What would you expect to buy with £2k?

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FleabittenT

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A good friend of mine is currently horse hunting. Her budget is £2,000.

She's looking for an allrounder, something to have a bit of fun with, maybe SJ locally, hack at weekends. Nothing earth shattering!

Probably 15-16hh, preferably something could live out. She's happy to school on but doesn't really want a major project or a youngster (if that makes sense!)

What would you expect to find for £2k?

Thanks
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Not alot!

Sorry for being so blunt....she will either find something unbroken or with issues.
 
Depends where you live and what you actually want to do...no you won't find a competition horse but you should be able to get a happy hacker/RC horse...perhaps either on the young or older side.

I never paid any more than 2K for any of mine.....and they are all fine and dandy- you don't have to spend mega-bucks but you need to look around and know what you are looking at.
 
actually you can my friend has a 16.2 shire x gypsy cob for sale is rideable and lives out for £2000 so it can be done
 
i dont think she will find much tbh unless its a youngester that needs brought on or an older horse i think she should be looking at £3500-£4000 for what shes wanting but then im in scotland the market might be different up here
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She could get a low level allrounder for that amount I would have thought.

Possibly a reschooled ex racehorse, possibly just a heinz 57 type horse that is nice enough and good to hack etc but never going to do more than a bit of low level RC type stuff. I think she will find what she wants for her budget, but it will probably need some work.
 
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She's looking for an all rounder, something to have a bit of fun with, maybe SJ locally, hack at the weekends. Nothing earth shattering

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To be honest I think she will need to increase her budget. The type of horse you are looking for in in great demand, so many people want that type of horse. When something is in high demand the price goes up . I know that every dealer in the land would be pleased to have a stable full of these types as they could sell them all day long. I wish her luck in her search.
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Thanks all, & for links Poppymoo
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She's in south wales, so maybe cheaper than some places (although I guess maybe not as much choice?)

Going along to see a couple at the weekend with her, both under £2k, one through her RI & one through local tackshop.

She's fairly realistic but I suspect she'll fall for something well over budget & ending up selling her car / child to buy it
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She could look at a less fashionable breed. I brought my beautiful, well bred Arab gelding, 9 yo, for £2,000. He was advertised on Arabian lines. He had a good show record, was good with loading, all the usual stuff, and hacks well. I admit he was a bargain, but sometimes people are in a hurry to sell and bargains can be found.
 
I would say its possible - obviously she is not going to go out and buy a 5* eventer, but she could find something to have a bit of fun on!!

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/9_yrs_16_0_hh_bay_thoroughbred_gloucestershire/83975 - is advertised for 2.5kono so she could always make them an offer!!

http://www.horsemart.co.uk/advert/8_yrs_16_3_hh_dark_bay_thoroughbred_wiltshire/83482

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/Ado...location=Equine - Burford&pg=1

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/Ado...location=Equine - Burford&pg=4

Good luck for your friend and her search - she will find domething just might take time!
 
I think for that price she could probably get something suitable for hacking, but if she wanted something sane, sound and healthy that will showjump reliably at local level then she might need to increase her budget. Depends what quirks or problems she is happy to put up with - factors such as whether the horse has sweet itch, mild arthritis, is difficult to load or hard to catch, is in late teens, is grumpy or bolshy to handle etc will all bring the price down.
 
It is possible i got my boy 15.3hh AA (in sig) For £1200 he was green and needed some work but is fabby now. Is she capeable of taking on a youngster or something a bit quirky?
good luck in your search, you will find something.
 
She might need to accept something that is cheap for a reason, sweet itch, or a stable vice, a disfigurement, a headshaker, some sort of behavioural issue or whatever.

She needs to decide what she can put up with and what is a deal breaker. My RI would happily buy something that is reduced due to sweet itch as she has one already and is used to dealing with it. Our YO has had a nightmare with one in the past and won't touch them with a bargepole. I also know someone who got a bargain dressage horse she couldn't have afforded normally because it is a headshaker and another who has a horse who cribs but was vastly reduced.

Again unfashionable colours and breeds will be a better deal, as will unpopular heights and "undesireable markings". Chesnut mares can be difficult to sell, as can 14.3hh horses as they are too big for horse classes and too small for most people looking for a horse. Animals that are just over or under the height for the class you would normally compete them in can be a bargain too.

Things like dishing or plaiting, being a bit cow hocked or pidgeon toed can reduce the value of a horse without effecting its performance much too.
 
My friend is selling her TB mare for somewhere around that price. Does BD, and bits of showjumping - they are selling as she doens't really enjoy cross country. She is good to hack - snaffle etc and a nice horse to be around. She is 10 this year.

She did have a buyer, but on the vetting it was noted that she had a cataract in one eye. I have never had a horse with a cataract, but understand there are a fair few horses out there with this who are not significantly affected by it. If she was only wanting a horse for hacking and bits of jumping, maybe this wouldn't be a problem for her?
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I think some people are totally wrong about what you can buy! Just because you do not pay big bucks does not mean you'll get a second rate horse!

I bought my horse at start of summer last year for just over 1k encluded tack, rugs etc and he is totally perfect. He can do a bit of everything dressage, jumping, schooling, hacking etc etc and i havent had a problem with him!

I think the key is to hold on and look around (dont impulse buy and go home after and think about it 1st). It took me nearly a year to find him but he was worth the wait and the many horses i rode and travelled round the county's to look at!!

Just stick in there
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I think they're are plenty around for that budget quiet frankly, you just have to look. For some reason people think you should pay daft amounts for what is a 'nornmal' run of the mill nice horse. Just because horses are advertised at a certain amount does not mean they are actually selling!!!

Have a good look and you will find. I think you'll probably be able to get something for between £1500 to £2000 that will fit the bill.
 
I bought mine for 2k as an 8yo. Bargin, excellent hunter, excellent potential for dressage, just had never done much sj.

Went to County shows last year in working hunter, and did not look one bit out of place compared to all the "mr cruise control" types that were there!
 
QR - please be aware that some of the links to horses posted on this thread are from some really badly rated dealers
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Personally, if I were your friend, I would save a little longer
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I don't think you can get much of what she wants for so little money.
 
Last horse i bought was for my daughter who is really nervous and i got a beautiful black welsh cob for £600 from a dealer i know. daughter showed him 6 times last year and won every time out .if he was any more relaxed he'd be lying down. if you can get the name of a dealer by recomendation that is the best way if you haven't got a lot of money to play with, or buy a youngster. depends how much you want to do you can get some really good youngstera for very litle money at auction or direct from breeders.
 
2k I would expect something either a bit older than perhaps desired, or a bit greener.

I've got 2 mares and spent 2k on them.

1 - for £500. 13.1hh so smaller than i'd wanted. 12/13 so perhaps a little older too. She was green schooling wise but fine to hack. Well, shes turned out to be a real gem, compete all RC with her, showing, ODE & 3 day unaff, and got up to novice dressage with her so far.

2 - unbroken rising 3 year old Anglo arab with nice breeding, very well handled and given a good start in life.

I wouldnt expect to be buying anything 'ready made' or 100% in all ways for 2k. have to go in with an open mind and prioritise what is really important/ what you dont mind working on.
 
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Depends where you live and what you actually want to do...no you won't find a competition horse but you should be able to get a happy hacker/RC horse...perhaps either on the young or older side.

I never paid any more than 2K for any of mine.....and they are all fine and dandy- you don't have to spend mega-bucks but you need to look around and know what you are looking at.

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Totally agree.
 
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