Trying to help a friend - some advice would be appreciated

[nikicb]

A friend has a lovely 7 year old 15.1 Irish cob, but he has matured to a very chunky chap and she has made the sad decision to sell him as she is very petite and he is just too big for her (to get going, to maintain outline, as well as very wide).

He's still pretty green, although he's been out to Boomerang XC and jumped a lot of the jumps (up to 2'6") and went in the water etc. He's won at least one Intro dressage test that I know of with late 60s and has done a few other nice basic level tests. He's also done a bit of low level SJ.

He hacks, loads, etc all fine. I've done RC clinics with her on him and other than being hard for her to keep going, he's been foot perfect.

He was bought at the sales in Ireland by a local 'dealer' (the lady runs a livery yard/RS but also has a through put of horses for sale). She does have a good eye for a horse, but they are typically pretty green. My friend has owned him for 16 months.

Unfortunately he ended up with a 6 month lay off with hepatitis believed to be caused by sour grazing at the dealer's livery yard. However all enzyme levels are now back to normal and he has been given the all clear with no permanent liver damage. My friend is a doctor so she understands the science and I feel will have challenged her vet sufficiently on the long term effects, but obviously she would disclose this to any potential purchasers.

I'm involved in this because I know she is really fed up about the whole sale situation having nursed her boy through the hepatitis and then realising that it will never work between them. I just want her to start enjoying horses again.

There are two things I need help on:

(1) We think he has the potential to be a good hunter type - not talking about being a hunter in terms of showing, but in terms of actual hunting. He enjoys hacking, and loathes schooling, and would be a good weight carrier as well as being very calm and good natured. However, having spoken to a couple of people involved in hunting, they say he needs to have hunted and proved himself before any hunting people would even look at him.

(2) That age old issue - price. I know how much she bought him for and that is way more than she would accept, but what honestly is the the value of a nice steady RC/allrounder chunky cob?

Thanks for reading - any help will be much appreciated. x

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I'd say - send me photos

 

[nikicb]

I'd say - send me photos

I'll pm you - I don't want this to be pulled as advertising as I'm really trying to help her. Thank you. x

 

[JFTDWS]

Sounds lovely! No idea what he'd be worth, or about the hunting scene, though, sorry!

 

[Lolo]

Hunting, contact a your local hunts and ask for recommendations for people to take him out. Al's taken a few out through people doing this, and it's not a tremendously dear solution to getting him out (they pay her cap and then her usual rate I think). If he's sensible and sweet out hunting, and then has all the rest under his belt too, he'd probably sell quite easily for £3.5k... Then maybe more if the right person wants him.

 

[showpony]

Agree with lolo, great advice re getting him out hunting! On another note would you drop me a pm with name of yard bought from in Ireland. IM over here and yo does sell to uk so may know the horse! QUOTE=Lolo;12070966]Hunting, contact a your local hunts and ask for recommendations for people to take him out. Al's taken a few out through people doing this, and it's not a tremendously dear solution to getting him out (they pay her cap and then her usual rate I think). If he's sensible and sweet out hunting, and then has all the rest under his belt too, he'd probably sell quite easily for £3.5k... Then maybe more if the right person wants him.[/QUOTE]

 

[Goldenstar]

To sell well and easily as a hunter he really needs to have hunted , and at 15.1 and wide he might be difficult to place as a hunter although it would depend on the type of country your target areas hunts have.

 

[Lolo]

If he is good out, then I'd follow on and say see if there are any PC meets he could go to. Only if he's good though, because those are mental... He sounds pretty nice for the lower budget PC family, in that he's proven he's not mad at shows and is sweet generally, and if he hunts it would be the cherry on the cake.

 

[Costypop]

If he is perfect for her but it's just his size and due to him being young and not together, why send to a professional dressage rider for a while, they will make him light as a feather, bring him all together then your friend could have lessons to get the right feel. It's a thought but seems a shame to sell just due to his size if he great and all other ways

I was going to sell my youngster due to similar reasons, couldn't get him off the leg, bucked like billyo, leaned, won't go in an outline, wouldn't p-off in canter but wouldn't stop either. Sent him away and you only have to think trot and he does, doesn't break any more, works on a lovely outline with a very soft mouth, and you have to say is woah in canter to come back to trot, I would of never believed it, my family and friends are amazed at the change in him. Yes I've still got to learn his buttons, but he is very manageable for me now, and in years to come I can myself doing so much together, all of which I'd never of thought possible. I also had the extra I didn't want, thought he stop at 15.1hh but has made 16hh and is still going. I've finally got the perfect horse for me.

 

[Clodagh]

If he is perfect for her but it's just his size and due to him being young and not together, why send to a professional dressage rider for a while, they will make him light as a feather, bring him all together then your friend could have lessons to get the right feel. It's a thought but seems a shame to sell just due to his size if he great and all other ways

I was going to sell my youngster due to similar reasons, couldn't get him off the leg, bucked like billyo, leaned, won't go in an outline, wouldn't p-off in canter but wouldn't stop either. Sent him away and you only have to think trot and he does, doesn't break any more, works on a lovely outline with a very soft mouth, and you have to say is woah in canter to come back to trot, I would of never believed it, my family and friends are amazed at the change in him. Yes I've still got to learn his buttons, but he is very manageable for me now, and in years to come I can myself doing so much together, all of which I'd never of thought possible. I also had the extra I didn't want, thought he stop at 15.1hh but has made 16hh and is still going. I've finally got the perfect horse for me.

If she likes and trusts him, I would go down that route too. May be worth trying in the first instance, professional schooling needn't cost a fortune.

 

[nikicb]

Sounds lovely! No idea what he'd be worth, or about the hunting scene, though, sorry!

Thanks, he is lovely, just not the right horse for her.

Hunting, contact a your local hunts and ask for recommendations for people to take him out. Al's taken a few out through people doing this, and it's not a tremendously dear solution to getting him out (they pay her cap and then her usual rate I think). If he's sensible and sweet out hunting, and then has all the rest under his belt too, he'd probably sell quite easily for £3.5k... Then maybe more if the right person wants him.

If he is good out, then I'd follow on and say see if there are any PC meets he could go to. Only if he's good though, because those are mental... He sounds pretty nice for the lower budget PC family, in that he's proven he's not mad at shows and is sweet generally, and if he hunts it would be the cherry on the cake.

Now that's interesting as that was what she paid for him and had intended to let him go for less than half that. I'm struggling to work out what he is worth, but my gut feel was that that was far too cheap. I wish Al was closer! Our PC is doing some cubbing soon, I wonder whether we can pay one of the capable teenagers to take him out. Thanks for that idea.

Agree with lolo, great advice re getting him out hunting! On another note would you drop me a pm with name of yard bought from in Ireland. IM over here and yo does sell to uk so may know the horse!

Thanks, but the dealer is based in England but bought him in Ireland.

To sell well and easily as a hunter he really needs to have hunted , and at 15.1 and wide he might be difficult to place as a hunter although it would depend on the type of country your target areas hunts have.

Thank you - I've never hunted so know very little about it. We're in West Berkshire if that helps. I just thought that if I ever did go hunting, I would prefer something safe and sane. He is bay by the way, not a coloured cob, I don't know whether that makes any difference in the hunting fraternity.

If he is perfect for her but it's just his size and due to him being young and not together, why send to a professional dressage rider for a while, they will make him light as a feather, bring him all together then your friend could have lessons to get the right feel. It's a thought but seems a shame to sell just due to his size if he great and all other ways

I was going to sell my youngster due to similar reasons, couldn't get him off the leg, bucked like billyo, leaned, won't go in an outline, wouldn't p-off in canter but wouldn't stop either. Sent him away and you only have to think trot and he does, doesn't break any more, works on a lovely outline with a very soft mouth, and you have to say is woah in canter to come back to trot, I would of never believed it, my family and friends are amazed at the change in him. Yes I've still got to learn his buttons, but he is very manageable for me now, and in years to come I can myself doing so much together, all of which I'd never of thought possible. I also had the extra I didn't want, thought he stop at 15.1hh but has made 16hh and is still going. I've finally got the perfect horse for me.

If she likes and trusts him, I would go down that route too. May be worth trying in the first instance, professional schooling needn't cost a fortune.

That was something that crossed my mind as well, although he is very wide round the barrel for her. I think someone with longer legs would be a better match and I could see him quite happily as a man's horse. I think I have persuaded her to put him into schooling livery (read bootcamp!) with my instructor (who is dressage oriented and schools my young horse for me as well) for a couple of weeks to prepare him better for sale. It will be interesting to see how much he changes. I think though, she has made up her mind that he is not the right horse for her, and after all this is meant to be fun. It's a hard one. :confused3:

 

[splashnutti1]

he sounds lovely and very similar to my lad who came from Ireland. I paid £2000 for my lad as a green 4 year old and he has matured into a big lad but luckily isnt strong.

I would say your friends horse is easily worth 3k if he is safe and can pop a jump and do a baisc dressage test and if he can get out and prove himself hunting then more the 3.5k mark.

I took my lad on one of the hunts pleasure rides first off before actually hunting to see how he settled. He had hunted in Ireland and done well before i got him. Your freinds lad may well have hunted in Ireland, could you find out any history?

 

[splashnutti1]

Out of interest does she have him advertised on facebook? if he is the one i saw he is a stunner

 

[millikins]

The Staff College and RMA Sandhurst Drag Hunt have meets in Berkshire. Their opening meet is 13th Oct, they have first timers days and always have a 2nd fieldmaster to help beginners. Or ask on their FB page if anyone would take him out for your friend. Cheaper than "proper" hunting too!

 

[wallykissmas]

I'd say - send me photos

I say please don't out them on here ! He sounds lovely. Can you find someone who would take him cubbing to add to sales pictures ?

I think if he is a nice alrounder about £3k Mark.

 

[nikicb]

he sounds lovely and very similar to my lad who came from Ireland. I paid £2000 for my lad as a green 4 year old and he has matured into a big lad but luckily isnt strong.

I would say your friends horse is easily worth 3k if he is safe and can pop a jump and do a baisc dressage test and if he can get out and prove himself hunting then more the 3.5k mark.

I took my lad on one of the hunts pleasure rides first off before actually hunting to see how he settled. He had hunted in Ireland and done well before i got him. Your freinds lad may well have hunted in Ireland, could you find out any history?

Out of interest does she have him advertised on facebook? if he is the one i saw he is a stunner

Thank you, there seems to be some consistency on the price people are coming up with and it is a lot more than she was originally thinking. I don't know about history, I can ask her, but I'm not sure whether she knows much more than me as regards to that. I've put his ad in loads of FB groups, so it's quite likely you've seen him.

The Staff College and RMA Sandhurst Drag Hunt have meets in Berkshire. Their opening meet is 13th Oct, they have first timers days and always have a 2nd fieldmaster to help beginners. Or ask on their FB page if anyone would take him out for your friend. Cheaper than "proper" hunting too!

Thanks for that - I just had a look at their FB group and although it's a closed group, I can see that one of my friends is a member so may ask her more about it.

I say please don't out them on here ! He sounds lovely. Can you find someone who would take him cubbing to add to sales pictures ?

I think if he is a nice alrounder about £3k Mark.

I think she definitely needs to get more pictures - I might even go and see her on Sunday and see if we can get some nice side on conformation ones. He's a well built chap, so it would be good to get some pictures showing that. £3k does seem to be around the right level.