Mumsnet Talk

Hi looking for some sensible heart not head advice please!

I have just got back to riding after a 3 year break and am loving it. I think I would like to get my own horse again I've not owned one since I was a teenager, I found a fantastic flexible livery yard a mile from my house, but now its just finding the right horse. I'll be mostly hacking I guess often on my own so I know I mustn't over horse myself and scare myself off riding.

I know I want an approximately 16hh Irish Sports horse as these are the types I have enjoyed riding the most in the past. I hacked out today and both the horses on the hack were recent irish imports and as good as gold.

I've seen some beautiful horse's that fit the bill at Kent Horse Producers, but basically that's if the description really is honest.

Any thoughts on buying from dealers in general, or could anyone please PM me if you've experience of Kent Horse producers, ta!

There is a lady who has a business called safe cobs on Facebook (she also has an Internet site) - but nearly everyday she posts a video of her working with the horses that she is "training". I don't know if anyone has any experience with her or her horses - I don't, but it certainly gives me a little more faith in her horses, as she seems to talk quite honestly about them.
Now admittedly they are cobs, not irish sport horse, but it might be worth a look?
From a business point of view I think it is a really interesting/clever marketing technique .

PS - I also wonder about dealers and have looked at the kent horse producers and wondered about them

Thanks MrsLaughan, I'll take a look at the safe cobs, perhaps she might do safe sports horses as well

Buying from a dealer you have more choice and facilities and it is a safer bet because you have consumer protection ie Sales of Goods Act, whereas you have little come back from a private sale unless they lied about something, but its still harder. Best to find out what that dealer is like though. Maybe ask on Horse and Hound forum?

hho forum members arent allowed to comment on dealers but they can pm you or you can search the dealers names and see if anything comes up. clip clop traders in e sussex seem to have a very good reputation and get some beautiful horses in

Second the recommendation for clip clop traders. Got an excellent rep.

sent you a PM

Also PM re Kent Horse Producers

Don't be afraid to visit several times. HHO is a great forum. Def ask there.

Thanks for all your replies and PM's, i'll take a look at the sources you've all recommended ta!

Clip Clop

Kent horse producers

thanks for the link charliefox, I've just emailed equineagents after reading a good thread about them on HH, it seems they might have a suitable horse, has anyone any experience of them?

Try Julia at Southgate Farm - she has a very good reputation and has some good sorts (got my mare from her a couple of yrs ago and a friend has recently bought a lovely Irish draught type from her)

Whichever way you go, take your time and don't be hurried into making a decision. It's an emotional purchase and it's easy to get carried away, but be prepared to walk away if you are not absolutely 100% happy. Get someone else to come with you too - even better if they can ride it as well.

Have pm you

As with all professions there are good dealers and bad dealers. The good ones have a reputation to protect, will try to match you with the right horse and will look after you if there are problems, but the best way to find them is word of mouth.

Whoever you go to make absolutely certain that you visit with your instructor, that the owner gets on first, that you try out all the things you would normally want to do with the horse and you buy sensibly. Despite the crisis reliable horses have still kept their value because they are what everyone wants, so if you get offered something that sounds too good to be true...it probably isn't!

Those of you who have mentioned safe cobs, do you mean this or mysafe cobs ? Mysafe cobs has a lovely sports horse type and I really love the natural horsemanship videos on the website, I have ridden this way in Australia the Pirelli stuff really makes sense. But I'm confused as to which trader people are recommending

I would say that many dealers sell young horses 5-8yrs old with varying educations. So be prepared to continue that education with an instructor unless you have the relevant experience yourself.

If you are looking for a schoolmaster type then it's worth trawling HorseQuest or checking your local riding club classified sections on their websites.

I've bought 3 horses in recent years from dealers. None of them were advertised as being sold by dealers, ie the dealer's name was not plastered all over the advert. I picked 2 of them out of the 1000s of horses for sale as they looked the best examples. One of them I went to see a black mare, which didn't suit me. So the dealer asked me what my perfect horse was - I was very specific, and what I was after was quite unusual, moon on a stick kind of thing, and by chance she had a horse out the back that met all my criteria bar one thing. (Silver Sky will vouch for what a find my current little horse is!)

I've been delighted with all 3 of them, and on each occasion the dealer has been a pleasure to deal with, very professional, knowledgable and polite. I am still in contact with 2 of them, the 3rd one died some years ago. They all gave very accurate and honest descriptions of the horses they were selling. Conversely I have dealt with some private sellers over the years who have been out to hide their horses foibles and pull a fast one. (One even dyed scarring on the horse's legs and sedated it when we collected it.) I think dealers have to have very high standards these days. There are still cowboys out there, but that happens in all walks of life, car dealers, estate agents etc.

Bizarrely I would not actually seek out a dealer to buy a horse from, but that's just the way things have turned out with mine!

Dealers should identify themselves as such as the buyer has different rights when buying from a dealer than a private home. I would be wary of a dealer who tried to hide the fact that they were dealers. It's always worth googling the phone number on the ad to check how many horses the person has for sale and there are some facebook groups where people share experiences of dodgey dealers.

it was just safe cobs

safecobs and mysafecobs used to be the same dealership till the 2 women running it went their seperate ways.

Yes, my vote was also for safecobs.com

Indeed box's hoss is a cracker! He ticks all the boxes.

Pipsy76 - you will have to tell us what you do, who you end up buying from... Would love to hear your experiences (live vicariously through you......)

Really rate Emma Hinkley at clip clop traders I bought my lw coloureds how cob from her and he has been a star in every way.

She is the only dealer I would ever use or recommend.

I have lots of Friends who have used her. They all have lovely Irish types and fantastic all rounders.

Update- It looked for a while like I no longer had a livery space so I put my search on hold for a while, however it looks like I'm now back in the game and may have a space!!

I am pretty much incapable of independent thought these days and make all my decisions after seeking the wisdom of mumsnet (no really!). So I've rung Julia at Southgate farm and may be looking at the lovely Nev next week, I also love the look of Troy at safecobs, yes I know nothing like an ISH but anyway! I have yet to ring clipclop but like the look of charlie. Thanks for all your recommendations, these dealers all seem to have an honest reputation. I'll keep you posted.

H, sorry, no experience of the Kent dealer you mention, but can support advice to try both Julia at Southgate Farm and Emma at Clip Clop Traders. We're based at a big livery yard/ riding school and most of the non-competition horses come from one of these two. I know Julia has recently supplied a couple of fab ISH to people at the yard which are exactly what they sold as. She also has a good trial facility and was more than willing to do an exchange of be horse that didn't work out (not her fault; rider was over-optimistic about her ability with a young horse). Clip Clop meanwhile have sold some lovely cobby horses to both liveries and the riding school, all of which seem very genuine.

Oh I like the look of troy too - I hope you get him, he seems fab!

I met the very cute and EVEN more lovely in RL Troy when I went down to try my now new and very lovely mare at safecobs.
I have had a recent not so good experience with clip clop, that though of course, is just MY experience and there are many on here that support them. You can't please all of the people all of the time

Oh Razzdazz - are you Brandy's new Mum? who else has gone recently......thinking....thinking.......or Maggie!!!!!!!
So excited ......and so jealous.....in a nice way of course

Wow razzdaz you are like a famous celebrity now I love watching the daily safecobs Facebook soap opera!

Lol!!! Should i really reveal my true RL identity to mumsnetters . I still watch the videos daily and my mare is a total delight (though still early days). Will you be joining the new coblets club???

Yep - I think i'll join the club. You will have to keep us posted as to how your mare goes.....

I'm going to try out an actual real horse tomorrow. 16hh bay gelding ISH 13yrs has done some dressage and eventing is being sold as a real schoolmaster,not with a dealer but private, I'm really nervous as I'm going alone, erm come looking for me if I don't return cheers

Oh good luck - very jealous!

Going back again today as believe it or not there was too much snow to ride yesterday!

I met the horse and seller though and am pleased as she has honestly described his vices, he really does not like being groomed! I'm hoping all the positive descriptions of how he goes in the saddle are also correct. He also has seedey toe, does anyone have any experience of this? Thanks!

PLEEEEEASE don't buy from these dealers without getting a bit of word of mouth first. Check out the Epona stars page on facebook. There are many other pages on facebook that deal with rogue horse dealers and scammers. Try Horse scammers also.