Nicely bred but neglected

[zoon]

I’m looking for a horse and have happened across someone in a bad situation who can no longer care for their horse. The horse is well bred, but feral and is also very underweight, unvaccinated, likely full of worms, long feet and also has sweet itch. But there is something about this horse and I can’t stop thinking about it. Owner hasn’t stated a price, so what would you offer given the above. Horse is unbacked and now 7, but has just been stood in the field it’s whole life

 

[I'm Dun]

As little as I possibly could. Worm damage can be a huge issue, and given a friends experience with a similar horse, he was incredibly tricky with even the pros refusing to back him. This one might be fine, but you need to factor in losing your money completely.

 

[Sail_away]

Depends on how much you want it - realistically it sounds like a borderline rescue case so nothing at all. Probably up to 500 if it was breeding I really liked. I think also it’s not just the purchase price you need to be prepared to lose - you could spend a lot more than that on vet/farrier/physio and not have a ridden horse by the end of it.
Out of interest what is the breeding?

 

[Roxylola]

Mare, stallion or gelding? Well bred is worth nothing in a gelding that turns out to be unrideable and needs massive management to deal with 1 sweetitch, 2 digestive issues due to worm damage, 3 corrective/remedial farriery due to neglected feet.
My horse many years ago developed hock issues and I'm convinced in part it was as a result of him being bumped off the farrier list time and again by the yard owner - I was young and compliant at the time

 

[Equi]

£1 to have legal ownership.

 

[zoon]

Mare, stallion or gelding? Well bred is worth nothing in a gelding that turns out to be unrideable and needs massive management to deal with 1 sweetitch, 2 digestive issues due to worm damage, 3 corrective/remedial farriery due to neglected feet.
My horse many years ago developed hock issues and I'm convinced in part it was as a result of him being bumped off the farrier list time and again by the yard owner - I was young and compliant at the time

A mare, but I don’t think that makes a difference as I believe the mare should have a history of good performance and soundness before breeding just like we expect from a stallion.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

I’m going against the rest here. Agree you could have issues but you could also have an absolute gem. I’d offer as little as possible and take a chance. (That’s just me)

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

£1 to have legal ownership.

This and they should be thankful you rescued it.

 

[Roxylola]

A mare, but I don’t think that makes a difference as I believe the mare should have a history of good performance and soundness before breeding just like we expect from a stallion.

I agree with this, but in that case the breeding is even less relevant then.
Take that out of the equation

 

[rabatsa]

Isn't sweet itch hereditary? So take breeding completely out of the equation.

 

[I'm Dun]

This and they should be thankful you rescued it.

A dodgy dealer will come along and bung them a few quid with no questions asked so it won't work out like that I don't think

 

[Melody Grey]

Sounds like you’d be doing them a favour frankly. Do make sure you have legal ownership though- I’ve heard of people taking on poor horses in similar circumstances only for the ‘owner’ to reappear years later claiming the horse was on loan! I may offer cash as a gesture of goodwill, but not much citing I need the money to fix the problems!

 

[Flyermc]

I’m looking for a horse and have happened across someone in a bad situation who can no longer care for their horse. The horse is well bred, but feral and is also very underweight, unvaccinated, likely full of worms, long feet and also has sweet itch. But there is something about this horse and I can’t stop thinking about it. Owner hasn’t stated a price, so what would you offer given the above. Horse is unbacked and now 7, but has just been stood in the field it’s whole life

What breed, height and colour is the horse, as all these things will alter its value.

Its it happens to be an good height, pure ID in a desirable colour or PRE its likely to still have a good value.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Whatever you offer, please go into this with your eyes wide open, and ignore any emotion that may be influencing you. Make certain that you have the necessary experience to take the horse on, and above all stay safe! Really hope it works out and there is a happy ending

 

[SpotsandBays]

Whatever you offer, please go into this with your eyes wide open, and ignore any emotion that may be influencing you. Make certain that you have the necessary experience to take the horse on, and above all stay safe! Really hope it works out and there is a happy ending

This! We have a feral horse next door that I keep an eye on. Whilst he’s not aggressive, he IS dangerous as he has absolutely no regard for humans at all. Not one cell in my body trusts him (even when he comes over all sweet for an head scratch). I never take my eye off of him when I’m in the field with him.

 

[Prancerpoos]

The potential worm damage would put me off. I lost 2 horses to red worm damage from before I had them and it was awful.

 

[setterlover]

Sweet itch can be an absolute nightmare.
Swore I would never buy a horse with it after friends have had real problems with it
It of course depends on how bad and whether it can be controlled.
I would also worry about worm damage and also liver damage if grazing on pasture with any ragwort.
You could end up with a money pit.

 

[irishdraft]

If you have to keep the horse at a livery yard I wouldn't buy this horse, if you have your own place then possibly for a £1.00 sweetitch can be a nightmare depending how bad it is without the right set up, not to mention the other potential problems but if your happy to be in it for the long haul you could be rewarded.

 

[SantaVera]

£500

 

[Boulty]

No more than you’d be happy to lose if things don’t work out / the horse is too broken to recover. You could end up with a gem of a horse or you could end up with a load of heartache.

 

[canteron]

Just to say sweet itch can be exacerbated by where the horse is kept - my neighbour kept horses on marshy land and it was always a problem, not so on my higher dryer land.

As to value, this I guess would be a hobby project, so as little as you can but as much as you have to, but as others say my experience says don’t do unless you have the mental and financial resources for any eventualities, the result could be life enhancing or devastating. (But I would do it!).

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Ask the owner, and then decide if you're willing to pay that or not.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Try not to let emotions influence you here, hard, I know, I’m dreadful for impulsive purchases.

The worm issues would worry me, a friend bought a fab cremello gelding, flashy horse, lovely ride, he then died due to worm damage from before she had him (dodgy ym bought him from dodgy well known site in Kent). The vet did a pm because they had no idea why he’d suddenly died, said his insides were like ‘rubber’ from the worm damage. No idea what was meant, but the owner was devastated.

I think I’d walk if the horse hasn’t been handled. I know you said you wanted untouched older horse, but I’d rather get a well-handled youngster and bring it on very slowly. Mine was not well-handled when I bought him, couldn’t pick up his hands, he kicked the groom, could have been very bad. I had to teach him about being groomed, taking treats, having feet/legs handled, having the hose used etc. Didn’t mind that, but he at least knew about being led and was naturally well-mannered in the stable/transport.

 

[Jenko109]

I'm baffled why anyone would considering paying for this horse.

 

[Clodagh]

If you want it, it’s worth whatever it’s worth to you (and what you can afford to lose).
If you are brave and have a bit of spare money go for it.

 

[TwyfordM]

My friend did this with a youngster in terrible condition. Hes turned into a superstar, but he is a little more prone to injury/bad feet etc. That could just be a him thing, but none of her other 3 of the same breed who have never been in that situation have similar issues, so suspect it's likely due to him being neglected.

It's worth a punt, if you have realistic expectations and have the funds to put them right (cost my friend a fortune in bloods, feed, trimming, worming etc)

 

[Beausmate]

We bought an elderly cob mare for way too much (over £1k) from a dealer. She had PPID, laminitis and sweet itch, all obvious in the sale photos. She also had mites and an eye infection. She was rude, nappy and stressy too. I reckon she cost around another £1.5 - £2k to put right, plus the time to sort out her handling and riding issues.

We've had her six years, she's now late twenties and is wonderful, if a wee bit cantankerous! She no longer has sweet itch or mites, and her PPID and laminitis are under control, although her feet are permanently wonky.

Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but either way it is going to be expensive and possibly heartbreaking. I wouldn't pay more than £100 for the horse you are describing, it sounds like a whole heap of problems and you have to factor in the costs involved in fixing it, and how you would feel if it all went wrong.

 

[Lauraback]

My rescue Shetland had bad sweetitch when I got him 17 years ago and was terrified of humans - no one could get near him at the rescue but with time and patience he has done very well in his confidence and his sweetitch is managed well with regular bathing clipping and a fly rug on 24 x7 he has had no signs of sweetitch for years. If you can put in the time patience and money I’d make an offer and be prepared to lose your money I’d offer £500

 

[maisie06]

I’m looking for a horse and have happened across someone in a bad situation who can no longer care for their horse. The horse is well bred, but feral and is also very underweight, unvaccinated, likely full of worms, long feet and also has sweet itch. But there is something about this horse and I can’t stop thinking about it. Owner hasn’t stated a price, so what would you offer given the above. Horse is unbacked and now 7, but has just been stood in the field it’s whole life

I wouldn't pay them a penny, I might take him in as a rescue/rehome and they should think themselves lucky they haven;t been reported! sounds like a walking vet bill but worth a punt as a rehome maybe change hands of a fiver to make it legal

 

[zoon]

I have asked the owner what they are expecting money wise and explained what I am happy to offer (a good home experienced in unhandled and unstarted horses and a token amount of money)

I’m not normally a sucker like this, but something about her has stuck with me