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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

Where to Buy a Horse?

14 replies

ExitPursuedByABear · 07/08/2013 17:26

DD is growing out of her beautiful loan pony and we have started to look for a horse to buy. When I last bought it was a case of looking in The Yorkshire Post or the Farmers' Guardian, but now there are soooo many websites and trawling through them takes sooooo long. Just wondered if anyone had any advice on dealers etc in the North West, or had experience of any good websites.

TIA

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Littlebigbum · 07/08/2013 18:13

I love the idea of dealers, you turn up with a list of what you want and if they don't have something, they get it in or what you want is total off the wall then they can tell you.
So i'll be watching this post wide eye

Butkin · 07/08/2013 18:52

Depends on what you're looking for. horsequest.com has been great for us - both buying and selling but I appreciate they tend to sell slightly more expensive ponies.

What about your local Pony Club websites? Have a look in a couple of weeks because a lot of nice ponies will come on the market once Camp is over and children have gone back to school.

Booboostoo · 08/08/2013 07:29

Horsemart and horsequest are the main sites and if you want a pony unfortunately you have to trawl through the adverts and spend time on it. The good ones always go really fast, and many are sold through word of mouth, so keep in touch with other PC parents and see which ponies are about to be outgrown.

Littlebigbum that is the most optimistic view of dealers I have ever heard!!!

Original poster

ExitPursuedByABear · 08/08/2013 09:24

Me thinks there was an element of tongue in cheek from Little non?

OP posts:

Original poster

ExitPursuedByABear · 08/08/2013 09:25

We are going to see one from Horse Quest on Saturday.

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Littlebigbum · 08/08/2013 11:21

No must be feeling a bit pink, rose tint you know.
I have heard that some peeps have got lucky with Kelly 1 in 10 and some have done well at Boswell castle??? the market.
Was surprised that Butkin said about selling the ponies after camp think I and my dc would flip a lid. Good Idea though.
For competition horse I have heard good things about www.featherbedhorsesandponies.co.uk/
But it is word of mouth for private sale is the best.
Lol I can always remember a good saying that you have to have a horse for a year before you bond with it [think I have a 3 sec rule].
Have fun with it I love nosing round other peeps yards.

Butkin · 08/08/2013 12:17

Ponies after camp is quite usual here, especially if they are nearly outgrown anyway. Most of the kids in our PC board and the parents move the ponies on pretty quick if they aren't going to be ridden much over the Winter and if they will be outgrown before next Spring. The exceptions are the keen hunting kids who want to ride over Christmas.

We buy our ponies by watching Horsequest like a hawk - at least twice a day every day! - and also keeping an eye open at shows. We're looking for 13hh hunter pony at the moment and we've put Wanted ad on Horsequest and we're speaking to producers whose jockeys may be too big or out of class next year to see if they would be for sale either before or after Hoys.

Original poster

ExitPursuedByABear · 08/08/2013 12:21

We are looking for 16hh. DD is currently 5'8" and scheduled to be 5'10" so I want something to last.

Off to check Horse Quest

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50BalesOfHay · 08/08/2013 16:02

We bought a lovely horse from featherbed, littlebigbum, as did someone else at our yard. Very honest dealer in my experience

Booboostoo · 08/08/2013 16:23

I'd be really careful with a first horse. Horses can be quite different to ride from ponies and many children find the transition very difficult.

Do you have an instructor? If yes see if he/she will come with you to viewing to help.

What does your DD want to do with this horse and how old is she?

Original poster

ExitPursuedByABear · 08/08/2013 17:04

She is 13. She wants to do a bit of everything with it but we are buyers not sellers (in that once bought we cannot part with them) hence I want something that will last her for a long time.

We will go for a first look ourselves and then take her instructor along to get on it as I can no longer ride.

OP posts:

Booboostoo · 08/08/2013 19:29

I know what you mean about keeping them for life, I have that problem as well!!!

If I were you I would go for something 12 plus that has been there, done that with your usual RC activities and can show your DD the ropes. Maybe something with a bit of pony in its breeding a Connie cross something bigger or similar. That way in 5 years when your DD will be off to Uni/moving out the horse will be ready for a quieter life..

Gilbertus · 08/08/2013 20:22

Find your local pony club area number. Go to each pony club website in the area and set the For Sale page up as a favourite on your PC. Check them all every day.

Gilbertus · 08/08/2013 20:24

Yes of course lots of ponies are sold after camp! It's a perfectly natural break.

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