LEC
Opinions are like bum holes, everyone has one.
Just come back from Goresbridge Sales and it was mind blowing in a good way. I have spent in 2 days - 20 hours watching horses. I have seen approximately 240 horses in that time.
I met them in the stable, I got to watch them jump and be trotted up and they are all vetted. Do not get me wrong there is a lot of rubbish there but it is easy to sift through the rubbish. I loved all the horse trading that went on and being able to compare so many.
I went with 2 friends who are also forum members. One has been looking for a horse for months. All that was wanted was a talented and nice looking horse for sensible money.
We dipped our feet in on a fabulous horse - it just absolutely pinged, was nicely put together and a nice person. It went above our budget - but the joy of the sales is that there will be another 100 coming through!
We saw a nice little grey that really jumped but it had a slight curb so we bid for a bit but it was not cheap enough to be worth the risk and went for £1800. We also really liked another horse that jumped but while watching it being auctioned its hocks really clicked so we did not go any further as I will not touch a horse especially a 5yo with clicky joints.
I loved a grey Sjer - it was such an impressive jumper and we had already come up with a plan that we would share the horse and become sjers as it looked such fun despite the fact it was grey and a sjer! Luckily it went for good money - £6000 so we did not come home with a totally unsuitable horse. This horse in the UK would have been £15k easy.
We watched the top lot go through - it was a Harlequin Du Carel horse. Lovely sort - big and tall and looked like an eventer. Had sjed round 1.20m courses with more to go. It went for £14k.
Today was more 5yos and 4yos. I was drooling over the 4yos. Every single one seemed to be my type (big, scopey and handsome). The 5yos did not get us so excited but we saw a few nice sorts particularly by Colin Diamond.
The 4yo I loved was by Stormhill Micheal and was stunning. It jumped well but green. It went for £7000.
We did buy a horse but that is not my story to tell. I came home empty handed as I am short of time and cash at the moment! But I would go back straight away.
I loved not having to deal with the rubbish of buying a horse - it was slick and professional. You take everything with a pinch of salt, evaluate it and compare. If it does not work out then you find another you like. There will be lots.
You do not have to be an expert to go to Goresbridge. I am not a professional but a good horse is a good horse. You take just as many risks in the UK as you do in Ireland! The quality is fantastic and the prices even better. We had a strict limit because if we did not like the horse it has to be sold and cover costs. The more you see the better your eye gets.
We watched a very very smart 15.2hh horse - it went for good money £7k. But little things put us off - they did not mount it in front of us, they worked it in quite a bit and then did not get off, they would not let us have a sit on and every other horse we liked they did. It also jumped but not spectacular so we surmised it was probably cold backed and walked away.
The Irish ride very well - we looked for horses that were green but keen. Not gobby in the mouth, threw a good shape over a fence and moved well. The jockeys are very very good as they sit quiet and keep coming but you can still see what has potential and what will suit.
When I go to replace my current horse - I will look in the UK but if nothing meets my criteria then I will not hesitate to go and buy something over in Ireland. Probably a 4yo as they are green but super smart. I personally like that they have not done much as they are a pretty blank canvas. The prices are exactly what I would expect to pay and you are not paying any middleman as a huge amount of dealers seem to buy Irish and then charge a premium.
Have confidence and go with a friend either to help you or be the sensible one!
I met them in the stable, I got to watch them jump and be trotted up and they are all vetted. Do not get me wrong there is a lot of rubbish there but it is easy to sift through the rubbish. I loved all the horse trading that went on and being able to compare so many.
I went with 2 friends who are also forum members. One has been looking for a horse for months. All that was wanted was a talented and nice looking horse for sensible money.
We dipped our feet in on a fabulous horse - it just absolutely pinged, was nicely put together and a nice person. It went above our budget - but the joy of the sales is that there will be another 100 coming through!
We saw a nice little grey that really jumped but it had a slight curb so we bid for a bit but it was not cheap enough to be worth the risk and went for £1800. We also really liked another horse that jumped but while watching it being auctioned its hocks really clicked so we did not go any further as I will not touch a horse especially a 5yo with clicky joints.
I loved a grey Sjer - it was such an impressive jumper and we had already come up with a plan that we would share the horse and become sjers as it looked such fun despite the fact it was grey and a sjer! Luckily it went for good money - £6000 so we did not come home with a totally unsuitable horse. This horse in the UK would have been £15k easy.
We watched the top lot go through - it was a Harlequin Du Carel horse. Lovely sort - big and tall and looked like an eventer. Had sjed round 1.20m courses with more to go. It went for £14k.
Today was more 5yos and 4yos. I was drooling over the 4yos. Every single one seemed to be my type (big, scopey and handsome). The 5yos did not get us so excited but we saw a few nice sorts particularly by Colin Diamond.
The 4yo I loved was by Stormhill Micheal and was stunning. It jumped well but green. It went for £7000.
We did buy a horse but that is not my story to tell. I came home empty handed as I am short of time and cash at the moment! But I would go back straight away.
I loved not having to deal with the rubbish of buying a horse - it was slick and professional. You take everything with a pinch of salt, evaluate it and compare. If it does not work out then you find another you like. There will be lots.
You do not have to be an expert to go to Goresbridge. I am not a professional but a good horse is a good horse. You take just as many risks in the UK as you do in Ireland! The quality is fantastic and the prices even better. We had a strict limit because if we did not like the horse it has to be sold and cover costs. The more you see the better your eye gets.
We watched a very very smart 15.2hh horse - it went for good money £7k. But little things put us off - they did not mount it in front of us, they worked it in quite a bit and then did not get off, they would not let us have a sit on and every other horse we liked they did. It also jumped but not spectacular so we surmised it was probably cold backed and walked away.
The Irish ride very well - we looked for horses that were green but keen. Not gobby in the mouth, threw a good shape over a fence and moved well. The jockeys are very very good as they sit quiet and keep coming but you can still see what has potential and what will suit.
When I go to replace my current horse - I will look in the UK but if nothing meets my criteria then I will not hesitate to go and buy something over in Ireland. Probably a 4yo as they are green but super smart. I personally like that they have not done much as they are a pretty blank canvas. The prices are exactly what I would expect to pay and you are not paying any middleman as a huge amount of dealers seem to buy Irish and then charge a premium.
Have confidence and go with a friend either to help you or be the sensible one!
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There were horses going to Norway, Holland all over the place. It was really easy to arrange transport back too. If anyone does decided to go in future fly out the morning of the sale as what is supposed to start at 9.30 is more like 11, and it doesn't finish till late, so go home the day after your sale day finishes. We were only there the first 2 days as I didn't want a 3yo.
) when she arrives!
and it went up a bit more, still 1,500 euros less than I would have paid for her so I was happy. It took forever for the hammer to go down.
