Thoughts on this horse

5

[59668]

...
Joined
22 March 2009
Messages
0
Visit site
Can I have your thoughts please. Pros and cons and anything I might not be thinking of.

16.1 tb. 13 years old. Raced but has mainly hunted the past 6 years. Has been a hireling, used for more novice types to bring them home safe, references to say how well behaved etc he is. Has showjumped with the previous owner. Currently hunting once a week at least.

Would be for the OH mainly to hack, but also for me to hunt once a month perhaps a bit more and maybe showjump/event in the off season.

So I'm thinking he sounds quite high milage. This is reflected in the price though. But then of course you never really know and some go and go.

My questions are:

-would he be worth a punt?
-what would you say he is worth?
-should I run a mile?!

Thanks
 
He's done/doing way too much for me to ever be interested, but that's just my personal opinion/preference.

If he's just going to be used as a light hack and then hunt occasionally, he might be fine.

What type of racing did he do, and for how long?
 
As a long time ex racer owner I would say if you dont mind a gamble then give him a go if he is cheap. Very cheap. Personally I would be looking at £500 maximum, as early teens is often the age you'll start to see things like arthritis developing. Bear in mind my recent one, a 9 yo, 16.2hh, only raced and never hunted, cost me the massive sum of £250 and he is a sweetheart. It would be worth paying for a vetting, even if it costs nearly as much as the horse!
 
Nudibranch said:
As a long time ex racer owner I would say if you dont mind a gamble then give him a go if he is cheap. Very cheap. Personally I would be looking at £500 maximum, as early teens is often the age you'll start to see things like arthritis developing. Bear in mind my recent one, a 9 yo, 16.2hh, cost me the massive sum of £250 and he is a sweetheart. It would be worth paykng for a vetting, even if it costs nearly as much as the horse!
Click to expand...

Wow, he's cheap but far more than that. Far, far more. Thank you - having never looked/bought this type before I don't really know what is worth what!
 
[deleted user] said:
Wow, he's cheap but far more than that. Far, far more. Thank you - having never looked/bought this type before I don't really know what is worth what!
Click to expand...

If he is a reliable safe sound hunter, sensible jumper, and currently sound, then he has a definite worth.

If on enquiry, and digging around through people who know him hunting he ticks all boxes, then have him vetted.

There is a counter argument if he has reached teens staying sound, and without noticable arthritis, he might stay sound another ten years.
 
But if he was a hireling, is now in a private home where he hunts and SJ and owner is selling him, she probably would prefer a good private home over selling him back to be a hireling again.

Edited to add meant to quote Oldie48 in my reply.
 
OP do you know why he is for sale?
WH99, every ex racer I've know to develop arthritis has done so early teens, so I'm always wary of 12/13 yo's coming up for sale.
 
We bought one like this 6 years ago. Cost 2500, most folk thought we were mental however I'd pay 10 times that if we had to do it again. He's had some lameness and we do have to manage him, he's had his hocks and SI injected, but at 17 he's fit, well and sounder than when we got him at 11. He's looked after my novice OH and taught him a hell of a lot whilst remaining safe, I've hunted him where he looked after me and he's an absolute pleasure to own.
 
Meant to add, there are lots of ex racers out there, have a look on Facebook, Horses4Homes etc. Not saying he isn't the one, but might be worth a bit of research.
 
Nudibranch said:
OP do you know why he is for sale?
WH99, every ex racer I've know to develop arthritis has done so early teens, so I'm always wary of 12/13 yo's coming up for sale.
Click to expand...

Hi. He is for sale as the previous owner had him hunting fit for her OH who never did enough with him. So he has gone to sales livery to be sold on behalf of the owner, which is where he is currently hunting a lot more.

Worth adding I trust the sales livery implicitly, so don't think there are any questions there - I am more concerned with his long term prospects, price and how wary I should be!
 
If all his racing was in NH and P2P, then presumably he wasn't started very young? I thought that it was mainly the ex flat racers, started at 18 months, who go wrong later?

Sounds like he is worth a punt to me, to do your job, as long as he passes a vetting by a very experienced equine vet.
 
Tiddlypom said:
If all his racing was in NH and P2P, then presumably he wasn't started very young? I thought that it was mainly the ex flat racers, started at 18 months, who go wrong later?

Sounds like he is worth a punt to me, to do your job, as long as he passes a vetting by a very experienced equine vet.
Click to expand...

I have a very good vet so that's ok! Having looked at his record he ran his first of 22 P2Ps in 2007. Last raced 2011. So he was 6 when he first raced.
 
Sorry I read it that he was currently a hireling! I've bought 4 horses as 11/12 year olds. Not ex racers but 3 of them had evented, one up to intermediate level, only one of them turned out to have issues, rotated pedal bone as a result of laminitis which only showed up when he was hunted. So if you like him I'd go for it but I think he should be under the £1k mark.
wingedhorse99 said:
But if he was a hireling, is now in a private home where he hunts and SJ and owner is selling him, she probably would prefer a good private home over selling him back to be a hireling again.

Edited to add meant to quote Oldie48 in my reply.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Yes I would consider him .
One of my horses who raced from two to seven years came to me after a major injury at eight he hunted did a little eventing did a bit of everything was PTS at 24 he worked right up to having to be PTS , I think he got colic.
Almost all older horses get some degree of arthritis and you will have to learn how to manage older horses issues as he ages but that is the same as any horse.
I would however no matter how cheap he is have him vetted so you know where you stand .
I have bought several older horses who despite failing the vet have been great purchases but you need to learn how to manage the horses health and soundness .
A horse that's safe and reliable is worth the trouble .
 
[deleted user] said:
Can I have your thoughts please. Pros and cons and anything I might not be thinking of.

16.1 tb. 13 years old. Raced but has mainly hunted the past 6 years. Has been a hireling, used for more novice types to bring them home safe, references to say how well behaved etc he is. Has showjumped with the previous owner. Currently hunting once a week at least.

Would be for the OH mainly to hack, but also for me to hunt once a month perhaps a bit more and maybe showjump/event in the off season.

So I'm thinking he sounds quite high milage. This is reflected in the price though. But then of course you never really know and some go and go.

My questions are:

-would he be worth a punt?
-what would you say he is worth?
-should I run a mile?!

Thanks
Click to expand...

Depending on price, and conformation, i'd have him vetted and would buy him subject to him passing a 5* vetting for you are waning. Hunt horses are usually quite expensive regardless of what they have done before- as long as safe, and sound mentally and physically.
Have him vetted :)
 
If your confident as you say in his reasons for sale and that there is no underlying issues I'd not be ruling him out because of what he's done. You could miss out on a diamond that way.
I looked for ages some time ago and turned down every horse that sounded good but wasn't perfect. The horse I eventually chose and had vetted (and bought) was 100%. He was however pts 6 years later after constant severe health issues. I loved him to bits and am glad I had him but often look back and think how much better off I'd have been had I not turned this one or that one down due to age or the fact he had or hadn't done things.
Obviously be careful but he sounds lovely
 
I think I paid about £20-25/plate for the last lot I had done..... I know my vets do a bundle for them if you're having a lot done,

(I have the feet done as a bench mark as much as to see what's going right/wrong, esp with TB Feet)
 
Oh and current horse is a very high miler! Ex hireling. Majorly hunted and over schooled for many many years. He is arthritic and on danilon as and when but still going, still hacking, would hunt quietly and managed to chick me off a few months ago! He's now 17 and I think will go on for ages yet at this slower pace
 
Interesting that many posters on this thread have not placed a decent value on this horse for what he is. I would pay significantly higher than what has been mentioned on here. Hunters are not cheap, and a hunter as safe as this guy appears to be, would be worth his weight in gold. An ex-NH horse who is sound and doing the job he's been bred for would put him in a much higher calibre than the stereotypical 'ex-racer' price bracket.
 
Being high milage wouldn't put me off as long as he is what they say he is. I ride and show a 27yr old who spend almost 20 years as a commercial carriage horse and ridden horse. He's been lame twice in the 4years I've know him. He can be a little stiff sometimes but so can i.
 
The fact that I can have references and have been offered the chance to hunt him speaks volumes to me to be honest. I'm not the bravest but have hunted and I event - just have the feeling we could offer this guy a lovely home and have a lot of fun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top