Searching For First Horse - Advice on Cost!

[I'm Dun]

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.

View attachment 163956View attachment 163957

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.

But the problem is your lovely grey is worth a substantial amount and Rigs isnt easy to manage. I've had similar types on livery and its soul destroying trying to keep the weight off them without the right set up. I imagine it would be fairly terrifying to manage as a first horse and it isnt a short term project. I love something broken and quirky and sorting it out. But I know how to do it, know how much it costs on top of the purchase price, dont mind spending forever on them, am super flexible with what they end up doing etc, and stopped doing it when prices went stupid. Those horses that used to be cheap projects tend to get patched up quickly and sold on for substantial money now. And realistically how many people buying a first horse have enough of an eye to know if its a fixable project, or a genuine bargain? It takes years to get to that point. Its a gamble and even more of a gamble when you can only have one horse on a livery yard type situation.

 

[Red-1]

But the problem is your lovely grey is worth a substantial amount and Rigs isnt easy to manage. I've had similar types on livery and its soul destroying trying to keep the weight off them without the right set up. I imagine it would be fairly terrifying to manage as a first horse and it isnt a short term project. I love something broken and quirky and sorting it out. But I know how to do it, know how much it costs on top of the purchase price, dont mind spending forever on them, am super flexible with what they end up doing etc, and stopped doing it when prices went stupid. Those horses that used to be cheap projects tend to get patched up quickly and sold on for substantial money now. And realistically how many people buying a first horse have enough of an eye to know if its a fixable project, or a genuine bargain? It takes years to get to that point. Its a gamble and even more of a gamble when you can only have one horse on a livery yard type situation.

Yes, one is over budget. But the other really wouldn't be difficult to keep. He is now out on normal grazing 12 hours a day, with a muzzle, and on a shavings type bed with low energy haylage and a simple feed at night. He is no longer asthmatic, no longer even tests as EMS. Cushings has never progressed beyond 'borderline' with no other symptoms. We did a year of starving him to reverse his horse-diabetes and it worked. He no longer has to be ribby, just slim.

The only special treatment he gets is a rub behind the knees with pig oil once a day and yes, he needs grazing that isn't too lush. But then, he is simply on a postage stamp type individual paddock, which many livery yards have now, and he eats it down in spring starting at half an hour 2 X a day, then gets more as he eats it off.

I feel he would be unnecessarily ruled out by many. As I said, I know myself that he is 'valueless' yet he has so much value. Especially to my BF who is learning on him, or the kids that are coming to ride him on the school in 2 weeks.

The others I posted about were likely contenders, if someone did research on them. 2 or three were active teenage horses. 14 or 15, from memory. I was just saying not to write them off until seen/researched.

I think saying that 10k wouldn't buy some form of pleasurable cob or cob X type horse to do some hacking with is wrong. They will be hard to find, granted, but I would keep looking, as I said.

 

[Red-1]

But the problem is your lovely grey is worth a substantial amount and Rigs isnt easy to manage. I've had similar types on livery and its soul destroying trying to keep the weight off them without the right set up. I imagine it would be fairly terrifying to manage as a first horse and it isnt a short term project. I love something broken and quirky and sorting it out. But I know how to do it, know how much it costs on top of the purchase price, dont mind spending forever on them, am super flexible with what they end up doing etc, and stopped doing it when prices went stupid. Those horses that used to be cheap projects tend to get patched up quickly and sold on for substantial money now. And realistically how many people buying a first horse have enough of an eye to know if its a fixable project, or a genuine bargain? It takes years to get to that point. Its a gamble and even more of a gamble when you can only have one horse on a livery yard type situation.

Yes, one is over budget. But the other really wouldn't be difficult to keep. He is now out on normal grazing 12 hours a day, with a muzzle, and on a shavings type bed with low energy haylage and a simple feed. He is no longer asthmatic, no longer even tests as EMS. We did a year of starving him to reverse his horse-diabetes and it worked. He no longer has to be ribby, just slim.

The only special treatment he gets is a rub behind the knees with pig oil once a day and yes, he needs grazing that isn't too lush. But then, he is simply on a postage stamp type individual paddock, which many livery yards have now, and he eats it down in spring starting at half an hour 2 X a day, then gets more as he eats it off.

I feel he would be unnecessarily ruled out by many.

 

[I'm Dun]

Yes, one is over budget. But the other really wouldn't be difficult to keep. He is now out on normal grazing 12 hours a day, with a muzzle, and on a shavings type bed with low energy haylage and a simple feed at night. He is no longer asthmatic, no longer even tests as EMS. Cushings has never progressed beyond 'borderline' with no other symptoms. We did a year of starving him to reverse his horse-diabetes and it worked. He no longer has to be ribby, just slim.

The only special treatment he gets is a rub behind the knees with pig oil once a day and yes, he needs grazing that isn't too lush. But then, he is simply on a postage stamp type individual paddock, which many livery yards have now, and he eats it down in spring starting at half an hour 2 X a day, then gets more as he eats it off.

I feel he would be unnecessarily ruled out by many. As I said, I know myself that he is 'valueless' yet he has so much value. Especially to my BF who is learning on him, or the kids that are coming to ride him on the school in 2 weeks.

The others I posted about were likely contenders, if someone did research on them. 2 or three were active teenage horses. 14 or 15, from memory. I was just saying not to write them off until seen/researched.

I think saying that 10k wouldn't buy some form of pleasurable cob or cob X type horse to do some hacking with is wrong. They will be hard to find, granted, but I would keep looking, as I said.

Having been on a lot of livery yards it can be a total nightmare. You need a horse happy to stay in alone, lots of yards have grazing out of sight of the stables and everyone chucks out 24/7 as soon as they can. Lots of YOs wont let you use electric fencing or have ex dairy grazing. Theres no argument from me about the value Rigs brings, but he would be a huge and very stressful risk for a first time owner. And just because he came right, doesnt mean the next one will. In fact the odds are it wont. I still have my final failed project, semi retired and living the life of riley but causing me stress and worry. And I got very lucky with someone who loves him the way I did and is happy to keep the daft old fool. I'm not in a position to anymore, and will PTS if hes ever returned. He was also stolen on loan twice before he landed where he is. Something I wouldnt wish on anyone and advocate for PTS if you cant keep them, which is advice I wish I'd have listened to initially, given what went on to happen.

 

[nutjob]

This is Essex, so I'd be careful he isn't connected to one of the more notorious yards, but he'd be the right type, I dare say, on a quick glance.

I don't think it's kind to first time buyers to be posting links to specific horses unless you are familiar with the dealers reputation.

 

[teacups]

I don't think it's kind to first time buyers to be posting links to specific horses unless you are familiar with the dealers reputation.

I disagree.
Apart from anything else, it warns the first time buyer that there are dealers out there who might not be reputable.

 

[nutjob]

I disagree.
Apart from anything else, it warns the first time buyer that there are dealers out there who might not be reputable.

The links should be posted with a very strong warning that these horses are from dealer yards where the dealer has a very poor reputation, the horses are likely to be nothing like they are described in the advert, the dealer will not respect your consumer rights, these paragons of virtue are not for sale at knock down prices and that these horses are an example of what to look for and give a very wide swerve. The poster is suggesting that you can get a horse suitable for a first time buyer for a low price which is not the case in todays market. More experienced horse owners may be able to deal with all manner of veterinary and behavioural issues. The warning on the links is way not enough to explain the seriousness of what can go wrong here.

This is an example of what plays out day after day on dodgy dealer pages when novice owners are unaware of the dealer reputation. Luckily this horse has had a very nice outcome.

J

Thread 'Bought unseen problems returning'

7 June 2025

Hi, I could do with some advice on a horse I bought unseen from a dealer. The horse was supposed to be suitable for a mother/daughter share and rda with very good stable manners. The horse has anything but good stable manners. The first morning after he arrived I went to visit him and when I went towards him he pinned his ears back and tried to move me with his bum. Fair enough I thought he needs time to settle. As the week progressed he barges past the yard girl when she brought his net in the morning and ran out onto the yard. The on another occasion when the yard owner was skipping him...

• Jasmine2023
• Replies: 843
• Forum: The Tack Room

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[Red-1]

I don't think it's kind to first time buyers to be posting links to specific horses unless you are familiar with the dealers reputation.

I did say that I have not done due diligence / fact checking on those horses. I did say that I don't know if they were with a notorious dealer or not. They are actually listed as private adverts. I just pulled some likely looking horses from Preloved!

I guess I'm out!

My horses regularly go to different livery yards, as I now do travel. All yards say how they are happy out alone, even when the others are brought in, or in when the others are turned out. They are happy here alone, God forbid I say it! Rigs is here alone right now, no other horse within eyesight, because I hurt my knee and H is off at livery ticking over with work.

They are out there. I think it is cruel to say to a first time owner to simply give up!

Of course, history needs checking.

There are no guarantees with any horse.

I bought one a few years back, 12k, passed 5 stage vetting with X rays. Dropped dead next day, half an hour after arrival! I didn't give up.

It is well worth looking, checking. Better than giving up.

 

[teacups]

Red did make it clear no extensive research had been done about the seller.

If just finding an advert and posting it isn’t allowed by other posters unless one is also on Facebook and must have encyclopaedic knowledge of all the dodgy dealers out there, this forum will become even less fun.

Nutjob, your tone was a touch abrupt (clearly some strong feelings), but if you knéw this was one of the dodgy dealers masquerading as a private seller, that ís what this forum is useful for: those who do recognise the dealer and know it is a notorious one can point it out.
Why not simply do that, and be helpful, rather than criticise the kind effort someone else has made in helping to look.

The thread you linked to: mainly useful to OP in pointing out that buying unseen is quite risky, to say the least. Although that was not OP’s question.