish or quirk are pros. The hobby rider wants perfect for 7k.
 
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IrishMilo said:
that she had good paces.He said "Yes Do you know why?"I don't think the quality of horses is worse these days as everyone keeps saying, I think it's more that people expect something closer to perfect and forget that these are sentient beings who are designed to break. How many posts do you see on the Dodgy dealer page of someone having a horse for a week and complaining it's unsettled? There are also far more novice and numpty riders buying into the sport now who're completely overhorsed when the attitude 20 years ago was you've got what you're given and now you work with it, or, You'll get a horse of your own when you're good enough.

I would tear my hair out being a dealer these days. It's funny because it seems the only people willing to take a horse with a blemish or quirk or pros. The hobby rider wants perfect for 7k.
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You make a good point.However there are a lot of unsoundnesses around.When I bought mare back to yard I said to the farrier She had good paces.He replied that it was because she was straight and a lot of horses he shod were not.My vet said that if people would only let their horses move naturally she wouldn't have to run round the county jabbing hocks.
Having said all of that there are a lot of people who over horse themselves and then the horse gets a bad name.
 
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