Opinions on this youngster please!

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Harri Green

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I viewed a youngster yesterday; 4yrs, 15.3hh connemara X tbxhanovarian, dun mare. Lightly backed as a 3 yr old late last autumn, turned away and needs bringing back in now, like immediately! £3750 asking price.
The mare is correctly trained, I lunged her and she was the most responsive horse I think I've ever lunged! She's not done a great deal of cantering on the lunge but managed to get the right leg, off puttingly though, her canter stride was short and choppy compared to her over tracking walking and very expressive trott. Perhaps just because she hasn't established it on the lunge yet?
Other things that put me off were a shin splint, but set at the front away from joints etc. also she's obese, making her look very pony with a huge belly! But she's out at grass not in work so I think that's easily fixed with work and diet. Also she appeared a bit squat and I can't decide if that's due to her weight, she's slightly low in the hocks and very wide gaited in her legs (although straight and correct).
Things I liked; well mannered, alert, forward going, very sweet natured, keen to learn and comes from a nice breeder who only bred a few.

The breeder will not accept less than £3500, and really I only wanted to pay £3k for a youngster. I want a horse to do dressage and low level eventing and the occasional hunting but train/hack 6 days a week.

Am I being too fussy? Is the price about right for a well bred youngster? I left thinking 'ah shoot, I liked that mare' might have to find more money, but now I need opinions! I know I can get plenty of youngsters under 3k but I'm really looking for quality and a connenara sports horse, which may always be a bit pony anyway of course.

Sorry for long question and thanks in advance for opinions!
 
amymay said:
Seems expensive to me. But if you liked her, go for it.
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This! I wouldnt be worring about an overweight, unbalanced and green youngster not getting the perfect canter stride on the lunge, perhaps free schooling would give you a clearer view of her canter? 3k+ for an unbroken horse with a noticable splint does seem overpriced to me but any horse is worth what someone is willing to pay and you cant put a price on 'that feeling' you get when you think youve found the one! :)
 
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That's quite desirable breeding if she's a nicely made mare the breeder will sell her .
If you like her buy her .
On the canter assess it loose in the school to get a better idea of it's natural stae .
You possibly assess price on the internet and without photos .
The breeder has worked out what price she will sell the horse at , you work out what price the horse is worth to you.
The only price that matters is the price you will pay for a horse you have to train yourself to focus on this when buying .
 
Coming from an arab perspective - low set knees and hocks and the resulting short cannons are very desirable.

It's really impossible to give an honest appraisal of the youngster and the price without seeing her. If you feel that she's 'the one' and she passes the vet, go ahead. Over the years of owning a horse £500 soon becomes a drop in the ocean.

Sorry the colour pedant in me is screaming 'she's Buckskin not Dun!'... phew I'm glad I got that out of my system. :p
 
If you like it then buy it but it would worry me that she's so good on the lunge at that young age, she needs turning away until next spring to mature naturally especially if she's already put up what you think is a splint (it's a funny place for one, it could easily have been from a knock) which could indicate a weakness.
 
Maesfen said:
If you like it then buy it but it would worry me that she's so good on the lunge at that young age, she needs turning away until next spring to mature naturally especially if she's already put up what you think is a splint (it's a funny place for one, it could easily have been from a knock) which could indicate a weakness.
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I would be more worried if a backed horse was not well behaved on the lunge .
 
I paid £3200 for a slightly bigger, similar type ISH a few years ago, he was worth every penny, he has turned out superbly. A well bred mare could command a bit more and the dealer we got him from said everything she brings over that is connie or part connie, especially dun (or buckskin), is more expensive. She was talking about what she buys at Goresbridge, not what she prices them at herself.

If you like her and she passes the vet I would buy her at £3500.
 
Only you can make the decision if you can afford to up your price or not, but I would if I really liked the horse and everything else was okay.

There are lots of other horses on the market within your budget but you could spend a lot of time on looking, plus vetting and diesel costs.
 
Totally appreciate all your thoughts.
I think I'm going along the lines of, it is good breeding but she has a shin splint! Surely I should get her for £3 k because of that. £500 isn't the end if the world to pay for the right horse and I do like her bit I'm just getting commitment phobic.
Still undecided!! X
 
My personal view on buying something is that if you like it buy it, but if there are any doubts then walk away. Horses can be a very expensive mistake - not saying that this one will be but listen to your gut; it's usually correct.
 
I say or agree with others that she is rather high priced and not a purebred with papers. It depends on what you plan to do with her as well.

To be young and already have a shin splint could mean weakness in her bones. For the price, she should not have signs of any bone injury and at her age, at least for me.

The fact you asked others opinions tells me that perhaps you should continue looking. There are so many good horses without issues for sale these days, especially with the economy falling apart.

Keep looking and if you keep going back to her in your mind then go back and buy her. If she is meant to be yours, she will still be for sale. Good luck!
 
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