Horses for Sale – Advice on Buying a Sports Horse
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The name Sport Horse is given to type of horse rather than a particular breed of horse; it is a term to define a horse that will excel in equestrian sports such as Showjumping, Dressage or Eventing.
Sports horse breeders follow intensive breeding programs. The breeding goals differ from registry to registry, some more geared towards Showjumping others Dressage, Eventing or all-round top quality riding horses, this is reflected in the breeding, for example to produce a top class jumping horse only prestigious jumping blood lines are used to produce a horse with the physical attributes and athletic ability which is needed for show jumping.
Quality Sports horses have certain attributes which incorporates the following:
• Correct confirmation – Sports horses should have correct confirmation as this has a direct affect on the movement and jumping capabilities of the horse.
• Temperament – Sports horses must have a trainable and willing nature.
• Movement – Sports horse should have an athletic gait with good suspension in trot and canter.
• Jumping ability – Sports horses that are bred for jumping have excellent jumping form and conformation that allows them to jump higher.
If you are looking to buy a horse to compete, a sports horse would be a very good choice. You should set yourself some guide lines on the criteria of the horse you wish to buy; a good place to start is to identify your capabilities as a rider. Less experienced riders should look for an older experienced horse that knows its job; an accomplished rider may want to bring on a younger horse and take it through the grades, it is absolutely essential for the rider to realise their capabilities. Unfortunately many people make the mistake of “over horsing themselves” this is when a less experienced rider has bought a horse that is far too much for the rider to handle. This can ruin good horses and ruin a rider’s confidence. Set a budget, the height range that would suit you best and what you intend to do with the horse. This will narrow down the market and get you focused on the right market of horses for sale.
There is an abundance of Sport horses for sale currently in the U.K. you only have to look briefly at the equestrian classifieds and you will be sure to see several advertisers offering Sports horses for sale. There are many competition yards that have Sports horses for sale.
Professional horse producers will often travel to Ireland and mainland Europe to source Sport horses from breeders and farmers. The horses that are brought back to the U.K. are to be sold to the equestrian competition market. A good professional horse producer will help you find the right horse; you will usually find that there will be quite a few Sports horses for sale at any one yard so you will have plenty of Sports Horses for Sale to view. There are lots of yards devoted sports horses for sale, so you will always have plenty of horses to look at, if they don’t have a horse that is suitable they will often be able to source a Sports horse for sale that meets your requirements, as they are more than likely to have established equestrian links with farmers and breeders overseas.
It is also possible for you to go to Ireland or the Continent to look for a Sport horses for sale yourself. It is good to look on the internet for Sports Horses for Sale to see if there are any abroad that you like, many yards will offer a service where they collect you from the airport and accommodate you while you view their Sport horses for sale.
If you are ever in doubt about what horse would be most suitable for you must always seek professional help from a reputable source, a person who has expertise in your preferred discipline.
Paul Simms
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/horses-for-sale-advice-on-buying-a-sports-horse-681355.html
Leasing out a TB mare…suggestions/help?
my friend has an 8 y/o OTTB bay mare. she is green but VERY nice. quiet, trails by herself and moves like a million bucks. she is naturally forward but knows where to put her energy. has a great, natural headset and has began jumping. she scored in the high 60′s low 70′s at her first 2 dressage shows and is currently jumping 2’0-2’3 courses QUIETLY and happily. she does not rush, gets her changes and waits for her rider. she is schooling level 1 dressage with some level 2 movements. and the highest line she has done was 3ft….with room to improve.
my friend is selling her. so far (not suprised with the economy) she has only got two offers…both "lease to buy" options.
she had the mare on dreamhorse as "for sale only" and never added a lease price. so one person offered her $100/month for a full/off property lease. the girl that is looking to lease her fell off her when she came out (entirely the girls fault….she kicked and pulled and the mare threw her head up and trotted on, i think my horse would have killed her for doing that to his mouth!!) anyway, she fell off and still wants the mare. she wants to show her in the jumpers and dressage and will be taking her as a lease to buy…if she takes her. she (IMO) is a bad rider and will ruin the mare….but thats not my business.
the other girl came and rode her and did well, jumped a 4 jump "course" did some lateral work and kept the mare calm etc. she wants a FREE lease with option to buy, wants the mare for all of event season, plans to event or show her on a weekly basis and already has an excuse for why she may not buy her.
my friends parents want the mare gone as she pays alot for bord etc. but i just think this mare is worth waiting for a proper owner willing to pay for her. i forgot her lineage but my friend could easily breed the mare and make a ton of $ off of her just sitting (apparently she has some great TB sport horse lineage)
thoughts? i feel as though the free lease is sketchy and the fact she wants her for all of show season, and alrady has an excuse not to buy her is wierd to me. i mean who would want a free, nice horse for show season?! no strings attached?!
any help on some advice to give to my friend w/o offending her?
thanks.
Liz T-
I’m aware of the fact that my friend (the owner) is fully responsible to make the decision on where her horse goes. I’m just trying to see if I can help her with ideas. and yes, eventing has alot of wear and tear on horses (i event as well) and that yet another reason i think it is silly to give someone a horse worht at leassssssst 5 grand for free for all of show season and they already have excuse not to buy her.
also, a contract will be made but my friend doesnt have an agent or anyone with experience in this field other than myself and i am not a professional and cannot make it legal..another reason im concerned.
and with the family that still wantes her, i thin theats nuts!! i mean yes, she is a nice horse and it was not at all her fault the girl fell but she is obviously too much horse for the girl. they will ruin her but will pay $100 and the other girl (she is OKAY) will probably keep her steady but wont be paying anything.
i just know i would NEVER let someone take my horse for free. they would pay a lease fee and all expenses. that is how off site/full leases work. ESPICALLY with a valuable show horse.
anyway, just wanted to clear up a little.
some of you guys seem to think im a little on the ignorant side. saying things like "make sure she has a contract" and "you have no say over the lease". i’m aware.
thanks all!
Well, your friend is the seller and thus completely in control of where her horse goes. She has every right to turn a sketchy offer down. Horses are very valuable, and if there’s any risk of it being damaged, (I mean, other than a freak accident), it would be prudent to wait for another offer.
If she goes with the girl wanting a free lease, be sure to have them draw up a contract or she could lose her horse. It sounds to me like the second person is looking for a free show horse. Keep in mind that eventing is very dangerous* too, and if she is shown weekly, it is possible for her to come back with more joint wear and tear than she left with.
* No offense to any eventers. I event too.
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You should do the free leace with a CONTRACT THAT SAYS THEY ARE RESONSIBLE FOR ANY BILLS TOWARDS HER, AND ANY MEDICAL BILLS
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she should not let the horse go to the girl who fell off. she should just tell that family that they’ve had other offers (which is true) or that they don’t think that’s quite the right home for her. the family shouldn’t argue, it’s the seller’s choice.
as for the free lease, it doesn’t seem fair to have a free lease for the entire show season. no way. it could be a free lease but the leasers pay all the expenses (vet, board, farrier, show fees, trailering, etc.) as though the horse was theirs, that is reasonable. or they should pay a fee of like $200 a month or something and that covers everything. but i don’t know if that is the family your friends wants either because they sound snobby.
i would say lower the price, put an ad up for a lease option as well, and put out more ads might get some more offers. she sounds like a FANTASTIC mare, and if my family could afford to keep a horse i would make an offer too!! she sounds amazing.
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Well you could give her the free lease, but if she backs out of the sale make her pay for the lease. This is what contracts are for. If you get her to sign a sale contract or lease contract it will hold her into taking the mare. She sounds pretty amazing, it shouldn’t be hard to find another buyer if the sale falls through. I personally wouldn’t sell her to the first interested party. Tell your friend Good Luck.
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