How far do you travel to look at a horse??

MandyMoo

MandyMoo

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just curious - when you're all looking for horses, how far do you travel?? At the moment me and my mum are sticking to an hour or so maximum, so definitely within the east midlands, near Nottingham/Derby/Leicestershire. However, a horse has come up - suggested by someone, but it is to be viewed at Addington Equestrian Centre which is closer to 2hours away, maybe a bit more. does seem a perfect horse... but is it just too far and silly to treck that way? when there is probably a similar one somewhere closer?? (fwiw, it is a 15yo grade A, still competing at 1m20/1m30 level, quite cheap, and easy ride... so perfect for me and my lost confidence to have fun on).... but are these horses around often?? am i silly to try and drag my mum (who isn't too kean on the long journey, just to see a horse... as if i was interested i would want to try it again before buying) all the way down to near oxford?!

hmm.... so, just thoughts on how far you guys travel??
 
The furthest we've been is 5hrs and that was for Squeezy - tbh that is my absolute limit! We got the seller tomeet us half way when we collected him though.

2hrs is a trip round the corner ;)
 
FinnMcCoul said:
2hrs is a trip round the corner ;)
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haha! it is just strange, we have always trecked around the east midlands - and nearly every time have found a horse that is perfect just literally down the road or something!!!! so odd. 2hours just seems far to me in comparison - but i suppose to you its like a next door neighbour ;)
 
Mandy moo - im looking at the mo too and like you im trying to stick to not travelling too far.
If however, it was a horse recommended by someone rather than just an ad in a paper, i would travel the distance.
Im giving it another month and then once the weather warms up im happy to travel further.
 
2hrs is not that far at all, when I grew up in cumbria our nearest show was that far away!

if I was looking for a horse I'd be willing to travel up to 3 hours away, as you can do that trip and back in a day and leave enough time to spend looking at the horse.

Road trip :D
 
We went all around the country when we looking at getting another one upto 2.5hrs most weekends, then ended up 15mins down the road to buy him!!! We only went to see him because he was so close otherwise wouldnt of bothered! The mother wasnt very happy! haha!
 
I travelled from one side of an indoor school to another :p Was having lessons on a friend's horse, the yard owner mentioned they had one in on selling livery and did I want to have a look....I thought I would try as he was already tacked up etc. Didn't meant to buy that quickly, but fell head over heels and took him home a couple of weeks later. Best decision I ever made :D
 
We flew from Scotland to Devon to buy younger son's 11.2hh and have been all over the uk looking for ponies for elder son over the years. I do lots of research before travelling and figure one day with two short cheap flights is a lot more economical then driving around for countless weekends closer to home.
 
The furthest I've been is Ireland, so 1hr car journey to airport, pay for airport car parking, 1 hr flight to Dublin and a couple of hrs the other side in a hire car.

I think if your serious about buying and know what you are looking for you'll travel. Saying that I'd like to see a video and multiple pics if I was travelling for hrs to view a private sale, as I always think that these are the most disappointing as they are normally someones pride and joy and we don't always see the same thing :)
 
thankyou for replies!!! i shall try and convince mother ;) :p he does seem perfect from description/videos i've seen.

claire_p2001 said:
2hrs isn't that far it could be the horse of your dreams! Could you not offer to drive and your mum can come along for the ride :) Out of interest who is selling the horse? I compete at Addington a lot so may know some extra info.
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erm, don't actually know the owners name!!!!! Just someone from Midlands Equestrian suggested this horse to me and has got in touch with the owners for us... if i find out i will PM you! :) thankyou!
 
I am currently looking and so far am yet to travel furthur than 2 hours away. Not to keen on travelling for longer although would if i thought the horse was right.
 
2.5 hours isn't that bad, I went over to Ireland looking and came home with nothing. But with in the UK it depends on how I feel about a horse Went 4 hours to Northumberland for a 16.1 to be about 15.2. Very disappointing. I'd say go for it, you obviously like the sound of the horse that's why your asking about the travel ;) x
 
When we were looking we'd travel up to 2-2.5 hours, but would try and look at a few in the same area to make it worth the while. Also OH has a fully funded company car so didn't have to worry about fuel costs. Sure if we'd been paying petrol we'd have stayed more local! Typical though after all the ones we viewed miles away we found one 10 minutes up the road! lol
 
I would go as far as needed but if it was a long way would try to see a few, plus I always asked for videos so that cuts down on the trips.
 
Im currently looking and have been regularly driving 2 hours, but Ive not seen anything worth having yet so I may have to drive a bit further out.
 
I don't think any horse I've ever purchased has been as close as 2 hours away! (OK....actually, one, about thirty years ago.)

All I would say is, that the further I'm required to travel, the more info/photos/videos/vet records/competition records I want to see before travelling. Also, if it's a hunter I would take up Master's references in advance too.
 
I went to ireland by car and back - me, my mum and my sister all went together so three drivers. About and hour and a half to the ferry, spent entire day in Ireland, then home again. We were away for 24 hours.

We arranged to see two in the one trip, which made it a bit more time worthy. I even had someone trying to persuade me to let them bring their pony to one of the other yards I was going to in order to try it there. Didn't want to see that pony so made an excuse.

If people are looking to sell, then they should be willing to accomodate you. Long trips can be made worth it by planning the day carefully, trying to group areas together/routes together, and if necessary, asking someone to meet you at an appropriate centre to try the horse there.

I would never travel more than hour without seeing extensive photos, a video, and asking every question you can think of. The first pony I was going to see in Ireland I spent 45 minutes on the phone asking questions, and eventually skipped over a few cause I felt it was taking forever. One of the questions I skipped was how is he shod. I got there to find he had bar shoes on - my heart sank. All that way for a horse I wouldn't touch with a barge pole (I'd just lost a horse due to problems with her feet). Thankfully, the other pony we arranged to see was the superstar I bought :)
 
2 hours seems close to me!

My current girl it was about 5 hours to view her. But then I had a really good feeling about the her and the owner and got videos etc. We stayed overnight and spent a long time with sellers. They kept her at home, so we ended up having lunch with them too. She stayed with them for 3 weeks after vertting and I got a transporter to bring her down to me. We are good friends now.

I went to Spain in the summer too to get a youngster with a friend (same stud that my girl is from).
 
When I look I never seem to be able to find any reasonable looking ones within 2 hours.

Most I travel atleast 2hrs to see.

However the last horse I bought ended up being from my County.

And the horse I am having vetted tomorrow is also only 20 minutes away!

Strange really :D
 
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