Nag shopping

[DolomitesDonkey]

I can't post on fb because my husband will read and lynch.

I've contacted someone about a nag up near Rotterdam. About 17hh, grey mare, 7 years old.

Also seen a Z 4 yo for only 2500 euros. Sooooo many hosses.

[Booboostoo]

Do you need two more? Are you looking for a horse with a bit of experience or a youngster?

Personally I make a list of my requirements and stick to it otherwise it's easy to be tempted by everything that is out there.

[DolomitesDonkey]

I don't have any at the moment and I need one. ;) I'm looking for a youngster or a "problem" so actually not really interested in the colt aside to note it's most definitely a buyer's market. There are some extraordinarily well-papered nags out there going for metaphorical peanuts.

[catinboots]

I'm nag shopping at the moment too!

But I accidentally came home with a stunning Section A last week for DS2

What are you looking for?

[catinboots]

Have you looked here ?

[DolomitesDonkey]

No, I live on the continent so only searching here.

[Booboostoo]

Oooh you do need one if you are horseless! Dh has no grounds for a lynching then! :)

Breed, size, job you want to do with the nag, preference mare/gelding?

For a youngster I'd go do the rounds of the sports breeders either in Holland or Germany depending on what breed you like and what discipline you want to bring him/her on for. You should have an enormous amount of choice of 3 year olds and perhaps 4 year olds as well.

If you are happy to bring on a youngster I'd stay away from problem horses. With a problem horse you'd have to start with all sorts of veterinary investigations to rule out a physical problem and then you'd still be left with a behavioural issue. Why not spend the money and time on bringing on a nice youngster instead?

[catinboots]

'Problem' horses are usually nice horses with 'problem' owners no?

I've had some cracking 'problem' horses bought from idiots

[Callisto]

So true, Cat and same here.

[Booboostoo]

Who knows? At least I can't tell from one visit, if OP can tell the difference then a 'problem' horse is indeed the way to go as it wouldn't be a problem but a massive bargain. If it's really a problem though then it becomes her problem which is a lot worse than somebody else's problem!

[DolomitesDonkey]

I'm kind of with cat in believing the majority of problem horses are in fact owned by people who can't ride or do groundwork.

Also whatever I get will have 5* vetting and x-rays which I hope would help rule out a lot of problems.

I like Hanoverians although tbh am falling over decent warm bloods here as am in holland on the border of Germany and Belgium. Can't swing a cat for hitting incredible bloodlines and the zangersheide stud is only 20 miles away.

I want an all rounder really, will not be doing Grand Prix. Needs to not bite or kick children. Needs to suffer a lorry without too much drama and I want one which doesn't have a stroke if it hears an engine.

Everything else can be fixed.

[Booboostoo]

Ah see I have failed to improve any of my horses, they have all become worse with my riding!!!

I have a Hanoverian by Don Frederico out of a Warkant mare, very nice moving but annoyingly nappy - do you want him?!!!!!!!!!!!! Just joking!

Why not look for some lines you like and see what comes up, there should be huge choice at the studs.

[catinboots]

Yep 5* vetting and temperament are the most important things IMHO.

Saying that, I didn't get little Welshy vetted



He's coming pretty much straight off the hillside though, and I paid next to nothing for him.

Plus he's got the teeny tinyest ears you've ever seen and huge big froggy eyes

[catinboots]

Proper jel of you being on the continent being surrounded by all those bloodlines OP

[DolomitesDonkey]

I didn't get my Haffie vetted - took a punt and he was as solid as houses. No vetting on earth would've told me he was a little bucker. He bucked when I rode him when I went to look so I knew what I was getting.

Got the Hanovarian vetted and it didn't work out. Pah.

Anyway - fab news, out of the blue about an hour ago my husband said "if you feel you need another horse then it's fine by me". :D

[DolomitesDonkey]

Just had a look at the problem horses page and am crying with laughter at the prices people are asking. 5k for a "problem", 2k for "lame"? Bwahahaha.

[catinboots]

Makes you larf doesn't it!

Dreamers.

Nice 3yr old coloured mare on there though, for a pittance.

Am tempted

[DolomitesDonkey]

ha! She was the only one I thought might be worth a punt too!

I just don't get it at all. I'm not saying they're all perfect over here either - the things people try and pass off as Welsh D's would be laughed back across the Severn Bridge. They do a decent warmblood here - anything else? Pah.

Mind you I'm seeing here dross for 2k and good stuff. Seems there are a lot of chancers - and, a lot of people who haven't got a clue and are happy to dig deep. My fave horse from my old yard went not long ago for 6k - at LEAST double what he was worth because he wasn't all that and a net of hay!

[DolomitesDonkey]

To put it in to perspective - was looking at a well papered 5 year old Lusitano stallion yesterday, for

[Booboostoo]

Well its fairly reasonable that people know what they breed.

If you want a native it's probably counter-productive to look in Germany, but for a whole host of WBs like Hanoverians, Holsteiners, Traknherners, Oldenburgs, etc. Germany is the place to be.

We are very close to Spain so PREs are ten a penny here and 5k for a Luso would be considered very expensive...although they do sell to foreigners for a lot more!

[DolomitesDonkey]

booboo That's interesting about your local prices for PREs! You would die then if I told you a friend paid 12k (euros) in 2008 for a green one... I suppose if you've your heart set on one it would make sense to drive down to Spain with a box and fill it up !

[Booboostoo]

Yes, that's definitely the thing to do, the studs are full of youngsters. My vet picked up a stunning 5 year old, with really good paces (esp for a PRE) and a lovely temperament, for 3k. They are teaching him to work on a longer lower frame and he should be great for next year.

Loads of UK based people pay enormous amounts of money for PREs from Spain/Portugal - I don't know what they are thinking really.

Carl Hester said Valegro, Nip N Tuck, and a 4 year old he showed at the BD convention were all under 10k each, although he does seem to buy large-ish numbers of youngsters together (Nip N Tuck was BOGOF for another one he wanted which he then mistakenly sold on thinking it was the unwanted one!).

[DolomitesDonkey]

No, I'm never interested in spammers, but thanks for the offer. Were you planning on shipping from Nigeria?

[catinboots]

FUCKING ARF