Horse shopping in Ireland -- why?

Caol Ila

Caol Ila

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This thread is inspired by another post and it's also purely academic. I have no plans to go horse shopping any time soon (and if I did, I'd probably buy a Highland. Saw some when I was in Newtonmore climbing at the weekend -- cute overdose!). However, I see a lot of threads here about buying horses in Ireland or about UK dealers importing them from Ireland and I was just curious as to why. Being an imported Yank, I don't just know these things. Are there more horses in Ireland? Are they cheaper? Better bred? Any or all of the above? Because when I occasionally go window shopping online, as you do, there does not seem to be a shortage of decent-looking horses in Britain.
 
They do indeed. But there is the other side too, the sales are full of poor souls who nobody wants. Some folk go hoping for a bargain and it can happen that they get one. The Irish know their horses though and know what prices they can get for the good ones, it's rare they get it wrong.
 
I think its probably because their horses are less "wrapped up in cotton wool" ie they are left to it as youngsters, not molly coddled, and not installed in stables a lot.

I had a UK TB, who would have had a very similar upbringing to this, as well as hunting a lot. He would go over any type of country, and was very aware of his footing. Irish fifth leg? Leicestershire fifth leg more like?

Also added it seems very "en vogue" to go from England to Ireland and see what you can pick up in the sales... you can spot the English a mile off..
 
Because we have several quite well organised and well supported sales over here, where you can see hundreds of prospects which are generally not bin-end dregs or other peoples' failures. Because a lot of the nice looking horses you see in the UK are Irish bred; because we are seriously overstocked at present and you can get a bargain - usually a young diamond-in-the-rough that, whilst probably not having much in the way of sophisicated schooling, will also not have been mucked about by inexperienced people.
 
bramblesmum said:
The nice quality ones are somewhat cheaper than our nice quality ones.
Click to expand...

Not in my experiance , I can find as nice cheaper here.
However OP in Ireland they are all for sale , dealing with private sellers in the uk can be quite hard work.
If you want a young horse that's hunted you will find loads in Ireland, so its also popular for event horse buying.
The Irish also do breed a lot of tat that ends up over here , but some awesome top end stuff.
It's just like everywhere really the good and the bad and the in between but with a fun holiday thrown in and great seafood.
 
The Irish Sport Horse studbook has been the top studbook in WBSH rankings in eventing for 15 years, and formerly was top for showjumping (and will be again!) so there is a lot of quality in the country.
Also horses aren't really a hobby over here they are a business, so most horses are not ruined by novices etc. or wrapped up in cotton wool. My young ones are never rugged and learn to cross banks, streams, ditches, forest and mountain before they are 1 yr old (I have 'interesting' grazing!) which gives them the elusive 5th leg and teaches them to learn where to put their feet.
Breeding is a serious business and there is a lot of knowledge there. There is indiscriminate sp?) breeding yes but I have never come across it. A LOT of thought an knowledge goes into crossing this with that and there is almost no 'I love my mare she is my best fiend I want to breed a mini me to hack etc. stuff.
It is a more professional business and not really a hobby. I suppose that's why.

ANd EVERYTHING is for sale!
 
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