Where are all the decent horses then?

Many are being sold for peanuts by well meaning but inexperienced, numpty, over-horsed owners. The horse will be described as having behavioural issues, or perhaps back problems, but it's often overfed, mishandled unhappy and confused. If you've got the time and the inclination, and good instincts there are some real bargains out there... and that really is a 'rescue'.

*this post is for my WelshD Sam, who is the gentlest creature known to man, sold for meat money as 'unbreakable' and a kicker, because he reacted to his jumpy, shouty owner - they frightened each other half to death!
 
pennyturner said:
Many are being sold for peanuts by well meaning but inexperienced, numpty, over-horsed owners. The horse will be described as having behavioural issues, or perhaps back problems, but it's often overfed, mishandled unhappy and confused. If you've got the time and the inclination, and good instincts there are some real bargains out there... and that really is a 'rescue'.

*this post is for my WelshD Sam, who is the gentlest creature known to man, sold for meat money as 'unbreakable' and a kicker, because he reacted to his jumpy, shouty owner - they frightened each other half to death!
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I will second this - ALL of my horses have come from people who sold (or gave away) because they were "unrideable".
 
It's really hard. Lots under produced for the money or selling at x price because of breeding.

The pony that arrived with me has turned out to be a bit of a steal but needs lots of flatwork. But was kids pony and kid was over horsed. Those are often good ones to go for but does depend on your experience and skills. Otherwise it may be worth calling/emailing a few pro riders in whatever discipline and asking if they have anything suitable. Generally there will be something, but either not quite polished enough or planned to do a few more outings before going up for sale. Find riders you like and give them a shout.
 
I've been looking the last year for a horse - and getting a bit despondent.

The problem is, I have already owned my "perfect" horse, I lost him last year after 15 years of happiness together.

At my age, I want something that is safe, sensible, chunky, about 10-ish - but they are just not on the market - everyone is holding onto them.

I could go and buy a youngster, which may be my best option as I can back/bring on as I like, but my old bones won't take the punishment of riding a youngster - the mind is willing, the body is not!!

I have a good budget and am happy to pay the right price for the right horse - just got to find it.

Hey-ho - search goes on!
 
I think the made safe sound allrounder will often stay in the same home for life as it will be exactly what the owner wants and they will never "outgrow" it, the few that do come onto the market that are really 100% will either command a premium price or will change hands without ever being advertised.
I sold one earlier this year by a chance encounter to someone looking for livery, they met their "new" pony and got a livery place at my yard all in one day, last year I sold a super cob to a person local enough to be able to hack to his new home, again through word of mouth, the one I have in currently has not yet been advertised but there is already someone interested through a wanted ad I responded to, he is one that ticks all the boxes and is an unusual breed with very few on the market, I expect him to go fairly quickly even if we do need to put an advert up.
 
Goldenstar said:
TBH I think a reduction of 1500 for a horse with sarcoids is fair enough I have spent a heck of a lot more than that on getting rid Fatties sarcoids .
They can cost a fortune to treat and the problem is ongoing and your never free of them .
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But she hasn't GOT sarcoids! both vets thought it was either rubs - or fly bites, it was just outside possibilities sometime! Hell, if you look into the future for maybes, NO horse will pass! My oldest horse - now 24 - who had a massive sarcoid removed at Liverpool University just before I got him at 8, has never had another! And of maybe a dozen horses who had one or more over the last 6 years (after the last horse arrived plastered in them), only one has got another since (and that has now gone.) Most have been treated with rings and freezing. So nowhere near as expensive as Liverpool Cream. Now I just spend a small fortune on killing flies around the yard. So far it's working!
 
I've got a fab one which IMO everyone should want but I bet she won't sell, and to be honest she's so good Im perfectly happy if she doesn't! The honest, nice ones are always overlooked for cheap or cruddy ones!

Sarcoids-wise, so out of interest would you expect to pay less if the horse had 2 old sarcoid scars which were totally flat (and dead) and showed no other signs of any sarcoids anywhere else? I could understand paying less if the horse had ACTIVE sacroids that needed treatment etc. but not if they're old/dead ones... just a scar like anything else.
 
I judged a PC fun show at the weekend and saw a number of young horses/ponies ridden by inexperienced riders. I felt quite sad as riders were struggling as they knew very little and I could see nice horses with very forgiving temperaments, not being ruined as such, but not having the sort of education they needed to make them really lovely to ride. It's very sad but I'm sure it's one of the reasons why there are so few nice horses on the market.
Kylara said:
It's really hard. Lots under produced for the money or selling at x price because of breeding.

The pony that arrived with me has turned out to be a bit of a steal but needs lots of flatwork. But was kids pony and kid was over horsed. Those are often good ones to go for but does depend on your experience and skills. Otherwise it may be worth calling/emailing a few pro riders in whatever discipline and asking if they have anything suitable. Generally there will be something, but either not quite polished enough or planned to do a few more outings before going up for sale. Find riders you like and give them a shout.
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MagicMelon said:
I've got a fab one which IMO everyone should want but I bet she won't sell, and to be honest she's so good Im perfectly happy if she doesn't! The honest, nice ones are always overlooked for cheap or cruddy ones!

Sarcoids-wise, so out of interest would you expect to pay less if the horse had 2 old sarcoid scars which were totally flat (and dead) and showed no other signs of any sarcoids anywhere else? I could understand paying less if the horse had ACTIVE sacroids that needed treatment etc. but not if they're old/dead ones... just a scar like anything else.
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Sarcoids are never "dead", they can recur at any time. Some never do, some resolve by themselves, but the possibility is always present.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
So where are they??

Everyone says that its a buyers market at the moment, and so it should be at this time of the year.

But you just try to find anything decent, and you'll struggle.

Yes I appreciate I'm looking for what everyone wants I guess, but all there seems to be on the market at the moment is just sheer rubbish frankly!

So many horses out there are just totally unproduced and are nappy, bad-mannered, rude & bolshy, won't even allow you the courtesy of standing to be mounted for example.

Or, there are serious conformation issues involved which you don't see from the photo's on the ad, such as really wide flat-backed cobs which god-only-knows why someone thought to back them in the first place as they'd be far better brought on as driving ponies. Or something that's got a 17hh Clydesdale body on 14.2 legs plus a neck like a rhino.

Or there's just the sheer nasty like one I tried which went vertical as soon as it was asked to leave the yard, and no it had "never done that before".

Is it just me? Oh I dunno........ there SHOULD be a glut of decent horses around at this time of the year, but not here they ain't :(
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Completely agree with you, when reading the adverts they are all perfect and never put a foot wrong but when you see them its a different story.
 
JanetGeorge said:
But she hasn't GOT sarcoids! both vets thought it was either rubs - or fly bites, it was just outside possibilities sometime! Hell, if you look into the future for maybes, NO horse will pass! My oldest horse - now 24 - who had a massive sarcoid removed at Liverpool University just before I got him at 8, has never had another! And of maybe a dozen horses who had one or more over the last 6 years (after the last horse arrived plastered in them), only one has got another since (and that has now gone.) Most have been treated with rings and freezing. So nowhere near as expensive as Liverpool Cream. Now I just spend a small fortune on killing flies around the yard. So far it's working!
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I have read that the Arc Equine used for tendon problems has made horses sarcoids fall off. Ive never had to try it myself.
 
I think there are a lot of nice horses about being ridden by people who want something flashy, when they should really have bought a rocking horse. Said animal then gets labelled as sharp or dangerous, and needs reschooling to sort out, or possibly just someone who can half way to ride. Vets these days are very cautious over what they pass too, which doesn't help.
 
MagicMelon said:
I've got a fab one which IMO everyone should want but I bet she won't sell, and to be honest she's so good Im perfectly happy if she doesn't! The honest, nice ones are always overlooked for cheap or cruddy ones!

Sarcoids-wise, so out of interest would you expect to pay less if the horse had 2 old sarcoid scars which were totally flat (and dead) and showed no other signs of any sarcoids anywhere else? I could understand paying less if the horse had ACTIVE sacroids that needed treatment etc. but not if they're old/dead ones... just a scar like anything else.
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Because the horse always has the virus that causes them .
You might be luckly and have the horse never have another But all it takes is a little immune stress and bam they can be back anywhere .
And they can catastrophic in terms of cost and outcome .
So if a vet a horse might have a sarcoid I would expect a large reduction in price or the owner to have it investigated even then I would be wary .
 
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