Irish Sport Equine

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YH31

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Anybody bought unseen direct from Gerty Tynan, Irish Sport Equine in the last couple of years? How was your experience. Was the horse as expected from the video when it arrived? Who vetted it for you. Thinking of taking the plunge as don’t have much time to trail up and down England looking for horses. She looks to have some nice sorts and good past reviews so looking for more recent reviews. Thank you.
 
I don’t have personal experience. Heard from a friend of someone that rides for them - the horses are at best green as grass and they do a good job of displaying them as though they are much more advanced than they are. This is hearsay but looking at their ads it sounds about right.
 
I just had a look at their web site, because of this thread, and they do seem to have some nice ones at the moment. Love the 12yo cob and one other, more pricy, one. Their prices seem to have gone up too.

Abacus said:
I don’t have personal experience. Heard from a friend of someone that rides for them - the horses are at best green as grass and they do a good job of displaying them as though they are much more advanced than they are. This is hearsay but looking at their ads it sounds about right.
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To be fair, I think most vendors, dealers or not, will present a video to show the horse to its best advantage. I love mine, bought off video from a lovely vendor, but he certainly rode greener for me than the video with the professional rider aboard. I would expect that though.

I wouldn't personally choose to buy from here after seeing a video of one that had a slight shiver, then someone bought it and it did indeed have a shiver, yet it was not declared or picked up on vetting. I would have expected it to be declared.
 
I saw a 15hh Connemara advertised on Horsemart a few years ago that had been bought from that yard, unseen and was apparently far greener than the video showed. A lady got it for her granddaughter who couldn't get on with it yet it was sold as suitable for any rider, novice ride etc
I was going to view it but decided it was too far a drive when I wasn't actively looking at the time.
 
Personally I had terrible experience buying from them. Too green, nervous, wouldn’t stand still when mounting (might just gallop off with you) plus had some health issues we discovered later on. She was vetted by Gerty’s vet in ireland and apparently passed it. Costed me lots of money, nerves and etc. The horse is retired now. If anyone wants more details - please pm me. I know some good horses Gerty sold, however mine was a bit of a disaster.
 
My friend bought one, again a vetting done by her vet, minimal detail which we did challenge. Horse very immature and green. Buyer beware unless experienced
 
A friend bought one unseen and kept it on the same livery yard as me for a few months. Was a nice overheight Connie type but much greener and nervous than advertised. It unexpectedly reared and dumped her on concrete and friend broke both hips. It then impaled itself in the field leaving a huge wound in its chest. Then got grass sickness but did recover. Obviously neither of the latter things were the sellers fault but thought worth a mention. It then got sold on after a lengthy healing process and not sure where it is now.

Another friend on same livery yard also got one from here unseen. He was very sweet but much again greener than expected and not really her type and she didn’t click with it at all so she sold on pretty quickly.
 
A friend got a cob from her, video showed him jumping cross country fences at a fair pace. When he arrived he was quite nervous and very green and reactive to things that frightened him by tanking off and panicking. Friend backed right off and brought him on slowly, he's now a fabulous super cob. It does seem her horses are ridden but not handled much, probably not for novices but they do seem to be good horses for the experienced owner.
 
ycbm said:
I've just looked at the website. Those prices are unreal for buying that kind of horse unseen!
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I've just looked too and those prices have gone up three grand in the last....year or so, at a guess? I'm sure they used to be 5-8K, which IMO is a reasonable price for a decent quality but green cob bought unseen. 11K though? You can still get a nice little horse from a reputable English dealer for that, with lower transport costs and not unseen either.

ETA Just checked and Gerty's prices include delivery to the UK which I suppose makes it a little bit more reasonable.
 
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In terms of horses being produced for the leisure/amateur UK market here in Ireland there is a pervading culture of break them young, ride them hard, sell them quick. The Irish youth are used to riding very green horses because they are sold from under them as soon as viable. The education ground is the hunting field not the arena. No time is wasted on manners or ground work or any of that malarkey. The Irish have a genuine passion for the horse but it is very much a business. There will always be another crop of foals next year.
 
Quigleyandme said:
a pervading culture of break them young, ride them hard, sell them quick.
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I don't have a problem - at all - with it being a business, or with them being green. Someone has to produce a steady supply of decent cobs to go into the leisure market. However as the owner of an Irish cob who's had hock arthritis since he was likely very young, I'm wary now of the "young and hard" method. I can't think of any plausible reasons for the arthritis except that he was hammered as a three year old before being shipped over. I'd think twice about anything Irish, next time round.

Not arguing with you BTW Quigley, just giving my opinion because I think it's an interesting conversation.
 
Widgeon said:
I don't have a problem - at all - with it being a business, or with them being green. Someone has to produce a steady supply of decent cobs to go into the leisure market. However as the owner of an Irish cob who's had hock arthritis since he was likely very young, I'm wary now of the "young and hard" method. I can't think of any plausible reasons for the arthritis except that he was hammered as a three year old before being shipped over. I'd think twice about anything Irish, next time round.

Not arguing with you BTW Quigley, just giving my opinion because I think it's an interesting conversation.
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Mine had exactly same thing plus some breathing issues. Gerty said she is homebred so clearly she knew about the issues. Also her vet never picked up on breathing even though she was making specific noise while cantering 🤷‍♀️
 
Widgeon said:
I don't have a problem - at all - with it being a business, or with them being green. Someone has to produce a steady supply of decent cobs to go into the leisure market. However as the owner of an Irish cob who's had hock arthritis since he was likely very young, I'm wary now of the "young and hard" method. I can't think of any plausible reasons for the arthritis except that he was hammered as a three year old before being shipped over. I'd think twice about anything Irish, next time round.

Not arguing with you BTW Quigley, just giving my opinion because I think it's an interesting conversation.
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I agree 100% with you. Three year olds will be expected to hunt all winter and maybe compete at training shows or riding club all summer. Riding club here is no craic at all. It’s all about leagues and points and winning. Anything that adds value to the horse.
 
spacefaer said:
If you go to the yard to see the horse in person, they won't allow you to ride the horse yourself as they say they aren't insured, which seems odd for dealers.
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That is because insurance here is very, very expensive if you can obtain it at all. I wouldn’t allow a prospective purchaser to ride one of my horses either.
 
I've recently had an excellent buying experience with a nervous client. If anyone is looking for a genuine in the rough Irish cob, well started and not hammered, large amount of choice and fantastic trial opportunities, I can probably point you in the right direction. You need an eye for an unpolished gem, and deep pockets, but you'll get the genuine article from an honest seller.
 
Quigleyandme said:
In terms of horses being produced for the leisure/amateur UK market here in Ireland there is a pervading culture of break them young, ride them hard, sell them quick. The Irish youth are used to riding very green horses because they are sold from under them as soon as viable. The education ground is the hunting field not the arena. No time is wasted on manners or ground work or any of that malarkey. The Irish have a genuine passion for the horse but it is very much a business. There will always be another crop of foals next year.
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Well any producers that I know would think that thinking is very backwards now!! you say it like thats the case for every horse produced for sale in Ireland, when in fact you are describing only a certain section of the market.
 
m1stify said:
Well any producers that I know would think that thinking is very backwards now!! you say it like thats the case for every horse produced for sale in Ireland, when in fact you are describing only a certain section of the market.
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They did say, "there is a culture" - I don't think anyone was suggesting that ALL producers do this. Just that it is still a prevalent way of thinking in the Irish horse world.
 
m1stify said:
Well any producers that I know would think that thinking is very backwards now!! you say it like thats the case for every horse produced for sale in Ireland, when in fact you are describing only a certain section of the market.
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No, I said horses intended for the leisure/amateur UK market. That is a section of the market.
 
When they post videos you can see how green they are they are clever and know how to get a youngster to show a snap shot of want it could become .
People need to appreciate thats what dealers seek to show you a snap shot of what the horse can be a bit down the road .
You need to be realistic if you see a five year old popping round seven XC fences then assume it’s the third time in twenty minutes he’s done that and he may have a strategic friend in front a fence away .
 
Goldenstar said:
When they post videos you can see how green they are they are clever and know how to get a youngster to show a snap shot of want it could become .
People need to appreciate thats what dealers seek to show you a snap shot of what the horse can be a bit down the road .
You need to be realistic if you see a five year old popping round seven XC fences then assume it’s the third time in twenty minutes he’s done that and he may have a strategic friend in front a fence away .
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This, and a damn great dose of caveat emptor in respect of any dealer who is churning out horses on a click here and buy it now basis.
 
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