Those of you who got really cheap or free horses!

[Flight]

Basically where did you find them? Have been looking in usual places. I can afford to keep another horse as have own land etc but need one asap as a companion. Don't want to spend more than about £300 but would like something I can ride in the future. Happy to have ex racer or project as long as it not going to kill me. Any suggestions?

 

[Phoebe+Sophie]

Could you have a rehome a rescue?

 

[soloequestrian]

Mine was in 'ScotAds' which is a local classified paper.
You could have a look at WHW too.

 

[Jesstickle]

If you don't mind an ex racehorse the easiest thing is to just phone any trainers in your area and ask

 

[superpony]

With the ex racers the best way is to contact trainers directly they often give them away or sell them cheaply to good homes

 

[Mare Stare]

Have you tried Dragon Driving?

It's like the charity shop bargain box of the horseworld.

My boy Dooney was a freebie. (Not from the internet though)

 

[Nannon]

The auctions? Got my baby at £150 and there were some going very cheap?

 

[chickeninabun]

this one keeps popping up on my weekly/daily Horsemart searches...

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/other_horse_19_yrs_3_mths_16_2_hh_bay_leicestershire/advert/200232

I got my OAP pony (ginge in my sig) from Germany, just paying for her to get here, approx £400, through a friend who knew the yard in Germany.

 

[missponymad]

Basically where did you find them? Have been looking in usual places. I can afford to keep another horse as have own land etc but need one asap as a companion. Don't want to spend more than about £300 but would like something I can ride in the future. Happy to have ex racer or project as long as it not going to kill me. Any suggestions?

I got my Appaloosa ( in my display picture ) for £200 the owner only wanted a good home for him and wasn't worried about the price, I didn't get him of the Internet though it was a friend of a friend. You should just ask around, I'm sure someone will turn up! Good luck x

 

[missponymad]

Basically where did you find them? Have been looking in usual places. I can afford to keep another horse as have own land etc but need one asap as a companion. Don't want to spend more than about £300 but would like something I can ride in the future. Happy to have ex racer or project as long as it not going to kill me. Any suggestions?

I got my Appaloosa ( in my display picture ) for £200 the owner only wanted a good home for him and wasn't worried about the price, there was nothing wrong with him, hes an eventing horse and hopefully going to do some one and two events next year!I didn't get him of the Internet though it was a friend of a friend. You should just ask around, I'm sure someone will turn up! GOOD LUCK! X

 

[Stacey6897]

I got given a horse that had been subject to a loss of use claim but came sound with rest, now doing well at unaffiliated Novice level ODEs, another one was given to me after scaring it's owners, I got a rescue pony for a donation and an ex racer from preloved.

If you're happy to put the work in they are easy to come by, too easy sometimes...

 

[Silmarillion]

My mum bought hers for £1. It was only circumstances though, really, that led to it (lady needed to sell the mare but she hadn't been ridden in two years, would cost more time and money to bring her back into work to sell than she was actually worth, so we "took her off her hands" for a nominal sum).

I'm sure they are out there, though I'm not sure they are necessarily advertised... maybe try advertising yourself?

 

[fidleyspromise]

I was looking for a Welsh C cheap companion and typed this in google along with area, i.e. Highlands.

The ones that came up were out of my price bracket but a cute Newfie came up. I enquired about her but she was sold. They did have 2 others for sale though and I bought one delivered for £250. She's now going to be backed

 

[FairyLights]

I bought from Brightwells Auctions. But,a word of caution. A cheap horse isnt necessarily "cheap" they will possibly need vaccination,maybe veterinary care,need gelding,and so on. Mine were bought as weanlings. A long time til rideability. You do need to have some savings in the pot for unexpected costs too. I love my horses and am glad I rescued them from the meat man, but they still cost , and not all of it is the purchase price.

 

[Aoibhin]

had 3 that cost £1 over the years & all 3 have a special place in my heart (all came from freinds/word of mouth).

 

[cptrayes]

You could do really well from a wanted ad on Horsemart, especially if you can offer references as to what a nice and loving and permanent home you will be able to give a horse. Lots of people are needing to cut costs drastically and just want to see their horse loved by someone else.

 

[SophieLouBee]

I like the bargain box reference to DD, although I wouldn't fuel the fire for some of the people that sell on there...
Preloved is also good.

I got a 6yo mare who although green, had been out showing and jumping for £450 at the very end of Malvern performance horse sales at Three Counties, I call it the graveyard shift as it's just the meatmen/dealers left usually.

You can pick up lots of cheap things from the auctions this time of year too.

 

[LOZHUG]

Not sure where you are but I have just seen this add

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/cobs_horse_10_yrs_14_2_hh_black_staffordshire/advert/201950

 

[PingPongPony]

Here's another one for you this one is free!

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all_rounder_horse_12_yrs_16_2_hh_chestnut_cambridgeshire/advert/201974

 

[milesjess]

Auctions are a great one for very cheap horses.

 

[toomanyhorses26]

I got my £50 horse through the wanted ad I placed - it was either me or the meat man - poor girl - she was and still is very green and is prone to strops of epic proportions but still worth the money

 

[bumblelion]

Paid £1 for my companion idx, saw him in an ad in local tack shop.

 

[topclass]

I got my shire whom ive just lost throught the WHW for £150 and my Clydesdale again from WHW for £100 and a companion pony for £50 Id try there first they have lots that needs home and they know that the temperament is like aswell as cirumstances they came from.

 

[Brandy]

£405 for my ex polo pony from a horse sale.

 

[caramel]

I got mine from the sales and he was one of the more expensive ones! at £900. I'd go back to the sales (the sales where I got my boy has now closed), or dragon driving. They just need rooting out!

 

[ivandenisovich10]

One of mine came from ascot sales for 300 5yr old tb so far so good and I was given a 4yr old tb by his owners who were too embarassed to race him as he was too small turning out to be the loveliest pony now tho. If you want a tb do go direct to trainers my old boss was forever giving them away mostly lovely horses

 

[Milanesa]

You can pick up free/ v cheap x polo ponies which are in mid teens as they tend to retire around this age. Where are u in uk OP??

 

[Tinypony]

You could look at the Project Horses website, and maybe put a wanted ad on there.

Edited to add, I've just had a look and there are some promising horses on there!

 

[tonitot]

I work at a racing yard and was offered Ethel for free as the company that owned her shut down and they gave all their horses to the trainer/my boss who decided she wouldn't be any good and gave her to me

 

[caramel]

can look at adtrader? normally some cheapies there. or on ponyads.. there's normally some lovely ponies going cheap.