Buying a Horse - It's sooo hard!

[FanFckingTastic]

We are in the process of finding another horse to join our family - we already have a lovely gelding that has effectively been pinched by my daughter so we've decided to to get something for me. Needs to be an all-rounder but doesn't need to be a world beater. Reasonable budget and reasonable expectations..... why oh why then is it so hard to find something!

We've looked through numerous dealers.... We've found lots of horses that are only just backed, but still have hefty price-tags and are described as 'great all rounders' when they've never even been ridden off the yard. We've turned up to see horses and discovered that we are not the only ones viewing the horse on that day and at the exact same time, so can only ride briefly as another potential buyer also wants to ride it. We found one horse through a dealer that was perfect - we visited several times and even brought my YO along to be a second pair of eyes - and then discovered that the owners were also selling him privately (unbeknownst to the dealer and for a considerable amount more) and that he wasn't actually for sale through the dealer at all.

We've looked at numerous horses privately, courtesy of Horsemart, Horsequest, Facebook groups etc. We saw one that was advertised as a ten year old, and then when we visited and checked his passport he was clearly sixteen. We went to see one that looked perfect on paper - could apparently hack, do a nice dressage test and pop a course - but when we went to see him the owner admitted that he had only been back in work for two weeks and that it was at least two years since he had done anything before that. All of the videos that she had sent me of him were from ages ago! We saw another that would have been great, but then the owner told us that she actually had to give first refusal to a friend of a friend, but that she wanted to keep advertising as a backup plan.

We seem to be wasting so much time and effort, particularly when horses are some distance away. I know that generally the buyers are considered to be the 'timewasters' but I've honestly found that so many sellers are just awful and are only telling half the truth about their horses, or massively inflating prices. Any tips for making this process a little easier, or any suggestions for reputable sellers / sites in the South East? Feeling completely disheartened by the whole thing!

Sympathies, the market seems to be absolutely mad right now (someone on my yard has just paid upper 4 figures for an ordinary enough 5yo welsh mare who turns out to be not 100% sound ). It seems to have been like this since lockdown, where is the economic downturn in the horse market?? Totally with you on sellers being just as bad if not worse than buyers for timewasting (and sometimes on top you get told off for being a timewaster yourself for not wanting to buy their mental/elderly/unsound/not as described horse for £££)! I'm guessing people must sell horses successfully this way or they wouldn't keep doing it but honestly who buys a 16year old 16hh TB when they wanted an 8 year old 15hh cob or vice versa!!

I guess just keep plugging away, as the weather turns and it gets darker people may want rid of excess stock or at least the market may calm down a little? Are you on all the local horsey FB groups and have you tried a 'wanted' ad (you will of course have to filter out loads of crap but you may hear of something not on the active market that way). Also word of mouth, through your own contacts and your YO's may turn up something? Dealer wise I have heard good things recently (although 0 personal experience) about Amy Derber, she seems to have some nice Irish youngsters in, possibly a little young and certainly not cheap for what you want, but a well started 5yo that's seen a bit of the world might tick your boxes?

I feel your pain.
Plan for it to take at least 6 months; to be messed around with a lot; and to have to travel great distances.
I was lucky this year, as I had just started to cast my eye around for a replacement, and a dealer near me advertised a little cob that caught my eye. He was unbanked, so I had him backed & I am bringing him on myself over the winter. I know this is not the type you are looking for.
I suggested identifying a few dealers not too far from you who specialise in all rounders & keep checking their stock. Where I am ( southeast) there are a 3-4 that fit the bill.
And be patient!

Give it a month or two, once winter sets in and I’m sure the market will get better.

Good "made" horses tend not to come up for sale as often as younger horses ready to bring on, or older horses looking for a quieter life, or outgrown ponies. And even with outgrown ponies, the good ones are often sold on through word of mouth through Pony Club connections or the local horsey social network without ever being officially "For Sale".

It's hard - I got exceptionally lucky when I bought our amazing all rounder as an outgrown 6 year old (she's officially a pony) but even she needed a lot of work on her flatwork before she could be described as a "made" horse. Our other one we bought through word of mouth - the archetypal all rounder/Pony Club veteran - because his owner was off to Uni.

You might have more luck looking at horses with the basics in place that need experience. If you find one with the right temperament, then continuing their education won't necessarily be difficult and might just be a matter of lessons, and working your way up the local dressage and show jumping ladders.

If you're not on your local horsey FB groups, then that's a good place to start.

Thanks for the sympathies everyone :-) We are just going to carry on looking and hope that something comes up soon. Just to clarify, I'm not looking for a 'made' horse at all and am very happy to have a youngster or something that needs work - I just wish that sellers would advertise them correctly. If a horse was only backed two weeks ago then the seller needs to be honest about it!

We are already on all of the FB groups that I can think of, and have asked all of our contacts, local RC and PC, instructors and friends. @Moanranger you mention dealers in the south east. Could you let me know who you are thinking of? We've already seen a few horses through dealers but maybe there are some that we haven't already thought of.

Fingers crossed we will find something soon!

Hi,
I’ve heard good things about Julia at (I think) Kings Hill Equestrian. She might have something or Hart Equine again I’ve heard positive feedback.
I bought through word of mouth but feel your pain as I almost bought a horse who had been for sale 2 weeks earlier on horse mart for half the price and who had issues which were undisclosed. It is a minefield!
I would probably look in the Netherlands if I’m looking again. As we have good contacts but even that isn’t without its challenges and we’ll need a very healthy budget.
Oh have you tried looking on Right Horse Right Home?

Hi, I PM’d you a couple of names. I am on an FB local riding group (West Sussex Riders) and if you are looking for dealer recommendations, these groups can be useful. Post a message on one in your area for recommendations.
I always buy from dealers, better legal protection.

Following with interest. I'm looking to buy my first horse next year. Sad that there are so many dishonest people. I'm terrified !