Definitely looks like the right sort ? have fun browsing
She looks very sweet and worth a call - although of course there’s not much to be done currently. My only query is that she’s oddly cheap for a kind, pretty, decently bred horse of a good age so there may be a catch somewhere.
Definitely sounds like the right sort though
All sounds sensible! I’ve been horse shopping for a couple months and in general - if a horse is priced lower than average, there’s a reason for it. Eg, the 1.20s mare was half what her price could’ve been because she had a dirty stop. The gelding who’d done age classes was in budget but had undisclosed medical issues. Etc, etc, etc... On the other hand there a plenty of horses twice as expensive as they should be for no good reason! So my advice is to get a feel for the market and pricings by going to see a few, keep an eye on what sells at what price, then once you have an idea steer clear from anything unusually cheap or dear.
Not sure if this is okay to post this sort of thing but just wondering if I'm (hypothetically) looking in the right sort of ball park with something like this: https://www.horsemart.co.uk/15-2hh-8yrs-irish-sports-horse-mare/Horses/617362#
It's interesting the more you look at the ads the more questions you have about what you're looking for, when then time comes I'm not sure where to start! The one I've posted is towards the younger end of the scale but I do think the older 'been there and done it' type appeals to me for sure. The idea of going through with buying at some stage later this year is equal parts exciting and terrifying.
There was another horsey shopping thread and I noticed an ad I'd looked at suggesting, slightly worrying how much background info a poster had about the horse's real story - seems ads can be very deceptive!
I think it's a very good idea to be open minded, I've never gone out to buy a particular breed just always focused on what will do the job and |i've always gone for established horses on the basis of WYSIWYG. I would, however, avoid anything that wasn't reasonably off the leg, a horse that goes forward is always so much safer than something that doesn't. It doesn't have to have great paces but it does need to "go". Also although you don't have ambitions to jump huge courses, I'd always question why a horse is sticky over smallish jumps. Most horses should pop over 70/80cm jumps even if the rider doesn't want to, so is it pain related, first sign of something going on in the hocks? You will get a lot more fun from a horse that is working well below his ability than on one that is struggling to do the job. The thing I always try to keep in my mind is "what is the owner not telling me?" "What is the real reason for sale?" Good luck in your search.
I always look for what is missing and ask a specific question eg ad might say never bucks or rears, so I'd ask "what does he do if he gets worried or upset?" 100% to hack, I'd specifically ask what's he like in traffic/ lorries/ farm machinery. Does he hack confidently on his own/in open fields/ in front or behind in company. Loads and travels, on his own, stand quietly on the lorry etc. Think about your specific situation and the things that matter to you and ask the questions before you even go to view. Some people might think I'm a pain as I do ask a lot of questions before I go to view but then again I don't waste people's time trying unsuitable horses, I've never viewed more than 2 before buying and often have bought the first one I tried. Having said that I always view twice, once on my own and then again with a trainer/competent rider who knows my riding, is prepared to sit on the horse and put it under some pressure to see it's reactions as I know that when I sit on a strange horse I won't ask it many questions. I hate buying horses, it is very easy to make a mistake. Good luck when you start looking in earnest.