How Much Would You Pay - Sorry

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Mithras

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For a 9 year old Belgian warmblood mare with behavioural issues - rears (though hasn't gone over backwards but a real rider frightener for all but the most experienced), shoots into canter and tries to stay there, canters sideways, ears flat back, grinds teeth, shoots off if you use your leg at all, basically feels like an unexploded bomb.

Not great stable manners. No real conformation faults. Good in traffic and a reasonable hack for an experienced rider. Needs reschooling for basic manners but well balanced.

Small BSJA winnings and placed up to 1.10m but last few outings has refused to jump or even approach the first fence except sideways. Not jumped regularly for over a year.

???
 
imo I wouldn't pay anything for it, if fact you would have to pay me to take it on, sounds a total nightmare, again imo there are too many nice horses out there to to be putting up with that kind of horse.
 
That sounds like a project horse at 9 years old... I can understand if the mare was 3-6 years old. I don't know whether a rider that can handle the horse would be interested due to the horse not being a youngster anymore.

And those who would want a 9-year-old (as considered more safe normally) want a better schooled one...
 
Oops, I made it sound totally awful. I should also say its got a very good jump and a very adjustable stride for jumping, and I think I could work with it. After riding it for just an hour, it improved quite a lot.
 
Really with the view to sell on but if liked it would keep. Theres something about it that I like, its not nasty but just has a lot of bad habits. Bear in mind quite a few good showjumpers are difficult rides.
 
Then, I would look at how much the owners want to part with the horse (if so, you can bargain), and how much interest there is. You need to know your "competitors" (other potential buyers) so to speak. Could they handle the horse as well as you? Does the mare have good breeding that would make her interesting to breeders?

Because it happens to be a Belgian WB (possibly pink papered??), it will most likely cost more than a TB or cross of the same calibre and with the same faults... maybe max. 2.5k??? But would try bargaining down to much less than that if there wasn't much interest and breeding is at best average...
 
yes good showjumpers, but you saying that this mare don't jump, If a horse like this mare was to go in auction it would have to go through without a warenty(sp) so would only fetch about £450-£500, how long do you think it would take to overcome these problems (if ever )
 
Thats the risk - I reschool it and then take it out and it doesn't jump. Jumping is what I'm interested in, I'm not interested in a nice hack or whatever. I think a couple of months reschooling could get it going much better. Theres other stuff like letting her live out instead of in 24/7 and not just be ridden in the school that would help.

She does have good breeding so I guess would make a broodmare. Not sure about the pink papers, probably I guess. No-one else is interested, it will either be doing nothing in a field or sent to a dealer. She has just been sent back by a pretty experienced sj rider because she exhibited the above behaviour at a show, but they only had it a few days. I have to say I didn't find her _that_ difficult, at least I thought it very possible to work with.

I have offered but been turned down, would just like to hear what other people think is reasonable before saying how much.
 
Barge pole. How can you say good in traffic if it rears, terrifies riders, shoots into canter, canters sideways, shoots off if you use your leg at all, and feels like an unexploded bomb? Someone will get killed.
 
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Barge pole. How can you say good in traffic if it rears, terrifies riders, shoots into canter, canters sideways, shoots off if you use your leg at all, and feels like an unexploded bomb? Someone will get killed.

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Ah sorry, it did that in the school when I first got on. After 10 minutes she decided to work with me and we spent some time doing patient transitions walk to trot to canter, during which it kept wanting to canter but was amenable to being corrected, just has very bad habits. Then I took her on a hack and she behaved lovely, no shying, ignored all traffic, gave her a good gallop up a hill and she clearly enjoyed it and wanted to continue, but pulled up easily. The teeth grinding stopped and the ears were forward. On the way back kept breaking into canter but a very slow one and having to be corrected. Attempted a small nap at a field of horses but was easily dissuaded. Then rode in the school again, was much better and listening to me and trying to do what was told though sometimes forgetting. Popped over a very small jump and did it fine, making a good shape. Has very good natural self carriage and does great changes. Goes in a snaffle.

Back, saddle, etc have apparantly all been checked and are fine. Doesn't flinch when back touched anyway and not stiff or one sided.
 
Only you know the horse, and if you can work with it or not, but when you say that she has her ears flat back and grinding her teeth it just sends alarm bells ringing! sounds like she could be in pain somwhere along the line, its a shame because a dealer won't pay a lot, and she will just get sent around the houses, Difficult, do you let you heart or head rule? but I wouldn't be paying a lot.
 
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T Theres other stuff like letting her live out instead of in 24/7 and not just be ridden in the school that would help.


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Ok, after having read that, the mare could definitely get better... that's like being on boxrest - and mine would also nap, rear and tank off if she was kept in 24/7!!!!!!!
 
I have had more than one similar in the past. If you get a good feeling about her and she's not nasty then go for it. The similar horses I had were the most honest but could have easily been ruined by the wrong rider. Probably not worth more than 3k ATM though.
 
Sounds like a brilliant horse :P hehe. To start off with, it doesnt sound like its worth more than a grand... but if its only doing it for the first 10 mins or so, then actually, im afraid to say, its just sounds like every other decent hot headed 'quirky' competition horse that hasnt been exercised enough recently to me im afraid! It also sounds slightly school sour... but hey, if shes been a show jumper then her life is walk, canter and jump in an arena... im not saying all of them are like that, some show jumpers are very well schooled, but alot of them unfortunately fall into the hands of those that want them out competing asap so they can get as much money for them as possible and in the process of doing so they forget to put the basics into the horse that make it possible to live with it for the rest of its life!!! Go for it, I think you could have fun!
 
With behavioural issues at 9 I would say meat money regardless of breeding - there isn't much trade for broodmares at the minute. However if you have seen something that appeals to you and that you think you can work with then go for it! Good luck
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I had a 14.2 chestnut mare that was a rearer once. I'd known her since she was backed and have many memories of watching the girl who broke her sit at the end of the drive while she reared. She used to go over (among other unsociable habits). Previous rider 2 weeks prior to me ended up in hospital! When I got her she'd just come back into work (aged 11) after having had a year off having a foal and she never reared with me (did buck though). I had her on loan though to start with and she could have gone back. I then bought her very cheaply (£250 a few years ago). She was the best pony I've ever had in terms of having fun. She won cups for just about everything - jumping, dressage , gymkhana games! and handy/family pony. She even did RDA. I sold her after 5 years to an 11 year old who did really well on her and then I bought her back when she was 19. She won the riding club cup for the horse with the most points at 23. I'm not saying every horse can be turned around but some definitely can.
 
I agree with others, not worth much as she is now and they should be glad someone is willing to take her off their hands IMHO!!
It does sound like a pain response, you mention she doesn't flinch but I wonder if she has had a proper assessment done. It could be remembered pain also which is much harder to deal with!
Good luck and keep us posted.
 
sounds like you have a soft spot for this mare. you are the one that has taken her through her paces and have got a feel of her. If deep down you think you can do something with her then go for it. I wouldnt pay much for her though and if they wont sell at a good price then pass her by !!
 
I wouldn't pay more than £1000. If you can do something with her great you have yourself a bargain. If not then you get yourself a broodmare with out havinf spent a fortune. Any more that £1000 and you stand to loose alot of money if things don't work out. She sounds quirky but with alot of talent - good luck with her if you decide to go ahead.
If it helps my OH paid under £1000 for his current horse who took well over 10 mins to get on each time and displayed some very unwanted behaviour when ridden. He needed to be re backed and was fine for a while but it turned out he had Kissing spines to cut a long story short he had the op and is now fab!!!!
 
im sorry i would not buy this horse for any amount of money imo it is very dangerous and i would not be hacking it out at all,and if i were you i would spend my money on one of the other hundreds of horses that yes may need schooling and work but not dangerous, if it was my horse i would not be selling it on to someone else as i could not chance someone getting hurt
 
if she's nicely puy together , broodmare value imo , based on the fact that might be all she ends up good for
 
Don't buy it. Its probably got something wrong with it to be behaving like that. Your vet fees trying to find out what it is will be more than the value of the horse.
 
I wouldnt have thought it has any bad medical problem as its not like it on a hack!

I had a gelding alot like this mare, we had everything checked on him and he was fine, just very very forward going and excitable. He would also keep going into canter, canter sideways, and he would leap forwards if you wouldnt let him canter. To some this sounds dangerous and a nightmare ride. But to be honest i absolutley loved riding him, he was a great fun hack, would jump a house (brill-if you could sit a HUGE jump) and he was a diamond on the roads too. He was by far the horse i always looked forward to riding. He never once got me off or even tried to. Loved him, so, i would go for it hun x
 
i would trust your gut and go for it, i would giv up to a thousand, purchased mine for that with very similar issues and shes lovely now, and was 11 when bought. she also took a lot less work than i anticipated, there was just something about her meant i had to take the risk, and it paid off, wouldnt part with her for the world. when last year i had a 12 year old girl on her back riding her round learning how to get a horse in an outline on my horse that was 'unrideable' a year before, i have to admit, im not one for tears but i broke down with overwhelming pride!
that was a waffle sorry but the point is these horses that most wouldnt touch with a bargepole certainly can be worth the effort.
 
I personally, like the sound of her . I could be shot down for it! But she sounds like she's totally bored of being cooped up in her stable 24/7 and as you say is like an unexploded bomb. She sounds also as if all she does it school school school. I'd also get a bit arsey about it if i was a horse
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. She ALSO sounds very much like a horse on the farm i'm at the moment. Could she have spent most of her younger life jumping after jumping after jumping? They soon get the ache of that too , the one on my yard is showing these habits after not hacking out, schooling , anything other than jumping.

Sorry if that was a load of crap ! Anywho, if you dont mind me asking what did you offer? I'd also go for it
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