People who are sensible - your help is needed!!!

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toomanyhorses26

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I have been on the hunt for a project for a while now - lots of donkeys,three legged animals etc etc but in the past month I have seen two horses that I really liked but eventually discounted through people wanting too much dosh,too much of a project etc etc but they are both back on the market as such and are more in the bracket that I want now so the question is who do I go for ??? The first is a 7 yo 17.1hh hannoverian gelding (dressage bred) out of work pretty much for two years due to owners problems (have checked this out and all that I have been told is true) failry compact, I have ridden him and he went nicely considering and was offering some nice work but obv lots of suppling ,fittening work to be done, in need of some grub and a bloody good groom!!! Has one slightly odd front foot with a crack in it but has had no shoes on and I am slightly dubious as to how often he has actually seen a farrier but talking to mine he is pretty sure he could improve the situation. The second is a 16.3hh 4yo tb - last race about seven weeks ago and has been on light work since as they would now like him out of training. On the more substantial side of throughbreds and is put together ok - hinds a little straight,pasterns ever so slightly upright so nothing you look at him and think what the hell!!!! No reschooling been done but hacks out alone and in company have been happening. Gelded 6 months ago and has calmed down alot since but still some habits remain like nibbling and he is quite assertive towards people he doesn't know but they are getting better all the time. Both are in the same price bracket now and both seem alot of horse for your money so I am now needing someone sensible to help me decide!!!!
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What is it you want to achieve? Dressage/Eventing or just fun? I love some tbs but many are more expensive to keep than a warmblood type, both in term of feed and injury (but perhaps I have just been unlucky).

I would write a list of pros & cons against what you want to achieve. Then throw the list away and follow your heart!

Good Luck.

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Agree with Gal.

Also in the recent TB feature in H&H it was interesting that Ruth Edge said that eventing / dressage wise TBs take longer to produce but are better once they do get there - if that makes any sense, just thought it might be something to bear in mind.
 
This is what is making me think as I currently have a tb that has come out of racing nearly two years ago and it is only in the last 6 months he has come good but he has been well worth the wait !!! I am never going to be a stunning rider and give anything a go once but I have got more into the flatowrk/dressage side of things since having my other tb because he needed it but his jump is fab as well so I have a gained alot of confidence in this area too. I suppose I want to have a horse at the end that I could sell who is a high end all rounder perhaps but I would be happy really in what direction the horse wants to take it.
 
He is on a big yard and is owned by a chairman of a company who tends to have 5/6 horses in training and then only rolls the top2/3 over to train for the next year ,sells the duff ones and buys in fresh to replace them. His race record wans't exactly *ahem* good - in thirtenn starts he won £804 bless!! I have only found out through my friend who is the yard secretary that he is for sale so a trustworthy source as such. No injuries apart from scarring to a back leg which happened about two years ago but just cosmetic no damage to tendons,bone etc
 
I love TB's and would have those over a big WB most of the time...however, 13 races at 4 with all the traing means I am a bot concerned about the mileage on the TB's legs... have a friend who had a lovely sound butty little TB who was knackered at 9 because of his earlier training
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A seven year old WB should be well doing its thing by now if it was any good. I'd be much more suspicious of that one. Even if they have good explanations why its not, that certainly doesn't mean they're the main or only reasons. The TB sounds more genuine to me. If its well put together and moves well, the TB IMO (but I wouldn't claim to be sensible!).
 
If you are buying to sell, buy a nice safe cob type. I wouldn't buy the 17.1 as a lot of people will think it is too big. I wouldn't buy the ex racehorse as a lot of people don't like them.
 
This is tyhe thing I would go for a cobby type but I can only find ones that I will squash!! I do have somebody in mind - they know that I am looking to buy and they are wanting something as well so it was if I see something on my travels that is ready to go then I will pass the details on or if I find my project and then they like the look of it then they will buy from me . The problem is the daughter is coming up to 16 and is 5'11 so is limited as to what she could go for but do see your point about the size ( I have a weak spot for big horses which is quite often my downfall!!!
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I like the TB although agree with DieselDog regarding saleability - depends how long you want to spend on it though - are you looking for a 6 month or a 2 year project?
 
Would like for it to be a max of 7/8 months but do have the finances to keep for longer if needed . The timescale is really so I can keep my tb fit throught the winter (has to be ridden 6 days a week) and so I can actually do my job properly rather than turning up late with bits of hay in my hair!!! This winter has been the first winter I have hd one horse and it has ben a breeze so would like he next one to continue in the same vein if possible!!!
 
With that in mind I'd be inclined to go for the hannoverian as it has some established foundations whereas the TB is more of an unknown imo. There are also plenty of TBs around and in that amount of time I can't foresee the economic climate picking itself up I'm afraid.
 
I think the TB looks lovely and will be a lot easier to sell than the 17.1hh horse. Someone I know had a 17.1hh horse up for sale for ages and didn't get a single call, then re-advertised as 16.3hh and sold it within a week
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Tbh I wouldn't buy a 7 yo that hasn't done anything. And I think that TB looks gorgeous!
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There are 100's of TBs out there all on the cheaper side due to racing.
Racing does affect their re sale value remember.
I would be more inclined to get the 17.1 as you said you can already feel that he will work nicely and you could probably get going on him quicker than the Tb.
 
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