Where to buy horse?

[Niassa]

I’m finally at the stage of wanting to buy my own horse. I ride 3-4 times a week as a happy hacker with aspirations to take part in TREC/ riding club/ fun rides etc.
I have a reasonable budget (10K) and am looking for a sane sensible fine(ish) -boned horse, 15-16hh, good feet (I’ve seen too many TBs with sellotaped-together feet!) no stable vices and friendly.
Where are they hiding??
I’m looking on whickr, HorseQuest, righthorserighthome, horse mart.

Where else should I be looking?

I found mine on preloved. Best pony ever

Mine was on Preloved too! But we have sold gorgeous all rounders in the past through FB. The demand was incredible.

We had over 75 enquiries for our superstar so you have to be quick as the first person who offered a 5 star home ( sent photos) and could come out and view early and ride him was able to buy him. He sailed through a 4 star vet check too. My daughter who was selling had a very good idea of who she wanted as his next owner and managed to match them perfectly.

So my advice would be make sure you have a really nice set up ready so you can demonstrate you are offering a very good home, plus send details of who your new horse's companions will be and join FB groups in your local area.

Have a mode of transport ready and a very experienced friend to go with you.

Alternatively you could ask a local horse trainer to find one for you ( they are often a horse dealer too)who has an excellent reputation who can ask questions about what you are looking for and put their reputation on the line by matching you up.

Or you could loan one?

Good luck!

Someone on my yard bought a cracking pony from a horse and hound classified ad recently, I thought their selling pages were dead but apparently worth a look. Other than that, lots of buying and selling goes on on local and national facebook groups, you could try a wanted post (just be prepared to filter through a lot of crap!) or join all the groups, lurk and see if anyone advertises something suitable. Or otherwise with your budget, I'd put yourself in the hands of a reputable dealer, Amy Derber and Natalia Thorpe are ones I hear recommended, they may not have anything in to suit you right now but if they know they've an order they can keep their ears open? Plenty of people have bad experiences with dealers and will try and put you off but so long as you have your wits about you, do your due diligence including checking the dodgy dealer FB groups and don't expect the world on a stick for 5p, if they're hard selling you on a too good to be true perfect unicorn for £1000 it's probably broken and/or insane but if they ask you sensible questions, offer suitable horses at sensible prices, priced up to include the premium for the fact you're buying from a business with a reputation and guarantee of return if not suitable then it can be the best way to buy.

Also yes, be quick to get your inquiry in and don't hang about with the viewings either, you are in a bit of a crowded marketplace so chances are if you like the horse someone else will so being available might make the difference - obviously don't skimp on your checks, vetting etc but if you can emphasise to sellers you are serious and committed they may just favour you over another buyer...

My mother has found horses exclusively from Horsequest and Horse and Hound. I would recommend the Pony Club website but I prefer them tiny and you won’t find much above 14hh! Possibly try word of mouth at your stables, the local riding club, your instructor? Best of luck :)

Anywhere but Dragon Driving

We sold our perfect all-round Pony Club pony on Facebook.

We bought our ponies through our yard owner.

Horse quest or Facebook
what you are looking for is the same as most people. So sellers will likely be inundated.

Mine was being sold privately by an acquaintance of my former instructor. She was advertised in H&H too but my instructor saw a Facebook post.

I would absolutely put the word out with any horsey friends or contacts. That's the best way to buy, the horse world is a small one.

My sister's first horse was from a horsequest advert but it turned out that I knew one of the seller's friends. A friend bought a from an advert and it turned out me and her instructor knew the seller.

Having said that decent horses are advertised, it is tricky when you are a first time buyer though as you don't want to chance anything too tricky.

I agree that a lot gets advertised on facebook now- there's lots of groups where people advertise breeds or types. In general it's better to call than message.

I would say as a first time buyer, yes there are lots of people looking to buy the type you want BUT don't get rushed into anything. Take you time, have a second viewing if you're unsure, get a vetting.

Yes, you might lose out on a horse to someone else, but it's so much better than buying trouble!

Also, do use word of mouth- ask your instructor and your horsey friends if they know of anyone selling!

Bought my daughter’s through a dealer advertising on Preloved. Makes me feel slightly sick how badly wrong that could have gone, especially as I knew nothing ! Fate was smiling on us that day though! She’s a lovely horse, the most honest dealer you’ll ever find and we ended up keeping her there on livery. It’s been the best outcome I can imagine.

Have you joined any of the dodgy horse dealer groups on Facebook ? There are also lots of good dealers mentioned on them. I’d start there, maybe.

I found one on Preloved (I wasn't actually looking for a horse, actually I was looking for chickens, but thought I'd search for my 'dream horse' and there he was!). I found the other on a Facebook horse selling group.