Horse shopping in Ireland, advice needed

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Bubblegum

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A lot of people keep telling me I should go to Ireland to look for a young event prospect. Apparently I need an 'agent' to help me.
Can anyone offer any advice about this?
Many thanks. :)
 
I'm not sure an agent is really necessary unless you are looking for something very top end. Try Pm'ing Lisamd as she has been a few times and come back with some really cracking types. I think she goes to Goresbridge so could tell you all about it.

Good luck :-)
 
You don't need an agent, just a bit of local knowledge or a local contact would help. Goresbridge or Cavan sales would be the best way forward, you will see hundreds of horses of all shapes and types. I live about 12 miles away from Cavan and would be happy to help you out if you come over; there are incentives for foreign buyers. PM me if you prefer. (And I'm not an agent BTW, nor any longer "in the business", but do have a LOT of experience buying horses).
 
Bubblegum said:
A lot of people keep telling me I should go to Ireland to look for a young event prospect. Apparently I need an 'agent' to help me.
Can anyone offer any advice about this?
Many thanks. :)
Click to expand...

Yes, some British buyers would use an agent to find an event horse in Ireland but it is possible to find one without an agent. It depends on how much of the leg work you want to do yourself I suppose.

What level of horse are you talking about and what age are you looking at?

Your options would be
1. Contact an agent like Claire Ryan, Carol Gee, Chris Ryan, Richard Sheane or others.

2. Go to Goresbridge yourself. The next sport horse sale is September 10-20, followed by Oct 22-25. Check out the online catalogue before you go to narrow down your selection. The catalogue has photos and video.

3. The Go for Gold sale (November 11th, 12th and 13th 2013), aimed at specifically selling top eventers. X-rays, viewing of horses on flat, SJ & XC, all the bells and whistles

4. If you're confident enough of picking the right horse, try the websites like www.irishhorsegateway.ie, www.irishhorsemarket.ie or www.donedeal.ie

Good luck :-)
 
I too am considering a trip to Ireland, trying to find a nice youngster probably looking for something fairly specific :)
Unfortunately I am away for the coming sale at Clifden as there is one on there which might tick all my boxes, but no picture on the catalogue :(
 
ldlp111 said:
I too am considering a trip to Ireland, trying to find a nice youngster probably looking for something fairly specific :)
Unfortunately I am away for the coming sale at Clifden as there is one on there which might tick all my boxes, but no picture on the catalogue :(
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, what one were you looking at? I'm heading to the sale in Clifden next week & my friends are selling two there.

Sorry to hijack OP.
 
ldlp111 said:
I too am considering a trip to Ireland, trying to find a nice youngster probably looking for something fairly specific :)
Unfortunately I am away for the coming sale at Clifden as there is one on there which might tick all my boxes, but no picture on the catalogue :(
Click to expand...
The catalogue can be so deceptive! I've gone to Clifden with a few earmarked only to be horrendously disappointed, then out pops a little star that looked nothing down on paper. Some vendors just talk the talk, others completely sell themselves short and mention nothing in the catalogue
 
The sport horse sale is on in goresbridge between the 10th and the 20th Sep.

If you have plenty of time to travel and look at individual horses, bargains can be found on www.donedeal.ie and this is pretty much where all horses in Ireland are sold and a lot of the lots for sales will be up there first
 
snooples said:
The sport horse sale is on in goresbridge between the 10th and the 20th Sep.

If you have plenty of time to travel and look at individual horses, bargains can be found on www.donedeal.ie and this is pretty much where all horses in Ireland are sold and a lot of the lots for sales will be up there first
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Sorry, but you'd be much better off attending either Cavan or Goresbridge - donedeal and the like requires acres of trawling through rubbish, travelling from pillar to post and not finding anything at the end of it. Go to a sale where the horses come to YOU.
 
hence the if you have plenty of time....

seeing as a lot of horses come up on it first its another chance to see more about them before they got to sales
 
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snooples said:
hence the if you have plenty of time....

seeing as a lot of horses come up on it first its another chance to see more about them before they got to sales
Click to expand...

If you are going to go to either Goresbridge or Cavan search for them in donedeal as they will have adverts and you can see photos and phone them. Goresbridge does now have the interactive video catalogue - so lots of temptation.

I went to Goresbridge and bought a 5yr. I did lots and lots of research before hand - lots of googling horse names, owner names etc - lots of horses have records and there were ones that looked very smart but its record not so good. I think we saw about 400 horses in 2 days and you get your eye in really quickly as to what you like, you look at a horse if you don't like it move on - no owners feelings to worry about. We bid on 3 bought 1, I always had at the back of my mind that I had to be able to sell the horse for what I paid for it back in England if it didn't work out.

I really enjoyed it and still like my horse 2 years on :cool:
Sansaurch4.jpg
 
Thank you so much for all your replies. All very helpful. I will do some PM's and reply to all PM's in due course.
I am very grateful. :)
 
Well, I went via an agent when I was looking for a new horse.
We looked at 6 horses over 3 days and ended up buying the second one we looked at - an ISH from a few counties away.

Having never bought from a sale, I can't really make a comparison. All I can say is that my buying experience was great - all I had to do was turn up and ride the horse. the agent knew exactly what I was looking for in regards to sex, height and capabilities and the horses I looked at fit what I wanted.
 
I've bought 3 from Goresbridge but the catalouge can be deceptive - what sounds nice looks horrible & what sounds average is what you want! It's a great way to see a lot of horses in one day but then I've never bought through an agent so can't compare.
Am currently banned from going back by my OH - last time I came back with 2 when I was only meant to buy 1 - he didn't think the fact I stayed within my original budget was a valid argument!
 
Cortez said:
Sorry, but you'd be much better off attending either Cavan or Goresbridge - donedeal and the like requires acres of trawling through rubbish, travelling from pillar to post and not finding anything at the end of it. Go to a sale where the horses come to YOU.
Click to expand...

Hi there, this is an interesting thread. I was speaking to a lady in our pony club who bought a super young horse from Cavan sales. Although took someone experienced with her. We are starting to look for a new horse for my daughter. Which I will also ride .Looking at around 16 hands 16.2 max. 5 years plus. basically straightforward sane and sensible maybe done a bit of sj xc and hunted. Don't mind doing a bit of work on flat etc to bring up to scratch. Aiming to do be 90 and 100 level . Some low level dressage and 1 metre plus sj. What sort of budget am I looking at in Ireland. I have no idea?
 
The last horse I bought at Goresbridge was a 6yr old 15.1 WB mare. She was meant to have been to training shows etc but when I got her home it was obvious she had only just been broken in. Be prepared to spend a few months going back to the beginning with any young horse so that you know all the basics have been covered, don't just assume they have! Although they'll all pop a 1M pole at the sales, none of mine had ever seen a trot pole! The 2 times I've been to Goresbridge, the jump in the indoor school has been in the same place & jumped off the left rein & when I've got them home, right rein canter hasn't really existed.
I'm not trying to put you off, I think you'll find a really cracking young horse, just be prepared!
 
I would agree with the comments made by Wells. A lot of horses have a hurried 2-4 week spell in a "schooling" yard to get them ready for the sales, and prior to that many have only just been sat on.

Some super horses come through them undoubtedly but extreme caution is needed and anticipate having to go back to basics to undo what may have been done. If that is not it will be a bonus. For me, the risk of horses being rushed and spoiled is too high but that may just be my cautious and overly thorough outlook.

Best of luck!
 
I think most people who have experience of buying from sales in Ireland will know that it is usually the raw horse you are getting, not a finely tuned finished article. I prefer to put the polish on myself and appreciate the somewhat rough and ready start will need to be worked upon. Many, many horses will have gone around a few SJ competitions with only the most rudimentary steering and brakes installed; it is perfectly possible to ride a horse which is happy to jump 1.30 and yet won't be able to turn a corner. Fun!
 
I've seen some cracking stuff go through Goresbridge. 2* eventer that went for £2.5k, and he had been up for sale in UK at £10K. Cracking little jumping mare that sold for £500 (which I'd bought her she was lovely).

Note things down in the catalogue, but sometimes a wonderful sports horse can turn out to be a HW cob!
 
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