Any favorite tack shops I need to see? Any people I need to call? Any favorite spots near top eventers?
Get a digital subscription to “Horse and Hound” http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/
and read the years worth. You will know who you are talking to and what to expect. PatO
Where will you be in the country?
Where? When? How long? Which discipline? There is a lot of opportunity! Need more info to be a help to you
How about buying at home? Seems to me a few folks have been commenting lately that we got some good home grown stock if you’re willing to look for it.
Would there not be some US breeder piping up to say “Now before you fly off, check out this fine equine”. But then maybe our horse stock is just that bad that the first thought for some upper level ride is to look away from our own shores. Kind a sad in one way.
Well cheers, take a Scottish pub crawl if you can, the trains are not always on time (from close experience), and keep in mind the weather has been a little dicey these days, bring galoshes.
Horses in the US are getting pricey. Going overseas can be with it depending upon what you are looking for.
Someone posts they are going shopping in England on the COTH event board and there are only five replies? What’s the matter with us?
How I wish I were tagging along with you! Other than pack Wellies, I have no really good advice but certainly wish I did!
I’m sure there’d be more but there’s not really enough info from the OP to give much help, from this end.
Why can’t you guys just say…I went here on holiday and I loved it. Or I bought my horse from here and it was a great experience. Or this tack shop was amazing. I didn’t put too much information up because I knew that some people would berate me on buying a horse overseas. I just wanted some fun advice on what people had experienced personally… Not what the advertised media of horse and hound would tell me I would like. England is a small country. I’m going all over searching for a horse that has done prelim or above. I’m going for a little over a week. I hope to find some nice B&Bs to stay at and hopefully go to a nice tack shop because lord knows we need more tack! I have two OTTB at home that are young and I have looked in the us for about six months. It’s a wonderful opportunity that I am humbly grateful to have and have worked my ass off for. So please be happy for me!
Well you know…not actually knowing what you were shopping for, your budget, and where you were wanting to travel, more information would have been helpful for me over here in England to steer you in the right direction with actual relevant advice and contacts!
We might only be a small country over here but we have a lot of horses for sale, prelim or above hardly narrows it down at all. You can wander about aimlessly for the week or you can tell people what you are looking for and be given better advice. Your attitude came off as really crappy in that last post, so I’m out.
OP, I’m excited for you. I’m already starting to look at horses for when I purchase my next one in 2-3 years, so I’m scoping out breeders in the US, Canada, and abroad to see what kind of horses people have and to see what’s selling. I’m strictly searching for a dressage horse, so I don’t have any advice to offer you insofar as where to look for an event horse in England, but I wish you the best of luck. Keep us posted and have fun!
I’m very happy for you - enjoy your holiday! I think, based on some horse window shopping, you get more bang for your buck overseas for the type of horse you are searching for, most of the time anyways. I’ll be stuck in my cubicle wishing I was on a horse shopping holiday :lol:
[QUOTE=goodmorning;7793467]
based on some horse window shopping, you get more bang for your buck overseas for the type of horse you are searching for, most of the time anyways. [/QUOTE]
Definitely! I’ve been doing the window shopping in reverse and can’t believe the prices you have to pay over there for what would NOT be a big ticket horse over here!
[QUOTE=Layla;7793444]
I’m going all over searching for a horse that has done prelim or above. [/QUOTE]
It should take you all of five minutes to find a nice one fitting this description!
Perhaps there are NOT a lot of posts because people have nothing to say.
I’ve been to England. Had a blast and I’m sure you will enjoy your trip. I did a lot of the touristy things in London…and it was fun. But I’ve never felt the need to buy a horse there. I’ve always found my horses near where I live and from people that I know.
So no advice to give other than to be very very careful. I’ve known people who have bought lovely horses…but I’ve known as many if not more who gotten taken. The ones that bought lovely horses went with their trainer who had a long relationship from the agent that facilitated the buying trip (lining up horses etc.). I think that is key…and trusting your gut. Do not let people talk you into anything…use your eyes and feel. Have fun.
That said…I know of several very nice horses here in the US for sale with Prelim and above experience. Just be very careful as most of the ones I know imported with that “level” of experience were not as well started as you would think. Stick with ones who have a good record in the CIC/CCIs. Some absolutely are lovely…but I’ve known a few with some big holes. Although I think you could find that anywhere…so again, it is really best to be buying from someone you know or who has a good relationship with someone close to you.
[QUOTE=Loopy;7793462]
Well you know…not actually knowing what you were shopping for, your budget, and where you were wanting to travel, more information would have been helpful for me over here in England to steer you in the right direction with actual relevant advice and contacts! [/QUOTE]
I wasn’t really asking for horses to go try. I have mapped a lot of that out. I was really just asking for some positive fun experiences people had. I am really looking forward to the week and thought if anyone had some fun things they did I would look into it. I’m sorry you’re offended.
[QUOTE=Layla;7793574]
I wasn’t really asking for horses to go try. I have mapped a lot of that out. I was really just asking for some positive fun experiences people had. I am really looking forward to the week and thought if anyone had some fun things they did I would look into it. I’m sorry you’re offended.[/QUOTE]
Well your first post really doesn’t ask that well. You should revise it a bit if you want to get posts more along that line.
"I’m heading to England. I will be in the following areas _____________. Any must see things or fun things to do? Looking for great suggestions. I was thinking of seeing _____________. Good idea or waste of time?
The way you worded your post…it comes across more like you want advice on horses.
[QUOTE=Layla;7793574]
I wasn’t really asking for horses to go try. I have mapped a lot of that out. I was really just asking for some positive fun experiences people had. I am really looking forward to the week and thought if anyone had some fun things they did I would look into it. I’m sorry you’re offended.[/QUOTE]
In that case, if you tell us ROUGHLY what areas you are going to, we could make suggestions. No point in making suggestions in Kent, say, if you are looking at horses in the North. Or vice versa. It may be a “small” country, but not THAT small.
So on one hand, having a trip overseas is always a blast and given the history and character of Britain, you can’t do it all is a vast understatement. Here’s some advice, don’t go all touristy, go to local pubs, go out in the countryside, visit the obscure and different for there you may find something special. Some of my best moments in traveling through Germany and Paris where when I went off the beaten path. In Ireland I so enjoyed talking with local folks at a pub for I could learn much about the local history. Seeing Buckingham palace is all nice, but really, it’s just a big house. Meet the real Britain 
On the other hand, I do not get traveling overseas to buy a horse that can perform at a Prelim level. Given the gazillion horses we have in this country, many of them seemingly talented (given a good rider), perhaps it would help the breeders/trainers in this country to give them a try. I think I read in some thread that over in Europe, they may present the second string to American buyers, leaving the best in house as it were.
What is a going value for a Prelim horse, in the US? I did find this one, and its in area II over $30K
DRIFTER - Bay 2003 Irish Sport Horse gelding, 16.2 hands. Imported from Ireland, he is by the legendary Eventing sire Master Imp. This talented Eventer has plenty of experience and success at the Preliminary level, and has recently moved up to Intermediate. He is bold and scopey, one of the most talented jumpers I have ever sat on. Excellent in all three phases, he has lovely movement and does well in the dressage, is an extremely clean and careful show jumper, and is fabulous cross-country. He is well schooled and has the talent and ability to go to the Advanced level. Well schooled, sound, and ready to go Eventing. He would be a very competitive Young Riders horse, or suitable for someone who wants to move up through the levels.
though I can’t tell if its a good horse or not. Sounds pretty good. So my advice would be, buy a horse in the US, save tons on shipping, and splurge the savings on something unique to being in the UK or more tack to bling out your new horse
Have you considered spending a few days in Ireland? It’s a quick, cheap flight from England and the place is crawling with super nice horses. I may be biased though as this is what we did and where we found my guy. Feel free to PM me if you’d like more info!!
