I MAY BE ABOUT TO BUY THIS CHAP!

Angelbones

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Joined
6 April 2008
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2,294
Location
East Sussex
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http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/marketplace/classified/details.php?id=124353&category=4

Had a good pal who lives local to this chap pop in today and try him out for me, and she rang up raving about how he would suit me, so tomorrow I'm leaving at sparrow's fart to head off down to Dorset (about a 3.5 hr journey) to see for myself, and if he is the bees knees then I'll have him vetted and take the plunge...excited but apprehensive as you can imagine. I don't want him for eventing, more a quieter life and hunting but I want the ability to do more should I need it. And I love horses with human names and he's called Harold so it must be fate :-)

Anybody got any views on him?

And of course I'll then be looking for a reputable vet in the area to do the vetting (recommendations gratefully received)! I won't be able to attend a 5* vetting so if you have specific things I should ask the vet about please let me know (taking into consideration his age and past career, and intended use)..

The flip side of this is that I then have to sell my current mare which will be hard as I've never sold one of my horses/ponies before (which could explain why I've got 8 at the moment spread over my daughter's lead rein pony through to my now retired 17.2 National Hunt horse) but she doesn't have a role with us and its unfair as I moved the goalposts rather than her not living up to them, so part of me is hoping that Harold isn't my dream horse so I can keep Valerie a bit longer...but what will be will be as they say



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He looks lovely
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Shame y uohave to sell your mare, but if she isn't what you want, maybe she would be better off in a home with someone who is right for her? Good luck tomorrow anyway
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Nice horse,but....please forgive me as i dont know a great deal about horses at that level but is £5k alot for a fifteen yr old???
 
Looks like a lovely chap. As far as the vetting goes, you should tell the vet what you plan to use him for, and then he should tell you if the horse is fit for that purpose. Good luck!
 
Id say try and get the price down a bit re his age? He looks lovely though and if he suits and you think hes worth it go for it!
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I looked at him online and thought he looked lovely! I just personally would want the horse to be a tad younger if i was payng £5k for it. Let us know how you got on - am very interested to know...
 
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I looked at him online and thought he looked lovely! I just personally would want the horse to be a tad younger if i was payng £5k for it. Let us know how you got on - am very interested to know...

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Completely agree, to expensive for his age
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He looks lovely but Id say too expensive considering his age.

My vet is based in Long Burton outside Sherborne and they are very good (Kingston)
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He does look lovely, but a tad expensive for a 15yo, if he was 10 then yes but I would only pay £4k, although having said all of that, if he is absolutely perfect in every other way he would be priceless
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Looks bold enough cross country, but bit untidy with front legs (might be habitual 4 faulter) showjumping. I'd check that side of it. Also Pricey for 15 y.o.
 
So I made the long journey and tried him out. His current owner (19) rides him beautifully and boy did he show us all his dressage tricks, my tongue was hanging out! I'll have to have some flatwork lessons in order to get the best out of him (for my purposes, not eventing) but he was really lovely and wonderful to handle. He's in very good shape, very athletic, and flexible still, not a wobble in site, but am having him 5 stage vetted when I can arrange it. When I said to the owner that she was perhaps hoping some young girl would come along and do exciting stuff with him she said "oh no, I'd like an old lady to have him"..."well that's me then" I said...(I'm 41!!)

Their current vet is Kingston Vets so I can't use them, am looking for an alternative.

For what I want (hunting, hacking with the kids, sponsored rides, some low level RC stuff) he's perfect and his age doesn't bother me. By the time he's too old (if all goes smoothly) my demands will be totally different with the kids away at school and into bigger horses themselves so it doesn't matter to me if I end up without a ride in a few years time. I retired my 23 yr old 17.2 last week and always keep my horses til the end and won't mind a bit if this ones ends up being another handsome chap grazing out his days with me.

As for the price, I agree, it is the top end of my bracket and poss a tad high for his age, but I've done lots of comparable searches and have tried several others aged around 10, 12 or so, and they weren't nearly as good or suitable, or in fact as fit, and they were asking £6,500 generally, so all in all he would be a good horse for an acceptable price for the job I want him for, so if he passes the vet I'll be one very happy bunny, and if he gives me what I want for a few years I'll consider it money well spent (and bank loan worth paying!)

And in fact, on the subject of price, considering what the kid's ponies have cost me to buy and keep recently I think I'll treat myself for a change!

Fingers Xed for the vetting...
 
I have checked out his record and he has done what the owner says and that's good enough for what I want - I jumped him at the trial and he was fab, with more than enough scope for anything I'll ever ask him to do, and I have no worries that my 14 yr old niece will be able to ride him too which was a consideration at the start as she is adult sized but isn't around enough to warrant a horse of her own. All in all I'm delighted with him so fingers crossed...
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