Worth buying, or am I being ruled by my heart?

madhector

madhector

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The woman next door to me has 4 ponies. They are very well bred show ponies, 2 of them are very high quality, and beautiful movers. However, the woman in question bred them herslef, and has done nothing with them at all, they are just pets really.

They are well handled, but never been backed/lunged etc.. and are now 9/10 years old. They are all mares, and she has finally decided to sell them all, as she cant afford to keep them any longer. think she would want about £200 each for them, and suppose they would be best going as broodmares, but I am very tempted by one of them, she would be a super show pony, moves like a dream, and has a lovely nature, but she is 9.

I know really that as an investment this would be alot of hard work for not much money, but my heart keeps telling me to make her an offer
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Please tell me to come to my senses, and wait till the spring and get another Spooks instead
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What would be your goals with her? Once backed would you sell her on or get someone to ride / show her for you?

9 is no age for a pony, so that shouldn't really be a problem.

Do you have the facilities, time and money to keep another horse?
 
How big are they? Show ponies are very weak so you might struggle with breaking.

Most of the show ponies are younger, but as she is so low mileage it shouldn't be a problem!

I'd go with it, It is a good price really and close to you, I have found older ones easier to break!

As well It will be easier to sell a 10 year old pony than a 4 year old!
 
Just remember it will take a lot long to break and back a 9yo that had done nothing than a 3yo they can also prove quite stubborn to ride and back so late on. My mare was backed at 7.5years and has not been easy to bring on but nearly 3 years on she is getting there. I would not have a late horse again though
 
Go with it! I hope you find her easy to break. I bought a nine year old who broke like a dream - saddle, bridle, person... no problem. But, she did not want to be a ridden horse- made it abundantly clear!! All she wants is babies (she had been a brood mare before). That's what she's doing now. Yours presumably have not had babies, so you may well find she's a doddle to break. Good luck.
 
If I were you, I would ask re their breeding. Find out just how well bred they are, one of the older mares may make a good broodmare for next year for you... then to sell on and leave you with a future project.
Take on another, break and sell. Older show ponies are hard to come by, especially unsoured ones. I would choose a newly broken 10yo show pony over a newly broken 4yo anyday, and pay more for it.
 
At £200 what have you got to lose? IF backing should fail - which I doubt - she can still become a broodmare. Go for it!!
 
I bought a 9 year old unbroken mare 4 weeks ago! For two of those weeks I have been away, yet I have taught her to lunge and she works now in a roller and bit and bridle. She is fantastic in every way yet had had absolutely nothing done with her before I got her. I'd say go for it! Good luck!!
 
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