musings on buying a new horse to event

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Kelpie

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I'm (reluctantly) currently musing on getting another horse...... reluctant because the reason is that my mare has been diagnosed with PSD and while she's not going anywhere/ if she can only be a field ornament that's what she'll be..... well, basically I suppose I'm thinking of getting a horse to do the eventing I'd hoped I'd have been able to do with her :(

Thing is, I really can't decide what to buy. My prior plan was to buy a youngster that I'd bring on (which would have been great but for the PSD....) but now as I really want a horse I can crack on with a bit more I'm thinking to get something that has already done a bit - but not too much.

So my question really is to get some thoughts on at what age you'd expect a horse to have done different things, if you're looking to buy?

I'm thinking maybe to get a 6yo who might have been lightly evented as a 5yo and done more as a 6yo but there seems to be a bit of a trend of getting them to do quite a lot quite young and I'm not convinced that is a good thing? But am I right to worry?/ how much is too much at that age?/ what sort of record would you look for?

Also, if you were looking to buy, would you look to buy from a pro or from a private amateur? Ideally I want a horse that can take me as far as I have the balls to go (not sure how far that is really, but all the way if I can!!). I can't help but think that if I buy from a pro maybe basically, well, if they thought the horse could go far why would they want to sell it? And equally buying from an amateur, I can't help but mistrust any reasons for sale?

I'll have a chat with my trainer before making any decisions, don't worry, but I'm just sort of in muse mode at the moment so any thoughts very much appreciated!

Thanks!
 
Sorry about your mare. What about Fin? I recommend ex-showjumpers! One that is 7 to 9 and jumping 1.20/1.25. That way, well, you know it can jump, but it won't have the wear and tear from the xc. You can go up the grades faster than you cld with a youngster, because it already has a good basic grounding in jumping courses. BUT I think you need one that is not too careful - if it is, it may not like xc. I wld buy from a pro, because then it's got a better chance of having been correctly ridden and produced. And if they're selling it because it's hit its limit in sjing, that's absolutely fine.
 
I think it all depends on your aims and your experience.

I would not go to Ireland unless you are a very competant rider and know what you are doing and have produced other horses.

If you are looking for a horse for mainly BE100 then there are loads out there that will do the job. Frankly whatever horse you buy will have a risk attached so buy the best conformation and best brain for the job and do not spend more than you can afford to lose!
 
If you want to progress relatively quickly on something with potential, an ex-SJ would be an option.
Don't be thinking that pro's only sell the horses that aren't that good- its their job to sell, depends on the current owners wishes and how many others they have at the same level etc. At 6 they should have done a few prenovices and be thinking towards novice
Do bear in mind that if you get a horse from a pro they will be accustomed to a certain level of riding and training and it needs maintenance or they will slip backwards!
 
Thanks everyone

HTT – Fin is great, and will stay with me, but basically although he is safe as houses round a 100, to ask him to make the step up to Novice is probably asking too much of him…… we’ve done a few 100 plus’s and he jumps his little heart out SJ for me but you can feel it’s at the top of his scope and he’s too good a lad to ask him to jump XC right at the top of his scope….. if he got in trouble I’m not sure he could jump us out of it at that level.

So, really I want something that could at least go intermediate….. possibly even further if I have the balls for it, which I’d like to think I do but of course I guess you never really know until you try! (in fact, HTT, you are one of the people I love for being an amateur that is doing that on her horse!).

I’m pretty confident about bringing a horse on but not sure I’d have the experience to try and go to the sales in Ireland and buy with my head rather than my heart (I’d find one I like and want to take home and then probably find it’s not got the scope I want or something…… I seem to be quite good at that!). The reason I’m thinking to get something that’s already done a bit is really that I’d like to take it out eventing next year, not have to wait (I feel like I have been so patient with my youngster, only for her to be broken that this time I just want to get on and ride really). Something that I could hunt a bit this winter would be a bonus. An SJ’er that has already done a bit might be a good option, though, thanks for the suggestion.

Maintaining the work levels from a pro doesn't worry me, I'm a bit OCD about working and training anyway ;)

Heresshopping, thanks for the link, though I have a bit of a thing about not particularly wanting an ISH, I’d rather TB/ WB.

Digger66 – you should meet my other half, you’d so get on…… (he says something similar to you….!)
 
Kelpie I see you are in Kent. Perhaps give Matt Selby a ring, he has quite a few horses in and usually has something for sale. I bought my last horse from him and he is a super young horse. He is in Headcorn. Matt is very straight and will not lie to you unlike a previous dealer I had so much trouble with.
 
onemoretime said:
Kelpie I see you are in Kent. Perhaps give Matt Selby a ring, he has quite a few horses in and usually has something for sale. I bought my last horse from him and he is a super young horse. He is in Headcorn. Matt is very straight and will not lie to you unlike a previous dealer I had so much trouble with.
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ooh, thank you, will get in touch with Matt.... just read the following on his website (about him talking about working with difficult horses) and he sounds like someone I'd like:

"Sometimes, the horse is simply not strong or mature enough either physically or mentally to do the job he is being asked. We will never resort to gadgets, quick fixes or force, or attempt to cover up a problem. There is a strong ethos in our team that the horse is a generous animal who will do his best to please, and that any of these unwanted behaviours can always be explained, and in most cases, overcome."
 
HotToTrot said:
I recommend ex-showjumpers! One that is 7 to 9 and jumping 1.20/1.25. That way, well, you know it can jump, but it won't have the wear and tear from the xc. You can go up the grades faster than you cld with a youngster, because it already has a good basic grounding in jumping courses. BUT I think you need one that is not too careful - if it is, it may not like xc. I wld buy from a pro, because then it's got a better chance of having been correctly ridden and produced. And if they're selling it because it's hit its limit in sjing, that's absolutely fine.
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I agree with this and I know Rosie would although she prefers working with youngsters. The bit I've put in bold is important though - if you can, take it for an XC school before you agree to buy. There are a lot of frogs to be kissed before you find a prince ;)
Good luck.
 
I also recommend looking into showjumpers :) I bought an 8yo 1.30 showjumper who was slightly too bold for showjumping (he was a 4 faulter around 1.30) I was 14, had only competed up to intro (75cm) eventing, and we made it to CCI 2* in 3 years.

It's fantastic to ride something that looks at a Pre-Novice size fence and scoffs, 'too easy!'
 
Kelpie said:
Cool :) ..... Tho as I am not really into the SJ scene, where is a good place to look for SJ horses?
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I just looked at Horsequest! I agree with Lyle and would add that it gives you a huge mental boost to know that the horse has already done the height that you are asking it to do. It's another weapon in my arsenal of demon-fighting tactics! Of course, there is far more to eventing than height alone, but I do use the thought to comfort myself when walking courses…..And that probably gives me a bit more confidence, which makes me ride better, etc.
 
Plus, as a rule, a sj produced to that sort of level, at a relatively young age (and therefore by an experienced rider) will more likely have been schooled over fences with quite a lot of attention to detail and care paid to the way it jumps. Grids, related distances, adjustability - these sorts of things will have been prioritised in a way that amateur level event riders can't always get done due to limitations of time, facilities etc.

From a price point of view a 'failed' sj will be relatively reasonable, although that would still be by sj standards. You will be competing with the lower amateur market, too, as a horse that will have a rail rather than stop over a bigger course is still quite marketable.

Which is no reason not to look - quite the opposite! I just think people should not think there is a big pool of nice, sound horses that will jump 1.30s with the occasional fence down out there for £3k. :)
 
I also think buying an ex showjumper is a good idea. But be careful - not all of them are as good for amateurs to ride. Some of them will stop if you don't ride them in a certain way, holding them together and getting the stride spot on. I got a good tip once, which was to buy one ridden by a girl, as opposed to a professional male rider. I've also had success with riding club level horses which haven't had their talent exploited.
 
I've currently got a"failed"sjer -although he's happy at 1.30-1.35, , he's not careful enough around a course beyond that (although he did win a puissance at 1.85 :O )

He's the most awesome hunter -will jump anything -and because of his previous schooling, he's great in trappy country or on a gate jumping day.

His flatwork is a bit show jumpery tho - walk/canter transitions are great but he doesn't really know about trot lol!
 
I too have an ex-showjumper that I bought this year with the aim of eventing and she is fab and I love her dearly BUT...just a word of caution. She was produced by a pro but she was produced specifically to come out once or twice a week and jump and that was all. Consequently all of her "schooling" and resulting muscle composition (for want of a better phrase ;)) was geared to that goal and that goal alone. Asking her to work "properly" on the flat has been much more of a re-training exercise than I had (perhaps stupidly) anticipated and has involved a LOT of physio to unlock tight muscles that have all been geared to one discipline. I am not saying all showjumpers are produced in that way before anyone launches at me ;) just that I was surprised that she had achieved all that she had and yet lacked the muscle strength to work properly through from behind on a 3 min BE90 dressage test. I don't regret the decision because I have learned soo much about taking an established horse back to basics and starting again but it is not a journey I necessarily expected....Good luck!
 
completely agree about the 'not too careful showjumpers' my boy excels showjumping - very careful, and hes great to xc school, but on a xc course he cant cope galloping into fences, dosent enjoy it one bit.
 
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