Should I buy-spotty foal

I will go see him this evening and say hello again. I just love mares, my first pony was an appaloosa mare and I fell well and truly in love- hence why I now want another spotty mare.

I currently own a ex-racer and he is fantastic temperment wise and he will probably never be sold but we just do not click the way I did with my mare. She was soo affectionate and brave.
 
My youngster did both living out 24/7 and having just day turnout, living in herds and living with 1/2 others. She never fussed about either and didn't get too attached to other horses and it's set her up for anything grown up life throws at her IMO. If you like him and can afford him I'd go for it.
 
I would run through the "sensible" checklist:
Can you afford to keep him longterm?
Will he make the height you require?
Is he likely to be suitable for what you will want him to do?
Is he conformationally correct to minimise the risk of future problems?
Does his temperament appear suitable for what you require?
Is he healthy? (Has he been wormed and vaccinated?)
Have both testicles dropped?

There are probably more questions but these are the ones that sprung to mind! If the answer is yes to these I would possibily ask someone knowledgeable who you trust to to take an unbiased look at him as a second opinion is always worth while and if they agree with you then I would consider buying him if his passport is in order and there are no outstanding debts for his livery (which, although not your responsibilty, could be problematic).

If you are still uncertain ask yourself will you be devastated if you don't get him? If so and all the other boxes are ticked I would make an offer - perhaps a slightly cheeky one bearing in mind you have to pay for gelding etc and set yourself an absolute top price you would pay and don't go above it if the owner starts to haggle!

As far as your livery set up is concerned I think it's doable - but watch out for him becoming overly attached to your other horse.
 
Can you afford to keep him longterm? I have done a basic check and I believe it is definitely but what the future holds no one knows!
Will he make the height you require? He is supposedly to make 15.2hh which is plenty big enough for me I am 5'1, although I will check parents heights.
Is he likely to be suitable for what you will want him to do? He is Knabstrupper x Tb I believe so yes he will do what I want general allrounder.
Is he conformationally correct to minimise the risk of future problems? I am not sure with confirmation myself but can you predict with a foal how they will turn out?
Does his temperament appear suitable for what you require? When I have seen him he appears quiet and sweet.
Is he healthy? (Has he been wormed and vaccinated?)The owner said he was wormed before she got him, but I dont think he is vaccinated!
Have both testicles dropped?
 
well I think he is gorgeous and I would buy him! I bought Xas, coloured curly, aged 6 months and he is now 2 1/2. He has never been turned out in a herd but usually with my 2 others and has 24/7 turnout in summer and daytime most of the winter except when the fields are closed (about 4 weeks in total) - then he gets grazed out in hand twice a day. He is absolutely fine! He likes coming in, is fabulous to handle, enjoys going for walks long lining around the farm, and is a very good shape and size. So I really dont think that he has suffered from his lifestyle. When I first got him he spent 5 months turned out with a yearling and then another 6 months with a 4 YO so he did get the chance for youngster play which I was glad about. I took quite a lot of trouble to find him somewhere with a youngster for that first bit of time and I do think that was worthwhile.
 
He looks very nice in the first photo and he is a bargain at that price. Even in this current market i'm still selling partbred spotty leopard foals for £2000 and if they want them gelded before weaning/collection then they have to pay that too. Its good for youngsters to be stabled at night. That way they get basic handling at least twice a day and learn to come away from other horses.
 
I do think he is a very good price. On the other hand I also know of a filly for sale she is by Dirks Orion and out of a mare by Cevin z. I think shes is a 2013 foal aswell to make 16hh plus. How much would you pay for her out of interest?

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ktj1891 said:
I do think he is a very good price. On the other hand I also know of a filly for sale she is by Dirks Orion and out of a mare by Cevin z. I think shes is a 2013 foal aswell to make 16hh plus. How much would you pay for her out of interest?

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I'd pay much more for the filly. Significantly more. She's a far nicer prospect imo.

If you like the colt though and you know the owner paid 700 for him then my bargaining would be to pay 700 including the castration.
 
She is basically double but open to offers again very local and I know the breeder. My only worry is she may be too chunky for me, being by Dirk who is well set and out of a warmblood mare.
 
ktj1891 said:
She is basically double but open to offers again very local and I know the breeder. My only worry is she may be too chunky for me, being by Dirk who is well set and out of a warmblood mare.
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She's worth it I'd say. I breed Holsteiners and Hanoverians though so I'm used to heavier set foals. It's all preference; everyone has different wants but the filly is superior to the colt imo.
 
I have asked for some recent photos as the one i have added is from last summer. I don't know if she will be too chunky for me. I prefer to ride TB types as I am so short.
 
So hard to tell when they are that age and with the photos you have, but personally I don't think he looks great conformationally. Would you really be considering him if he wasn't a fun colour?

I think the filly you have posted looks much better put together.
 
Also as filly's dam is by Cevin Z does it mean she will grey out? Oh also just looked and has Clover hill lines too
 
I actually prefer the colt! The filly is more 'quality' but there is something about his wee cheeky face :-) I think he is too much though. I'd be looking at maximum of £500. What height is he now?
 
I will be keeping a rising 3 year old on youngstock livery (Gloucestershire). They are barn kept in the winter, and out 24/7 in the summer - there are places around but I found they don't always advertise.

I agree the filly is the nicer type, but I prefer the colt's spots!
 
ktj1891 said:
I do think he is a very good price. On the other hand I also know of a filly for sale she is by Dirks Orion and out of a mare by Cevin z. I think shes is a 2013 foal aswell to make 16hh plus. How much would you pay for her out of interest?

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She is very nice. If she was mine with that breeding i would be asking about £2000. Dirks Orion is himself a sire of some very good horses. I still like the look of the colt though, he looks a nice type to me, ideal fun allrounder type with lots of colour.
 
I really like them both. Love the colts colour but I had my heart set on a filly. Can probably get colt cheaper but have to geld him etc.
 
The filly is nice. However if you're planning on getting a youngster it really is worth finding livery that is more geared up for youngsters, or perhaps even a stud that will let you livery your youngster on. IME the best environment for growing foals is as much turnout as possible (although they do seem to appreciate having a sleep in a stable for a couple of hours a day) in a mixed herd with youngsters to play with and older nanny horses to teach them lessons. Of your gelding is already being bullied due to being too quiet he may not be the best nanny horse, it is important they are taught manners and makes a world of difference to how they behave with you too
 
ktj1891 said:
It is hard and I really want a spotty, mare ideally and I have been contacting appy/knabstupper breeders about them as I cannot seem to find anything that is old enough to ride that isn't over my budget!
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I suggest that you save up a bit more, especially as you ideally want a mare. There are few around at about £3k which is not particularly expensive. Do check that the parents are registered correctly though and if they are not, find out why not.
 
Friend has a whitehawk spotty and I also have met two of her half brothers. Friends is by knabstrupper stallion out of a tb x welsh mountain pony mare. Nice type, going through terrible teen type stage at 4 years old but I think when we come out of the other side shell be very nice as an all rounder. She is sharp, stubborn as the day is long and opinionated but equally will try her heart out for you and is quite quick to learn. Her brothers seemed not dissimilar in what I know of them.
 
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