Dusty85
Well-Known Member
I went to the Goresbridge performance horse sales for the 4yo day yesterday and Ive bought a gorgeous 4yo Dark Bay Loughehoe Guy gelding. He's a bit of a giant at 16.3h, which is fine but secretly hoping he doesn't grow anymore!
Well...what can I say about Goresbridge? what an experience!!
There was about 80 lots of offer throughout the day, mostly 4yos, but some 3yos at the end of the day. Its a long old day too! They were showing no signs of stopping at 4pm and with lots more lots to go. Everyone was very friendly though, I didn't really see any evidence of foul play either. The auctioneers did do their best to increase bidding if a lot was on the borderline of its reserve by asking if they would pay a bit more etc but again nothing bad.
At first I wasn't sure whether to be annoyed as Id earmarked quite a few lots (about 10-14) and some didn't even turn up so I'm glad I had such a selection noted. I was also not sure whether to be happy or annoyed as all the lots I liked were clearly good ones as they were going for a lot of money! The best one went for 11k euros, (OBOS Q) with another (kings master) going for 10k. I had set myself a bit of a limit as after the hammer price you have to pay fees on top, and I wanted the horse re-vetted and also shipping, so a few things to bear in mind.
Anyway- After a few failed bidding attempts I noticed a stunning big dark bay gelding who was stood quietly whilst its rider chatted to someone, I noted its number as one id circled but thought (hoped) by that point I would of had one already bought. So I watched him jump, seems sensible, not overly flashy but moved well and plenty of scope to clear the 1m at least spread they were jumping. It was getting quite late in the day and I was getting conscious of the time to head back so I thought I would make him my last lot then go. At this point I had resigned myself to the fact that he would go for a lot more as he seemed to have a fair bit of interest around the ring when jumping.
Anyway I bid and kept going, I reached my limit and went over a little as I liked him so much, my heart was going like the clappers!!! Anyway he was mine as the hammer came down!!! Having palpitations by this point wondering if I had actually just gone and bought him!
Mad rush to get him vetted (Original cert was clean) and the vet after said Im struggling to find anything to pick him up on, so I went and paid (ouch!) then I had to leg it back to the car to head back to catch my flight, heart still racing!
I had organised with George Mullins transport a few days before hand if I bought something they were to pick it up and stable it prior to shipping and so they went over and picked him up a few hours after the sale.
They have rung me this evening to say that he is leaving Ireland Sunday evening, arriving 5am Monday morning!
Im so pleased. He's obviously green but has all the basics and is jumping under saddle. He looks very balanced and straight forward. I was chatting to the owners during the vetting and they have shown him in hand all summer so he's been out and seen a fair bit.
So, some pics. The first one is from him in the summer, hence why he looks quite polished! The other one is during the vetting and I was in a rush so hence its a bit rubbish. I biased but isn't he gorgeous!?
I know its a bit of a gamble buying a horse this way, so I will see exactly what I have bought when I get him home. Both vettings couldn't find anything and he has (in my view) very good conformation and a seemingly good temperament so I hope that those things are true.
My plan is to sort out a few house keeping things- Teeth, feet vaccinations etc then just hack for a bit and get to know him. Id like to get him out to some baby SJ/Dr/XC schooling after a bit of flatwork schooling. Im excited though!!!
Ps. If anyone is thinking of going to Goresbridge- do- its a great experience. there is lots of choice and you can pick something up with average breeding that isn't too flashy but will do the job quite nicely for €2000 or less. Or there are obviously a few special things!!
Well...what can I say about Goresbridge? what an experience!!
There was about 80 lots of offer throughout the day, mostly 4yos, but some 3yos at the end of the day. Its a long old day too! They were showing no signs of stopping at 4pm and with lots more lots to go. Everyone was very friendly though, I didn't really see any evidence of foul play either. The auctioneers did do their best to increase bidding if a lot was on the borderline of its reserve by asking if they would pay a bit more etc but again nothing bad.
At first I wasn't sure whether to be annoyed as Id earmarked quite a few lots (about 10-14) and some didn't even turn up so I'm glad I had such a selection noted. I was also not sure whether to be happy or annoyed as all the lots I liked were clearly good ones as they were going for a lot of money! The best one went for 11k euros, (OBOS Q) with another (kings master) going for 10k. I had set myself a bit of a limit as after the hammer price you have to pay fees on top, and I wanted the horse re-vetted and also shipping, so a few things to bear in mind.
Anyway- After a few failed bidding attempts I noticed a stunning big dark bay gelding who was stood quietly whilst its rider chatted to someone, I noted its number as one id circled but thought (hoped) by that point I would of had one already bought. So I watched him jump, seems sensible, not overly flashy but moved well and plenty of scope to clear the 1m at least spread they were jumping. It was getting quite late in the day and I was getting conscious of the time to head back so I thought I would make him my last lot then go. At this point I had resigned myself to the fact that he would go for a lot more as he seemed to have a fair bit of interest around the ring when jumping.
Anyway I bid and kept going, I reached my limit and went over a little as I liked him so much, my heart was going like the clappers!!! Anyway he was mine as the hammer came down!!! Having palpitations by this point wondering if I had actually just gone and bought him!
Mad rush to get him vetted (Original cert was clean) and the vet after said Im struggling to find anything to pick him up on, so I went and paid (ouch!) then I had to leg it back to the car to head back to catch my flight, heart still racing!
I had organised with George Mullins transport a few days before hand if I bought something they were to pick it up and stable it prior to shipping and so they went over and picked him up a few hours after the sale.
They have rung me this evening to say that he is leaving Ireland Sunday evening, arriving 5am Monday morning!
Im so pleased. He's obviously green but has all the basics and is jumping under saddle. He looks very balanced and straight forward. I was chatting to the owners during the vetting and they have shown him in hand all summer so he's been out and seen a fair bit.
So, some pics. The first one is from him in the summer, hence why he looks quite polished! The other one is during the vetting and I was in a rush so hence its a bit rubbish. I biased but isn't he gorgeous!?
I know its a bit of a gamble buying a horse this way, so I will see exactly what I have bought when I get him home. Both vettings couldn't find anything and he has (in my view) very good conformation and a seemingly good temperament so I hope that those things are true.
My plan is to sort out a few house keeping things- Teeth, feet vaccinations etc then just hack for a bit and get to know him. Id like to get him out to some baby SJ/Dr/XC schooling after a bit of flatwork schooling. Im excited though!!!
Ps. If anyone is thinking of going to Goresbridge- do- its a great experience. there is lots of choice and you can pick something up with average breeding that isn't too flashy but will do the job quite nicely for €2000 or less. Or there are obviously a few special things!!
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