Why is it so hard to buy a horse?

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Dozy Mare

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I would just like to start by saying I actually have the horse I want - I'm just stuck in a position where I can't do anything with her. I had hoped to BE this year with her but she acquired a very unstable condition which means nasty medication and that I would be putting her at risk by competing her at this level. She is currently a very fluffy happy hacker and just generally loving life...alright for some!

I have actually been looking for around 3 months now, I've probably seen well over 2 dozen horses, 4 of which I've had second viewings on and 3 of which have gone to vet. Most of the horses I've seen have been inaccurately described (from minor embellishments to outright lies) or completely overpriced (£2.5k for a horse that wasn't even balanced enough in trot to trot around an arena and £3k for a TB straight off the track - also a cribber) and for the most part I've had more luck with dealers than private sellers. The one horse I had a second viewing that didn't go to vet was a napper and I just felt was too much for me to deal with despite being well aware of what he was before I turned up (he could be pretty dramatic with it!)

The three I've had vetted were:
  • A thoroughbred straight out of racing which had a conformational issue (and an owner that was an absolute nightmare).
  • A 5yo ISH mare by a Selle Francais stallion with a dealer that was very nicely natured, a good mover and real scopey. At the vetting we found 4-5 sarcoids - trust me I'd looked her all over and not seen these (you literally needed a torch between her legs!) - and because I'll more than likely have to sell on in 12 months, this is a no go. The dealer she was with, I know very well, and was as surprised/mortified about the sarcoids as I was.
  • The final was with a very well known Yorkshire dealer who specialises in Irish horses (please feel free to PM me to ask about this one). I did my homework and knew several people who had bought from him, met him a few times and saw the horse a couple of times too. She was lovely, just what I was looking for, not necessarily scopey but very genuine. She was 5yo ISH and on my first viewing was fresh as a daisy (she'd been kept in as the liveries got priority for turnout and the walker was broken) but good as gold. He turned her out the night before the second viewing and she banged her leg but we all liked her and agreed to have her vetted once the leg had improved. Two weeks later, I'd repeatedly checked that it was okay and that we would happily wait to have her vetted only to turn up with vet to find the poor mare had a fat swollen leg (still!), it was sore to touch and clearly lame on it. How he thought this horse would pass a vetting I am still to find out and obviously am absolutely fuming with him. He then had the audacity to suggest that the horse carry on with the vetting (bearing in mind she was lame just trotting up and that a pre-purchase exam is only valid for the day that the vet signs the certificate meaning that to re-examine he would have to start from the beginning and it is illegal not to do so). I've made a couple of attempts to get in touch with him but still nothing 4 days on. What a waste of time and money!

I'm repeatedly told it's a buyers market but have still had no luck. The only other horse I had on my 'to-see' list was another ISH that has awkwardly thrown a splint - nightmare! I'm well aware that my budget is not the biggest in the world but I don't have a list of asks as long as my arm and am equally not looking for BE ready (although I'm getting to the point where I feel like time is running out for a complete project!) I'm not really sure how much more of it I can take (or even afford to take, at this rate I'll end up spending all of my budget on vettings!) - is anyone else in a similar position?

Getting to the point where I might just give up and cry into some chocolate/wine!
 
I'll join you in the drowning in wine/chocolate! You have my sympathies.
I knew at the start of the year I was having to have my horse pts before winter, I viewed one found through a friend, liked him, had him vetted, not quite sound in front and not in enough work to tell if it was just bruising on the hard ground or would worsen when his work load was upped.
2nd one I viewed I had vetted but should have seen the million issues the vet found, myself.
3rd one I really liked but was questionable so had it vetted, he passed but we felt long term implications of some things found weren't worth taking a chance on.
I've also viewed 1 other whose advert was totally inaccurate (was still advertised 4 months later but much more accurately) 2 who were lame/not sound, 1 who was just going to be too much for me. I think that's enough!
And I ask a shed ton of questions and ask for photos before going to view too. I didn't think I had too strict a criteria, a green gelding around 15hh not too expensive and sound. Ho-hum!
There's certainly a lot of horses out there but it's sorting the rubbish out from the genuine ones that seems to be the problem.
 
No words of advice, but I feel your pain!!
I am looking for a solid, sensible all rounder that I can hack alone, have a bit of fun with, but not necessarily set the world on fire.
My 'low' point so far (I haven't even got to the viewing stage) was seeing an ad for an allrounder priced at £3k. In the advert it stated that the horse had hind limb issues, but was fine to go and do low level stuff... WTF?!?? £3k for someone else's problem?
Pricing is another odd one. Two seemingly identical horses, described the same way, can differ in price by several thousand quid.
I have given up for the winter and will start shopping again in the spring, and am seriously considering an ex racer on loan from one of the better charities.
Good luck, hope you find what you are after.
 
Mostly it is hard because many people both sellers and buyers couldnt lie straight in bed so the whole experience becomes a web of lies and deception. The honest ones are distrusted and too many people go by awful photos and dreadful ads as the only criteria for looking. Well done on actually going to see the horses so many people waste both their and the sellers time by collecting photos and using text rather than talking to the seller.
Having had one for sale I am horrified by the number of photo collectors and people who dont want to talk you get
Being 100 % honest and sensibly pricing the pony doenst wash as everyone seems to expect you to be an inveterant liar and after a fast buck. All I ever wanted for my homebred was a good long term home with someone who would love her and respect her well she will likely stay forever as honest buyers are in short supply too
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Chaps89 I'm really sorry about your horse, we lost my Mum's mare to colic this summer and I still look for her in her stable each morning.

I'm also that awkward buyer that asks a billion questions before turning up to view because for one, that way I can be sure I don't forget an obvious question and for two, it will take them 5 minutes to tell me on the phone rather than wasting both of our time in a visit if it's not what I'm looking for.

It just seems that there's a lot of rubbish out there for a lot of money. I've seen one gelding (only watched the videos and it was too much for me) with seriously bendy hind legs (issue, no?) up as a good sound hunter for just shy of £3k also. I'm sure he's genuine and lovely but how long is he going to last out hunting?

Flicker, a horse with hind limb issues, no leg no horse? Madness, I hope the poor horse got the care it needed though and wasn't then sold on as something capable of doing much more. If I could justify loaning I would seriously consider that too (we had a horse on trial and that was nerve-wrecking enough for me - especially when on day two he decided to pull all the fencing down with his back legs - we did not appreciate his handy work nor did his back legs but thankfully escaped with only scrapes). I'd always be concerned about something happening (always seems to be the way with horses!)

I can see your point windand rain but I've been 100% truthful with all of the sellers that I've been in touch with and tell each one on first contact that I am looking for something that most probably will be sold on in a year or so (I'm not currently in a position to offer a horse a forever home but if I get the opportunity to keep whatever I get then I will jump at it). For me it is easier to get some basic information through email as you can gauge whether or not the horse matches your criteria before calling with a couple more questions and arranging a viewing. It is quicker (sorry I can be lazy and it is often convenient - plus we live in a very rural area so calling from my mobile is an absolute nightmare!) but also means that I can ask all the questions I need to, have something in writing as a comeback if necessary (sorry for being a cynic also!) and not forget anything (memory like a sieve!) What do you breed out of curiousity?
 
I think we got lucky! Was fed up of looking at adverts for daughter's first horse - had to be capable of a decent dressage test and jump so she can continue to compete on pony club teams, but only had a 3k budget, although happy for a younger horse that needed bringing on. However everything that is described as 'stunning' and will do all the above, with 'x' and 'y' breeding (where you have to look up who 'x' and 'y' are as you've never heard of them, and had a 6-10K tag - but had not been out and done anything at all, so it was always 'would affiliate' 'would BE' 'will easily BS' etc. but no proof, not even an unaff competition outing! So I did nothing bar look at adverts, thinking come January the price will come down....

As it happens, a friend said 'I know of one at a friend's that will do' we went to see her and she was as described other than our friend thought she was a he! Was allowed to have her on trial at his yard for a week luckily which meant lots of hacking out, taking xc and jumping to see how she got on - daughter liked her and vetted fine with just a couple of very minor issues that really were vet covering all eventualities, and we now own her. Very easy - and I thought buying her last 2 ponies were easy - pony 1 came from friend of a friend they just wanted a good home, we wanted a companion, so we went down, rode him and that was that. Pony 2 we tried one very locally and it was OK but a few issues, Pony 2 was described a bit too fully in the advert, think it but a lot of folk off but come November the price came down so we went 100 miles to see him, and he was as described so we had him vetted and he was fine.

Couldn't be doing with trying more than 3, but I have spent all year telling everyone we're looking as well as looking at adverts in preparation.... finding it difficult to break the advert scanning habit, but we have no room for more, we need to shed one really!

I'd definitely recommend telling everyone, as well as reading adverts constantly for 9 months beforehand.
 
Sorry it wasnt a rant at you just been on the receiving end I used to breed British natives but havent for a while now this one is the last and is a super forward going genuine pony but as a 4 year old is too young for many and is a she which is a no for many and of course no one comes to try and view because I am hones in saying she is a forward ride she doesnt bolt or run away or anything she isnt strong either but you do need to be able to ride to work with her as she likes to be on the go all the time. Not bothered about her hanging around as she is a wonderful person and is easy in every way gets ridden fairly regularly and is a happy girl She loves to run and jump so will make a great event pony when she is older and more settled but in the mean time she is ridden by both experienced and novices and so far no one has come to grief. She is a chunky monkey too so is able to carry a child or adult up to about 13 stone or more when she is a lot older
Love her to bits and wont sell her if she doesnt find the right home
 
I haven't bought a horse for a while and certainly never had a big budget but I must have really low expectations as score is, viewed 7, bought 2, passed vet 2.
I think an ad is just a guide to make you pick up the phone, at that point I am as interested in the seller as the horse, I then go and view with an open mind and try never to travel more than an hour to view. I thinks its easier to go and look at the horse and think what will this horse do and do I want to do that? Often you get a better bargain that way but you do just have to buy a nice horse and then go with it. Both horses I bought did the job and stayed sound.
 
I honestly think its chance. The two best horses I've bought were both a result of exchanging a horse I'd bought from a dealer that hadn't proved suitable, and not having much else to choose from.

It depends also on what type of horse I'm looking for. If a showjumper, I try to buy one ridden by an amateur, preferably female, as they are generally easier for another amateur to ride (there are exceptions of course). If a young horse and I wanted it to be a nice show horse, I wouldn't want one that had done too much but had the basics in place. If an eventer though, I'd be looking for that young horse to have hunted.

I was also willing to travel far to view the right horse. Or word of mouth to see what might be for sale locally but might be too good to be advertised. I've also never had a horse vetted which has failed the vet or even got a poor vet's report. I think you really have been unlucky.
 
Update from dealer that I had the horse vetted with on Monday, he finally got back to me last night suggesting I could take the horse on trial at my cost until February...not being funny but he wants me to pay to sort a poorly leg out, pay to have her revaccinated and leave him with no outgoings over winter on her despite her not having passed a vetting! Cheek of it!

achinghips I've seen allsorts! I'm looking for something 5-7yrs old, 15-16hh (both of these a bit flexible as size wise I'm quite a lightweight rider but do not want a true baby as hope to be out doing some eventing next year and am well aware of how easy it is to damage a youngsters joints) that is a sensible hacker and has the ability/temperament to event. I'll happily consider any gender (no stallions but we've always had mares - chestnut too - oops), colour, breed so long as the capability is there and they are genuine. I'm happy to put the work in myself so long as the basics are in place but whatever I buy has to be saleable in a year or so's time so can't consider any major quirks. My trouble doesn't seem to be finding horses but getting them through a vetting!! My budget isn't massive but I don't feel it's unrealistic either.

Dubsie, I've been looking at adverts since February and have asked just about everyone I know - people seem to have slightly older horses for sale or are looking for forever homes, something I don't want to offer someone if I don't know I can!

Windand rain, she sounds fab, I'm amazed no-one has snapped her up and you only had timewasters. I'd bite your hand off!

honetpot, I'm only travelling hour to hour and half maximum and if I'm not sure about the seller I don't go! It's not worth wasting your time as often your gut is correct when it says something isn't right!

Mithras, it's all pot luck - we found my current girl through word of mouth and had written her off before we got there as she was a thoroughbred but she's taught a hell of a lot and although she's a nightmare some days I couldn't ever even contemplate selling.
 
Event at what level?

I think the £3k market is a weirdly tricky one for horses. It won't buy a smart youngster unless it's a diamond in the rough/ hasn't been spotted as being nice, and it won't buy established unless you're willing to compromise on other stuff or don't want to go beyond 90cm/1m. And as you're looking for a safe, pick-up-put-down allrounder you're looking for what most people are... They're out there, but you have to be brave!

Have you looked on sourceanexracehorse.co.uk? They have some really nice horses on there.
 
Very low level, I want to BE90/BE100 this year and if it has the scope to go higher in the future, potentially with someone else, then great, I'm not complaining. I'm not looking for established either as will happily put the work in myself so long as it can manage transitions, is reasonably balanced and it does not need so much work that next season is completely unachievable. I haven't looked on sourceanexracehorse in ages actually so will do that, thank you.
 
I feel for you, I really do. After Dylan was PTS I looked at 8 or 9 horses, went for 2nd viewings of 2 of those, and had 2 vetted before I found Jazz. It took 3 years (more due to time/money than anything else). I think my budget was similar to yours and I had the exact same problems:

- Not as described
- Green as the grass
- Lame on vetting, vet went out 2 weeks later to look at her again and the horse hadn't been rested so was still lame, oddly!

... and I always spent ages on the phone interrogating people before I viewed as well!
 
Yep, I had the same sort of list as you OP, although I didn't want to event. Think pony club! I started looking at the beginning of august and must have gone through 1000 ads. I tried a few. The worst was at a dealer's yard, a 7yo ISH 16hh. for 3.5k they had imported from Ireland, he was marketed as a good all rounder. He was a wonky donkey- literally. He couldn't hold canter on corners and his back legs seemed disconnected to his front. He had a permanent serious bend in his neck to the left; head was making a sharp left turn and body going straight on. He also spooked spectacularly on the road at some silage bales. Other highlights were the 4k horse with a bursa and SI who couldn't be turned out alone, and the 'quiet mare' who had a rolling eye from the minute anyone appeared in the distance. One of the best I tried was a 'while you're here' 15hh 14yo gelding who was supposed to be a plod but had a really good jump in him!

Finally got my girl in October, she's amazing and I underpaid. She's 14.2, has WHP county show placings, is 7 and was 3.3k. I snapped their hands off.

Good luck, it's so disheartening.
 
There's a smart chestnut anglo-arab mare on arabianlines (Hope Springs), but she is only 4. If you do look, close your eyes as you scroll past Romarnic Reverie's ad, as she's a smidge under 10k but probably right up your street. :(
 
It's chance, I went to see about 30 horses when I was looking for Pip, had three failed vettings, and enquired about 150. I'll admit I am picky and would only buy a horse I 'clicked' with, but it took about a year, and I had given up and borrowed a friends horse, when a friend said they knew a pretty horse for sale. That was P, trotted him down the road, got a 2 stage done and the rest is history :p Ex racehorses are fantastic beasties, and I hadn't really considered one before, but now I wouldn't have anything else.
 
Ive been looking for 6 months now and no luck. I have quite a healthy budget but i am being fussy about what i want. There are hundreds for sale but not what i want. I am determined to sit it out and wait till i find the right one, even though im totally fed up of having nothing to ride
 
One of the hardest things about buying is matching your expectations to the budget you have available. My horse was the only one I tried and he ticked every box for me (and actually ticks all your boxes except he isn't for sale). The pony I bought 2 years previously was also the only one we tried and he is still with us as my younger son is just about to start riding him.

I'm also not that sure it is a buyer's market at the moment. Good horses will always sell, but the market is flooded at the lower end with poorly bred and poorly started youngsters that have been kept on a budget and now need to go.

A friend recently advertised her nicely produced 7 year old RC/PC cob for £3.5 (thanks to Lolo and the others who suggested his worth). He was gone within a week having had 22 people call up about his advert and 4 or 5 queued up to try him.

My horse was bought by his seller from the Goresbridge sales, brought on over a year and given a good all round education. Would you consider going over to Ireland for something?
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one! But will get calling and try to see some more over the next week or so.

Faracat, thank you, I had a look but you're right I could really do with a five year old (also this one is the other end of the country to me!)...may have had a cheeky look on a certain ad on the way past but alas marginally out of my price range!

Pigeon, echo ex racers, absolutely love them and have been to see a fair few (and nearly bought a couple!) My mare was bred for it and made training but just too slow - their loss! Mostly I find racing has been a good experience for them, and let them see a lot at a young age but you do get the odd fruit loop that give thoroughbreds their reputation!

Stilton, I know how you feel! I'm currently 'borrowing' whatever I can! To be fair though, if you're spending the money, it has to be right...you can't just throw money at something you're not sure about.

nikicb, your boy is gorgeous, are you sure I can't persuade you? ;) I've been looking at a lot of nice Irish horses as have some friends that quite regularly bring them across - I had debated going to the sales at the end of the month if I have no luck but this is also dependent on persuading someone to come with me!
 
Was in a very similar position to you. I looked at 24 horses in a space of a year, many second viewings and also had three fail vetting. Everyone said it's a buyer's market but I really struggled to find anything that suited me. I had an ex racer originally priced at £5k which the buyer dropped to £2.5k (my max budget) but was lame during vetting and vet said to leave well alone. In the end I bought a yearling with the hope of using my remaining budget to get him professionally broken.
 
You may have to compromise on something. Size (within reason!), age, experience ... Jazz is 6 and quite green, but he's got a sensible head and a great attitude to his work, and is very smart looking. Although he's grey, so he only looks smart if he's clean ...

I paid just over £3k and honestly think if he has half the potential I think he's got he'll have been a bargain. He came over from Ireland at the end of June and I bought him in August.
 
My owned-for-seven-years horse had to be pts in Feb and I bought another in March from an advert on HorseQuest. Despite five stage vetting, that had to be pts a couple of months later. Insurers wouldn't cover it, so ££,£££ out of pocket as a result of purchase price, vets fees and legal fees.

Very traumatised, broke and cynical so stopped looking for another horse. However, a couple of weeks ago a friend of a friend found 'the perfect horse'. They were asking £4,000 for a 16.2hh 6 yo Irish horse (unknown breeding). Tried him, thought he seemed like a nice-tempered chap who would do the job (hunting-lite, RC, etc), so made an offer. Had him vetted and turns out he had shivers. Fortunately, I was able to walk away from this one and the vets were decent enough to refund half the cost of vetting as they didn't progress to ridden work.

I honestly don't know where to look anymore. The 'word' has been out with all horsey friends/contacts for some time now and this was the first thing that seemed to fit the bill. After losing weeks of my life to HorseQuest earlier in the year, I can't bear to trawl through adverts again (and then find myself stitched up by a private buyer like last time), and I don't know any dealers I would trust. I too do not want to drive for more than an hour away from where I live.

Who would have thought that finding a nice-natured (Tim-nice-but-dim), 16.2, 5-8 year old gelding (possibly mare), that was good looking but not show quality, would do a prelim-novice test, small ht, small sj, gallop across the moors and look after me out hunting, with a five star plus home waiting (with enough rugs and tack to open a shop), would be so HARD to find???

In addition, I have been looking for a 14-14.2 hh pony for my 11yo son. Well, that's a whole topic of its own about adverts not matching ponies, but no vettings so far.

It is an utter minefield and I think at the end of the day, it just seems to be pure luck if you can find what you are looking for, even if you are prepared to compromise. Where are all the NICE horses and ponies - if they are at this 'buyer's market', could someone PLEASE tell me where it is?
 
Good idea. The beloved ISH pts in Feb I bought as a just-backed four year old direct from the breeder. I had it professionally schooled to begin with, although I hacked it out. Had me off a few times then settled down and turned into an utter gentleman. Didn't want to go down this route again as I am now decidedly middle-aged and would like to minimise the falling off, as I no longer bounce (the muffin-top is no good for that, sadly). However, I am coming round to the idea that I might have to do something similar again, just so I know what I'm getting. In hindsight, I feel the disaster horse I bought and the one I didn't had both done too much, too young.
 
Gosh, you all must be either vastly unlucky or unreasonably picky - horses are always gambles, I have the opposite problem: too many to choose from!
 
I'd happily compromise and be more flexible on age and height (I am only 9st so happy from about 14hh upwards although 14.2hh would be better as rollerskates are a no no for cross country!) but couldn't relax many of my other criteria. Will have to look into studs, there are a few locally and have only been to one so far.

Lola, sounds like you have worse luck than I do! I'm so sorry about your horse, how awful for you. You'll find something, you just have to pluck the courage up to start looking again, HorseQuest is a good start or speak to all the local riding clubs/hunts as they will maybe know of something? Hopefully it would come with references too?

Nightmare before christmas - I had actually set up a paypal account if anyone would like to add a £1? Funnily the girl in question appears to have removed her facebook account. Probably didn't realise the amount of abuse she was going to get when her and her employer started asking for donations to fund her perfect pony. It's just amusing me watching everyone arguing over it!

Cortez, I'm going with vastly unlucky - please send some of your horses my way!
 
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Well, I did have 'makes my thighs look slimmer' on my checklist .... is that being too picky? Is this where I'm going wrong? Maybe I'm unlucky AND picky ....
 
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