Using a Horse Agent

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Waxwing

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I am not actively looking to purchase for the next few months but I have been looking at adverts to get an idea of what is available and what prices are currently doing. I was wondering if anyone had used a horse agent to assist with their search and if so how successful this had been. I would be looking for a family/ first horse type. I won't start actually looking until I have a realistic budget saved.
 
I tried two without any luck and much expense. They would just send me unstable ponies and actually one was extremely unprofessional and rude on a viewing when my nervous daughter didn’t want to try out the pony (it was as green as grass which was obvious from the moment it was ridden. We were looking for a been there done it PC pony. It has also never left its yard as was only 5). I had been looking for so long I had hoped they would be the answer.
 
Fizzandfun said:
Also, they would send me ponies that were already advertised. They didn’t have a secret source or any useful contacts.
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Following this thread with interest. I'm struggling to find something in my budget that is safe, sound, or not being sold by a dodgy dealer.

I'm wondering how these agents come by these horses, I'm quite specific on what I'm looking for and I feel I am proactively covering all websites and bases in my search which is ever broadening.

I've considered using an agent in the past but can't see how they can do more than me if I'm honest.
 
Birker2020 said:
Following this thread with interest. I'm struggling to find something in my budget that is safe, sound, or not being sold by a dodgy dealer.

I'm wondering how these agents come by these horses, I'm quite specific on what I'm looking for and I feel I am proactively covering all websites and bases in my search which is ever broadening.

I've considered using an agent in the past but can't see how they can do more than me if I'm honest.
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I don’t think they can, they may “know” of horses but in all likelihood they are just scrolling the same adverts as you!

I personally have never heard anyone use one successfully!
 
I’ve used an agent and viewing service, successfully, but in Ireland.

Before instructing the agent, I’d searched myself in the UK for roughly six months with not even a viewing.
 
Just take someone more experienced than you that you trust (such as your instructor) to viewings, or take them to a second viewing if you find something you like. You know what you want, and maybe try and find by word of mouth through horsey friends.
 
There are some agents in Ireland (The Trayfords, or Beth Burton for eg) who have contacts with professional yards and would definitely find horses which are not advertised and be able to help with a search, ride the horse and give some feedback etc - but I'm not sure for the absolutely non-competitive market
 
It’s common place for competition horses that come with a higher price tag but in general it’s not financially viable for agents to work with amateurs on safe all rounders.

Budgets are normally lower and these buyers are a lot more labour intensive for an agent.
 
I tried a well known UK horse agent.
First horse I viewed I didn’t even get on. It was at a semi dodgy dealers yard, tried to rear with the rider.
I viewed a couple more. The only one that was half suitable was over budget without their commission on top and still had some question marks about suitability - it had remedial shoes and when I asked why they just said the horse was ‘comfier’ - no explanation as to whether this was a vet led decision.

In the end after a frank conversation with the agent they said I was unrealistic with my budget and they couldn’t help unless I upped it by 10k.

I found my current horse with my original budget on my own.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I think that you’d be better contacting off a reputable dealer who specialises in amateur friendly horses, and waiting for them to come up with something.
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absolutely this.

Try contacting Rowton Stables, they tend to get some lovely types in and have a great reputation
 
I tried one in Ireland. Much was promised and many were going to be viewed, so I booked a plane ticket and hotel and went over.

Nope, she didn't produce what I was looking for. Hardly any to view. She wanted to go shopping, which is not what I was there for (non horse shopping). Waste of time.

I would look at Jack Thomas Watson in the north of England. He has many types, some are riding club type, some fancier. The price is on the higher side but issues are declared, so if the price is lower, he will tell you why. He has an active FB page.
 
Red-1 said:
I tried one in Ireland. Much was promised and many were going to be viewed, so I booked a plane ticket and hotel and went over.

Nope, she didn't produce what I was looking for. Hardly any to view. She wanted to go shopping, which is not what I was there for (non horse shopping). Waste of time.

I would look at Jack Thomas Watson in the north of England. He has many types, some are riding club type, some fancier. The price is on the higher side but issues are declared, so if the price is lower, he will tell you why. He has an active FB page.
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Red-1 said:
I tried one in Ireland. Much was promised and many were going to be viewed, so I booked a plane ticket and hotel and went over.

Nope, she didn't produce what I was looking for. Hardly any to view. She wanted to go shopping, which is not what I was there for (non horse shopping). Waste of time.

I would look at Jack Thomas Watson in the north of England. He has many types, some are riding club type, some fancier. The price is on the higher side but issues are declared, so if the price is lower, he will tell you why. He has an active FB page.
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JTW has an excellent reputation.

Sadly it's an 8 hr round trip for us 😬
 
I really don't think there are any easy ways to find a horse other than word of mouth, even then be wary!

Even the best in the country have to trawl the adverts and go to viewings that may be unsuitable....we had William Fox Pitt turn up at our yard last year to look at a horse for one of his kids...I know I was shocked, you'd think he would have the pick! We chatted and even the man himself said "finding kids ponies is a nightmare" 🤣🤣🤣 It made me feel better!
 
millitiger said:
I don't think horse agents become useful until you're at £20-25k minimum budget.
Then you're making use of contacts and networking and start to see horses not on the open market.
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This TBH they have their use especially if buying youngsters abroad. For what you want I’d try make use of experienced contacts you already have around you to help.
 
Meryl Connaught has a good rep for amateur horses in Ireland - Grassroots types not the super fancy competition horses.
I would also use Daisy Trayford in Ireland, cheaper to send her off to look at horses and get videos and an opinion than wasting time with a flight and disappointment. She is a flat viewing fee so you are not being suckered into % and back handers.
 
I had a similar experience to @Ceifer so much so I wonder if it were the same agent 🤔

They got shirty with me for not buying the one they felt on paper ticked all my boxes, tried pressuring me to buy much bigger than my already fairly broad range, sent me videos of horses that were clearly unsound, when I mentioned it they went from waxing lyrical to “oh yeah I see what you mean”. Final straw was when they sent me an ad to a horse with a known dodgy dealer who was apparently a personal friend of theirs.

I walked away wondering if these setups are actually in cahoots with some of the iffy dealers and preying on those with less knowledge/experience as it seems most of their clients are looking for first horses/bombproof types, rather than in my case something smart enough to go up the levels with but sane enough to happy hack.
 
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