irish horse imports?

[lilyymor]

Asking for a friend - anyone had an experience with Irish horse imports, if they are good/bad to buy from?
Most importantly how is the viewing process? This horse will be for a 16yo to produce on therefore getting a good feel for the right youngster is quite important to her to avoid any problems in future.
Said friend is looking for something on the smaller size, ideally compact 15.1/2 so how often is it that they get these in?

 

[Annagain]

I’d do a search for them on here. They have been discussed many times. The consensus seems to be the horses are nice but green and the sellers are very no-nonsense so if you know what you’re doing they’re good but if you don’t, they’re not the sellers for you.

 

[Nicnac]

Unless the 16 year old is extremely experienced, I'd avoid. They have some excellent horses, but it's turn up, look at what's in your budget, see a couple loose schooling, hop on the one you like best and buy. Pick up same day or next.

We bought a super horse from them but not sure I would have bought from them when my daughter was 16. You may also struggle wanted a smaller horse.

That said I have a super just 5yo on the market who is 15.2

 

[lilyymor]

The experience is no problem, I met my friend through the pony circuit and she’s been pretty consistent at PT throughout the last 2 seasons and is now off ponies hence looking for a horse. She’s absolutely determined to produce something herself.

I understand they do get in 5/6yos too, do you know just how green they are? Are they of similar experience to the 4yos or do they have some form of education? I haven’t looked into them too much myself as I still have 2 seasons left on ponies and am certainly not looking forward to moving off them either?

 

[LEC]

The experience is no problem, I met my friend through the pony circuit and she’s been pretty consistent at PT throughout the last 2 seasons and is now off ponies hence looking for a horse. She’s absolutely determined to produce something herself.

I understand they do get in 5/6yos too, do you know just how green they are? Are they of similar experience to the 4yos or do they have some form of education? I haven’t looked into them too much myself as I still have 2 seasons left on ponies and am certainly not looking forward to moving off them either?

They will be just broken if 4. If older might have done a little bit but tbh Irish horse imports are not that interested in history because then less likely for warranty issues. They sell as seen and can tell you what’s in the passport.

 

[Birker2020]

this link to a search of a lot of posts on the subject https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/search/2878851/?q=irish+horse+imports&o=relevance

My friend bought one from there who she really liked but ended up having problems with him, he was a bit too much for her but managed to sell him on without a problem.
I know someone else who bought a mare from there and ended up selling her on for a profit.
I also know someone who bought two with a view to producing them to sell on and they are both doing well although he's yet to sell. These people are all connected they found out about IHI through word of mouth.

Seems like a good place to get a youngster if you are experienced and you have the time and effort to put into producing them to either keep or sell on. But from what I gather they haven't done much so are very green.

 

[teddy_]

A girl at my yard has had three from Irish Horse Imports. One she sent back, but not because there was anything 'wrong' with the horse, it just wasn't what she was after. They were accommodating.

The two she has now seem genuine and sound.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I think the bit she'll struggle with is wanting 'to get a good feel for the right youngster'.
They know next to nothing about the horses, they arrive one day and people turn up the day after to see, buy and take them away that day or next. Its a very quick turnaround and either for you or not.

 

[ihatework]

Not convinced it’s the right place for a 16yo who wants to get a good feel for what they buy.

If you want a raw/barely backed 4yo, have the experience (or the funds to pay someone else) and know precisely what you want, then it can be worth a punt.

 

[Sealine]

A friend contacted them a few months ago as she was thinking about going there to try a couple. She was told that for insurance reasons you aren't able to ride them and you can only watch them being ridden hence she didn't bother as she didn't want to purchase a horse on the basis of just seeing someone else ride it.

 

[laura_nash]

It's somewhat similar to buying at an auction over here, only with most of the tricky bits for UK buyers taken out.

I.e. they've already filtered out any with obvious issues, you don't need to deal with the auction buying stuff or the transportation and import issues, and you can have a try and get them vetted yourself etc. Obviously you pay a good bit on top to cover their costs for that plus profit. It's a good service and business model provided the buyer goes in with their eyes open.

 

[Birker2020]

A friend contacted them a few months ago as she was thinking about going there to try a couple. She was told that for insurance reasons you aren't able to ride them and you can only watch them being ridden hence she didn't bother as she didn't want to purchase a horse on the basis of just seeing someone else ride it.

OMG what is the point of that? That's crazy. I was tempted but all they had in at the time that fitted my criteria were Irish TB and I wanted something with a bit more Sports Horse type.

 

[Widgeon]

I don't know where you are in the country but up here, Jack Thomas-Watson in Northumberland seems to have a good reputation - they also import from Ireland but they don't turn them round so fast, and they also seem to get a higher proportion of more established horses. I don't know what IHI prices are like - JTW probably charges quite a bit more but he seems to have a decent idea of what he has, and you can ride them. As with any dealer I'm sure he'll get mixed reviews but he might be worth a Google. In my limited dealings with him he seemed very genuine.

 

[LEC]

Not convinced it’s the right place for a 16yo who wants to get a good feel for what they buy.

If you want a raw/barely backed 4yo, have the experience (or the funds to pay someone else) and know precisely what you want, then it can be worth a punt.

I see this over and over again. Juniors just come off a schoolmaster, think they want a young horse to do it all themselves and then it’s all a bit of a mess and not that fun especially as horses are very different from ponies. Do as the rich kids do, get a horse with experience and then have a project alongside.

 

[flying_high]

I see this over and over again. Juniors just come off a schoolmaster, think they want a young horse to do it all themselves and then it’s all a bit of a mess and not that fun especially as horses are very different from ponies. Do as the rich kids do, get a horse with experience and then have a project alongside.

A sound horse with experience and talent will be seriously expensive. Great if the money is there.

I'd think in the above situation, the right young horse might be okay, but probably not one from Irish Imports, that has just been imported. Better to get a known, calm, kind, settled four year old from someone that has them in for at least a few months before selling.

 

[Goldenstar]

This about how much back up you have, how flexible the 16yo is with her skills and prepared you are to get out of it if the horse is not the right one .

 

[lilyymor]

I see this over and over again. Juniors just come off a schoolmaster, think they want a young horse to do it all themselves and then it’s all a bit of a mess and not that fun especially as horses are very different from ponies. Do as the rich kids do, get a horse with experience and then have a project alongside.

She has probably got more competitive experience than your average adult rider. She produced her own pony upto PT and sold on as a 2*P pony at the end of the season (therefore leaving her with a rather large budget) but she feels she would rather put her own stamp on something. She’s spent the back end of last season competing and is now training throughout the winter on her parents 16.1 ISH but (for whatever reason) has come to the conclusion that a youngster is her ideal route to take.

Otherwise, has anyone got good recommendations for yards that have a nice string of 5/6yos, more than happy to travel and stay overnight so nothing is considered too far.

 

[ihatework]

She has probably got more competitive experience than your average adult rider. She produced her own pony upto PT and sold on as a 2*P pony at the end of the season (therefore leaving her with a rather large budget) but she feels she would rather put her own stamp on something. She’s spent the back end of last season competing and is now training throughout the winter on her parents 16.1 ISH but (for whatever reason) has come to the conclusion that a youngster is her ideal route to take.

Otherwise, has anyone got good recommendations for yards that have a nice string of 5/6yos, more than happy to travel and stay overnight so nothing is considered too far.

You aren’t going to get a nice 5/6yo from IHI, you’d only go there for raw 4yo.

I completely get the PT situation, but have seen it go wrong a lot at this stage. It all boils down to how much support she has at home, and judging by this need to put a post, she isn’t in a pro environment (otherwise she would have sourced a young horse through the network).

Dare I also what sort of ballpark budget she has for a 5/6yo? In reality, a good honest one, that has been well started, not over produced and is the quality for a PT rider looking to go on, is going to be 30k give or take

 

[IrishMilo]

She has probably got more competitive experience than your average adult rider. She produced her own pony upto PT and sold on as a 2*P pony at the end of the season (therefore leaving her with a rather large budget) but she feels she would rather put her own stamp on something. She’s spent the back end of last season competing and is now training throughout the winter on her parents 16.1 ISH but (for whatever reason) has come to the conclusion that a youngster is her ideal route to take.

Otherwise, has anyone got good recommendations for yards that have a nice string of 5/6yos, more than happy to travel and stay overnight so nothing is considered too far.

Competitive experience doesn't mean anything when it comes to bringing on a youngster. It's more important that she's patient, kind, and firm. Oh, and has a sticky bum

 

[ihatework]

This was on Eventing UK Facebook recently and I thought it looked a cracking future junior prospect if your 16yo has a lot of help on hand to produce.

 

[ihatework]

It’s a very similar model to my homebred Balou so I might be biased. But you wouldn’t get that as a 5/6yo without quite deep pockets

 

[lilyymor]

You aren’t going to get a nice 5/6yo from IHI, you’d only go there for raw 4yo.

I completely get the PT situation, but have seen it go wrong a lot at this stage. It all boils down to how much support she has at home, and judging by this need to put a post, she isn’t in a pro environment (otherwise she would have sourced a young horse through the network).

Dare I also what sort of ballpark budget she has for a 5/6yo? In reality, a good honest one, that has been well started, not over produced and is the quality for a PT rider looking to go on, is going to be 30k give or take

she has a lovely, supportive team of people around her. Parents have a very hefty bit of experience with youngsters aswell. Her parents have many connections but, to my surprise, not many of them have had much experience with IHI hence this post. Her family have asked around with both of her trainers and neither were able to tell her much about them. I’ve seen IHI advertise a fair few promising 5yos in the past, but not any at the moment as far as i’m aware.

 

[annam233]

The rider is clearly not an issue, i’ve personally had lovely experiences with IHI in the past. They have a very small selection of 5yos in the mid/higher 5’s but you have to be quick as they get snapped up quickly.

Personally I would say that you’d be better off travelling to Ireland. If you find the right yard, they will have much better viewing facilities and an overall better understanding of the horses background and upbringing.

 

[Antw23uk]

This was on Eventing UK Facebook recently and I thought it looked a cracking future junior prospect if your 16yo has a lot of help on hand to produce.
View attachment 86029

I see Lux Z and run .. sharp as sh*t always springs to mind, lol!
OP you'll get nothing but green GREEN 4yr olds from IHI. I have heard good and bad things from them. Personally I wouldnt be confident enough to buy from them.

 

[Annagain]

Have a look at NB equine on Facebook. She doesn't have loads of horses but what she does have is usually very nice. She has an adorable 4 year old who is currently being backed, I assume he'll be for sale soon. They come over from Ireland so will be a bit more expensive than going there yourself but it's a lot easier! She often has 5/6 year olds. I bought my boy from her. We'll never do more than a bit of riding club but it's me holding him back rather than vice versa!

 

[Nicnac]

A friend contacted them a few months ago as she was thinking about going there to try a couple. She was told that for insurance reasons you aren't able to ride them and you can only watch them being ridden hence she didn't bother as she didn't want to purchase a horse on the basis of just seeing someone else ride it.

Incorrect. They loose school them and then you can hop on and hack down a path. I think they would refuse to let somebody mount up if they didn't feel they were experienced enough for the type of horses they have in.
It's really not a pink welly place (not saying your friend is pink welly brigade at all!)

@Antw23uk yep we saw a 3 yo Lux Z offspring loose schooling at IHI as was nice looking horse and in budget. Sharp as sh*t and with a very long back which I didn't like a prefer more short coupled but good technique over a fence which you'd expect.

 

[Lammy]

This was on Eventing UK Facebook recently and I thought it looked a cracking future junior prospect if your 16yo has a lot of help on hand to produce.
View attachment 86029

The joys of social media, think they have left out that this is a tricky and nervous little mare. But lovely.

Went to Irish horse imports in November with a friend, yes you can try them but the facilities aren’t great and you will be rushed on and off as they will have other people waiting to get into the school, or even other people who want to get on the one your on! Also was not impressed by how many with runny noses, scabby legs etc. I think for a young persons first young horse you’d be better off buying privately, although do some social media digging too as above.

 

[chaps89]

A friend contacted them a few months ago as she was thinking about going there to try a couple. She was told that for insurance reasons you aren't able to ride them and you can only watch them being ridden hence she didn't bother as she didn't want to purchase a horse on the basis of just seeing someone else ride it.

I think this is Gerty’s yard you’re referring to, not IHI. I think with the Ride Ireland ones as she sells overseas you can’t go over and try in advance, but to my knowledge you can try, albeit briefly, from IHI.

I’ve only known one from IHI, very raw and lots of holes to unpick but has become a nice eventer for an amateur

 

[AdorableAlice]

If you watch the sales returns circa £1,500 to £2000 from Ascot, Doncaster etc you will see many bought by IHI, give it 7 days and you will find the same horses on their website after having had a spruce up and some pictures taken. Quality horses for the right producer.

 

[dixie]

She has probably got more competitive experience than your average adult rider. She produced her own pony upto PT and sold on as a 2*P pony at the end of the season (therefore leaving her with a rather large budget) but she feels she would rather put her own stamp on something. She’s spent the back end of last season competing and is now training throughout the winter on her parents 16.1 ISH but (for whatever reason) has come to the conclusion that a youngster is her ideal route to take.

Otherwise, has anyone got good recommendations for yards that have a nice string of 5/6yos, more than happy to travel and stay overnight so nothing is considered too far.

try Probus Farm nr Exeter. They get youngsters from Ireland but spend time hunting them and taking them to various places for a jump. So whilst usually green they are ready to develop.