To buy or not to buy..

[marmalade76]

I've sold my current horse for half what I paid (long story short, he is naughty in a way I'm not prepared to put up with and have sold him to someone who used to loan him so knows he can be a toad but loves him anyway) so looking again but on a much more limited budget. I want to go back to a pony and thought it wouldn't be too hard, which it wouldn't if I wanted a cob but I don't want a cob, I want a pony. Other limiting factor is I don't want to travel too far (I'm just not a good traveller).

I tried a little mare last week, well bred (in fact her full sister has just won a pony eventing championships in Ireland), just turned 9, green but will do the jobs I want her to do, down side is that she is currently in a rather rough home - her feet are awful, tack is awful, riding shocking - you get the gist? She's been there 15 months.

So would you or wouldn't you?

 

[Birker2020]

I've sold my current horse for half what I paid (long story short, he is naughty in a way I'm not prepared to put up with and have sold him to someone who used to loan him so knows he can be a toad but loves him anyway) so looking again but on a much more limited budget. I want to go back to a pony and thought it wouldn't be too hard, which it wouldn't if I wanted a cob but I don't want a cob, I want a pony. Other limiting factor is I don't want to travel too far (I'm just not a good traveller).

I tried a little mare last week, well bred (in fact her full sister has just won a pony eventing champions in Ireland), just turned 9, green but will do the jobs I want her to do, down side is that she is currently in a rather rough home - her feet are awful, tack is awful, riding shocking - you get the gist? She's been there 15 months.

So would you or wouldn't you?

Well the tack and the riding aren't so important for now so putting aside those for a second, are her feet conformation bad as this could cause issues if this has been neglected for a while? If her toes are very long and her heels low this may have caused strain on the soft tissue in her feet and legs which could be a potential issue.

Do you have access to a good farrier that will be able to work with you over a period of time to get her feet balanced?

Are they feet that can be improved by good nutrition and proper long term care? And are you prepared to/can you afford to get her on a proper shoeing cycle of every five or six weeks? Going 8 or 9 weeks is false economy.

Are you planning on having her vetted prior to purchase?

These are questions you need to be asking yourself. She may be the horse for you but you might need to put some work in initially to start with.

But there's no reason to think her problems are insurmountable. Good luck if you do go ahead.

 

[J&S]

All the more reason to buy her and get her up to scratch!

 

[Trouper]

Rescue her!!! She'll probably love you forever - all other issues can be sorted.

 

[Polos Mum]

With a limited budget there will always be compromises (indeed there might be with massive budgets too!)

What's the risk the bad tack / riding has made her sour or caused back pain that she'll remember
Likely she won't have been wormed properly or teeth done or vacs - so budget for lots of catch up on all that - as well as the more obvious feet.

If you have a trusted farrier maybe send some pictures to him to get an idea of whether they are just neglected or have underlying issues - hard to split the two.

If she's a bit poor and over worked - will she have the same temperament when feeling fit and well ?

If you've had one not work out recently are you sure you want a project or is it just that she's the best available at the moment?

We're coming into winter in tough economic times so I'd expect more to come up for sale - but nice ponies can be worth their weight in gold so - up to you really where you personally are happy to compromise.

 

[Maryann]

If she passes a thorough vetting - yes.

 

[marmalade76]

If she passes a thorough vetting - yes.

A vetting only passes the horse on the day and as far as I can tell, she is sound ATM despite the shocking feet, as someone above said, it's something popping up in the longer term (due to neglect, the 'wrong' sort of work) that would be a worry but I suppose you could get that with any horse.

 

[cauda equina]

Of course you could
The bargain cobs I bought looking ropy were sound for ever, the posh sporty horses I got from reputable yards broke within months/ a couple of years

 

[marmalade76]

With a limited budget there will always be compromises (indeed there might be with massive budgets too!)

What's the risk the bad tack / riding has made her sour or caused back pain that she'll remember
Likely she won't have been wormed properly or teeth done or vacs - so budget for lots of catch up on all that - as well as the more obvious feet.

If you have a trusted farrier maybe send some pictures to him to get an idea of whether they are just neglected or have underlying issues - hard to split the two.

If she's a bit poor and over worked - will she have the same temperament when feeling fit and well ?

If you've had one not work out recently are you sure you want a project or is it just that she's the best available at the moment?

We're coming into winter in tough economic times so I'd expect more to come up for sale - but nice ponies can be worth their weight in gold so - up to you really where you personally are happy to compromise.

Agreed, there's always a compromise somewhere whether you're paying £1k or £10k.

Yes, neglect to an extent is what I'm suspecting, shoes were put on the morning I tried her and I'm guessing she hadn't been trimmed for some time, she was covered in bot eggs, she's not poor and not been over-worked at least recently, she actually felt rather unfit.

Yes, she is the best available ATM, I did try another BRP who was lovely, a fair bit older, beautifully schooled but just a little too small.

I also believe there will be a LOT more to choose from as we come towards Christmas.

 

[smolmaus]

I would, if the price reflected the poor state of the horse. If they were trying to sell her for a decent chunk of money based on breeding rather than the horse they currently have I would be hesitant to give them it out of principle.

 

[dorsetladette]

Agreed, there's always a compromise somewhere whether you're paying £1k or £10k.

Yes, neglect to an extent is what I'm suspecting, shoes were put on the morning I tried her and I'm guessing she hadn't been trimmed for some time, she was covered in bot eggs, she's not poor and not been over-worked at least recently, she actually felt rather unfit.

Yes, she is the best available ATM, I did try another BRP who was lovely, a fair bit older, beautifully schooled but just a little too small.

I also believe there will be a LOT more to choose from as we come towards Christmas.

If your considering her enough to write this post I think she is worth another viewing if nothing else. If she's unfit it would suggest the badly fitting tack and bad riding haven't influenced her negatively to much.

As other have said get some photos of her feet and email your vet or farrier and see what they think. Is the pony close enough that you could be there at a vetting and have your vet do it?

Take into consideration the cost of physio, new saddle, feet, jabs restarting, teeth when or if you put an offer in.

 

[marmalade76]

If your considering her enough to write this post I think she is worth another viewing if nothing else. If she's unfit it would suggest the badly fitting tack and bad riding haven't influenced her negatively to much.

As other have said get some photos of her feet and email your vet or farrier and see what they think. Is the pony close enough that you could be there at a vetting and have your vet do it?

Take into consideration the cost of physio, new saddle, feet, jabs restarting, teeth when or if you put an offer in.

She's two hours away.

I have an excellent farrier and I don't think the feet will be a long term problem and am prepared to have to sort everything else - I doubt very much that she's vaccinated, wormed, had her teeth done, etc.

In discussion, despite "lots of timewasters" and "terrified kids", they're not in a rush to sell and her "sister will have her to get her going". My opinion is the longer they keep her the more value she will lose but didn't dare say so, obviously! She's £2.5k which is my buying budget, the other costs are not a problem, I keep a horse already, it's a horse for a horse.

 

[Birker2020]

She's two hours away.

I have an excellent farrier and I don't think the feet will be a long term problem and am prepared to have to sort everything else - I doubt very much that she's vaccinated, wormed, had her teeth done, etc.

In discussion, despite "lots of timewasters" and "terrified kids", they're not in a rush to sell and her "sister will have her to get her going". My opinion is the longer they keep her the more value she will lose but didn't dare say so, obviously! She's £2.5k which is my buying budget, the other costs are not a problem, I keep a horse already, it's a horse for a horse.

I say go for it then. You have your head firmly screwed on by the sounds of it. Good luck

 

[eahotson]

A vetting only passes the horse on the day and as far as I can tell, she is sound ATM despite the shocking feet, as someone above said, it's something popping up in the longer term (due to neglect, the 'wrong' sort of work) that would be a worry but I suppose you could get that with any horse.

Talk over your concerns with the vet, prior to vetting and then when he/she has seen the pony.Be guided by the vet.Have you anyone else to go with you to see this pony and to give you any opinions they may have?

 

[marmalade76]

As for current horse - he does buck for fun (cantering in groups if not in front and I can't go in front out hunting) which is annoying but not the reason he's going, it's the fact that he's horse aggressive/ food aggressive when other horses are near (as in the next stable/other side of the fence) which has led to a not insignificant vet bill and me getting kicked twice.

 

[cauda equina]

She sounds like a good prospect - no horse is perfect and you take a risk whatever you buy

 

[marmalade76]

Talk over your concerns with the vet, prior to vetting and then when he/she has seen the pony.Be guided by the vet.Have you anyone else to go with you to see this pony and to give you any opinions they may have?

Yep, experienced friend came, she was horrified at first (as was I) but warmed to the mare.

 

[Annagain]

Are you really asking people here if you should buy a pony? You know the answer will always be yes .

On a serious note, you're going into this with your eyes open, you're prepared to deal with issues, you can afford her and you will certainly give her a better home than she has now.

We've been saying since the start of Covid that prices are bound to drop and people are bound to be selling but I can't see any evidence of that at the moment. I don't think you can bank on there being loads soon in your price range.

Do it.

 

[marmalade76]

Are you really asking people here if you should buy a pony? You know the answer will always be yes .

On a serious note, you're going into this with your eyes open, you're prepared to deal with issues, you can afford her and you will certainly give her a better home than she has now.

We've been saying since the start of Covid that prices are bound to drop and people are bound to be selling but I can't see any evidence of that at the moment. I don't think you can bank on there being loads soon in your price range.

Do it.

????

 

[dorsetladette]

Sounds like she ticks more boxes than she doesn't. You sound like you are going in with your eyes open. I'd arrange a vetting and be there (potentially with trailer/lorry id you own one).

 

[marmalade76]

Advertised prices aren't dropping ATM, but it certainly seems that horses are taking a lot longer to sell, during covid they'd sold before you even got the chance to call the seller.

 

[Boulty]

Sounds like she ticks the important boxes & should come right with a bit of tlc & good care & isn't priced too extortionately considering current prices. Would go for it if you like her

 

[marmalade76]

Thanks all, watch this space!

 

[dorsetladette]

Thanks all, watch this space!

We need photos when she's home ?

Sorry couldn't resist and HHO really 'helped' me make a decision when we bought Reggie.

 

[Lois Lame]

I've sold my current horse for half what I paid (long story short, he is naughty in a way I'm not prepared to put up with and have sold him to someone who used to loan him so knows he can be a toad but loves him anyway) so looking again but on a much more limited budget. I want to go back to a pony and thought it wouldn't be too hard, which it wouldn't if I wanted a cob but I don't want a cob, I want a pony. Other limiting factor is I don't want to travel too far (I'm just not a good traveller).

I tried a little mare last week, well bred (in fact her full sister has just won a pony eventing championships in Ireland), just turned 9, green but will do the jobs I want her to do, down side is that she is currently in a rather rough home - her feet are awful, tack is awful, riding shocking - you get the gist? She's been there 15 months.

So would you or wouldn't you?

Ooooh... I'd be tempted.

 

[marmalade76]

We need photos when she's home ?

Sorry couldn't resist and HHO really 'helped' me make a decision when we bought Reggie.

??

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Buy.

 

[marmalade76]

Just going to leave this here..

 

[AmyMay]

Well left!

She’s lovely ?

 

[HashRouge]

Oh yay I was hoping you'd do an update!

She looks lovely, I can't wait to see how you get along together