Irish Sport Horse Eventer type with experience - what could I expect to pay?

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CharlesMax

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Hello all,

I know these posts are not very popular but I have just sold my horse at a large discount so want an idea of what I will be looking at for a new one before I start the big shop:

I am looking for an Irish Sport Horse Eventer type that has had some experience and ideally would have hunted so I can go our ocassionally. I have just started eventing and my last horse was not as keen as I was!

I would like a horse that I could hopefully achieve BE90/100 on as a goal. I have a limited budget so wanted an idea of what I could be paying for such a type. Should I mention that I would require a large horse - at least 17hh because of my height/build - would that make a difference in price/have more limitations?

I am NOT asking for dealers/sellers info - just advice on price I could expect to pay : )

I have also been thinking of going over to Ireland with someone experienced as I might get a better deal there?

Selling a horse was the easy part. I find the idea of buying again daunting, even if it is, as people are saying, a buyers market!

Thanks a million in advance for any info!
 
I paid £7.5K for a 17hh 10yr old ISH (clover hill lines) in 2007. He had BE'd up to Novice though was struggling at that level and I purely SJ'd him (up to Fox). You may be a little bit limited if you def have to have one at 17hh but they are out there you may just have to widen the search! Good luck - I hated horse shopping esp on a budget!!
 
_EVS_ said:
I paid £7.5K for a 17hh 10yr old ISH (clover hill lines) in 2007. He had BE'd up to Novice though was struggling at that level and I purely SJ'd him (up to Fox). You may be a little bit limited if you def have to have one at 17hh but they are out there you may just have to widen the search! Good luck - I hated horse shopping esp on a budget!!
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Sounds like the type of horse/experience I would be after. My last horse (feels werd saying that as he is still on my yard!) was approaching 18hh and I felt comfortable on him but I suppose a chunky 16.3hh horse would do as long as it has good bone.

I have a budget of £5K in mind so it would be good to see poeples opninions on price to see if I shoudl stretch the budget a bit more!
 
I think it would depend on what age you want, how smart the horse is and how competitve you expect to be.

for 5K I'm sure you'll find something to jump around 90/100 on but may have to compromise somewhere
 
ihatework said:
I think it would depend on what age you want, how smart the horse is and how competitve you expect to be.

for 5K I'm sure you'll find something to jump around 90/100 on but may have to compromise somewhere
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Yes, I am aware that I may need to compromise somewhere. A 6-8 YO would be amazing but an experienced horse that age might cost a lot more I suppose?

I have heard that there are dealers in Ireland selling cracking eventer types for around 5K but I will believe it more when I see it accompanied by someone who knows there stuff!
 
I don't think you'd easily find a 6-8yo that has a reasonable record at 90/100 in your budget.

I think you'd find a 10+ that has a record at 90/100/N, will get around but with a compromise on the Dr/SJ scores

Or you might find a 5/6 yo with a nice attitude, that has done 90 with green mistakes on record, and likely isn't going to go up the grades but could develop into a nice 100 horse.
 
ihatework said:
I don't think you'd easily find a 6-8yo that has a reasonable record at 90/100 in your budget.

I think you'd find a 10+ that has a record at 90/100/N, will get around but with a compromise on the Dr/SJ scores

Or you might find a 5/6 yo with a nice attitude, that has done 90 with green mistakes on record, and likely isn't going to go up the grades but could develop into a nice 100 horse.
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Good advice/points there - thank you! I would LOVE to find something younger, as you say, who has done 90 with the potential to do more - would love a challenge like that but also need to be realistic and FLEXIBLE with my budget!
 
A friend has just sold that type for £6k. A little greener than you would want but a very easy temperament and would have been ready to go 90cm by April at the latest and enough jump to easily go Novice. The horse was a 6yo. Anything above novice would have been a struggle as he was a big horse.
 
Friend bought very smart 16.2 that has 1* but will go no further due to being too careful and is fantastic schoolmaster, very forgiving and will always jump clear sj, go off any stride etc. has won lots of PN but does have points so is waiting to be able to downgrade.
Friend has aim of PN.

Horse was sold 8k which is quite cheap in Ireland for that type of horse!
 
only_me said:
Friend bought very smart 16.2 that has 1* but will go no further due to being too careful and is fantastic schoolmaster, very forgiving and will always jump clear sj, go off any stride etc. has won lots of PN but does have points so is waiting to be able to downgrade.
Friend has aim of PN.

Horse was sold 8k which is quite cheap in Ireland for that type of horse!
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WOW, so there is hope for me LOL! I am seriously going to investigate shopping in Ireland, cutting out the middle man/dealers commission. Risky I know!
 
If you want to go to Ireland there are a few things to factor in ...
Cost of viewing (ie getting you over there and accomodation etc)
Cost of transport back
'knowing the right people' .... the market is flooded, sifting the wheat from the chaff is the tricky part
 
ihatework said:
If you want to go to Ireland there are a few things to factor in ...
Cost of viewing (ie getting you over there and accomodation etc)
Cost of transport back
'knowing the right people' .... the market is flooded, sifting the wheat from the chaff is the tricky part
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'Knowing the right people' is the tricky part!
 
I viewed alot of ISH's before ending up with an exracer:rolleyes: an ISH was what i was after i like the type and build etc etc anyhoooo i had a budget of up to 5k for one too and i either went to see just broke 4 year olds which were lovely but not what i was after or older limited types eg needed bringing down a few levels etc. So i went grudgingly to see the ex racer who was a chunky warmbloody type as opposed to a gangly thing 11 years old had a good record at 90 and 100 was sj up to 1.10 competivly and 1.15-1.20 at home she was up for £2000 coz no one batted an eye at her due to being TB. got on her and fell in love. lol randomly enough i dont event or intend to now although we had a few runs last year :o. From experience though i think the type you are looking for is averaging between 5-10 k as they are very popular. I hope you find one :)
 
viewed the horse suggested wish i had a nice budget as the first one is very my cup of tea... 10 months and im on the hunt ahgain :) i also like the 2nd one who is a similar build/type to the ex racer i bought. unless you are dead set on an ISH maybe have a look for a good quality TB you will pick one up alot cheaper than an ISH as are not a popular but you can get some nice chunky hunter types. Just an idea :)
 
exracer superstar said:
I viewed alot of ISH's before ending up with an exracer:rolleyes: an ISH was what i was after i like the type and build etc etc anyhoooo i had a budget of up to 5k for one too and i either went to see just broke 4 year olds which were lovely but not what i was after or older limited types eg needed bringing down a few levels etc. So i went grudgingly to see the ex racer who was a chunky warmbloody type as opposed to a gangly thing 11 years old had a good record at 90 and 100 was sj up to 1.10 competivly and 1.15-1.20 at home she was up for £2000 coz no one batted an eye at her due to being TB. got on her and fell in love. lol randomly enough i dont event or intend to now although we had a few runs last year :o. From experience though i think the type you are looking for is averaging between 5-10 k as they are very popular. I hope you find one :)
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Brilliant - sounds like you found an ideal horse at a FAB price!!
 
exracer superstar said:
viewed the horse suggested wish i had a nice budget as the first one is very my cup of tea... 10 months and im on the hunt ahgain :) i also like the 2nd one who is a similar build/type to the ex racer i bought. unless you are dead set on an ISH maybe have a look for a good quality TB you will pick one up alot cheaper than an ISH as are not a popular but you can get some nice chunky hunter types. Just an idea :)
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certainly somthing to consider but I have just had an Irish Draught and loved his temperament, hence wanting the ISH - a racier version! : )

I shared a TB a few years ago and loved him - he was very chunky and would have made a fabulous hunter with plenty bone! I don't have the time/knowledge to train an ex-racer so it would have to be one that has already been produced to Event.
 
I love a big horse so I'm always nosey when I see anything 17hh or above - saw this on equine adverts the other day

http://www.equineadverts.co.uk/-1/14/97/65919_17_hh_Rising_4_SERIOUS_COMPETITION_PROSPECT.html

She is young, younger than you want perhaps but with your budget you probably wont find a proven competition horse, so to get more for your money you might need to buy younger? You could always use the money you save in purchase price to fund sending the horse away for a professional to school the horse for a while?

Here's a 16.2 with hunting experience and a bit older within your budget - http://www.equineadverts.co.uk/-1/14/97/64002_Hunter_pc_rc_Allrounder.html

And another 17hh 4 year old, well within your budget - http://www.equineadverts.co.uk/-1/14/97/60877_Novice_Hunter_Allrounder.html

This advert lacks information, but he is 10 years old, 17hh, and a bit of a bargain at £2500. http://www.equineadverts.co.uk/-1/14/97/60091_Huge_Potential_17hh_Hunter.html

I could shop for other people's horses all day, I cant afford one myself but its fun looking!
 
I don't have much help RE budget etc Ive always played safe (as far possible as that is with horses!) and paid a bit more, but just wanted to mention even if you are adament it needs to be over 17hh dont discount a 16.3hh advert without ringing up, I'm a tall rider (6ft) so have tried several large horses and there was a reasonable amount advertised at 16.3hh that were actually a good 17.1hh ;). Also I wouldn't go just on height either as I've ridden some slight 17hhs+ that don't take the leg up well, and feel perfect size on my new (as of yday eek! :D) ISH (part holsteiner) 16.3 1/2 inch mare as whilst not really stocky she is a full up 16.3hh 1/2 with flat wither and straight topline and no razor blade either! Good luck in your search :)
 
I wouldn't assume you could get a bargain in Ireland. Its a bit of a fallacy as the Irish know the value of their horses as well as we do! I would love to go over to mooch one day but would do it with someone who was in the know.

For a green well put together ISH I would go to David at Irish Horse Imports in Pangbourne. I am not affiliated to him in anyway but my yard have bought a lot of horses from him and he is very straight. It is basic but his horses are all just backed, over from Ireland with a good choice. I know he is picky about what he keeps as he has sent a couple over to my YO to take time and produce on that would just be too long to keep in his yard. Maybe you could look at a good green baby and put the rest of the budget for him to go to a good yard and then be started off in bootcamp!
 
If it seems to good to be true it probably is.

I was amazed to get my ISH eventer for £4000 having seen him advertised previously for £7000. Now I know why - after a few months of work his issues all came to the surface!

But I agree its worth trying horses advertised as smaller - he was listed as 16.2 but is 17.1.hh
 
Had two friends buy last year from Ireland from the same folks. Lovely horses and around your budget. Will pm you the name of the folks in Ireland. They have a facebook page and several of their horses have vids on youtube so you can get a feel for what sort they have.

Best of luck
 
Thanks to all of you for such good, constructive advice and the adverts!! Very helpful!

Such a good point re horses advertised as 16.2/3hh actually being 17hh plus!! I am 1.86m tall and a bloke so I really do need a good weight carrier but will certainly start looking at those ads as there will be a lot more choices!

Please PM me if you have dealt with any good Irish dealers here or in Ireland so I can get cracking!

Thanks again for all your amazing advice and keep it coming!

Happy Friday!
 
Ye, we've just bought a new one who is basically exactly as described except hopefully will not hang around at 90/100. We've seen 22 horses in the buying process...! I think you need to understand what you're willing to compromise on because the horse you described (in Gloucestershire anyway) would be near double the £5k.

I would think age would be the safest place to compromise?
 
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