How much should I budget to

FestiveFuzz

FestiveFuzz

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With a whole 4 months (& counting!) between now and when I'm able to buy a new horse I've been looking at my options.

On the ex-racer front I'm told I can get what I'm looking for for around £2,500 which got me wondering whether it would be possible to get an ISH for around the same price.

I'm looking for a 5-12yo between 15 and 16.2hh allrounder that can compete up to county level (& possibly beyond) depending on the horse. I've been riding for a number of years now and am competent but tend to get a bit nervy when first riding a new horse so need something that will help build my confidence but can handle it being a bit feisty if that makes any sense?!

I've had a look on horsequest and it seems there are horses about for that price but they don't seem to put all that much info in the ads and I'm not near enough to buying yet to justify calling to enquire.

So what do you think? Is it possible? My max budget is probably about £3k but will mean saving for a few months after the wedding.

Sorry for all the questions recently, I just want to make sure I make an informed decision when the time comes.
 
Look on Horsemart and H&H and Horse Deals, it sounds realistic if you aren't looking for something already at county level
 
WOW, any ex racer I have had has been free or a few £100!

Yes, I think with that budget you will be able to get what you want, might have a quirk or 2 or you might be lucky and the right horse will come up at the right time.
 
Thanks Amy567 I'm more than happy to put the work in to get it to county level as I appreciate I don't have a huge budget.
 
ASBO - unfortunately I don't feel confident enough to get one straight off the track so am looking at ex-racers that have already been retrained hence the premium (apparently!) tbh I was a bit surprised by the price quoted hence looking at ISH again.
 
GG2B said:
ASBO - unfortunately I don't feel confident enough to get one straight off the track so am looking at ex-racers that have already been retrained hence the premium (apparently!) tbh I was a bit surprised by the price quoted hence looking at ISH again.
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The ex racer forum would be a good place to look, but, an ex racer may not do the job your looking for it to do.
 
It won't take as long as you think to save up extra funds - if you put aside what you're likely to spend on a horse, you'll probably be saving at least £250 per month depending on how you're going to keep it, which will add up quickly.

Plus, you'll notice the pain less when you have to start forking out for real! :D

I suspect for what you want a slightly bigger budget would make life a lot easier.
 
£2,500 is a realistic price for a retrained ex-racer thats sound, sane and done a few competitions. Hell mine is worth 3x that amount!
Personally I think if you can find what you want with 2.5/3k if you look carefully. I would ignore the breed just choose the ones you like, no point limiting yourself. If it's showing you want to do, what sort of classes? That might steer you in the right direction?
 
Theocat - unfortunately we're getting married in August so all my spare money is going into our wedding fund right now (about £600 per month) hence why I think it may take a little while longer to save up the extra funds.

I definitely agree a bigger budget would make things easier. How much do you think I would need for what I'm looking for?
 
Pony&cow - hahaha just reread my post & it does read that way - oops! OH is now mortally offended I'd rather trade him in for a horse :)
 
Clodagh - yeah I agree. I've just been out of the market for a few years now and don't know what is an acceptable budget for what I'm after.
 
If you not intending to buy until after the wedding anyway the best thing you could do is wait until after Xmas you will have saved up alot more in the meantime and also if you but then you will get more horse for your money as horses tend to go cheaper at that time of year.
Or another option is, get a racer off the track for not alot and use that £2000-£2500 you have saved up for 4-6 weeks intensive training/ support from an instructor to get you through the nervous part.
 
Maree T - it is rather tempting! :)

Zoelouisem - thanks you've actually got a really good point about holding off until Xmas. I'll just have to try to rein in my excitement in the meantime!
 
Even with a blank check you'll take a while to find the horse that fits your requirements (lots of people looking for the same) and that you get on with prices will dip a lot coming into the worst of winter.
So if you're getting married in Aug, but the time you're back from honeymoon and recovered from the stress of it! It'll be Sept, if you then start looking in Oct it could well be Dec before you find something then you'll have maybe £1000 more from saving £300 ish that you would have been spending on livery/ costs etc.
 
I know must be hard waiting but think if you wait till then you will miss half the winter. What with snow and horrid weather you probably won't get that much riding in anyway plus you'll be saving on livery so can put that towards your budget.
 
I bought a coloured ISH for that £2700 (including delivery from 4 hours away) at the end of last summer so I don't think your budget is unrealistic. Not sure if mine would show at county level but I would imagine she is the type to be a good general allrounder plus more with the right rider.
 
Oh one other thought OP, how many vettings have you budgeted for? Another benefit of having a little more cash in the bank is if you have a couple of failed vettings you could easily burn through £800 before finding the right one!
 
Thanks Polos Mum I'd only really factored in 2 vettings but realistically I could end up having to pay for more so it's definitely something to keep in mind when budgeting.
 
You sound like you're looking for similar to what I was looking for (wasn't after a tb specifically, but around the same age range, although 14.3-15.2)

I'm buying an 8y/o ex point to pointer gelding, 15.2, lovely temperament, done quite a lot of SJ, XC, local shows etc. Paying £2600 with tack and rugs.

Don't forget to factor in getting (if you're get one done) and transport if required- that's adding on about an extra £400 for me!

Why are you so set on getting an ex racehorse? The wider your horizon, the more you'll find that will do what you want.
 
Firewell said:
£2,500 is a realistic price for a retrained ex-racer thats sound, sane and done a few competitions. Hell mine is worth 3x that amount!
Personally I think if you can find what you want with 2.5/3k if you look carefully. I would ignore the breed just choose the ones you like, no point limiting yourself. If it's showing you want to do, what sort of classes? That might steer you in the right direction?
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This- an ex-racer which will pass the vet and that has been retrained is generally a very smart type of horse. I mean, you've got a horse bred for high level performance- it has to be able to gallop fast (which generally means it moves pretty well, with the sloping shoulder and powerful hindquarters), jump well and want to win. These traits are hugely desirable for most competition riders (especially those aiming to event).

So £2.5k for a smart, wellbred and nicely trained horse is pretty decent if you ask me. Looking for an ex-racer because it's cheap is a bad idea. Looking for one because it is a cheaper way of getting the desirable traits is better- I think if you'd got our ex-racer pre-racing, he'd have been one of those going for megabucks at a decent auction. As it is, I have no idea what he's worth (and he will never be for sale, so it doesn't matter!).

What do you want from a horse? £2.5k is a decent budget I think, especially if you're not aiming for the stars! If you do a list of your desires I'd love to have a rummage around a bit- we never have money for horses (all of ours have been freebies or loans) so being able to window shop properly would be fun :D

ETA: I'm an ex-racer lover if you hadn't noticed, my sister has 2 she's reschooled from scratch and they are classy horses :D
 
Lolo said:
This- an ex-racer which will pass the vet and that has been retrained is generally a very smart type of horse. I mean, you've got a horse bred for high level performance- it has to be able to gallop fast (which generally means it moves pretty well, with the sloping shoulder and powerful hindquarters), jump well and want to win. These traits are hugely desirable for most competition riders (especially those aiming to event).

So £2.5k for a smart, wellbred and nicely trained horse is pretty decent if you ask me. Looking for an ex-racer because it's cheap is a bad idea. Looking for one because it is a cheaper way of getting the desirable traits is better- I think if you'd got our ex-racer pre-racing, he'd have been one of those going for megabucks at a decent auction. As it is, I have no idea what he's worth (and he will never be for sale, so it doesn't matter!).

What do you want from a horse? £2.5k is a decent budget I think, especially if you're not aiming for the stars! If you do a list of your desires I'd love to have a rummage around a bit- we never have money for horses (all of ours have been freebies or loans) so being able to window shop properly would be fun :D


ETA: I'm an ex-racer lover if you hadn't noticed, my sister has 2 she's reschooled from scratch and they are classy horses :D
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Hi Lolo,

Definitely wasn't suggesting all ex-racers aren't worth £2.5k, just that I felt the one in question wasn't and it got me thinking.

My thinking with regard to ex-racers was that I could get a decent horse that had the potential to take me past county level showing and that maybe I could start eventing with if I get a little braver but at a price that I could afford.

Here's my wish list:

5-12yo
15-16.2hh
Good doer
Coloured/Chestnut/Dapple Grey (ideally but obviously open to any colour if it's the right horse)
Gelding
Happy to live out year round (will be in a field on it's own but in sight of other horses)
Ability to jump a minimum of 3ft
Can need bringing on but must still be a confidence giver (or at least not trash my confidence)
Ok if not ridden every day
Good to box/shoe
Maximum of £3k

I've been looking at ex-racers and ISH but am open to other breeds and would love to see what you manage to find :)
 
hnmisty said:
You sound like you're looking for similar to what I was looking for (wasn't after a tb specifically, but around the same age range, although 14.3-15.2)

I'm buying an 8y/o ex point to pointer gelding, 15.2, lovely temperament, done quite a lot of SJ, XC, local shows etc. Paying £2600 with tack and rugs.

Don't forget to factor in getting (if you're get one done) and transport if required- that's adding on about an extra £400 for me!

Why are you so set on getting an ex racehorse? The wider your horizon, the more you'll find that will do what you want.
Click to expand...

Definitely not set on an ex-racer but as I mentioned to Lolo I felt it was the best way of getting something that could potentially take me past county level but at a price I could afford. My brother-in-laws girlfriend has a horse box so transport shouldn't be an issue.

What made you choose your boy in the end if you don't mind me asking?
 
BWa said:
Good doer and living out all year? ISH or even Irish bog pony type would fit that bill more than many (although not all before I get jumped on!) ex racers.
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This is why I have been looking more at ISH over an ex-racer. Though that list was more a list of ideals rather than essentials i.e. we will have a box all year round if it did need to be stabled
 
GG2B said:
Hi Lolo,

Definitely wasn't suggesting all ex-racers aren't worth £2.5k, just that I felt the one in question wasn't and it got me thinking.

My thinking with regard to ex-racers was that I could get a decent horse that had the potential to take me past county level showing and that maybe I could start eventing with if I get a little braver but at a price that I could afford.

Here's my wish list:

5-12yo
15-16.2hh
Good doer
Coloured/Chestnut/Dapple Grey (ideally but obviously open to any colour if it's the right horse)
Gelding
Happy to live out year round (will be in a field on it's own but in sight of other horses)
Ability to jump a minimum of 3ft
Can need bringing on but must still be a confidence giver (or at least not trash my confidence)
Ok if not ridden every day
Good to box/shoe
Maximum of £3k

I've been looking at ex-racers and ISH but am open to other breeds and would love to see what you manage to find :)
Click to expand...

http://sourceanexracehorse.co.uk/
Have you been on here? Tbh, you are probs best off with an older ex-racer I think, a NH type. They're generally a lot more grounded and sensible, and have lived a bit more. And tend to be cheaper :D

There's one mare on there I would LOVE to buy my sister for only £600. If she had space and I had money... Lol!

Or:
http://www.horsequest.co.uk/2/horses-for-sale/101/ex-race-horses/183/ex-race-horses-16hh-under
There are some very smart horses under 16hh here...

http://www.horsequest.co.uk/2/horses-for-sale/101/ex-race-horses/184/ex-race-horses-over-16hh
Over 16hh here. I like the one called "Confide In Me", or for something a little more made, "Bay Island". I know he's a tiny bit big, but unless you're teeny I don't think he'd be huge... My sister's 5'6 and rides Reg who's over 17hh really (no matter how often she says he's 16.2hh!).
 
Don't forget to budget for tack and rugs - when I got my first horse I spent almost as much on that as I did on the horse although Horse didn't cost that much :p
 
Lolo said:
http://sourceanexracehorse.co.uk/
Have you been on here? Tbh, you are probs best off with an older ex-racer I think, a NH type. They're generally a lot more grounded and sensible, and have lived a bit more. And tend to be cheaper :D

There's one mare on there I would LOVE to buy my sister for only £600. If she had space and I had money... Lol!

Or:
http://www.horsequest.co.uk/2/horses-for-sale/101/ex-race-horses/183/ex-race-horses-16hh-under
There are some very smart horses under 16hh here...

http://www.horsequest.co.uk/2/horses-for-sale/101/ex-race-horses/184/ex-race-horses-over-16hh
Over 16hh here. I like the one called "Confide In Me", or for something a little more made, "Bay Island". I know he's a tiny bit big, but unless you're teeny I don't think he'd be huge... My sister's 5'6 and rides Reg who's over 17hh really (no matter how often she says he's 16.2hh!).
Click to expand...

Haha Confide In Me is already sat in my virtual stable on horsequest and I love the look of Bay Island. Haven't looked on source an ex racehorse before but will definitely have a look now. Thanks!
 
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