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Original poster

Buying horse for teenage dd. I'm neurotic and never sure when we have the 'right one'!

28 replies

sharanel · 21/10/2014 10:10

Trying to buy a horse for teenage dd. Needs to be fairly decent (ie capable of BE100 equivalent) but also a lovely person.

Have tried about 10, nothing really right. Came close a couple of times.

So we've seen a horse that happens to be local, owned by someone who has lots of horses and this one is 'surplus to requirements'. He's got nice breeding, he's handsome, seems very sweet natured. Jump looks very scopey but a bit lollopy. He's only 6. Dd likes him. She took him off around the fields and he was as good as gold, true snaffle mouth, very light in the mouth. BUT I can't stop thinking about WHY they are selling him? They say because they have too many (very wealthy family). They also want what I think is a lot for him - he's not done BE, he's hunted a season and done a few local shows and SJ. How do you make that leap and decide to buy?! I am so neurotic I just don't want to make a mistake and I think this is holding me back - we've been looking seriously for about 3 months. All I can say in all honesty is that this chap appealed to me for reasons I am not sure about. Is that enough to take the risk and spend 7k on a horse?!

OP posts:
mrslaughan · 21/10/2014 10:37

have you a trusted person you can take to look at him? I am horse shopping at the moment, with my trainer....we have been looking for 2 months, and not found the right one yet. What I would say is most people are negotiable - though we are saying from the outset (before we go and look at a horse - our budget is X - would you except this...as we don't want to waste our time and theirs)

I think in this market $7k is a little high for a horse that has nice breeding, temperament and talent (I presume), but then, its there choice to sell or not and at which price......

I just noticed you said it had done a few local shows? What height? what were its results - this will influence what he is worth (I think).

the other thing to think about is temperament, and how important this is. You want something that is going to look after your daughter on a cross country course, and if on first ride she has comfortably hacked him out alone, I think that says a lot.

I presume you will have said horse vetted?

At the end of the day, it is a leap of faith....but you need to be clear, what boxes need to be ticked and what in your mind is most important.

mrslaughan · 21/10/2014 10:41

PS I have looked at horses that are being sold people who have a few.....often it is about which ones they get on best with, or they are not talented enough for what they want to do.

I had decided to buy a mare (she failed her vetting - she sustained an injury in the field between me viewing her and the vetting - but they weren't honest with me about it, so I walked away)...she was perfect for me - they were selling her, because they have a number of horses (actually a lot, they breed), and they didn't feel she was scope enough to make it to 1.5m SJ and above in competition....thats fine with me - I have no aspirations for that!

Original poster
sharanel · 21/10/2014 12:02

Thank you mrslaughan. He jumped clear round a 90 JWS although not sure where placed. 2nd in a wh. Woman who is selling him on behalf of family bought him for family in first place and he has had full extensive vettting and I think I trust her judgement. She has told me that he is a really nice horse and a perfect all rounder but wouldn't win Badminton! I think the jumping is fine my gut feeling is that he is not fast so probably would struggle at novice as wouldn't make the time. BE100 level is perfect for us as she would do unaff and PC for next couple of years anyway. I am taking a good friend who teaches with me to see him again. I was very taken with the fact that dd felt comfortable enough (although she is very bold) to just take him off over the fields and that he pulled up very easily in just a snaffle as he's a big boy (16.2) so I do need to know that he is easy.

OP posts:
snowpo · 21/10/2014 14:47

Wow 7K is a lot in the current market. I would expect him to have been out and done more than that. I'm sure you know anyway but be really careful if this woman is selling on behalf of family. Its the way dealers get out of any responsibility if it goes wrong. Do you know the woman personally?
I would definately get another vetting (including bloods) by my own vet if you're paying that sort of money. Being sold with a full vetting is a bit too convenient for me.
Do you know how long he's been for sale? If you decide to go for it I'd offer well under and see what happens. Its a bad time of year for sellers so you're in a good position.

mrslaughan · 21/10/2014 15:59

yes - get another vetting, with your own vet.

A very good friend who is deep in the horse world, says never ever trust anyone in the horse world, no matter how trustworthy they are.

They may be selling for genuine reasons i.e. not talented enough, but also it might be 1/10 lame which you will only see if it is trotted on a hard surface in a tight circle.......

Also research the lady who is selling, to find out if she is a dealer....and kind of hiding behind the selling on behalf of...

TeenagersDriveMeMad · 21/10/2014 20:02

£7k is a hell of a price for a horse with no mileage and no 'special' breeding. You want something to take your daughter round a BE100 but I assume this horse has had no proper dressage training - are you prepared to spend 2-3 years getting everything OK before she can go and complete an event?

This horse is probably worth £3k, maybe a bit more if he's a really nice person.

£7k can get you a horse eventing at Novice level, I've no idea of any age, gender, or breed prefs you have, but look at these:

Horse One

Novice Eventer!

another novice eventer

notquiteruralbliss · 21/10/2014 22:04

When 17yo DD was looking, we paid 7k for a nice 5yo Holsteiner from a SJ stud. She is out of a very well bred brood mare mare by an international GP stallion. She was pretty green and had only done a couple of BNs before being turned away but has more jump than DD will ever need and is a nice. (if excitable) person. A year later, and we couldn't be happier. She is talented, loves her job and so genuine. TBH if you are looking for something to do BE100, most reasonably bred young horses should be able to do that.

TooMuchCantBreathe · 21/10/2014 22:17

I agree 7k seems a lot for an untried horse. I'd definitely want some basic record and breeding for that. Your wants aren't particularly huge. Certainly our 3k mare could manage it all happily, is a lovely person (can be ridden by my 9yo in a headcollar), nicely bred and had a record for showing when we got her (not what we wanted to do but meant we knew she could behave and perform on a show ground).

If you have the money then the most important thing is dd feels herself working with him. Get your friend to give a second opinion and get it into as many situations as you can (eg a friends perfect horse would try to kill you if part of the group rode away from him. She found that out a bit too late! ).

Original poster
sharanel · 21/10/2014 23:39

Hmm. I dont want a 14 year old, nor do I want something with BE points at novice or dd wont be able to do be90/100. None of them mention hunting. I agree 7k seems a lit although I have missed two in the last few weeks - one on for 8, one for 7.5. I agree it seems overpriced although you cant put a price on safety

OP posts:
Original poster
sharanel · 21/10/2014 23:41

He is out of a good ISH stallion

OP posts:
TooMuchCantBreathe · 22/10/2014 06:44

Safety isn't priced in on horses Grin

Good luck whatever your decision, like I said, most important is how dd feels about him.

TooMuchCantBreathe · 22/10/2014 06:48

I have to say the selle mare in the first link above sounds worth 7k and has everything youre looking for in spades. That is the kind of write up I'd want before parting with that kind of cash.

PitchSlapped · 22/10/2014 07:03

I wouldnt spend 7k on an unproven horse, i would want one ready to go and do its job. Quest looks perfect, it says shes a seasoned hunter and shes only 10

Booboostoo · 22/10/2014 07:51

I think you can aim between two extremes...neither an unproven 6yo nor an out of class 14yo.

Don't trust the agent, her job is to sell the horse not protect you. Take your DD's instructor with you to viewings so she can assess the horse in relation to your DD's abilities. Get to grips with The BE results database, it reveals so much about a horse and its value.

Always get a vetting done by an independent vet.

Original poster
sharanel · 22/10/2014 08:06

Was thinking about this last night. A few people have said that 7k is a lot 'for what we want'. Actually we want a lot! Horses that are really good all-rounders, with excellent confirmation, good breeding and lovely manners are few and far between. And to have the ability to get a double clear at BE100, to hunt well and do a sub 30s dressage as well as hacking pperfectly and being an all round nice chap for a teenager moving from ponies is a lot!!

OP posts:
Original poster
sharanel · 22/10/2014 08:07

Quest does look good but a very very long way from me sadly.

OP posts:
Booboostoo · 22/10/2014 13:31

I think your budget is fine. Why would anyone sell a BE competitive, straight-forward horse with a nice temperament for less than 7k?

umbongoumbongo · 22/10/2014 14:34

I love SF's; my first horse was one and she was brilliant. If I was looking and had that budget then Quest would be one I'd definitely be interested in. 7k is a lot but then finding a really safe but talented type is like finding hens teeth...

mrslaughan · 22/10/2014 15:58

Sharanel - does say he has nice breeding though. If it has nice breeding and scope and a fab temperament, even if it hasn't done much interms of shows (but some), I think people will hold out for close to 7, ....

In some ways it is a buyers market - but in others its not. There are a lot of horses out there, that I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole, which is why I am still looking (I have had two fail vettings)

And interns of breeding people will always have diff pref..me I like warmbloods - I like the fact you can trace back the bloodlines, I like the horses. Others like SF, others swear by irish. At the end of the day find a horse you are happy with in the flesh - get in independently vetted (you will need to do this anyway for insurance), get some advice from a trusted person (like your instructor) and then it is a leap of faith......

Booboostoo · 22/10/2014 16:27

If I was going to be critical, and you have to be when looking for a competition horse, Quest has a long body and flat canter, something tells me her dressage is not up to scratch and she has never actually competed eventing just gone XC schooling. She sounds like a SJ low level competition horse two owners ago that has been doodling around with the current owner.

Eve · 22/10/2014 16:32

www.uptowneventing.co.uk/super-advanced-horse-i3333.html

£60K maybe a little over your budget.

I'm also looking for DS next event horse, capable of 100's/ novice though. Not looking for an advanced one.

mrslaughan · 22/10/2014 16:44

oh and what I have been told in our search is that horses 15K and up are not selling - the really talented ones, ones who have done lots, but the ones around the £5k mark (which I would class £7k as in this instance) - the ones who need a bit of talent, a bit of quality to do lower level competing......

Original poster
sharanel · 22/10/2014 18:39

booboostoo I agree about quest - think you are on my wavelength!

Eve have you considered irish sport horse agent in cheltenham they have some very nice models but young (not sure what you budget is)

OP posts:
TooMuchCantBreathe · 22/10/2014 19:49

Argh! I know this is not what this thread is about but that poor horse!

I didn't see the link before. Her canter isn't flat, she's not engaged in her back end at all. I couldn't work out why she wasn't going forward but jeez who can blame her. No leg to push her on, hands constantly niggling for head down but no impulsion to support it. Jumping she's snagged two strides out then kicked in the ribs like they're in pc then snagged again.... I could rant on. Poor girl, no wonder she doesn't look like she's enjoying life. Oh and the shot of her lame really sells it Angry she's obviously very very kind though!

Booboostoo · 22/10/2014 20:10

By flat I meant not engaged. She lacks impulsion, her back is hollow, she's on the forehand and her hind legs stick out behind her. For 7k I'd expect much better.

Have you looked on Horsequest sharanel? What height range are you looking for?