Realistic budget query

[lastqueenofscotland]

All the horses I’ve owned since my teens have been ex racehorses that were gifted to me... and I’ve foolishly agreed to help a friend. I’m very out of touch with prices and would appreciate some help
We are in the NW of England if that helps she is looking for:

First and foremost something safe, she doesn’t mind if the horse is green in the school or has the odd nap/buck but must be a steady hack with perfect breaks and not spooky (she had a very nasty fall a few years ago and is not confident out hacking despite being a very brave and competent rider in an arena).
She doesn’t need a world beater but would like something nice enough to do the odd intro/prelim test on and will pop a small course of fences occasionally.
Nothing too heavy built/with too much bone but no objection to any breed.

It’s goig to be expensive isn’t it....

I'd go for a nice lightweight cob. Nothing will have perfect brakes but some, like my old boy, will only get strong in situations which are safe and fun. Most horses are quite capable of doing a prelim test and popping a course. Your problem will be wanting the reliability without it being a bit dull to ride. It's a bit of a piece of string question and depends on what age she wants. I'd say £2-3k but you could spend far more. You could also get something suitable for far less, but you'd have to be canny because lower than that there might be problems.

Realistically, what you have described there is what everyone is looking for - a nice safe all-rounder for hacking and low level RC activities. Short answer is yes, your friend may well pay through the nose for that unless she is very lucky!

I also think its what most people want and you'll pay quite a lot for the genuine article. Although I must say Im slightly surprised that someone who's has a "nasty fall" and isn't "confident out hacking" would even remotely consider something that naps however occasionally or slings in the "odd buck".
IME buckers/nappers rarely do it that rarely!

Retraining she’s ridden the quieter of my two ex racers out hacking in walk/trot and he can be a right stroppy git and she was fine with it. She is an incredibly good rider but had her confidence utterly shattered a few years ago and now cannot cope at all with the feeling of not being able to stop in open spaces.

I agree retraining but there is a big difference between something which will do a little hop if unbalanced going into canter (my piebald mare!) or when excited cantering out hacking (my bay mare!) and something that broncs in earnest trying to get you off. I assume lastqueen's friend is ok with the former but not the latter? Moot point really as no-one is ok with the latter but I get the point she's trying to make!

How big does it need to be lastqueen? If 14.2-15hh I would say up to £3k providing she genuinely is confident enough to deal with some minor greenness and/or will take on something a bit older, with small vices or blemishes. If 16hh or more then add a bit on to that and probably £1k more if it needs to be a weight carrier as well.

Where you are in the country prices tend to be a bit cheaper than in the south, and if you are prepared to pop over into Scotland you might be able to pick up a nice highland or highland x type which would fit the bill providing she isn't hugely tall. Or an overheight Fell? They can be quirky but usually very good hacks.

Bear in mind that as the others say it will be cheaper in the long run to buy something perfect than try and over-horse herself or take on a project. Confidence is priceless!

Price will vary hugely by region, but she seems to be looking for the same horse as most other people. If she is willing to travel and budget for shipping a trip to Ireland may be cost effective (last horse we sent from Northern Ireland to Yorkshire was about £500 one way).

A mate ended up paying £3k for a backward but safe as houses large cob with god awful conformation in the south east, the same horse would have been £500-800 in Northern Ireland when I lived there.

2 years ago I paid £1,800 for my then 3yo cob in Yorkshire. I didn't really want a youngster but something kept drawing me to her. She had been lightly broken as the person who had her thought she was older than she was

I've been fortunate that she's pretty sane and we have both improved together, this year we have really concentrated on schooling and she has come on leaps and bounds.

On the other hand my friend bought a show cob from a well renowned dealer for £6.5k, thought the price would mean she was buying something amazing and she had nothing but problems with him resulting in him having to be PTS a few months ago.

I do think it's luck of the draw sometimes.