Would you buy?

NicolaC

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I'm going to have a look at some horses on Sunday ( Old friend of my Uncle ). I know the parentage of all of them but they are between 8 and 10-11 years old and not done anything. Have been broken but thats about it. They have mainly been stood in a field. I know the reason why and trust the bloke who are selling them.

The main question is would you buy something that age when it hasn't done anything?

I really hate buying horses when I cannot afford what I want. I have always had to make something out of nothing.
 
If the temp is right i would consider it
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If they have the right temprament then yes. I have found that older horses who've done nothing can be trickier and more difficult to train than youngsters, but if you find one whos willing and genuine go for it.
 
Suppose it depends on how much they have been handled.
There is a field up the road from us and he has 4 horses that have been bred there (still in with the mare) and they have been backed many years ago but have never left their field and never seen or done anything. He tried to sell them last year but he valued them at over 3k each
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so nobody wanted them.
I suppose if the price was right and I had the time and experience to do something with them then I would say yes maybe.
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There is a showjumper at my yard. She was the ''championne de Picardie'' back in 1995. Before i started exercising her she just stood there for 4 years doing nothing. She's beautiful and jumps anything. No matter how high - clears 5ft 3 with ease!
I ride her regularly now. It's such a shame.
Go for it, horses usually calm down around 9 or 10. You could pick up a bargain.
 
We have a loan pony that stood in a field until she was 8 .She has been with us a year and is always in rosettes does pc and loves her work.Her owner cant believe the difference in her little fat cob.You just might find some hidden talent like we did.We were so proud when we were told to affiliate her she couldnt even canter properly when we took her on. I would do it again as she hasnt any bad habits it also gives you a great sense of achievement.
 
If you cn get them well schooled and quite before you sell them on i would have a go. Problem is, when they are that age and only started work they wont be a hundred parcent for a year or two in the form of riding quietly and going nicely schooling and obediance wise, so some people wonder why they have been left so late and why at that age they are not experianced as most horses at that age ridden, are.
 
Go for it, at least they're probably low mileage and more mature.

The only thing I would say though is that I'm currently bringing on a very green 8 year old and in many ways I'm finding it more difficult than I did previously with a just backed 4 year old. Could just be different levels of ability but the 8 year old seems to be a bit of a slow learner in comparison !
 
definately go look, if they've been well handled they'll be fine, mine wasn't backed still at 6 but he was a babe to handle on the ground, and that in theory makes the backing process easier, I know the times I did sit on him...he never landed me on the floor, didn't walk sat on him but was up there a few times, was determined he wasn't going to a new home without me being on him am afraid! LOL
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they've generally gone through the major hormone/stroppy stage too, they can be a bit slower but it's probs down to they're more chilled out than babies who lets face it, can be backed when are neither physically nor mentally mature sometimes
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my little filly here is 7 years old, and asides from a light backing for 2 weeks that didn't go very well (so much for send off to professionals eh..) that's all the ridden she's had, but I've sat on her a few times and she's been very laid back about it, two years ago she wasn't this laid back so it shows just how much her active little welshie brain has matured in that time
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My mare was 9 years old when I bought her, and had done nothing bar be led to and from the field. She has been a complete angel in every way, I broke her myself and I just cant describe how wonderful and chilled and trusting she is. Would definately say go for it - she is my dream pony
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I would go and have a look. If they have the right temprement to want to learn and havn't been spoilt when they did have a little done with them then yes it is worth it.
I have found in the past though that the older they are the harder it can be sometimes change thier train of thought as to what is right.
A 3 or 4 year old is often more eager to learn, but again this can depend on the individual horse and most importantly how its been handled up till then.
 
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