What would you compromise on when buying a new horse?

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flippa_t

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I’m interested to understand what your compromises are when buying horses (as nothing is perfect), and what are your absolute “walk aways”.

I’ve been looking for a few months for a nice young dressage horse. Sound and a good attitude are key for me, but I’m wondering if I need to compromise more on size / age etc, and things like X-ray findings if all else is perfect and it brings an expensive horse into budget.

Interested in others experiences/ decisions on this as realise it’s probably a personal preference.
 
This is very personal and I am looking for low level (up to 1.10) event horses for myself who works full time

I will compromise on (to get a good horse for a lower price)- stable vices (windsucking, etc), one that makes a bit of a noise (I am never going to be pushing them to capacity), less than perfect xrays (with consultation with vet), an older horse still going who passes a vet

I won't compromise on- very poor conformation, any kind of backwards attitude, one who feels too small even if on paper looks ok (can't change that!), a hard loader, one who is tricky to hack, a stopper / bad jumping technique.

To me its more important that the horse can do MY job, not any job, if that makes sense.
 
I'll compromise on sarcoids and some stable vices - but not boxwalking. I'd also compromise on previous injuries if the horse has subsequently returned to work at the same level as before.

I don't think I'd buy something if I knew the x-rays were bad... but i'm happy just not to know.. maybe that's a silly position
 
What is your current list of must haves/want haves?

Usually when shopping, my list is pretty small but I won't compromise on it!

Gelding
Tall
Hot/forwards attitude
Pretty face
Uphill conformation
Good leg and hoof conformation
Friendly person to handle (even if a bit thuggy!)
Friendly person to join group turnout with my boys

Most other things I am happy to consider including behavioural issues.
 
I probably wouldn’t have a grey but I definitely wouldn’t have a cribber (had one before and it limited livery options at the time). Must solo hack, doesn’t really need to jump, barefoot preferred. Must be quiet as I have a small daughter to ride with and I don’t like sharp horses. My list is probably very different to yours though!
 
Age, sex and colour are all immaterial. If a bad loader, I could probably work with that thanks to being near some people who are excellent at resolving loading issues.
I don't show, so blemishes and scars are immaterial as long as they're not causing movement issues.

Really I just shop for a nice temperament and sound. That's usually challenging enough.
 
I (may) be looking for a safe, sensible, safe hack that would be willing to safely cart me round a safe prelim dressage test and safely go to safe farm rides.

I'd be willing to compromise on pretty much everything except safe, comfortable with my weight, and budget. But I'd be leery of anything over 16.2hh or under 12yo, and I wouldn't touch another PSSM.
 
Definite no - bites, rears, bolts, very difficult to catch, very specialized diet needed.

Definite must haves- steady in traffic, under 15.2, sound, attentive/schoolable .

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️ would compromise on - registered, good pedigree, jumps high, schooled to high level , colour, breed.
 
Nothing orange

Nothing cow coloured either unless it was exceptional quality and I can't do wall or blue eyes.

Good conformation with a bit of luck, gives longevity so I wouldn't want anything that was really badly put together because once with me they stay with me to the end.

In reality it all depends on what anyone wants or expects from the horse and probably past experiences. I wouldn't touch another Welsh D.
 
I'm looking at the moment. This is my main criteria, I just want something to hack, school, fun rides, the occasional SJ class and dressage. Maybe a mini ODE too.

MUST
Be between 16.2hh - 17.1hh max, prefer 16.3hh - 17hh.
And must be a nice person, this is very important, I can't stand bitey, aggressive type horses, even if its all an act.
Be 100% open to vet.
Be a gelding, no mares as they can be too moody

A BIG NO
Anything with prior medical problems however slight or with any history of vices are a definite no no.
Anything that is described as spooky, particuarly when jumping.

POSSIBLY GET AWAY WITH
Might not hack out on own (this can be worked on as been done before)
Being grey/coloured (maybe if dark dappled grey or slightly coloured :D:D)
Anything over 14 providing it has a good work history.
 
My very new (let's see whether I gambled correctly!!) compromise was - TB chestnut mare (so not market friendly!!) with a bit less depth/bone and much, much greener in every way than I wanted. I didn't compromise on (apparent) health; attitude towards dog/retired mare/non-horsey OH, rough size, gender, temperament, rough age, hacks alone. Was prepared to compromise on some vices, didn't have to.
 
Birker2020 said:
I'm looking at the moment. This is my main criteria, I just want something to hack, school, fun rides, the occasional SJ class and dressage. Maybe a mini ODE too.

MUST
Be between 16.2hh - 17.1hh max, prefer 16.3hh - 17hh.
And must be a nice person, this is very important, I can't stand bitey, aggressive type horses, even if its all an act.
Be 100% open to vet.
Be a gelding, no mares as they can be too moody

A BIG NO
Anything with prior medical problems however slight or with any history of vices are a definite no no.
Anything that is described as spooky, particuarly when jumping.

POSSIBLY GET AWAY WITH
Might not hack out on own (this can be worked on as been done before)
Being grey/coloured (maybe if dark dappled grey or slightly coloured :D:D)
Anything over 14 providing it has a good work history.
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Is there such a thing as an established horse without any medical problems or records. They would be a rare find in the age group and size you are looking for.
 
tda said:
No need for this comment, it's not what the thread is about 😐
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Merely an observation based on looking at a lot of horses for a lot of people over many years. There will always be a compromise with any horse and if you rule any and all health issues out it will be almost impossible to find a new partner.

With modern xraying and scanning techniques available to purchasers there are plenty of 4 years olds with issues let alone the older horses.
 
Age is probably my biggest compromise now, I will not pay big money for a horse and I need something safe and reliable (I do not have the time, motivation, energy or confidence to bring something on anymore) so that just leaves oldies looking for their last home which is no problem because the sort of riding I do these days suits the older horse just fine.
 
I would compromise on bad feet as long as I saw a cause that I thought I could put right.

Potentially on front foot lameness as long as there were clear x rays.

Sarcoids as long as they were small themselves and not covering large areas (including circles in the coat colour in this).

Parrot mouth, since dentistry is now so improved.

Thuggish behaviour as long as I could see the current management was likely to be causing it.



All dependant on the price taking account of the issues of course.
.
 
Must be arab or mostly arab. Pretty, not tall and/or leggy.
Must pass a vetting for potentially serious endurance.
I buy 3 - 6 year olds so there aren't really any other criteria except, maybe, mustn't already have shown traffic, health or lameness issues.
 
I remember going shopping for an established not too big hunter aged about 10 that I could nanny clients on out hunting, and coming back with a 16.2 4 year old chestnut gelding fresh out of Ireland, having only seen his head over the stable door :oops: :)

I mean, I did go back and try him and get him vetted, but I'd pretty much made up my mind the moment our eyes met across the yard. He was a truly wonderful horse, a fabulous fun sensible hunter and a great competition horse too, stayed with me for life.

Having had a lot of greys on full livery and swearing I'd never own a grey, I ended up with five of them all at one time.

And I never expected to be the proud owner of a 15.1 cob mare but I can out and out say she is one of the best horses I've ever owned.
 
tda said:
No need for this comment, it's not what the thread is about 😐
Click to expand...

It's a pretty innocuous comment meant in what I assume is good faith? And it's correct, to expect to find a horse over 7 or 8 with zero medical history is asking for something of a miracle. Either that or they've had an owner so inept at spotting an issue I wouldn't want the horse anyway!
 
I mean... I agree that it's horse specific but there are some things.

1) Any possibility of a neurologic disease is a big no (Hence why we do neuro exams and shoot films of the neck and aim towards older horses)

2) I don't shoot down x-rays without a radiologist consultation and real world data of risk from the experts. I mean Cudo's hired vet in the UK advised me not to buy him as he was unlikely to stay sound on our footing. But when the radiologists here looked over his x-rays we were all delighted. Totally reasonable for a horse of his age and experience.

3) Looks - I would compromise

4) Height - totally will compromise, my 15hand mare was amazing and I am 5'8" in my boots. She had a great long barrel

5) Price - You can get that changed a bit

6) Experience - Can be improved or used as price negotiation

7) Ease of handling - prefer not to compromise.

8) Bad feet are tough but not impossible as I have a great farrier I have had since 2006. (Who solved Cudo's foot problems)

I will say they must have heart and enjoy the things we ask them to do.

Em
 
Rowreach said:
I remember going shopping for an established not too big hunter aged about 10 that I could nanny clients on out hunting, and coming back with a 16.2 4 year old chestnut gelding fresh out of Ireland, having only seen his head over the stable door :oops: :)
Click to expand...


🤣🤣🤣
 
Wouldn't have anything that's actively dangerous (unless it's obviously as a sign of poor handling/ulcers etc so fixable and would have to have lots of other perks) , unsound, extremely spooky or lazy. Temperament is key, that's impossible to truly change and I spend so much time with them it's important.
(endurance rider, so it's not like i'm just putting up with some quirks for a showjumping round, i've got to be able to spend all day with them without feeling more than usually close to death 😅)

Literally everything else is negotiable although I prefer smaller horses/ponies and mares.

Had a ridiculous mix of horses over the years, from a 14hh welsh D to a 16.2 french trotter. Once went shopping for a 14-15hh arab or native cross and ended up with a 16hh PRE freshly backed at age 12...
 
IrishMilo said:
It's a pretty innocuous comment meant in what I assume is good faith? And it's correct, to expect to find a horse over 7 or 8 with zero medical history is asking for something of a miracle. Either that or they've had an owner so inept at spotting an issue I wouldn't want the horse anyway!
Click to expand...
Absolutely in good faith, I am new on the forum, why would I want to upset anyone.

No one will beat my compromise, in the 1990's I popped into the local farm to buy a few hundred weight of oats and came back with a cob colt.
 
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