would it put you off?

Serephin

Serephin

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continuing on the epic journey of trying to find my perfect horse - I came pretty close today.

a lovely mare, 18 years old, has done a lot of everything, a been there done it type - very chilled out.

but, here is the rub - the photos on the advert are of a very attractive healthy looking horse - I arrived today to find a hatrack that hasn't been ridden for months - or fed, by the look of it. Both horses in the field were showing ribs, so it wasn't just her - there was no grass and she looked very sorrowful.

she was calm as a lamb in the school, even when a bunny ran out at her - took her down to a field and I felt very safe on her. But I am not sure because she has absolutely no topline or bum and would take a lot of work to get up to weight again, it could be worth it though.

would it put you off that she was in such poor condition? bearing in mind I didn't really want a project .

an ice cool glass of Pimms for everyone for putting up with my dilemmas!
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Oh dear!! Poor little mare! Sounds terribel for her, but I think you should decide with your head and not your heart. If her ribs were showing her condition would be really poor and she would definately be lacking energy, so the calm, placid horse you see may be because she has lovely temperament or because she is malnourished. The only way to tell is to take a risk but it doesn't sound like the kind of project you are looking for.
 
Just think with more weight on her she could become difficult to ride etc theres plenty of horses out there if you didn't want a project then shes not the on for you IMO
 
Could be her condition that is making her placid or she could be just a sweetie, it's a risk. What is owners explanation, can they put you in touch with previous owner to find out what she was like with them.
 
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What was their explanation for her looking so poor. How much do they want for her?

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she didn't really give an explanation other than she doesn't like them to come out of winter too fat! I would of thought by now she would have put some weight on - makes me wonder how skinny she was before!

they want £1,600

which is overpriced IMO - not for the horse in the pictures though!
 
In a short yes!!! But that's my opinion, she is not as described, could just be quiet because she is poor. She is 18 which although is not old she will have a lot of history you do not know about.. how long has the owner had her?? I would guess that if she has had her since she was your she would prob not let her get into this state and if she has just bought her then she wouldn't know what she was like when she was up to weight/fit anyway?? I might be pessimistic and it would be lovely for her to get a lovely home with your self but do you really want to be undoing other peoples wrongs on an 18 year old. x Oh on the flip side though if we are just talking a bit skinny then we have had a hot week my friends 23 year old mare has lost a bit of weight and fluctuates quite alot anyway.
 
I saw a 17 yo welsh when I was looking for Frank (now 16) 4 years ago. it was mid winter and he was poor he was also strong to ride. I asked what they were feeding- barley rings etc so I thought if he struggles to keep his condition on that much when he is in light work I don't want him. Or if they weren't feeding him that then I suspected they were keeping him poor so he wasn't so strong.

At second viewing to see if anything else came up he didn't look sound behind so we called it a day. He was a nice horse and might have been fine but might not have been. Frank who I did buy is actually very similar but at the time was 4 years younger.

As it wasn't just her I think you can asssume if you worm and feed her she will look better. But I'm afraid you are taking a total chance on how her behaviour may change.
 
Hi there,
Personally i would stay away at the age of 18yrs you should have a horse for sale at between 1/3rd - 1/2 its price as say an 8yr old regardless of condition. So put that way would you pay £3,200 for the same horse in the same condition if it were 8yrs...... i am thinking in this market Not a chance!!
Good luck with the search.
What ru looking for and in what area?
Teresa
 
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Hi there,
Personally i would stay away at the age of 18yrs you should have a horse for sale at between 1/3rd - 1/2 its price as say an 8yr old regardless of condition. So put that way would you pay £3,200 for the same horse in the same condition if it were 8yrs...... i am thinking in this market Not a chance!!
Good luck with the search.
What ru looking for and in what area?
Teresa

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my head says, no - just got to drown out my irrational heart! LOL

I am looking for something to have fun on - I just want to be able to hack alone (mostly, but with others as well) do the odd pleasure ride, pop the odd jump and maybe one day go to the beach and gallop on the sand. Not a lot really! But in order to do these things I require a horse with a good attitude to life/work, something that is happy to bimble about in the woods and countryside without spooking and being difficult - something I can drag out of the field at a whim and not fear for my life!

I am not sure this horse exists - although I did have this horse as a share a few years ago and that was 21 years old - but we explored the countryside together and galloped across fields without a care in the world and I felt totally safe.

I am looking in the south lincs area.

its out there, I KNOW it is!!

oh, and my budget is about 2 grand
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Agree with the above in that I wouldn't buy.
If you really really like her, do you think they'll loan her to you?

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I don't know TBH - its worth an ask I suppose!
 
Its false advertising, I'd keep looking, despite what your heart says and feeling sorry for the mare, if you set out buying a horse to ride then its needs to be a healthy one which includes being up to weight and in good condition, which by the sounds of what you described is not what the mare is.

Weight loss can also hide a multitude of sins so unless your prepaired for either disapointment, vet bills....a possible field orniment (which of course might not be the case) then I'd walk away.
 
Yes and it has in the past when I saw a 13 year old last year. Came all the way over from Channel Islands to find a horse that did not look anything like the pictures. Her excuse? She didn't have one, thought the horse looked fabulous... lovely horse to ride but as I wanted something calm it put me off as I would've wanted to see more weight and muscle on it but would it have stayed sane? I wouldn't take the risk and this horse was up for sale for £4,800!
 
Don't know if you are interested in looking at another but i have one that sounds suitable and we are not that far PM me for more details if wanted
 
Bear in mind she could be a bit harder to handle once she's well. To me, it wouldnt put me off, but for peace of mind have her vetter with bloods to rule out illness etc.

Fingers crossed, if she's the one she'll be worth it !
 
I have recently brought a lovely heavy hunter type mare of 18 but morbidly obese! She has a beautiful temprement and is excellent on roads, load etc. She was advertised at £1500 and we only paid £1000 including a decent saddle and bridle. I took a little gamble about lack of fitness and she has had her moments of being a tad more active than we thought but at £1,000 i'm ok with this. Suppose (excuse ramble) its got to be priced to allow for a bit of a risk £1500 sounds alot to me.
 
I would beware. My old boy when he was very poor was very placid, soo out of chracter for aTB and expecially for him.

A good example of who he is now different ( andback to his old sel nearly) he was drinkiing and a leaf floated inot the water, he went ape s**t, also pulled my wrist jumping at nothing except perhaps his shadow. I am well used to his strangeways as I have had him for thirteen years, but I would not like to be finding out if I wanted a nice little horse just to hack on.
 
hippyned is 15.2hh too small we are going to be looking for a new home for our 15 year old mare we have had her 10 years and dont really want to see her go but daughter has a new jumping horse so sadly she is being a little ignored ! we think she is ALMOST perfect ! and she sounds exactly what you are looking for so maybe
 
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hippyned is 15.2hh too small we are going to be looking for a new home for our 15 year old mare we have had her 10 years and dont really want to see her go but daughter has a new jumping horse so sadly she is being a little ignored ! we think she is ALMOST perfect ! and she sounds exactly what you are looking for so maybe

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no, 15.2 isn't too small - I am 5' 7" - (my last neddy was 15.1 - he was a stocky cob)

whereabouts are you?
 
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