Sourcing Horses From Ireland

legyield

legyield

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I'm currently looking for my next horse and I've got a real liking for Irish horses. I've decided that, instead of spending lots of time/money trailing up and down this country, it might be wiser to travel to Ireland and find them directly from there instead.

I've been told by a few people, including a few Irish, that it might be best to travel over there soon if I want to get a bargain. With the euro doing quite badly I've been told there is often a deal to be had (although I am well aware of all the other costs involved so may well just end up costing me the same!)

I'm sure there must be a number of members of this forum who have done this before and I'm hoping to find out others' experiences. I've had Irish and ISH horses in the past and me and my YM have been toying with the idea for a while.

I'm curious as to how much, generally, a nicely schooled, substantial, 16hh+, under 8 year old irish horse would be? I'm not looking for the next world beater but something that I can enjoy high-level RC activities on. I'd love to know the process and if I would be best finding an agent/finder type person to get the work done for me so I can just go over and view? Has anyone done this before? Did it end up costing an arm and a leg?

Any advice/stories/experiences/tips appreciated. Thanks :)
 
No help sorry but will be following this post. It sounds like you are looking for a similar horse to what I will be looking for, although I'd like something about 16.2hh and under 7 years, that will hunt among other things :)
 
Have various friends who have gone over and brought back lovely horses via Jazz Horses (they are on facebook) but I would also pm/speak to Measles on here as she brings over very nice horses from Ireland too.
 
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i live in ireland..beside cavan equestrian centre where there are sales on every other month and alot of the horses go across the water from the sales.
at the moment there are great bargains to be had because we are in a "recession".
i would say you would definaitly get a better bargain buying a horse yourself from here and travelling it over than buying an irish horse in england...
i know of one that was bought here for 2800 euros by an english dealer and was sold on for 7000 sterling.a few days later.
pm me if you like, i could give you numbers of some good dealers here in ireland......also have a look on donedeal.ie in the horse section...lots of horses on there for sale at good prices
good luck with your search
 
Did it not work out with that grey one you just got? Yes, I think you do get more for your money in Ireland, as of course once a horse is imported over here the price goes up straight away.
Having an agent line you up a lot of horses to try while youre over there makes sense, it would get expensive if you were going over to see one or two horses, repeatedly. Good luck :)
 
I would love to do this too but I don't really have the balls or knowledge! Send me one of your cast-offs please :-D

I assume you just go over there, find one at a dealer or wherever after various visits and arrange with a transporter to have it brought over, is it that simple?

I pretty much only look at Irish drafts and ISH now!

I looked on here earlier:

http://irishhorseimports.co.uk/

There are a few I could afford but I can't help but think they bought them for a heck of a lot cheaper!
 
I bought an Irish horse here in England after considering going over there, I had a friend who did this, by the time you have paid your transport and accommodation costs, travelled the horse back etc there isn't a lot in it especially using an agent. Also very difficult to return the horse if there are issues. Having said that I would have gone had I not found something here...but not because I thought it would save me masses. :)
 
The cheapest way of doing it is privately ie private sale not a dealer or agent. Transport costs in the region of £300 but some a bit more and some less. There is a good web site called Done Deal with some very nice horses on it but also some utter rubbish (bless them). Best of luck.

Always bear in mind that the Irish look on their horses as an investment alone. Sort of a walking bank account! They are very very open to haggling over prices but don't take the pee as they don't like it! Keep your eyes wide open and always get a vetting done.
 
legyield said:
I'm currently looking for my next horse and I've got a real liking for Irish horses. I've decided that, instead of spending lots of time/money trailing up and down this country, it might be wiser to travel to Ireland and find them directly from there instead.

I've been told by a few people, including a few Irish, that it might be best to travel over there soon if I want to get a bargain. With the euro doing quite badly I've been told there is often a deal to be had (although I am well aware of all the other costs involved so may well just end up costing me the same!)

I'm sure there must be a number of members of this forum who have done this before and I'm hoping to find out others' experiences. I've had Irish and ISH horses in the past and me and my YM have been toying with the idea for a while.

I'm curious as to how much, generally, a nicely schooled, substantial, 16hh+, under 8 year old irish horse would be? I'm not looking for the next world beater but something that I can enjoy high-level RC activities on. I'd love to know the process and if I would be best finding an agent/finder type person to get the work done for me so I can just go over and view? Has anyone done this before? Did it end up costing an arm and a leg?

Any advice/stories/experiences/tips appreciated. Thanks :)
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I could have written this post myself!

I do have a friend who is goes over to Ireland regulary and is going this week with a view to coming back with a few. Where abouts are you based legyield? Once i've picked out the one I want I could give you her details! lol
 
Interesting. Very informative and useful replies, thanks.
The mare I had has gone back for a variety of reasons as I only had her on trial.
I've been looking at donedeal and there are some lovely horses but there's an equal amount of rubbish too!
stephaniekate - will pm you
 
Depends on what you mean by high end riding club - a horse with the ability to do BE Novice or lower?

I know of a few lovely horses for sale privately at the minute but they have done aff eventing to novice and have had some good results.
What is your budget?
Ps. I live in Ireland!
 
The prices will definitely vary hugely depending on who you go through.

The best value to be had is via a private seller:
For the type of horse you are looking for; well produced with some mileage/record who will compete up to perhaps 1/1.10, Pre-Novice/1* you are looking at probably around €6k to €8k at the moment.
You will get about 3k cheaper for a green but nice model and pay more for something that has a record at 1.10/1.20 and at 1* level but they are going for around €10k.
Buyers market at the moment.

For private sales, donedeal.ie seems to be the main medium right now (some very nice horses amongst the other rubbish). The Irish Field also has some nice horses for sales, while the the word of mouth network is priceless.

Through a dealer you will expect to pay more. An example I had one priced at €10k last year but he was put to the client at €15k.

As mentioned it is typical to see horses sold here for <2-3k being sold for double in the UK (in sterling) within a couple of weeks.

The other option is the sales - Goresbridge or Cavan. Typically the popular sales are for the 3/4yr olds but there are sales with older proven horses. It is indicative of the current economic climate that there are some really super horses going through the ring (1* & 2*/1.20/1.30 horses) at the moment for about a quarter of what they would have made in the good times.
Also if you buy at the sales you can pretty much organise transportation right there and then.
At the moment if you see a nice horse with a record going for the sales get yourself there as the vendor obviously needs to off-load and will not want to take them home.
Cavan and Goresbridge will send out catalogues.

Best of luck.
 
Sounds like you've already had some good advice here...I have to admit going over to buy in Ireland is something I have considered doing in the future.
I think you can probably get some good deals, especially with youngesters if you're willing to put the work in when you get them home.
 
Contact Robin Dearing up in York

01377 270264

Not only does he source Irish Horses for the Mounted Police but he is a NFU Assessor

He is the best person to do business with!
 
I'm hoping to do some low level affiliated in all disciplines at some point. Budget for the horse, about £2.5k? The "finder" type person I know said that she wouldn't be able to fit me n until mid-late August so wondering whether to brave going over there without one lined up?
 
I have had a few from cavan and gorsebridge.

Go online and apply for a catalogue, see if you like anything and arrange to go.

There are transport companies at the sales so very easy to arrange getting them home and cheaper than doing it privately!

You can also buy before auction if you want a deal, but this way none of the sales terms and conditions ect apply. It is often better than paying silly money at auction if the seller agrees for a sale.

You can arrange vetting on sight too.

Havnt done this for a few years now but plan to go over at some point and buy a couple to produce and sell.

:D Good luck with your search
 
badgermyers said:
I have had a few from cavan and gorsebridge.

Go online and apply for a catalogue, see if you like anything and arrange to go.

There are transport companies at the sales so very easy to arrange getting them home and cheaper than doing it privately!

You can also buy before auction if you want a deal, but this way none of the sales terms and conditions ect apply. It is often better than paying silly money at auction if the seller agrees for a sale.

You can arrange vetting on sight too.

Havnt done this for a few years now but plan to go over at some point and buy a couple to produce and sell.

:D Good luck with your search
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The only thing about the sales that worries me is not being able to ride them beforehand. Are the horses usually quite genuine/as described that come through the ring?
 
I tend to have unbroken or just backed ones.
Never had a problem but I do buy them to bring on and sell or compete.
I am not the kind of person to get worried if it turns out a little quirky or not quite as described I just work them through it and they usually end up being a product of what I've done with them.
I work with what I have gone in front of me.

Usually if its scopey, careful and moves well I like it and it should do what I need. Everything else I can work with.
 
Legyield a friend of mine said the other week that you can ride the horses at Gorsebridge/cavan sales, I dont know if this is correct or not, when i bought my mare 8 years ago you couldnt ride but they had riders there who would show you the horse/jump etc so it may have changed in the last few years, just contact the auction houses, they both have websites.
 
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