Is there a market for big unbroken horses ATM?

Cliqmo

Cliqmo

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As title, I am not sure what to do with my big boy (17.1hh 5yr old) and a thread earlier today has got me wondering whether I should find him another home, either for loan or sale :/

*be warned slightly meloncholy post*

I work full time (730am-1800pm Mon-Fri) and so I only get to actually do anything with him at the weekends, which is limited by other commitments including spending 'quality time' with OH, visiting family, attending puppy training etc. and it has really struck me today that I am (A) not getting the most out of him and (B) not offering him the best opportunities either.

I realise that I will have more daylight/time when the clocks change tonight, but long term I won't be any better off as I still don't have any transport/spare funds to take him anywhere, and tbh I never intended to have a horse just to hack around home :/

Following a post earlier today there is a small possibility that he could go on loan to a fabulous competition home to compete in HW show hunter classes, but if this doesn't work out are there other people who would be interested in a big, kind but basically unbacked 5yr old?

Please note I am not 'advertising' per se- I really would like to know whether there are people out there looking for this type of horse, or whether I should stop worrying about wasting him and continue pottering about as we are...
 
Honestly, his size would put a lot of people off unbroken I think. He'd have to be county show quality or be superbly bred to event or to sj and even then wouldn't command a huge price unbroken, I think. Be realistic about price and you should find a good home. After son's exams we may look for something for him to break and work over the summer but I would struggle to sell a horse that size again, and others may also feel that way.

Good luck,
 
He would be the sort of thing I would take on to break in over the summer with view to hunting next season....guaranteed there will be others like me who would like to do similar with him.

ETS; why no piccy of Rubes in your sig?! I'm gonna tell her! ;) :D
 
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The size isn't a problem - unbacked at 5 would put a LOT of people off as they'd wonder why (in particular, have you tried and failed!)

Backed and hacking quietly you'd have a LOT of people interested if he has a leg at each corner and is a true HW - even more if conformation good enough for showing!
 
Hi guys, thanks for the replies!

His history is all documented on my HHO posts but in short I started working him (lunging, long lining etc) when I bought him in September 2008- I didn't start getting on him until Jan/Feb 2009 because he had been so weak, and because the vet thought his teeth showed him to be 2/3 at the time although the passport said 3/4. He was a total sweetheart throughout but came in the from the field lame in March 2009 (we now think he put his foot down a hole as there was no injury, heat, swelling or any other obvious signs of trauma) so after lots of x rays, 6wks box rest and a steroid injection into his foot, none of which helped, we turned him away and he is just coming back in to work now (he has been sound for months but the weather and the full time job have been against me!)

Hmm that wasn't such a short version was it? :p

I have sat on him a couple of times and plodded about the arena and he has been a total hero- which is probably just as well because owing to his girth being MUCH too small it has thus far been bareback :D
 
MuckyMeech said:
Hi guys, thanks for the replies!

His history is all documented on my HHO posts but in short I started working him (lunging, long lining etc) when I bought him in September 2008- I didn't start getting on him until Jan/Feb 2009 because he had been so weak, and because the vet thought his teeth showed him to be 2/3 at the time although the passport said 3/4. He was a total sweetheart throughout but came in the from the field lame in March 2009 (we now think he put his foot down a hole as there was no injury, heat, swelling or any other obvious signs of trauma) so after lots of x rays, 6wks box rest and a steroid injection into his foot, none of which helped, we turned him away and he is just coming back in to work now (he has been sound for months but the weather and the full time job have been against me!)

Hmm that wasn't such a short version was it? :p

I have sat on him a couple of times and plodded about the arena and he has been a total hero- which is probably just as well because owing to his girth being MUCH too small it has thus far been bareback :D
Click to expand...

How do you edit posts on this stupid new forum?? :mad:

I wanted to add that I will keep my fingers crossed that this knowledgable loan home might be interested, and if not I will keep plodding on with his backing and educating and see where it takes us :D

Thank you for your help x
 
To be honest, if it's at all possible, I'd try to get him backed but someone who knows what they're up to and can do the job well and, as you say he's so straightforward, relatively quickly. (I know everyone has to start somewhere but if the plan would be to sell the horse after then you can't afford for it to go wrong.) Perhaps you could find someone to do a deal with you and work on commission against the horse being sold.

I know you didn't intend for things work out as they have, but the fact is he is a big, unbroken fellow (with, I hate to say, an unexplained lameness in his past) past the age where many get started, and that will put a large number of people off. I know you can explain his late start reasonably but you'd be amazed how many people market as "unstarted" horses that have actually gone wrong. I've had horses to "start" that actually had scars from their previous experience and singularly identifying reactions to the process, yet the people swore up and down they horse hadn't been touched. :mad: It's really not personal to you or your horse, it's just a lesson many people learn the hard way. :(

Of course, for the right price, you might be able to sell him to someone wonderful who would do the best by him, but if you can organise his backing yourself then you have the best chance of ensuring he gets a good start. That said, if you don't want to do that way, all you can do is advertise him at a reasonable price and see what happens. As above, not everyone good will be put off. Quite frankly, if I were in the market, I'd only want one I could start myself because I wouldn't want to pay for something I could do well myself. You never know until you try. :)
 
I would have snapped your hand off to have a chance to loan him with a view to buy his age/size in no way would put me off and hes exactly what I am looking for good big uns are so hard to find
 
i would definitely get him backed if you want to sell- as long as he can walk and trot around without a rodeo display most people will be happy.

i'm not sure if there was ever a time big, unbroken horses had a strong market tbh.
 
i do think there would be a market for him ,due to some poeple wanting a blank canvas , with backed horses you really dont know what theyve done and what they havnt . i prefer to have mine not backed so i aleast know what theyve done
what would you sell him for ?? i know someone looking for a 15hh + unbroken or lightly backed to bring on ,but must be a reasonable price pm if you need .
 
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