RachaelJC
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I'd like some advice on the following please:
I've been offered a 9 year old Friesian mare who has an absolutely gorgeous temperament and manners. The owner is selling as he hasn't got time (new job with excessive travelling) but has had the mare for six years. I know him from our village and he has offered me the sale as we sometimes chat horse at the pub for hours! As for me, I have ponies when I was young and have worked at a racing yard, hunt yard and livery yard with stud and foaling area, and a shared but this would be my first. I've been riding since the nineties (gah, I feel old!)
There are a few negatives with the mare, one being that she is dilemma is obese so would need a strict diet. Secondly, she has cracks in two hooves. Toe cracks extending upwards about an inch or so (not near coronet) and about 1cm wide in a triangle shape. Farrier has a attended and filed/trimmed, but these are new cracks apparently due to the weather recently. She has never worn shoes.
Thirdly, the mare is not very experienced for her age, not that this is a big thing as I enjoy training and have time to devote to this, as well as help from trainers and qualified riding coaches. Not that she is green like a youngster, but only having been ridden every couple of weeks and lunged intermittently the experience isn't there. She is also eligible for KFPS grading but isn't graded yet - in this condition I doubt we'd get very far!
The dilemma is that she is over £10k, based on 'potential' for her to go far in a chosen sport. The owner has based this price on her breeding and manner/temperament. At the moment she gets sweaty trotting around!
I fully admit I've fallen for her, and the owner can see this. However I'd like some perspective. The weight issue and training to compete will take time but are doable, as well as hooves to grow out (may take a lot longer). For you, would these 'issues' knock the price down substantially regardless of potential, or would you not touch with a barge pole?
Genuinely would like different points of view and perspective as I know I fall in love with everything I see!
Thanks
I'd like some advice on the following please:
I've been offered a 9 year old Friesian mare who has an absolutely gorgeous temperament and manners. The owner is selling as he hasn't got time (new job with excessive travelling) but has had the mare for six years. I know him from our village and he has offered me the sale as we sometimes chat horse at the pub for hours! As for me, I have ponies when I was young and have worked at a racing yard, hunt yard and livery yard with stud and foaling area, and a shared but this would be my first. I've been riding since the nineties (gah, I feel old!)
There are a few negatives with the mare, one being that she is dilemma is obese so would need a strict diet. Secondly, she has cracks in two hooves. Toe cracks extending upwards about an inch or so (not near coronet) and about 1cm wide in a triangle shape. Farrier has a attended and filed/trimmed, but these are new cracks apparently due to the weather recently. She has never worn shoes.
Thirdly, the mare is not very experienced for her age, not that this is a big thing as I enjoy training and have time to devote to this, as well as help from trainers and qualified riding coaches. Not that she is green like a youngster, but only having been ridden every couple of weeks and lunged intermittently the experience isn't there. She is also eligible for KFPS grading but isn't graded yet - in this condition I doubt we'd get very far!
The dilemma is that she is over £10k, based on 'potential' for her to go far in a chosen sport. The owner has based this price on her breeding and manner/temperament. At the moment she gets sweaty trotting around!
I fully admit I've fallen for her, and the owner can see this. However I'd like some perspective. The weight issue and training to compete will take time but are doable, as well as hooves to grow out (may take a lot longer). For you, would these 'issues' knock the price down substantially regardless of potential, or would you not touch with a barge pole?
Genuinely would like different points of view and perspective as I know I fall in love with everything I see!
Thanks