Is it worth a look?

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Mary Poppins

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I have been looking for a horse for a while now, and today I found one I like the look of - 16.2 12 year old Irish X. The advert says he's been out of work for 3 months and sold from the field. He is up for £1400 - low price due to house move.

However, he is in Derbyshire which is 120 miles away from me. That doesn't bother me and is ok with OH too as he would be driving, but I have been advised not to go and see it as it is being "sold from the field" and 120 miles is too far to go and see something like that.

I am in two minds whether to ring or not now, what do you HHO's think?

PS: Tried to post a link but wouldn't work. He is on another well known site beginning with "Horse" and the ad ref is: HM202A32H if you want to have a look.

Thanks.
 
You have nothing to loose by ringing so I def would - you never know if after chatting about him you might not think much of him, or it might make you more keen to see him!

I rather like him, he is my sort. Def call and then take it from there. Does he have any winnings BSJA/BD/BE that you could look up to confirm what he has been up to? Do they have more pics you could see or perhaps a video?
 
There's no harm in ringing about him to get some more information. Maybe once you've rung up you'll have a better idea about the horse and will be able to make a decision as to whether he'd be worth going to see or not.

I feel your pain with horse hunting, my sister is currently looking and I'm helping her, and its so damn difficult to find horses that fit her criteria. I'd ring up about him, then have a think and decide as it could go either way. Good luck :)
 
It all seems to be honest enough. Googling the phone number doesn't bring up 15 other horses for sale or anything and he looks a nice chap. as others have said, no harm in ringing and getting more info is there? :)
 
Aww hes sweet! x

I'd ask for pictures and videos before you make the journey, also i would get him vetted especially as you'd be buying him from the field?

Is there anywhere for you to lunge him? ride him etc? x I personally wouldnt want to buy straight out the field without at least seeing him move x take someone experienced with you for a second opinion x

Ask them what he's like having time off? I know mine would probably try killing a rider after having a week off let alone 3 months, but then some are good as gold to bring in and ride x

What have you got to lose except time and petrol money?! x
 
Very handsome.

And if you can get him for cheaper - may be worth it.

Funny stance at the back would be my only concern - and you'd have to see him at least lunged, or chased around the field to see how he moved......
 
He looks nice but a couple of things worry me.
Why is he being sold from the field? Lack of time and loss of daylight for 3 months doesn't sound valid to me. Unless the person has no transport and works 7 days a week.
Suit hacking/family home..... would make me suspect has the horse had some injury in the past, or lameness issues. Perhaps it is me being a bit skeptical but there you go.
He is 12 so still relatively young however he is a big horse at 16.3 and although a chunky monkey I would worry about arthritis in the none too distant future depending on how much jumping he has done.
My reason for being skeptical is because I have an almost 21 year old heavy horse cross who is 17.2 hands. In the past he has been hacked, jumped and hunted.
He now has ( and for the past 18 months/2 years) very clinical signs of spavin in both hocks. He also has a sidebone on a front leg which was discovered just over 12 months ago.
I understand that heavy horses are prone to spavin (from articles I have read) and I also believe that his hunting and jumping days have also contributed to his arthritis.
I have had him almost 6 years now and tbh when I look back at signs of stiffness in a morning during winter and other things such as a bit of reluctance to turn tight circles there were a few signs of impending issues.
Now this horse in the advert could well be ok, he could be sound for a few years yet. However being a big lad and having jumped too it may be worth thinking of management of future arthtitis because he will have it at some point.
Yes there are veterinary treatments and supplements that can be given to help the onset and management of arthritis but this needs to be worked into the financial upkeep of the horse.
With the agreement of my vet I chose the supplement and bute route with my boy until his hocks fuse as I didn't think it was financially viable to start injecting hocks on a horse of his age, size that would be a happy hacker at best now.
Not trying to put a downer on anything as he does look a nice lad. He may be worth having a look at him though and see if you can get around £200 or so off the price ( I would lol).
If you did take him on I would consider getting him insured for vet bills asap, (unless you have provisions in place) because of his age and before he starts to show any signs of old age in his joints. That way it may give you the financial back up should you need it if you want to explore different routes of treatment.
Apologies if you have considered this already, but as I don't know any of your background or that of the horse ( except what is stated in the advert) then I am just commenting with your best interests at heart. Good luck x
 
Crikey with a list like that to follow OP may never be confident buying anything.

Why the suspicion about sold from field.

I have one for sale sold from field as I have no interest in riding and no school

He is being collected tonight by his purchaser so am glad not everyone is suspicious. In fact they have a super horse for a lot less than he'd be worth if I paid someone to get him going again.
 
I would ask for some video of him trotting up, towards, away from you, at least and then make sure you get him properly vetted - looks a nice sort to me.
 
To be fair I hardly get on mine in bad weather - haven't ridden for three weeks now as my days off have been icy/snowy and we live on a hill, or foggy.. Then my mum was ill, MIL too, so those were other days I didn't ride. It soon mounts up. We don't have an arena, and I end up semi-roughing off in winter..

I also think he looks really nice. Have a good chat with the owners and get more of a feel for them and their reasons, then make your decision..
 
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BBH said:
Crikey with a list like that to follow OP may never be confident buying anything.

Why the suspicion about sold from field.

I have one for sale sold from field as I have no interest in riding and no school

He is being collected tonight by his purchaser so am glad not everyone is suspicious. In fact they have a super horse for a lot less than he'd be worth if I paid someone to get him going again.
Click to expand...

Actually FWIW I have bought two horses on my own and used own judgement to purchase. The horse I was referring to is on permanent loan so I did not buy.
With regard to the OP I was merely stating what was written in the advert. Some people can be very deceptive and I know of at least 3 people who are dealers but sell as private in Horsemart. I am not saying this seller is being dishonest but that sometimes it helps to read between the lines and taking on a horse which is 12 and upwards and has been jumping and is a large horse does carry risks.
There is nothing wrong with being sold from the field at all. But you pay your money and you take your chance on a horse that has been out of work.
Like I said, horse may have been out of work for a genuine reason, then again he may not have been and could have had a slight problem/injury which meant time off.
That is up to whoever buys the horse to decide if they go to view and have the horse vetted as that would show any problems.
Other than that he seems a nice horse for the money and I can't dispute that, however when you buy from someone privately you pay your money and you take the risk, simples ;)
 
Thanks for all your replies guys.

I really want to go and have a look now! Tbh I am only looking for a happy hacker type so he does sound ideal.

x
 
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