where do you all find your bargain horses?

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zoon

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I read a post recently about how much everyone had paid for their horses and I am gobsmacked! I can't find anything decent within my budget.

I am looking for something around 16hh, 4-9 years, preferably a gelding and not cobby to do a bit of dressage, hacking, maybe the odd ODE, but mainly showjump. I don't mind something green that I need to wor with, but nothing ridiculously unexperienced. I went to see a horse today that I really didn't like and the lack of decent horses at realistic prices is getting me down! I have a budget of about £4000 at the moment, even more if my insurance pays out for my current horse (very compicated!) and I don't think thats unrealistic considering I paid a lot less that that for the current horse who is a complete star.

So can everyone please reveal their secrets to finding decent horses without bankrupting myself? I'm in Kent by the way if anyone wants to help with the search!

This is the sort of thing I've been looking at - do you think I'm being unrealistic expecting to get something like this for under £4000?
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM8...HorseDetail.asp
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM8...HorseDetail.asp
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM8...HorseDetail.asp

And it is complete coincidence that they all happen to be greys - I don't care what colour it is!
 
Lol erm snap. I'm looking for a very similar horse in the same area and am struggling too. Not because of money just because there doesn't seem much for sale that really grabs me! also considered the three you have posted but there are things with each of them that have stopped me calling them.
 
I think bargain horses are there for the finding - it just takes a while to actually get one that suits you.
If its any consolation I'm the same too, but in Yorkshire!
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I like the look of the 1st grey btw.
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I read a post recently about how much everyone had paid for their horses and I am gobsmacked! I can't find anything decent within my budget.

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Ditto this i couldn't believe how little some people pay for fab horses when ever i have been in a position to buy there is nothing at any of the bargain prices some people seem to find.
I saw the last grey on horsemart the other day and have to say it really caught my eye if there was a chance you could get them to bring the price down would definatly be worth a look!
 
i bought my mare off of this forum, paid a daft amount for her, she will be up for sale for 4x what i paid for her.

keep hunting, the right one will come along, annoying though isnt it, when your not looking theres 100 horses you want!
 
get yourself off to a warranted sale such as Brightwells at Leominster held every month.

some nice sorts regularly go through...AND its warrented, and there is an on site Vet.
 
Gina - what is it you are looking for? I saw a mare today that was rather nice but I just didn't get on with her. She was very green and advertised for £6000 but I know her owner will bring that down considerably for the right home. She has fab breeding and lovely paces and also a very bold jump, but I went there thinking I'd dislike her as she's a mare and I did even though she didn't put a foot wrong!
 
I also had this problem this summer, i wanted something with more scope than my coloured boy and i got a big shock with prices. I ended up buying a very skinny warmblood 4 year old that had just come over from holland and was so green. He has been worth all the hard work though, just keep looking!
 
anything 14.2 to 16.2hh i think.

Over 3 yrs, must be backed and have a little bit of experience. Would prefer under 10yrs but not essential

Must hack alone and in company

I'd like an all-rounder that could do everything at local level, I'm not looking to do any major competing for a while just want to have a bit of fun. I don't mind green. Must be willing, sane and safe.

If it has the potential to do dressage in the future that would be a bonus.

I don't like TB's or heavy cobs. I really love greys.
 
Gosh - I thought it was just me! Looking for a 15.2 to 16hh good all rounder 6 - 10 years old - want an established horse for low level RC work and happy hacking - must have the 3 S's! - safe, sound and sensible! Like looking for the proverbial rocking horse sh*t!! I have a decent budget (up to 6K) but nothing at all in my area (Glos, Worcs, Warwicks) - anyone any ideas please!!!!!
 
By the way I'm seeing two 15hh young connies tomorrow so if you like that sort of thing i can let you know how i get on. They are advertised for £4500 and £5000. The one I liked has sold but they have two more so I thought I'd try them!
 
I had this problem, all of the horses iliked were very expensive. I bought a foal which was cheaper and i also don't have to pay for someone else's work. Until he is old enough to ride i will loan horses, have one on loan now. Seems to be working very well.
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Gina, yes please let me know how you get on.

The ad reference for the mare on horsemart is HM847MBA9. She is unbalanced in canter, especially on the right rein but has really beautiful paces and a good jump - you can see the potential is there but she rides like a baby. I think she has done very little as the owner is too nervous to ride her. What put me off is that she was very mareish, nothing nasty just pulling faces but it annoys me - I've never lked mares so shouldn't have really gone as I was negative form the very beginning!
 
We are also looking for a similar type, although don't mind natives or cobs and can't find anything. So many for sale - but none that sound right or are affordable anywhere near to our area!
It is true when you aren't in a situation to buy there is many that sound nice! The search goes on . . .
 
I would think the owner of the third one would be making a big loss if hey took £4000 for him. Any horse that is competing at 1m10 in Ireland would sell for at least 5000euro if it was decent looking, which would have equated to £4250+ when the sterling was far strnger against the euro 2-3mths ago.
If I came across him for 5500euro over here Id snap him up, if hes even half as nice as he looks!

As for were Ive found my bargain horses - one my friend and I bought from a farmer found through word of mouth. He was a 2yo Touchdown colt we bought for 1500euro and sold for 12xOP within 6mths after castration and backing.
Another I bought off the travellers for 350euro and sold for 4000euro 5 days late - she was a coloured 14.2hh 4yo by Cavalier Two for Joy that I saw tethered in a field at the top of my road.
The third bargain horse I got, I was given by her breeder in return for wrking for him. She was a nice little premier broodmare who produced 3 lovely sporthorses/ponies by Boherdeal Clover(2 14.2hhs and 1 15.2hh) before she died.
My other horses werent exactly bargains - though I did get my jumping pony very cheaply many years ago as she was a rearer.
If you are quite knowledgable on cnformation etc try some of the better sales. Ask an instrctor to look out for somehing for you - mine certainly used to.
 
This is where I'm going:

http://www.prestwoodfarm.com/

I'm seeing Ross and Prince. Prince doesn't instantly grab me but I'm interested to see him in real life. They also have 5 more coming in; in the next week or so. All 15hh plus

The one you saw looks nice but she doesn't grab me as a fun alrounder. I've just sold a serious competition WB and I'd like to take a step back from that for a while as he did dent my confidence, not through nastiness just the knowledge of his immense power!

Mareish doesn't bother me too much - my last mare was a git for that!!!
 
Gina, if you don't find something more local to you, Wendy King (in Norfolk) always has nice, sensible, quality horses in, though might be slightly over budget.
 
Im in the same boat, however, my budget is half that of yours and Im looking for an allrounder, 16 hands, able to pop round a 2'6 course and do a prelim dressage test, be good in traffic and the usual to shoe, clip etc. Went to see one but it wasn't as described. Have seen a youngster so may go and see that. Cant decide whether to view it this weekend weather forecast is not good and if I cant ride I don't see much point in viewing him. Would you still go to see a horse in this weather??
 
Well i suppose it depends what facilities they have really. If i can ride in a school then that would suit me for a first viewing as I'd want to go back at least once and then could hack. would be a bit of a waste if you couldn't ride at all though
 
That's a shame. I would prefer to buy though. I've had two lovely horses on loan before but it's heart breaking if the owner ever wants them back!!
 
If all else fails I have a yearling for sale, bred to showjump/event. KWPN x TB and absolute darling to handle despite still being entire. All his siblings are performance horses, the only reason for selling is too much work on at present to do him justice. Priced to sell at £3,500, haggling possible .
 
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