To buy or not to buy...What would you do?!

[Penguin_Toes]

Hi everyone

I’ll try and keep this as brief as possible! Basically I’m looking for some honest advice from like minded people.

I’ve been riding a very sweet 16hh mare for a friend of mine. She is only 4 years old but is an absolute dream, she is wonderful in the school and I have hacked her out a couple of times and she has been very sensible, even when overtaken by tractors. I know some of you will say it doesn’t matter, but she also has excellent breeding and I think she has bags of potential.

Basically as you can probably tell I have fallen completely in love. My plan was to buy a horse next spring after my wedding for about £2000, however this mare is for sale now, and I’m wondering if I should grab the opportunity. My thinking is that I would never get bored of her, and she would hopefully last me into my 40s before I retire her!

Of course there is a catch; she is £4000, which would use up every last penny of my savings.

I suppose my question is, what would you do? She is everything I would look for in a horse, but it makes me feel uneasy to spend all of my savings – it would only take one bad MOT etc. for things to be difficult money wise.

Also, I wondered what you all thought of the price?

On the plus size my partner is very supportive, and while things are tight at the moment we are both hoping for pay rises at the end of this year when we both hopefully pass our qualifications.

Wine and Pringles for anyone who got this far!!

 

[Holly Hocks]

If you feel that she's your horse of a lifetime, then go for it. You don't often find one you feel really strongly about. Bad MOT? That's what credit cards are for!

 

[Gluttonforpunishment]

Personally i wouldn't do it.

If something happened and you needed the money what would you do?

You'd be heartbroken if you had to sell her because things got tough.

Get married, qualified and settled financially and then go horse hunting.

Really tough to walk away from a lovely horse but there will be others like her.

 

[ELFSBELLS]

me being me, i'd go for it, you only live once!

 

[magichorse]

Have to say that I'd go for it. You say that she's a friend- is there any chance you could pay her the £2000 you'd budgeted for now, and the rest in installments?

 

[Hollycatt]

Can you make an offer on her? I have sold horses more cheaply than I should to the right home and never regreted it. Maybe her owner may do the same? Depends how much they want to sell and their circustances, but a cash offer in this market may be tempting

 

[Pebbles]

If you feel that she's your horse of a lifetime, then go for it. You don't often find one you feel really strongly about. Bad MOT? That's what credit cards are for!

^ ^ That! It's so hard to find 'the one' and you clearly have after such a lovely long trial period, however unplanned that was so go for it and be happy!!

 

[Penguin_Toes]

Thank you for the advice guys!

Gluttonforpunishment - that is exactly how I feel at the moment, I'm going through cycles of thinking thinking its either a great/terrible idea.

I never thought of paying in installments. I'll look into that as it might be the perfect solution, I'd have a contigency fund for at least a few months. She is a good friend so I'm sure she'd be open to it, plus I'd want to keep it at her yard so she'd get a bit of extra revenue that way.

Thanks again!

 

[Kenzo]

I'd offer less and if they won't budge I'd have to walk away as hard as it may be, you never know what is round the corner, so you need to be financially stable, even more so when you have a horse, mortgage etc

Don't forget there are always plenty more lovely horses round the corner too.

But you don't get unless you ask, so offer what you can comfortably afford, the seller may consider 'home more important than price' too.

Good luck, hope all works out for you.

 

[Cuppatea]

Have to say that I'd go for it. You say that she's a friend- is there any chance you could pay her the £2000 you'd budgeted for now, and the rest in installments?

Can you make an offer on her? I have sold horses more cheaply than I should to the right home and never regreted it. Maybe her owner may do the same? Depends how much they want to sell and their circustances, but a cash offer in this market may be tempting

/\/\these!!/\/\
explain to her that you love her and want to buy but cant afford the full price and would she as your friend do a deal?!
She can only say no!

 

[SusieT]

Is she a mare you can bring on within your talents? What do you plan to do with her? what is your past experience? To spend money that would stretch me on a horse I would need to know it was perfect for my needs. Assuming you will also get ehr vetted

 

[Honey08]

Sorry, but I'm the one who is going to rain on your parade and say that she is too much at £4k. I'd say nearer £3k for a 4yr old. I paid £3k for a well bred, 16.2 4yr old - lovely paces and nice nature...

Would she accept less as she is going to a good home and a friend? We will be selling our pony later this summer, and a lovely family at PC are interested. I'd knock £500 off straight away for them as they would be the type of home that I dream of finding for him...