Would you go to dealer or buy privately?

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LMR

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In April/May I am hopefully going to be looking for a new sj horse after I sell one of mine. I'm looking for something 6-8 years who's done a bit (ideally newcomers) but I can still take around british novice/discovery and something that is a confidence giver.

I am a competent rider having ridden to advanced medium and previously jumped to 1.20m but I've lost my confidence jumping.

i'm not sure whether to go to a dealer or buy privately. In the past I've always bought through a dealer (i did look at horses privately but the horses i liked were all from dealers)

My budget would be approx 8k (this is dependent on what I sell my horse for)
 
I'd probably go to a pro (though the boundaries blur between pros who largely SJ and also deal a bit on the side, and out and out dealers!). I think that a horse that's been produced by a pro is likely to have had a better start and, because it's more likely to have been ridden correctly, it should be well established and be in a better position to give you confidence (and to teach you well) than one who's perhaps not been as well produced.
 
Personally I would look for one privately or one that had been ridden by an ameatur. This is because horses from dealers / professionals are only use to being perfectly placed each time and don't know what to do when I miss!
 
pippa p said:
Personally I would look for one privately or one that had been ridden by an ameatur. This is because horses from dealers / professionals are only use to being perfectly placed each time and don't know what to do when I miss!
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I am in the same boat as I can miss more times than I care to admit to!
 
Well, yeeeees.... But..... You want to learn to reduce the number of times that you miss, right? You want to improve? I think that if you have a horse that's been correctly trained and is confident, then it has a better chance of teaching you and helping you to improve. It is easier to ride well on a good horse and that will make you a better rider. You shd miss less on a good (well-trained) horse, than on an average one.

I am a Miss Zone. Actually Queen of Miss, with a degree in Missing (First Class, with Honours) from the University of Miss, heading for a fellowship of Miss in the Worshipful Company of Miss.

So when I tried my horse out, I missed him at a few fences and he was fine with it. Kept jumping. So yes, absolutely, you want something that won't be put off if you miss. That's crucial. But I also saw it as chance to up my game, to learn from him, and to try not to miss quite as much....
 
I would never buy private. Owners look at their horses through rose tinted glasses, you never get the truth.

I only buy from a few dealers I know with good reputations. If they did not have what I wanted, I'd wait and let them find a suitable horse for me.
 
There are plenty of good horse with amateurs , I can only speak from my own experiences. Brought a horse from an dealer, who lost confidence when I missed. I am a competent rider, however i can only jump once a week and don't alway have my eye in like a professional. Instead I brought a very experience horse, who was use to amateurs who I have lots of success on and who has taught me to jump the bigger tracks.
 
pippa p said:
Personally I would look for one privately or one that had been ridden by an ameatur. This is because horses from dealers / professionals are only use to being perfectly placed each time and don't know what to do when I miss!
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This should not be the case with outfits that SELL horses. They will have different riders on them and should have trained them in a way that suitable buyers can ride them. Note I said "suitable" - they should also not try to sell you something that won't work for you (and buyers shouldn't buy "professionals horses" if that isn't what they want). Being an informed consumer is part of it - you should buy the horse you want not rely on someone else to sell you the appropriate one. At the very least professionals will have more stock for you to try and choose from.

I guess you could argue that if a horse has been jumping with an amateur then that division has already been made but just because a horse goes for one rider doesn't mean it won't go for another. Most amateur riders don't give much thought to whether or not their horses will go for other riders.

That said, I don't think it's either/or. The right horse will be wherever it is.
 
I think the amateurs are getting a bit of a rough deal here. I have a horse that fits your description LMR (although at slightly more money), and as I am looking to sell him at the end of the summer or a bit before, I have been proactive in getting others to ride him, getting lots of opinions from instructors etc for how much they think he is worth and how I should go about progressing him in order to aim him at the right target market (ie a competent amateur who wants a solid allrounder to compete in lowish level affiliated eventing (BE100+) and SJ (Newcomers+)). Some of us aren't just pony patters with "rose-tinted spectacles" but do have other (more commercial) skills to put into practice.

Finding the right horse is difficult, but you just need to ask the right questions, try the horse out and ask it questions that would help you to find out about its attitude and whether it is capable of doing what you want. I prefer to buy horses from people who I already know (or their recommendations), and therefore trust, but there are plenty of other trustworthy (amateurs and professionals) out there.

All the very best of luck!
 
jessjc said:
I think the amateurs are getting a bit of a rough deal here. I have a horse that fits your description LMR (although at slightly more money), and as I am looking to sell him at the end of the summer or a bit before, I have been proactive in getting others to ride him, getting lots of opinions from instructors etc for how much they think he is worth and how I should go about progressing him in order to aim him at the right target market (ie a competent amateur who wants a solid allrounder to compete in lowish level affiliated eventing (BE100+) and SJ (Newcomers+)). Some of us aren't just pony patters with "rose-tinted spectacles" but do have other (more commercial) skills to put into practice.

Finding the right horse is difficult, but you just need to ask the right questions, try the horse out and ask it questions that would help you to find out about its attitude and whether it is capable of doing what you want. I prefer to buy horses from people who I already know (or their recommendations), and therefore trust, but there are plenty of other trustworthy (amateurs and professionals) out there.

All the very best of luck!
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Sorry if I gave that impression!

I think my reply was coloured by the quite strong "anti profession bias" that crops up on here, where people seem to assume dealers are out to screw amateurs or that a professionally trained horse won't be able to cope with anything but a "perfect" ride. I think some horses are less tolerant than others but that has little to do with where they're from. There are also some very good private sellers so no one should assume a horse is more forgiving or flexible just because it's a private sale.

It's a trick. If you're purposefully going to avoid horses from "good" riders - amateur or professional - then that is going to severely limit the pool and cut out most of the well trained ones!

As I said, the right horse is the right horse. I just don't think anyone should make the decision of where that horse might come from before they've even looked.
 
I bought one for my daughter for bit less than OPs budget from a stud that breeds and competes SJs. She was only 5 but had been well started and doesn't really ever think of stopping even if daughter places her completely wrong. It helps that she has a lot of jump and, if in doubt, she just goes higher. So far, she is proving to be everything that we hoped she'd be.
 
Daytona said:
I only buy from a few dealers I know with good reputations. If they did not have what I wanted, I'd wait and let them find a suitable horse for me.
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Quite agree with this, although I have bought privately before. Find a reputable dealer or producer, I'd go to a professional if you can and let them know exactly what you're looking for - the good ones will find it for you if they don't currently have it themselves.
 
TarrSteps said:
Sorry if I gave that impression!

I think my reply was coloured by the quite strong "anti profession bias" that crops up on here, where people seem to assume dealers are out to screw amateurs or that a professionally trained horse won't be able to cope with anything but a "perfect" ride. I think some horses are less tolerant than others but that has little to do with where they're from. There are also some very good private sellers so no one should assume a horse is more forgiving or flexible just because it's a private sale.
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Completely agree!
 
I'd look for the right horse irrespective of where it came from. On a practical note I'd probably go to somewhere like the Billy Stud where you'd have a large selection in one place and not all their horses are going to be world beaters. A pro will have the capability of riding the horses in such a way as to hide weaknesses and horses may be over cooked as the horses are on a production line and need to develop / get results ASAP . Also go online and get feedback from anyone you consider buying from.

Private buyers may be keen amateurs with horses trained successfully under experienced eyes and will suit your needs however if not a dealer a right to comeback if it goes wrong will be harder . Don't be persuaded by the adage that a dealer will protect their reputation so will sort a problem, one of the worst cases I heard was from an accredited BS trainer who scammed people and only serving court papers got some movement .

Also always take someone along that knows you knows what suits you and whose judgement you trust.
 
Personally I would buy privately, although I would look for a horse/pony that has regularly been out competing/pony club/riding club recently and before buying speak to the DC or another impartial professional who knows them well. Another thing I look for when buying privately is the length of ownership, anything that has been owned for 3 years plus is positive and always settles me. Finally when buying privately I always think if the owner is interested in the home the horse/pony is going to then it is a good sign, the more questions thy ask about your situation the better! If you can look at the horses passport and make a note of any previous owners then take their names and give them a call!

That said, some dealers can be very reputable and I've heard some people have found wonderful horses through them. I'd just be careful as I'm not sure I really believe its possible to completely know a horse in the short time they tend to have them for.

Good luck in your search!
 
I am not a pro (some may argue as I get paid to ride but I dont feel at a level I want to be called a pro)

I rarely miss, only will if me and the horse arnt agreeing on something generally! I enjoy producing horses and seem to be doing a good job (just got one onto the equine world pathway).

So the am/pro debate i think depends on the seller. I wouldnt be basing buying a horse on their ability to cope with missers, the aim is to get nice shots and clear rounds!

I buy from dealers/studs. I always buy young 2-5 year olds so I can put my stamp on them. I dont really like riding horses produced by others id rather do it myself

All i say about some pros (spesh if they have been given the horse to ride and sell) is that a horse jumping newcomers well will probs be out the money BN, maybe disco. Mines been produced quite slow and hes almost out of BN despite me trying to keep money down!

Carron Nicol has some nice horses that will suit your budget, may or may not have jumped NC though as hers jumping NC with scope to go on are norm over budget. If you call she will tell you how many you can try

Tracey barrow sometimes has some in to sell. Budgets normally more affordable. Wont have as big a selection though.

I know a few for sale privately that also fit budget but i think only one has jumped a NC
 
I have bought both ways in the past and wouldn't rule out either but my preference now would be go to a dealer, for the ability to try a number of suitable horses in one place without trekking all over the country to see horses that may or may not be as described.

If I was looking privately, it would probably be via word of mouth rather than just looking at adverts, unless they were very close by.
 
THe horse doesn't necessarily have to have jumped newcomers but was thinking that would be better as it would probably have more experience but at the same time I don't want to have to start at newcomers but would like to start at british novice get the double clears then move up to discovery and get double clears etc.


I was just worried about going to a professional as was thinking if horse is schooled by pro then is probably used to being put on the right stride all the time and I didn;t want it to lose confidence then me to lose my confidence even more. But agree if it has been schooled properly then may improve my riding better!

I think I will try and find something word of mouth privately and go to a reputable dealer. Does anyone have any recommendations for dealers? I am up in Forfar but tbh I don't mind travelling. I went to Cumbria last time to find my last horse after searching all over Scotland wish Id just done it in the first place!
 
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