Where do you look for horses?

[horseylady]

I'm horse shopping (technically not till after Xmas!!!) but I'm finding all the websites quite a minefield!!!

So where do you look for horses?!

I have up to £5k to spend looking for around 15.2 ideally gelding. All rounder don't mind bringing something on.

I've always bought via word of mouth and hoping to do the same again but looking round the open market too!

If you are in the South, I've always found the NFED website very easy to use, and there are loads of horses on there. I am very jealous, how exciting!

£5grand is an awful lot for a horse that might need bringing on though isn't it? round here people are giving them away or loaning them out.
I look at the local horse sales.
I am guessing you are in the south east?

Dpony 3 was bought after seeing an ad on horsequest and followed-up through word of mouth. We were looking for something very specific and had a fairly elastic budget though. We also did a lot of miles and had a couple DD didn't even get on and were gazumped (luckily before we'd paid for the vetting!).

Up to £5k. I have no intention of paying that much unless it's exactly what I want. And seeing how I don't really know exactly then I'm finding it quite tricky!!

Plus there are so many horses for sale out there?

I'm midlands. I've been offered one for loan, but he's quite old and not really what I'm looking for. There seems to be very few for sale round here? Where are you nigella?

PM'd you horseylady

We tend to buy (I think) similar ponies to Marialuisa and we also buy and sell via Horsequest. It's an excellent site in that it sorts the animals by category and whilst it tends to be a little high end the prices are reasonable and of course everything is open to negotiation these days - you can but suggest what you want to pay!

Yes Butkin, I think we'd find we'd have mutual friends if we dug through our address books! Dpony 3 is our serious move into flat showing from playing around at county shows and doing a bit of everything. Am pleasantly surprised that DD hasn't been too wistful about the lack of hunting although that might be because her homework load has shot up.

Yes I sold is horsequest. But then she was a very specific showing/dressage horse.

I'll keep looking on there then. I think part of the issue is that I can't decide whether to go native pony again, or hunter type. So I'm just getting bogged down.

Willing to travel etc. Had seen stunning section d but needed breaking and was top of my budget. I don't mind youngsters but I'm not willing to pay £5k for him.

I've been offered a fair few rides and the possibility of a share of an eventer while I'm deciding what to do. Plus I've got my old girl anyway to play with. There's no rush, and I know this isn't the best time of year. I was just amazed at how huge the range and quality of horses available is and the prices associated with them!!! I've not looked for 12 years!!

ML - what classes will your DD be doing on DP3? Our DD has started to having some jumping lessons and is doing well with our Sec B. We may even get him out doing some WHP classes this Winter. She was slow to start jumping as we didn't want to push her and she loves her flat showing.

We're looking for the next pony at the moment. Not an easy decision as we don't know if we should buy a bigger pony to grow into (we will keep the 12.2 for another season) or one that is the right size now.

Horseylady, yes not an easy decision for you. DW and I are looking for a horse to share and it's not easy trying to get one that fits both our demands. Don't want one too big (probably about 15.2) and needs to be a gelding. I'd like something that can hunt but also nice enough for local showing. She just wants something smart.

Butkin-14 shp and will probably have a go at the new PBA classes. DD doesn't have the temperament for serious whp, gets far too flustered. Shame really as she's really quite good but she's decided to get serious about flat classes instead.

Sounds like a tough call on the next pony for your DD, especially if workers are on the cards. We had a wobble about whether we should have gone for 15hh when we were looking but decided to play it safe and hope DD's growth rate slows down. Her surrogAte big sister is 5'8" and still looks ok on her 14hh so fingers crossed!

I'm 5'8 and have a 14hh welsh cob!!!

God it's so hard. Think I just need to look at horses come the new year and see how I feel!!

Really recommend dales sport horses - I have 2 friends that have bought their horses from them, and are both constantly out doing lovely things and in the ribbons. depending where you are in the midlands they're not a million miles away either.

ML - don't think we'll take WHP too seriously. It's just something that the Section B can turn his hoof too as we love him but he's getting a bit old for flat showing now. We'll probably do some Junior Rider M&Ms on him this Summer because those classes are a good progression for DD.

I think we'll go for a 13hh SHP as it'll take a season to bond with him, which is fine as we've got the 12.2 for Opens anyway. No real point buying a 12 hand SHP as we'll outgrow it and the class too soon.

The new part bred classes are interesting and we may do a couple with the 12.2 SP but in reality most of the decent ponies are part breds and it'll be just the same ponies qualifying for a 2nd class at HOYS - don't think it will really bring any more ponies to the forefront.

Bit of a hijack, but gd will be ready for a new horse in the spring, and thanks to mirage's good offices old pony has a likely loan home, so if all works out his loaner can share new horse. (Still with me?)

So we need 15.2 ish athletic horse that will live out all year. Welshie or something else?