Would this worry you and general thoughts?

I'd definitely want to know what sort of level of regular work she had been doing since February. Was it the same level of work I wanted to be doing - which is going to be hard to prove as no results or anything to show.
 
As I understand, the injury referred to in the 2019 sale catalogue is from 3 years previously? If she could be lame on hard ground 3 years after, enough for it to be mentioned, then she will most likely be lame 4 years after. Sounds like her job in life is as a broodmare. Having been lied to over the last few years I'm probably very cynical and possibly the current owners knew nothing of the injury and haven't pushed her hard enough for it to show but I think I'd have to walk away.
 
From her history it doesn't sound like shes been set up to be a riding horse and if that is primarily what you want then look for one who has been set up to be that. It isn't madness to buy the first one you see, but only if there is no red flags with them. This one already has red flags.
 
So she was injured in 2016 which left her with lameness issues, used as a brood mare by the stub and then by the sound of the sales catalogue advertised and I assume sold as a broodmare, then somehow ended up in a “companion” home who have now backed her and are trying to sell on as a ridden horse conveniently just at the time the horse market has gone crazy.
All sounds very suspicious to me, I just can’t see how a Connie would be a first choice for a companion pony, they should be much more valuable as a ridden prospect, my sceptical mind says they bought her cheaply as a non rideable companion, seen she’s field sound tried their luck backing her and are now trying to make a quick buck.
Id run for the hills TBH.
 
I fully appreciate all the points people are making, and I think I have pretty much decided to at least go and view some others. Earlier on, I was very much on a high having viewed a sweet pony who I enjoyed riding, but the rational part of my brain has definitely clicked in now!

FWIW re price and second viewings, I do agree it might be a red flag in and of itself, but I do think the market locally has slowed down a little bit for higher priced ponies. Those <£3000 are being snapped up very quickly, but those who are worth a bit more seem to be sticking around for a week or so at least. Schools go back next week, so this might be having a slight impact.

Everyone is right that it's too much money and will be too much heartbreak if I buy trouble, and it's better to wait for the right pony than end up spending a fortune on a wrong one!
 
you could ask at Trewithian stud if you still want a connie. (google it there is a FB page) they are at St Austell so easy enough to visit them for ideas perhaps or some help? just a thought.
 
you could ask at Trewithian stud if you still want a connie. (google it there is a FB page) they are at St Austell so easy enough to visit them for ideas perhaps or some help? just a thought.

Definitely not wedded to the idea of a connie, but thank you for the suggestion, I'll definitely check them out!
 
Unfortunately it would worry me but I'm a worrier anyway.


I know how you are feeling though just under two months ago o viewed a lovely filly but had to walk away because of an issue - it caused me some heartache I can tell you.
If she was £1500 I'd go for it. If it is an injury she could still be successful broodmare.
It's so hard with natives, I always find that if you want a foal or youngster you can find one quite easily but mature ridden ones are like hens teeth
 
Unfortunately it would worry me but I'm a worrier anyway.


I know how you are feeling though just under two months ago o viewed a lovely filly but had to walk away because of an issue - it caused me some heartache I can tell you.
If she was £1500 I'd go for it. If it is an injury she could still be successful broodmare.
It's so hard with natives, I always find that if you want a foal or youngster you can find one quite easily but mature ridden ones are like hens teeth

I'm sorry to hear that happened to you. It's really tough.

I agree there seems to be lots of options for unbacked youngsters, and then some seriously smart competition ponies (with the price tag to match) and not much in between. But I have only just started looking really, so I will see what else comes up.
 
She was bought as a companion to their horse who is now going into training, and the (adult) daughter who does most of the riding of her has got a new job up country. I don't think they were ever going to keep her long term, I think they were always going to sell her at some point, so she was possibly bought with this in mind.

Mid 4 figures for something green, bought last year with a 'dodgy' history and nothing much done with it in the meantime...
 
Mid 4 figures for something green, bought last year with a 'dodgy' history and nothing much done with it in the meantime...

If you ignore the history- which I'm not going to, but for the sake of argument they didn't know when advertising, she's reasonably priced for a Connemara. There are 4 yos on Horsequest with far less time under saddle and higher price tags.
 
Mid 4 figures for something green, bought last year with a 'dodgy' history and nothing much done with it in the meantime...

I“m amazed it wasn’t £6K! Some of the recent adverts have frankly amazed me and yet the horses are selling. £8K for a green 5 year old, I’ve seen multiple ads like this recently. I”ve also seen a young cob bought for £850, sold days later for £3.5K. People are paying silly money.
 
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I“m amazed it wasn’t £6K! Some of the recent adverts have frankly amazed me and yet the horses are selling. £8K for a green 5 year old, I’ve seen multiple ads like this recently. I”ve also seen a young cob bought for £850, sold days later for £3.5K. People are paying silly money.


:eek:
 
Sounds like your research has paid off - not how you wanted it to. Having bought a lovely pony last year, who had not been in regular work and is now a field ornament, I would say to keep on looking.
 
Hi Everyone.

I really appreciate everyone's input on this thread! Having thought about it overnight, I've made the tricky decision to walk away from this pony and have let the owners know.

I've found another pony to view tomorrow, who is a bit more of a been there/done that type- which is what I think I need, really! And I think I have mentally accepted now that it's better to spend a long time looking and buy the right one than to buy something quickly that could cause problems later down the line. And I've also accepted that I might need to spend a few weekends up country doing viewings- but I'm not quite there yet. I think I will keep on looking locally for a few more weeks and also maybe put something on facebook so my horsey friends know I am looking.

Thanks again for all your thoughts, it has been really helpful- I think I knew that she wasn't quite right but got carried away in the initial buzz of the viewing.
 
It does sound doggy the people who are selling her might not now about her history . Also make sure you’re reading about the right horse .

I'm 100% sure it's the same pony- same name/age and the histories (including having had a foal, which I knew about) match up too well for it to be a case of mistaken identity unfortunately.
 
when you spoke to them last night? Just wondered if they knew or not?

They said they didn't know, and I'm willing to take that at face value for the moment, although it will be interesting to see if they advert says up as is!

I think walking away is very wise. I hope you find your horse soon. Horse hunting should be awesome but is actually really stressful!

Thank you! I feel a lot more zen about it today. If it takes a few months (or longer) to find the right one, then so be it!
 
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