How far would you travel to see a horse?

NewHeights_SJ

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www.newheights-showjumping.co.uk
As the title says really!!

I've been looking for a project for some time, but after having no luck i had given up. But out of the blue someone emailed me with the details of a lovely little pony who sounds perfect! Except for one thing - they are 3 hours away....
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Do you think this is too far to travel?
 
would depend on what i had 2 spend, if not 2 much (2K or less) then not more than 1.5 hours or so. if i had serious money as in £30-£40K + (not that i ever will) then would even consider europe to go and see the right horse!
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i travelled a bit further than that to see my new mare. i asked a million questions beforehand, ticked all the right boxes... so it was worth it. if i'd had any doubts though, i wouldn't have gone that far.
going to pick her up was a nice long day out in the lorry...
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Yorkshire really isnt that bad...! Id travel that far if it looked promising enough. Also if it is a project to sell by bringing it down south a bit you are already increasing its value- so you are half way there already!!!

Ive traveled 2 and a half hours to look at lorries (twice) and thats only 1/2 an hour less than 3 hours...!

Go for it if it its what you want!
 
We travelled 2 1/2 hours to see the pony we bought, mind you we didn't realise it was going to take that long, mileage wise it didn't look like 2 hours but the roads were narrow and twisty. I would agree with taking the trailer as we ended up going back later in the week to pick him up so we ended up travelling for over 10 hours in total. But he was sooo worth it!
 
My last 2 horses came from the South East. One I got from Ascot (about 3.5 hrs from me in car) and the other West Sussex (4ish hrs from me in car). The first one I paid £900 for and the second was a freebe ex racer.

If it is the right horse, regardless of price I would travel, although I did get a contractor to bring them down for me, didn't fancy driving all that way and back with the trailer!
 
I trailed around Europe quite a bit looking for my 'perfect Arab colt' - eventually found him in the UK, but no regrets about the travelling; it was interesting!

Ideally, you should try to arrange to see several horses in the same area, if it's a long distance from you. So maybe look at all the ads for any other likely prospects in Yorkshire, or on the way to or from Yorkshire? That way, even if this one doesn't turn to be right for you, there will be others to see and it won't feel like a wasted journey.
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I travelled from Essex to Dorset to see Spider
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It took me 4 hours there & 4.5 hours back (thanks to the M25!!) With a few hour inbetween for the viewing.
A week later after he'd been vetted I travelled down in the lorry to collect him & it took me 5.5 hours to get there. Thankfully I had my best journey on the way back with him. It only took 3.5 hours
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I'd seen loads of photo's & asked loads of questions before I went. He was also only 4 & had only been broken 5 weeks. Although I was exhausted, I don't regret it as he makes me smile every time I ride him.
If it's the right horse, they are worth travelling for
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3 years ago I travelled to Prague to see a horse, the one I was going to see was sold to someone else while I was on the flight which really annoyed me. I had booked a flight to Ireland to see one this year but it got sold the day before I was due to fly. I love travelling so don't care how far or where I have to go.
 
i'm looking at the moment and seriously considering a long drive at the weekend to see a few. They're all about 3hours from me, and I possibly wouldn't go all that way for one, but I've found 4 worth looking at so I think I'm going to take the plunge and hope one of them is worth it!
 
Of course you can go that far Fee fee! I'm in Bournemouth and I went to Nottingham twice to go and view a horse that was awesome. Shame it failed the vet
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Got a better one now though
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If it's going to be a good project horse I would go and have a look. Make a day out of it. Are there any attractions etc in the area you could visit? Or when I was looking, I tried to find a couple I was interested in en route so I would take the day to go and see 3 or so.

TBH I think you'd regret it if you didn't go. Good luck!
 
I actually went three hours to see a horse last summer - although my plan was really only to travel a max of an hour. Shows how rubbish my geography is!!
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how about asking if anyone on here in yorkshire would look at it for you first before you make the journey.

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Exactly what I was going to say! - but i'm not near Yorks i'm afraid so I can't help!
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you could always ask for a video to be made and sent before you decide to travel- make sure you say exactly what you want to see eg trotting up, lunging, ridden etc. When trying to sell we've often made videos and posted out to people further away. If you want him vetted maybe it would be possible to drive up with trailer, see him and have a vetting booked (in advance) for the same day or the next day- staying in a B&B over night? Or, if really keen agree a vetting in advance of viewing and splitting cost with seller? view him and have him on loan/trial with vetting at yours? where there's a will, there's a way!
 
Aw, shame, I'm in Yorkshire (Leeds), I'd have gone to see it - love window shopping (and duns) but unfortunately (not for me) am off to Oz on friday for 3 weeks!!!
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Sorry!
 
im in plymouth and we travelled to north birmingham to see one, which we had vetted, but then failed:-( a nice M5 trip
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in general there wasnt much around in our area so travelled 2-3 hours to see most of them
 
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