Thinking about buying a horse in Ireland...talk me through this

Excellent advice no matter where you’re shopping, thanks! :slight_smile:

No advice on import, but I spent a week at Crossogue in April of this year and had some long chats about pricing, prospects, experience, schooling. What I took away is that you can get a game, safe, super fun XC horse/foxhunter for quite fair prices including import costs, due to the way they’re produced. Dressage talent costs, though–if it’s a fancy mover AND checks all the other boxes, they all know what it’s worth and you aren’t going to save any money over buying in the US.

For comparison–one of the horses I rode was a 7 yo ID cross, average mover, incredibly fun and game jumper, probably could run around our Training level tomorrow (but wouldn’t be in the top of the pack after dressage), they estimated something like him would sell in the $10k range. One of the Irish high schoolers staying there at the same time as I was, was in the market for one like that but that would be competitive in the dressage, and that about doubled the price (or more, depending on future potential). So, if you add import costs to that, it may not be such a deal.

The thing is, the well-produced Irish horses are taught to be HONEST above all. They start out foxhunting, often have to cart maybe not-great riders over some pretty hairy country. They may pull or they may buck a little when fresh, and they may not know a leg yield from a rabbit, but if you put them in front of a fence, they are going over. Period. Drop over a water-filled ditch from a walk approach off a sharp turn? Grab mane and keep your leg on, lady, and catch up on the other side! They know their jobs out XC. It was hugely confidence-boosting for me, as I’ve only had green horses XC for the past 10 or so years, but whether you want to buy that would, of course, depend on your goals.

(Interesting side note that may help you when you’re there riding–the ones I rode had been trained to pause and take a look if you didn’t add leg at a fence, for the times out hunting when there may be wire or a ditch on the other side that they can’t see. They still have to jump, but leg says ‘jump now’ while no leg means ‘look first, but you still have to jump’.)

I’m sure you’ll have a blast whether or not you bring one home! I’m already plotting my return…

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