Prestwood Farm - experiences please, and please stop me doing something silly.....

Lovely horse :)
but you know what they say 'If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it
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^^ I always thought this too, I saw my boy advertised on horse deals and kept looking at him but he had no price. I rung and I was shocked he was in my price range!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Some nice horses, but you know what they say 'If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it' and you'd definitely have to ask the price 'cos they don't seem to publish their prices. (hope that helps)!
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I thought that too but having clicked on one of the photos there is more info about each horse with the price listed.

Having said that, I found their choice of wording interesting for quite a few of the advertised horses. Most seem to be a Rolls Royce ride:

"Glen Diamond is a Rolls Royce ride and has been ridden in all disciplines in a snaffle. Glen Diamond has been Amateur ridden all his life and has been and done everything. He has been competed in Riding Club Activities, hunter trialled with great success and has been hunted in Ireland to date with the Roscommon Hunt. He has also attended Charity Rides. Glen Diamond is a family pet and loves to be around people. "

He's only 5 and yes, I know that he could well have been out and participated in lots of different disciplines but the wording gives the impression the horse is much older and has a few miles under his belt.
 
I bought a horse from them 3 years ago and would also recommend (The horse on the left in my signature). The nice thing is they seem to know the horses well and are good at pairing you up if you are honest with what you want and your abilities. I thought my boy was really ugly in the ads and almost didn't view him but luckily my sister persuaded me to have a peak over the stable door and i fell in love lol!

He was green in his schooling and jumping but had the underlying sensibilty i needed. He made me feel safe which is exactly what i needed as i had lost my confidence.

They did drive a hard bargain on price but they are there to make money at the end of the day!

More than happy to go into more detail if you want to pm me.
 
ive tried 2 there (properly) and ridden more. All were beautifully turned out and well mannered. We explained that we were 2 young girls looking for a horse to share: they had a whole string and advised us honestly on what they thought most suitable. We never bought one only because we decided we rode too differently but i know others who have purchased and all have been super (mostly little connies for hunting and jumping) good luck AND I THINK DO IT!!
 
She's a lovely looking mare, and looks like a nice safe jumper. Only thing I'd say is that she looks a little fixed and show ponyish in her way of going - I wonder if she has been schooled in draw reins. Would be nice to see her going with a bit more oomph, taking the contact forward, and a bit more elasticity. She looks like she has it in her, but it's just not showing in those videos.
Love her though, and suspect she is spot on as a mother/son share! I wish I was little enough to have something like her!
 
I went there a couple of yrs ago. Only tried one, an 8 yr old as I didn't want a youngster. He was very sour and hard work in the school and I was disappointed as he had been described as a rolls royce ride! I had also flown down from Scotland so it was a very costly trip. However the yard is nice, horses well turned out and they were nice people I just felt they could have been a bit more honest about his attitude. Although a lot of people on here have had good experiences with them so I guess it just depends. If you can go and try a few different ones it will prob make the trip more worthwhile!
 
So many really helpful responses - thank you so much, I appreciate you taking the time to post. It has helped me to really think about what I am looking for.

Just picking a few of your points out here.....

In terms of being green. That's the one thing that worries me most to be quite honest. It's all very well saying these horses have been taken to so and so, jumped round so and so, etc. But the riders are professionals. I'm not, and it would be kept at home, so no ready to hand professional on a day to day basis! I also have to think about my son, who is a lovely quiet rider, but hasn't had loads of experience in terms of jumping so I really do want something that is proven. 30 years ago I bought my mare from a small sales yard and was told she had gone round a British Novice class at a local well known venue. She may well have done, but I admire the ability of the person who did it as she could barely walk in a straight line without tripping over her own feet. :rolleyes:

Vetting - I will always get a 5 stage vetting done either by my own vet if within their area, or an independent one that they recommend. I also like to be present for the vetting as it gives me another chance to see the horse being dealt with and it makes it easier to discuss any issues arising.

I agree the phrase 'Rolls Royce' seems to be used rather often. :eek:

SU - thank you - I am looking at the PC website. I'm also friends with the DC of our branch and she has her ears to the ground for me. Given that it will attend rallies and camp etc, I know she will want me to get something that ticks all the right boxes! I'm steering away from TBs more for the build than anything else, but also would prefer something fairly hardy and low maintenance/good doer.

Aus - thanks for your comments on the mare. I think her build and type is exactly what I want. She is perhaps a year or so younger than I would like but she caught my eye. I'm wondering if she looks like she is lacking ooomph because the rider is sublty holding her back so she looks more steady than she perhaps is? Does that make sense? You can come shopping with me if you want though!

Pretty much all the rest of your comments indicate good things about this dealer. I think I will keep them on the back burner if I am struggling to find something privately elsewhere. They certainly seem to produce the type I like but it is very early days and I am not in a hurry as I know I am looking for quite a specific sort.

Thanks again everyone. :)
 
nikicb said:
Thank you. :) I just didn't want to come across as old horse gone one day, look for another the next, because that's not how it is. To me they are very different things, unfortunately tied together by finances. You can come shopping with me if you want! :)
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I don't know the business that you're looking at Nikicb but I read this and just wanted to say that you don't...at all... You need a horse that is suitable for your lad to ride and you need that now... That doesn't detract in any way from your beloved mare or you wouldn't have waited for her to move on from this world in her own time...:)

Just another idea but my son has hit the stage of needing to learn to jump properly so I've loaned an older schoolmistress who can jump in her sleep - a bit easier than him learning on the TB who is still green and hasn't really got a clue what he's doing himself with jumps... Long term, his horse will be the young 15.2 TB we've got - unless he outgrows him first... 14 and pushing 5' 10" already...:rolleyes: :D
 
nikicb said:
Aus - thanks for your comments on the mare. I think her build and type is exactly what I want. She is perhaps a year or so younger than I would like but she caught my eye. I'm wondering if she looks like she is lacking ooomph because the rider is sublty holding her back so she looks more steady than she perhaps is? Does that make sense? You can come shopping with me if you want though!
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I'd love to come shopping with you! Love looking at horses.
 
I don't know about them as dealers, but the horse looks rather nice to me and if all Aus can criticise is a schooling issue, surely it just means you and son have something to work on? :p

Good luck with the hunt! x
 
JFTD said:
I don't know about them as dealers, but the horse looks rather nice to me and if all Aus can criticise is a schooling issue, surely it just means you and son have something to work on? :p

Good luck with the hunt! x
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Agreed! I think she's a lovely little mare, who looks like she would do exactly what Niki and son need! It's not even the sort of schooling issue that takes much to resolve - she just needs to hoon around a bit with a teenage boy on board!!
 
Auslander said:
Agreed! I think she's a lovely little mare, who looks like she would do exactly what Niki and son need! It's not even the sort of schooling issue that takes much to resolve - she just needs to hoon around a bit with a teenage boy on board!!
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perhaps a game or two of polocrosse will get her moving forwards, Niki :p

I think she looks great :D
 
Ladydragon said:
I don't know the business that you're looking at Nikicb but I read this and just wanted to say that you don't...at all... You need a horse that is suitable for your lad to ride and you need that now... That doesn't detract in any way from your beloved mare or you wouldn't have waited for her to move on from this world in her own time...:)

Just another idea but my son has hit the stage of needing to learn to jump properly so I've loaned an older schoolmistress who can jump in her sleep - a bit easier than him learning on the TB who is still green and hasn't really got a clue what he's doing himself with jumps... Long term, his horse will be the young 15.2 TB we've got - unless he outgrows him first... 14 and pushing 5' 10" already...:rolleyes: :D
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Thanks LD - that's a really nice thing to say. :o The problem is I also want something that I can be a matchy matchy dressage diva on and we can only have the one. Otherwise I would consider the loan option.

As for Aus and JFTD - I'm going to leave you to it. I'm petrified of this horse buying business. I feel like I'm just about to get on an enormous rollercoaster. Just let me know where to send the cheque and when the horse will arrive. :eek::p
 
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In terms of green my boy was 4 so it wasn't unexpected. We pretty much went straight out to do a wt test and he was superb but his canter needed a lot of work before we could progress.

Good luck whatever you decide.
 
nikicb said:
As for Aus and JFTD - I'm going to leave you to it. I'm petrified of this horse buying business. I feel like I'm just about to get on an enormous rollercoaster. Just let me know where to send the cheque and when the horse will arrive. :eek::p
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mwahaha god knows what you'd end up with :D

Actually, I reckon Auslander would knock me out with a jump pole when my back's turned (looking at something ridiculous like a part bred camel!) and make sure you got something suitable :cool:
 
JFTD said:
mwahaha god knows what you'd end up with :D

Actually, I reckon Auslander would knock me out with a jump pole when my back's turned (looking at something ridiculous like a part bred camel!) and make sure you got something suitable :cool:
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:D:D:D


Ok, well this thread hasn't got me a horse (yet!). But I've organised to go on a ride with Irishbabygirl and go horse hunting with Auslander. Good old HHO - love it. :p:)
 
I agree with the comment about draw reins. These horses look like they need riding properly and kept well schooled. They are very nice though I would happily take several off them off there hands.
 
You may have already been there, but thought I'd post anyway! I cannot rate them enough. I was very wary after having a bad experience with a previous dealer and was buying for my daughter and myself so it had tick a lot of boxes. They couldn't have been more helpful and are lovely people. My daughter was coming back to riding after 7 years, very novice, and I wanted something I could have a bit of fun with. Dezzi, or Lycon Mike (photos on their gallery page) as he is passported as, is a dream come true and for a 5 year old is the most sanest, safest, loving, (but at the same time will step up a gear for when she's ready) pony I could of ever dreamed of! They really listened to our requirements and matched us perfectly and even after the sale have always been there to answer any questions, nothing is too much trouble. GO FOR IT!! Yes, they are generously priced but worth every penny I think. Good luck :)
 
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