Would I get what I'm looking for with this budget?

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Bexx

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So once it is safe to do so, I will be looking for my next horse. I will be looking for a 4 or 5 year old to bring on for eventing. In an ideal world, I'd be looking for 15.2 to 16hh although I'd go a little bigger for the right horse. I'm not fussed on colour or sex really. I am happy to go from something just backed to something that has done a little bit, it does not need to have been out competing. Ideally I would like evidence of it hacking sensibly as although we have fantastic facilities at my yard I prefer to educate my horses out and we have good hacking, however you do need to spend a good 5 mins on the road. It wouldn't have to have been schooled or seen any cross country fences as I'm happy to do this myself. Basically, I'm looking for something with decent conformation and a good brain that I can take eventing next year. However, I'd say my budget would be £4000 really. Can I get what I am looking for for this money? If not what could I get for this or how much more would I need to save?
P.s if anyone is bored and fancies a look about, feel free to send me over some links :)
 
Realistically if you are prepared to do without fancy breeding and a flashy movement, you should be able to get a 4yo backed and ridden away with the scope to event for that price. Unless you're planning to go intermediate +, you don't need a world beater. With the lack of age classes this year, there should be some 4yo's for sale come the end of the lockdown, they won't have been out and about but for the breeders and producers who need to keep the numbers down they will still be for sale
 
sportsmansB said:
Realistically if you are prepared to do without fancy breeding and a flashy movement, you should be able to get a 4yo backed and ridden away with the scope to event for that price. Unless you're planning to go intermediate +, you don't need a world beater. With the lack of age classes this year, there should be some 4yo's for sale come the end of the lockdown, they won't have been out and about but for the breeders and producers who need to keep the numbers down they will still be for sale
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Thanks, this is super helpful. I don't think I will ever reach intermediate, my life goal is to do a Novice really but I am happy and comfortable at 100.
 
I think it will be ideal timing to find what you want at that budget. Might be gut wrenching for the breeders, but that’s life I suppose.
Would you gamble unseen? I might know a breeder who might consider selling unseen as the horse is currently in pro yard and they are a bit stuck!
 
ihatework said:
I think it will be ideal timing to find what you want at that budget. Might be gut wrenching for the breeders, but that’s life I suppose.
Would you gamble unseen? I might know a breeder who might consider selling unseen as the horse is currently in pro yard and they are a bit stuck!
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I'm really not sure about unseen! I know you see some cracking horses bought unseen, particularly with Michens thread on here at the minute but as a naturally anxious person I don't know if I could take it haha. I'd probably be willing to have a little look but it would have to really tick all the right boxes!
 
Leandy said:
You would get an ex racehorse for that. Not much else if you want a quality eventer type.
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No I don't agree. An established eventer with a proven record would be more obviously. But a 4 / 5 year old backed and turned away with potential to do 100. Even in ordinary times you would probably be OK with that budget. Once all this ends - there are in all probability going to be some lovely horses going fairly cheap.
 
Leandy said:
You would get an ex racehorse for that. Not much else if you want a quality eventer type.
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You can get an ex racer for a few hundred.

£4k is quite a bit for a just backed youngster.
There are some nice irish types that have the potential to do novice eventing for under that amount. You wont get fancy bloodlines or proven results but a nice youngster is very possible.
 
I don’t see any reason you couldn’t find what your looking for within your budget as long as your not looking for a world beater. There’s no reason why a “normal” type horse with the right training couldn’t go round a BE100 or even if your lucky a novice. Where the extra money comes in is when they can either through its record or breeding show potential to actually do really well at the grassroots levels ie paces to get that real top dressage score and natural stamina to get inside the required times. To just get round with double clears and maybe a 30 something dressage score shouldn’t stretch a normal horse with correct training
 
Bexx said:
I'm really not sure about unseen! I know you see some cracking horses bought unseen, particularly with Michens thread on here at the minute but as a naturally anxious person I don't know if I could take it haha. I'd probably be willing to have a little look but it would have to really tick all the right boxes!
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I think unseen is fine if you are prepared to put up with/deal with some crap or you buy something totally blank. Boggle was, well, a sodding nightmare. I had zero expectations of Bear whatsoever and was, am, prepared to work through/spend money to get through whatever he may throw my way!

Edited to add Bear is smaller than what you want but he was £3k plus transport if that helps... I'm not sure how much he'd have been from a dealer if he'd landed on UK soil but I'd imagine 4k off the boat and maybe 5k with a bit of schooling.
 
I think the problem with buying unseen (or unbroken) is that you don't know if you'll enjoy riding it - not necessarily from a personality POV but from a comfort one. I've seen horses in adverts that I've really liked the look of but when I've gone to ride it I just haven't gelled at all/found it uncomfortable/boring etc. I am quite fussy though and I think everyone likes their own horse best!
 
IrishMilo said:
I think the problem with buying unseen (or unbroken) is that you don't know if you'll enjoy riding it - not necessarily from a personality POV but from a comfort one. I've seen horses in adverts that I've really liked the look of but when I've gone to ride it I just haven't gelled at all/found it uncomfortable/boring etc. I am quite fussy though and I think everyone likes their own horse best!
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Agree, but there is such thing as a gut feel... the jury is still out on the new one but I'm optimistic!

That said if I was buying a horse "to keep" I wouldn't buy unseen. I only bought this one, and the last one unseen because they were bought with selling in mind... one out of pure grief and the other as just as something to do/ride (which is ironic as he's not under saddle at the moment!)

If I was looking for a horse that I wanted to keep forever, and was in a right frame of mind etc etc I would absolutely view.
 
just had a little look on horsequest and found a nice 6 year old for £4500, hq 227910, so i would think after this has all died down you should be able to get a decent horse for £4000. i assumed you were in the north east so only looked in that area...

in the midlands a 4 yr old with eventing potential hq 228635 £4500 o.n.o.
 
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splashgirl45 said:
just had a little look on horsequest and found a nice 6 year old for £4500, hq 227910, so i would think after this has all died down you should be able to get a decent horse for £4000. i assumed you were in the north east so only looked in that area...

in the midlands a 4 yr old with eventing potential hq 228635 £4500 o.n.o.
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Thank you, both of these look nice types I love the look of the grey mare. I am of course willing to travel. I am also willing to look at dealers. I have a very experienced friend and yard owner that I can take with me to viewings
 
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