Searching For First Horse - Advice on Cost!

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Happy_Hooves

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Hi everyone ☺️

I'm starting to look for my first horse and would appreciate any advice on what to look for and setting a budget!

I've been riding for decades but it's never been the right time, or I simply haven't had the money to buy my own.

I'm not looking to compete and don't need something that sets the world on fire(!), just a safe, sane, kind horse for hacking, schooling, clinics etc. Something easy to do and easy to ride that I can enjoy and have fun with.

Ideally 15.3hh, nothing too young (needs to already be established) or old (wouldn't be looking to buy and sell on in a couple of years, more forever home!), something cobby or ID type, injury free etc.

Looking around it seems I'd need to spend £10k plus?! Is this the going rate atm for this type of horse? That really would be my max 🙃

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!
 
I would wait now perhaps until after the school holidays, when people go to uni, and even if they have the money for keep, do not have the time or want to do other things. If its worked all summer on this ground it's its a good indication of soundness.
You are looking for the sweet spot, if you can find one a bit younger, backed and done a bit but no comp records you could have more choice
 
Wait until the end of the summer and into autumn. There are going to be plenty of horses come to the market before winter if the weather does not right itself before the end of August, for the simple reason there will be no hay and what is around will be expensive. Straw will also be difficult to source. Yields are vastly down.
 
A friend was looking for exactly that - you could have posed her wanted add. After kissing a lot of frogs she appears to have found her prince for 10k at aged 5. ID X cob. Any older would have been overbudget.

Chris Dyson sells that type at reasonable cost as far as I can tell by reputation (no direct knowledge).
 
A lot depends on height, type and what it's done.

In my height range (16.2hh - 17hh) and my age bracket (6 - 12yrs) and type (ISH/WB/ID) you eould be looking at between 12-15k.

You can get horses jumping 1.20m for 15k or you can buy something that hasn't done much of anything for 15k, again it's how long is a piece of string.

The one I viewed the other day was 8k. Normally I'd not have bothered even attempting to view but when the advert said no medical history and he was only five miles away it made me determined to view as he was just what I was looking for on paper.

The fact was that he wasn't even worth 1K as he couldn't canter without going disunited behind, was visibly lame, leant on the bit with mouth gaping, didn't track up, held his tail constantly to his side, had some pretty obvious sacral issues and dished when moving but was also very pigeon toed.

Either the seller was completely blind or more probably was hoping I was a complete novice.

It's heartbreaking seeing some of the horses offered for sale. We saw one in Basingstoke in 2021 before we bought Lari. He was so shut down, it has never left me.

When I explained to this latest seller that the horse we saw before us was unsuitable due to his litany of physical issues (putting it diplomatically) she replied "well he is only being offered for 8k".

I've rang a dealer in the area today who've I've been chasing for the past two years now. He imports Irish horses. He said its very doubtful I'll get anything suitable in my criteria for 15k. He said the prices have gone stupid so at least that's one thing we can agree on. He itimated that as a business model he is paying not far off that now!
 
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A lot depends on height, type and what it's done.

In my height range (16.2hh - 17hh) and my age bracket (6 - 12yrs) and type (ISH/WB/ID) you eould be looking at between 12-15k.

You can get horses jumping 1.20m for 15k or you can buy something that hasn't done much of anything for 15k, again it's how long is a piece of string.

The one I viewed the other day was 8k. Normally I'd not have bothered even attempting to view but when the advert said no medical history and he was only five miles away it made me determined to view as he was just what I was looking for on paper.

The fact was that he wasn't even worth 1K as he couldn't canter without going disunited behind, was visibly lame, leant on the bit with mouth gaping, didn't track up, held his tail constantly to his side, had some pretty obvious sacral issues and dished when moving but was also very pigeon toed.

Either the seller was completely blind or more probably was hoping I was a complete novice.

It's heartbreaking seeing horses offered for sale. When I explained that he was suitable due to his physical limitations she said "well he is only being offered for 8k".
AdorableAlice said:
Bide your time, there will be more horses to the market towards and into winter.
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Agree. I've discussed this with my partner. It looks like we are due to complete on the house sale and now with Mum rapidly going downhill I think winter is a good prospect.

Don't lose hear OP, I've been searching 2.5 years, with the past 6 months in constant search mode.
 
Hi Happy Hooves, you are looking for a pretty desirable type, and what a lot of people are looking for.

You’d probably find a greener cobby type in the 8-10k bracket showing a nice basic temperament, but don’t underestimate the cost (and skill) in continuing to produce them into the well rounded individual. Even then they might not be what you wanted/needed.

Once they get into the 7-12 years bracket and are proving themselves then unfortunately I think you are looking well over your 10k budget. Especially if you are wanting a clean vet certificate.

There is no such thing as a perfect horse, so it might be worth chatting to someone you trust about what sort of imperfections might be manageable for your situation thereby opening up the pool of horses for you to choose from.
 
Really appreciate all your feedback. By the aound of it I'll have to be saving for a while longer! 😐 The cost of buying and keeping horses seems to have sky rocketed in the past few years!!
 
I’d say be prepared to be a little bit flexible in your criteria, and absolutely agree with what everyone has said about waiting until the autumn, when teenagers head off to uni and the prospect of winter costs start to hit.

I was saving hard for my first horse this time last year, looking for something aged between 10ish and 15, and between 15.2 and 16.2hh. I ended up buying a 17.2hh 18 year old who has been wonderful, and was significantly cheaper than he’d have been if he was smaller and younger.
 
I was looking for something similar a few years ago and it took 4 years to find anything that remotely fit the criteria. However, the compromises I made landed me with long-term spinal issues; as well as being completely miserable. I also ended up losing that horse to an underlying systemic issue he had.

If I’m being completely honest, if I had to do it again I don’t think I would from where I am now. I also don’t think I’d recommend it to anyone. The novelty of “owning your own horse” fades after about an hour when you start to think “oh b*gger, what have I done?” 😂

I’d recommend looking for a local part-loan though! Usually people who are part-loaning/loaning generally have good horses who they don’t want to fully part with. They’re the sort of horses who never go into the market because they’re good so someone (usually a friend of the owner) will offer them a home. People who are part loaning may also be open to full loaning/selling to their part-loaner because it allows them to get to know the person a bit more. This is how I’ve ended up with my super-cob :)
 
HaplessHorse said:
I was looking for something similar a few years ago and it took 4 years to find anything that remotely fit the criteria. However, the compromises I made landed me with long-term spinal issues; as well as being completely miserable. I also ended up losing that horse to an underlying systemic issue he had.

If I’m being completely honest, if I had to do it again I don’t think I would from where I am now. I also don’t think I’d recommend it to anyone. The novelty of “owning your own horse” fades after about an hour when you start to think “oh b*gger, what have I done?” 😂

I’d recommend looking for a local part-loan though! Usually people who are part-loaning/loaning generally have good horses who they don’t want to fully part with. They’re the sort of horses who never go into the market because they’re good so someone (usually a friend of the owner) will offer them a home. People who are part loaning may also be open to full loaning/selling to their part-loaner because it allows them to get to know the person a bit more. This is how I’ve ended up with my super-cob :)
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There is also something to be said for buying the less than perfect horse, if you are realistic. Everyone would like perfect, but because I am usually looking for a bargain I am always thinking if this can not do X, so its cheaper, can it do Y. I also like to buy from people who not very capable riders, in the hope that if it goes reasonably well for them, with time and proper education it will only get better.

There is something wonderful about buying a horse that is basically honest, but just not in the right place,it's either being made to be do something its not really capable of, or just being hampered by the way it's ridden and kept, but it still keeps trying.
I have had a couple that 'failed' at showing, so they are usually one sided, but load, used to being stabled, may not have hacked much, but you get something out of them straight away. Then there is the just backed wanderer, who can not walk a straight line, and 'falls' in to canter, just and then falls out, but they give you a while before they get their fifth leg and learn to throw some shapes.
We once went to look at a horse for my daughter that looked perfect for her, and sat in the car on the way home thinking about it, it was the top end of my budget, my main thought was that was the best it's probably ever going to be, because it was older, and just couldn't buy it.
 
HaplessHorse said:
I was looking for something similar a few years ago and it took 4 years to find anything that remotely fit the criteria. However, the compromises I made landed me with long-term spinal issues; as well as being completely miserable. I also ended up losing that horse to an underlying systemic issue he had.

If I’m being completely honest, if I had to do it again I don’t think I would from where I am now. I also don’t think I’d recommend it to anyone. The novelty of “owning your own horse” fades after about an hour when you start to think “oh b*gger, what have I done?” 😂

I’d recommend looking for a local part-loan though! Usually people who are part-loaning/loaning generally have good horses who they don’t want to fully part with. They’re the sort of horses who never go into the market because they’re good so someone (usually a friend of the owner) will offer them a home. People who are part loaning may also be open to full loaning/selling to their part-loaner because it allows them to get to know the person a bit more. This is how I’ve ended up with my super-cob :)
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Sorry to hear this, but great to hear you've ended up with your super-cob!

Funny you should mention about the part-loan option. I've had 3 long-term horse shares over the past few years, all of which I've loved, but I appreciate it's not really like actually owning your own horse. I've really enjoyed them all and learned so much in the process. I'm just looking at a new share opportunity atm, but I'm torn! One one hand it'll mean I get to keep riding and caring for a horse while I save up, but it also means I'm saving less because I'll be paying for the share!
 
Thanks so much for all your answers :)

So much to think about in terms of what to look for - though I have to admit, I may be more confused than ever! 😆
 
Bar the height you are describing my mare. She has a waiting list of 5 separate people that want to buy her should she ever be for sale.

I’d want £12k for her.
 
I would keep looking.

I have 2 horses that would suit you just fine (not for sale). One is an 8yo 15.3 ID X, with plenty of ability yet kind. The other is a 20yo 15.1 Cob X, sound and willing for hacking, does a bit of schooling and pops a fence.

One is up and running, going to dressage, shows, hunt rides etc. The other is semi retired through not really having a job, but hacks out, goes for a gallop in the stubble.

Both can be pulled out after weeks off and taken for a nice hack. Both have taught my novice boyfriend to ride from scratch.

One would be above your budget. I have turned down silly amounts for him as he combines ability with a laid back and kind attitude.

The other, people would say is totally value-less. He has no health issues, but has done in the past, and is older. Yet, he would give someone a whole stack of fun. I paid less than 1K in 2020, when prices were at their highest and he was only 15. His price was because he was recovering from issues, yet here he is, recovered!

So, I would keep an eye on the market. A furry face may, one day, capture you and be a compromise you can live with. 10K is not such a bad sum. It's more than 10 X what I paid anyway LOL.

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The grey one is the one that would be out of budget, on a hunt fun ride.
The black one is the 'valueless' one: I'd boxed him out to a friend's house to go riding with her horse. Both photos from this year.
 
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