So I shopped for a horse on the continent when I was over there for work (more learning experience than anything else), and have been window shopping on-line ever since. With the pound being down, still [another penny today], and several COTH forum posters recommending shopping in the UK, I thought I would throw out this question to those in the know:
What “yards” would you recommend other than Harrington (whose horses are STUNNING, but looking for more than one option)? I’ve been looking at the UK websites, and have noticed ads from what look like maybe dealers or perhaps consignment barns, ads from what look like small training stables (maybe they buy, or have an investor buy, a young horse, then bring along and sell???), what look like breeders (big and small) who train their own, and what look like private sellers - kids off to college, or pregnant, or every other reason folks let a horse go. Wondering if there are any red flags you’d be willing to share.
I love the Billy stud horses too, but none of the horses are priced, leading me to believe I can’t afford them, especially given their accomplishments. :winkgrin: I am just an older amateur looking for something easy to have in the barn that will bravely jump around adult amateurs / no more than 1.2 meters. Not sure I need the scope Harrington and Billy Stud are offering. A selling point for me for the British horses is how many appear to have been ridden (at least schooled) XC. I like to do stuff other than show, so a horse that has seen a little of the world would be awesome, especially when somebody else did the heavy lifting for me!!
In the same vein, are there import companies based in UK that fly horses out of England (vs. Germany/Belgium), and which ones have you had good or bad experiences with?
Last question: is the reason there are so many KWPN horses advertised on British websites a function of geographic proximity to Holland? I noticed many more advertised as KWPN than Hanovarian, Zanghersheide, Holsteiner, etc. Wondered if it was a preference for Dutch horses, or because Holland is closer, or because everyone who has one wants to sell it :D?
) to make fancy videos to lure in the Americans especially. Buyer beware. Also NEVER EVER trust European vettings. English vettings however are on the whole extremely through but ALWAYS get new X-rays. Many are faked. Over here the big yards have caught on to the American market so will charge over the top prices yet you can get a heck of a bargain in some yards which wouldn’t be so clued up- so I am more than happy to give recommendations. The big yards and names are on the ball and know exactly what they have… we have a lot of young event riders though who produce super Irish horses that would kick ass in the equitation/hunter ring and you could purchase for less than 15k easily! A big yard would put 50k on it.
