23/05/2024
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Tonight I came across an acquaintance’s very advanced, highly qualified but older horse offered up for sale for peanuts (it's been for sale for a while and the price keeps dropping) and it got her me thinking as these things do because I’d have assumed this horse would have been snapped up by now, so I thought I'd write what I call a thoughtful insight and what others probably refer to as rambling 🙂
Having been in the mechanical trades, I have somewhat of a methodical mind, which I have adapted over the years to apply the equine world.... Unfortunately, I see people use their hearts over their heads when selecting their riding companions time and again and more often than not this method doesn't work out very well for most unless lady luck favours you.
In the last few years I've been seeing an abundance of people with fairly small budgets and an endless list of particulars in what they need in a horse with very little wiggle room. So I thought I'd explain the fundamentals of horse buying as simple as I understand them to be.
Unfortunately for most of us in the equine community, we model ourselves on the most successful, glamorous and wealthy. The glossy magazines promote this high end lifestyle not because they believe it but because those are the companies that can afford to pay the adverts. Therefore why would we expect anything less when it comes to selecting our equine partners?
The way I see it you have options based on your budget, your level of expertise, your discipline, your ambitions etc and it's all about compromise.
There are horses and ponies out there to suit any number of these scenarios.
For those of you with a big budget, congratulations, the world is your oyster but for most of us we generally need to compromise on some things on our wish list.
For example, If you don't have a big budget to buy your young teenager their next pony but your teenager is confident, has a good seat and has access to a great trainer that you've been using for the past few years you might consider a younger unproven pony with the potential to perhaps increase in value for the 3-5 years you're probably going to have the pony for and perhaps make some money on it when the time comes to sell it again.
However, If you still don't have a big budget but your child is perhaps a little more on the timid or inexperienced side then consider purchasing them an older pony with a bit more experience themselves. You need to bear in mind that an older pony may need a little more upkeep than it's younger counterpart, a little more feed, an extra cover, maybe some veterinary care or an extra supplement or two. And you may not get the same amount of money back out of it at the end when you sell it again. But hey, you end up with a confident child at the end of it all.
Perhaps you want a very pretty, well put together, amazing moving dressage warmblood on your tight budget, consider buying a yearling with the breeding you desire and your compromise is waiting a few years and paying the breaking fees and 3 years worth of feed bills. The flip side is that younger horses can sometimes put feet where they ortn't and you may end up with a vet bill or three...
Perhaps you want a show horse with the perfect conformation on your small budget, then perhaps you need to compromise by buying a young TB, a mare or something of a different colour to what you'd envisioned.
Basically, if you're in the market for a horse with a mediocre budget, I advise you to put together a list of what you’re willing to compromise on and what you're not willing to compromise on. Be realistic. There are always bargains to be found out there but they are few and far between, mostly you're paying for someone else's time and effort in producing or breeding the lovely animal you see before you.
Your list should include
AGE
younger and older horses are generally cheaper, those in their prime are worth top dollar
COLOUR
the fancier the colour, the more you’re paying these days, bear in mind, a good horse is never a bad colour. If you want it to stand out, train it to a high standard!
BREED
purpose bred are more expensive, therefore if you only want it for trekking consider buying something that is more commonly bred or a by product of another Equestrian sport such as racing.
S*X
geldings are more commonly sought after due to their more reliable natures as they have less hormones flying around their bodies to negotiate. This does not mean there is no value in a good mare... After a serious injury, a mare quite often retains some value due to its breeding value whereas a gelding often has none.
HEIGHT
base this in comparison to your weight, not necessarily your height. A lightweight adult rider will sometimes feel more comfortable on and around a large pony, and just because your child is under 17 they do not necessarily need to ride a pony right through until their 17th birthday.
CONFORMATION
consider what the horses purpose will be. If you're buying it for trekking or cowboy challenge for example, the odd splint or two shouldn't be a problem. If it dishes slightly it shouldn't be a deal breaker. Obviously if you intend it to be a show animal or an eventing athlete at the higher levels you’re going to put this one high on your list of priorities.
FEET
being a farrier I can deal with most types of feet but can you? Bad feet typically become an issue if you live in a rural area with no local farrier's to put a shoe back on when your horse loses one the night before a show!
TEMPERAMENT
be honest about your equine abilities. Do you have the skills for a flighty youngster or would you be better buying that older more experienced horse. Bear in mind, horses are like people, some are old before their time is due and some never grow up. Be careful not to generalise.
BONE AND BUILD
what do you want to do with your horse and how much do you expect it to carry? A horses weight carrying capacity has more to do with how solid it is and less to do with it's height...
HOW OFTEN WILL YOU EXPECT TO RIDE IT? A younger horse will stand up to 5-6 days of work better than it's older counterpart. If you expect to ride an older horse 6 days a week, you'll need to invest in a good joint supplement and perhaps some devil's claw (if not competing)
PONY OR HORSE
I see small adults pass up ponies because quite often older women seem to have body dismorphia and believe themselves to be bigger than they actually are and I see parents pass up a small hack/horse because they believe their child should be on a pony for as long as possible. If you are an adult rider planning to trek, endurance, riding club, dressage or event, the rules allow you to ride a pony. If however you want to show or show jump, the rules require you to compete a horse over 148cm (unless showing in novice classes). Children however can compete a horse in most disciplines.
PRE PURCHASE VET CHECKS
Do you need them?
Yes, if you plan to insure your animal for a large amount (pays to read the fine print)
Yes, if the amount is a large amount in comparison to your income.
And perhaps yes, if you are inexperienced at horse purchasing.
I don't personally get pre purchase vet checks done when I'm buying a horse because I can't justify a 5 stage check with x-rays for the price I pay for horses. But bear in mind that I've been around horses for a long time and can spot a lame horse a mile off, I also carry a stethoscope with me and know how to use it and am a farrier, which helps when spotting a lot of hoof problems.
Be aware that some things that show up in a pre purchase check are manageable and shouldn't necessarily put you off purchasing the horse, depending on what you plan to do with the animal. You will never find the perfect horse, and if you do it will have a price tag to match!
If you don't have the money for a pre purchase check, consider taking your trainer or a close friend that knows a thing or two.
And sellers, please have a conscience when it comes to selling your horse or pony. If you don't think the person will cope with it, don't sell it to them. I've seen horses passed from pillar to post because they weren't suitable and that person doesn't have the ability to gauge whether the next person will handle it either. It's a downward spiral and eventually the horse ends up with someone who doesn't have the ability, means or knowledge to care for it's basic needs.
I personally train every horse that comes through my yard, to the highest standard that I am capable of because I believe that I am giving them the best opportunity in life to end up in the best homes and succeed once they leave my property.
I'm sure there's plenty more I could ramble on about but I'm guessing most of you are bored by now and possibly haven't even got this far but hopefully I've left you with a little insight into the art of equine purchasing!
