horse purchase - what would you accept

J

josephinebutter2

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OK - have been looking for a horse for a couple of weeks now, and to get the quality of breeding/paces/movement within my price range is proving difficult.

Everything I can afford has something wrong with it i.e. one was cold backed and another has a heart murmur (aparently checked by vet and not significant, but still worries me a bit).

My question to you is, what would you put up with regarding problems to get the quality of horse you want?

OR would you go for a lesser quality horse with less issues?

HELP!
 
id go for a horse with less issues

if that means compromising good blood lines then so be it
 
could you not buy a horse that has done less and bring it on yourself? That way you are adding the value to the horse and potentially making some money and you'll also have satisfaction that you've done more work?
 
You don't ride the pedigree
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Really, unless you're buying a mare with breeding in mind, I'd go for peformance over pedigree every time.
 
Well I'm looking for a dressage youngster (3-6yrs) with paces & movement to do well at affiliated level.

I have max £6,500 to spend - which I think is plenty for an unproven youngster - but all I can find that is under £10k either doesn't have very good movement, or has something wrong with it.

Unfortunately, you need these qualities in a horse to get the marks in dressage - it's not good enough to have an average horse that is well schooled anymore as there are too many above-average horses which are equally well schooled - and it's a no-brainer who will get the extra marks!

So I have to compromise somewhere (unless I win the lottery)
 
why dont you look at some dressage studs and go for an unbroken 3yr old, that way its allot cheaper but your buying good blood lines that will hopefully live up to your expectations.
I do have to say i have seen tbx's beat good bloodlines in dressage even at medium level, its how they are schooled and the rider that bring the good marks in the long term.
 
I think it is your own personal preference as to what 'quirks' or 'defects' you would accept. I would be put off by the heart murmur - although I know that lots of horses have them with no problems, I think it would always be a worry at the back of my mind.

I wouldn't mind a cold-backed horse (at the right price) if it wasn't too severe - eg if it was just a case of saddling up slowly and gently and walking it around a bit before mounting. However, if it was the sort to bronc you off because of the cold back then that would be a definite no no! (I'd also want to know whether there was a underlying physical problem causing the cold back which could cause performance problems - ie kissing spine).

You do also have to bear in mind whether you are likely to want to sell on at some point and whether the defect will put potential purchasers off.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately, you need these qualities in a horse to get the marks in dressage - it's not good enough to have an average horse that is well schooled anymore


[/ QUOTE ]

I would have to disagree slightly with that statement
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having spent the last 5 years on the BD circuit with OH what I see is a lot of flashy paced horses that really aren't working correctly.

Wife has a 14.1 welsh section D which we bought as a hack for £1,800. Horse currently has 230 BD points and has qualified for regionals at all levels up to and including medium.
Only reason she hasn't made it to finals (yet) is nerves on the part of OH making her less effective at the regionals. Plays it safe rather than riding boldly
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Mare is about to go advance medium and will probably make it to inter 1 or 2 before she gets too old.
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Personally i wouldn't accept any physical issues except blemishes.
 
Shame you havent got a little extra you could come and try my boy out !!! (in my signature)

i know quite a few dressage people and know of a couple of nice horses - pm me if you want for a chat and ill find out if they have anything for you to look at ?

What area are you in ??
 
I didn't know at the time but Ty is blind in one eye....it really does not affect him in anyway - you just have to talk to him when you approach him from the blind side.

He was also a state when I brought him looks wise but looks amazing now......I'd always look at something that needs a bit of spit and polish and conditioning ....
 
Well I just paid less than that for my boy but he's an Andalucian.
Cheeper because he's not papered and he has some teeth problems but I made sure the teeth prblems were checked by a very good vet and sorted out before I bought him.

Just keep hunting you will eventually find the right horse for you but you do have to look at a lot of bad ones first unfortunatly.

The thing is we have had people on this board with 10-12k to spend and they are finding exactly the same problem so budget doesn't actually seem to effect you that much.
 
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