I'm Gonna Buy A Horse

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solerina

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I'm finally back in work and solvent and I would love to buy a good all rounder . That will cost megabucks so I was wondering if anyone knows if any decent ex racehorses are coming up for sale
 
Solerina's post has prompted me to ask a genuine question, if I may, on this topic.

Would you good people recommend that one should employ a bloodstock agent or go it alone trusting instinct and luck?. For an individual such as me with only a layman's knowledge of horses and without a deep grasp of the more esoteric aspects of breeding, physical conformation of the horse, veterinary coinsiderations etc, is the assistance of an agent an essential component.

If so, what are the kind of preofessional fees I would expect to be looking at? Is it percentage based usually? Controversially, can I be certain that a bloodstock agent will have my best interests at heart in the purchase?

An alternative I suppose is to approach a trainer and discuss with him the possibility of him watching out for a prospective horse at sales. ................. but my natural cynicism raises a warning red flag here. So, is the bloodstock agent avenue the one to pursue.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. I should have mentioned that I would be a first-time buyer.
 
An agent or a trainer acting on your behalf will normally charge you 5% of the purchase price. It is possible that tghuis will be reduced or even waived in certain circumstances. It's a good way to go and you need not be worried about any conflict of interest or worse if you choose your agent (or trainer) wisely.
 
Ice you do not specify what type of horse your prospective purchase would be.
Are you thinking of buying a yearling at the forthcoming sales or an older horse for yourself to ride? As Brian states if you choose wisely their should be no conflict. If you are proposing to put a horse in training I would think a trainer would be more than happy to waive a fee.
 
As Brian says, bloodstock agents generally charge about 5% of the price whereas many trainers don't although they may have their own individual fees. Trainers may just rely on a commission once the horse has proved itself on the track, inflated its value and then goes to the sales for an increased sum.

There are some excellent agents and not so excellent agents, but if you have confidence in selecting a trainer and like the type of horse they buy at the right price, then you may be as well to go through them. After all it is they who are going to get to train it so they have their best interests at heart as well as yours.

It may be worth researching the Racing Post Bloodstock section over the past few sales seasons to see just who is consistently getting value for money at the price you have in mind.

But I would certainly advise you get advice on the matter as there are plenty of people out there who would sell you horses with disguised problems - at the July Sales at Tattersalls 10 days ago, I saw plenty of lame horses and plenty who had had fairly severe problems (such as pelvic fractures) which unless you ask the vendor personally, they do not have to disclose. (even them some don't)
 
Many thanks to you all for your kind replies and helpful advice.

Tetley .............. my inclination is to buy an unraced four/five year-old of NH lineage or perhaps an early-retired flat horse of similar age that has shown promising stamina to again be re-worked over jumps. Absolute max outlay would be in the 20-25K range. Many years ago I was very actively involved in greyhound ownership (buying mainly unraced 12-month saplings) and raced/coursed with considerable success. However my knowledge of greyhound breeding and bloodlines was far superior to any insight I presently have into horse breeding. Also, as I am seriously deficient in the veterinarian aspect of horse husbandry I expect it is essential that I employ good and dependable advice as you all have advised.

Jinny, your post has convinced me that perhaps going directly to a trainer is the best approach. Your post makes logical and sound sense. A trainer who knows that he will be training the specific horse shares an interest in gaining a hopefully decent type. I shall be taking on board your recommendation to keep a close eye over the coming couple of months on various trainers purchasing records. It will be the Irish Field paper intead of the RP tho' as the prospective horse will be bought and trained in Ireland.

Again, much thanks and appreciation to you all.
 
Oh. Still, slightly less draconian than over on Final Furlong, where Ted's 'clean sweep' swept everything, including current topics, off the board! :o I've renamed it the 'Not Furlong' racing forum.
 
Best of luck Icebreaker. With the sort of money you are prepared to spend, you should be able to get yourself a fairly decent animal.

If you decide to go with a particular trainer or bloodstock agent, nothing is better than having a recomendation from someone who has already had dealings with them previously either via buying bloodstock or from the training aspect and it could be wise to speak to a body like the BHB or The Jockey Club who can give you some ideas too.
 
Well, actually it'll be Horse Racing Ireland who could advise as the horse is to be trained in Ireland. Also, icebreaker, you'll want your trainer to be as close to where you live as possible to make it easy for you to visit the horse.
 
Now THAT is a very valid piece of advice, Brian. With my sole (shared) British venture first in Suffolk, then in Berkshire, and now resting in Somerset, a 'quick trip' from the south coast to see the li'l darlin' is more like planning a full-scale holiday. That would be a good plan - to work from who's nearest, get some info on them, including their training fees, rather than just plump for a recommended trainer who's 100 miles away! You can then check up on their wellbeing at any time, because the stories of what happens when you can't aren't always pleasant.
 
That has always been a deciding factor for me too Krizon. A trainer that is no more than an hours drive away for me, and a trainer that doesn't mind you turning up at short notice to look at your horse to make sure all is as it should be. I had a horse trained in Middleham some years ago, and it proved to be problem, not only all the races were up Norf' (despite being promised that many of the races would be down Souf) it meant a weekend visit, overnight, everytime I wanted to see him. A most beautiful part of the world, but not ideal reference the logistics of seeing him both on the gallops and racing.

You live and learn eh? B)
 
Show Solerina some respect and move this thread to the horse racing forum. It's clear she didn't want to make a fuss and decided to put it in this section.

The horsey section is where all the green grass grows.

This section is surrounded by lava.
 
Don't patronize Solerina, Phil: she's an intelligent adult and knew where she wanted to put her topic. I imagine anyone who thinks they have a horse for her has PM'd her by now.
 
She doesn't seem very bright putting a horse racing related topic in a non-horse racing related section.

I think she was just being shy.
 
Originally posted by BrianH@Jul 17 2005, 08:05 PM
you'll want your trainer to be as close to where you live as possible to make it easy for you to visit the horse.
Click to expand...
you'll want your trainer to be as close to where you live as possible to make it easy for you to visit the horse.
Click to expand...

Yes indeed, that is a major consideration. In the last 24 hours in fact I've made informal contact with a local trainer around twenty miles away and I've been pleasantly surprised at how laid-back and unpressurized the meeting was. More like a pub chit-chat really. I reckon that it is also important that one feels at ease with a trainer on the human-to-human level as well as on the professional footing.

Now all this has put me to wondering about the necessity of bloodstock agents and their raison d'etre. I mean, who actually employs them? And for what purpose when an individual can get a similar if not better service (when buying) from a trainer? The large horseracing operations are independent in their expertise -- Godolphin will have Crisford and their own training/researching staff, Coolmore is not short of breeding experts at the helm, The Queen will have her racing manager. At the opposite level the small-time owner can simply approach a trainer and swerve the 5% commish. So who actually employs these bloodstock agents ........... and to what purpose?

Do these bloodstock agents serve any useful or productive purpose? How do they justify their fees etc? Or are they just self-perpetuating hangers-on like football agents whose only function is the creation of payments for themselves? I ask all this in query rather than debate?
 
Trainers will themselves use the agents. They haven't the time to search out horses everywhere themselves. For example, most jumps trainers on tis side of the water will have their own particular contacts in Ireland.
 
My ex boss bought a Darley cast off for £6k stg last year.I think there were 8 in the syndicate.They had a few fun days out where he wasn't really trying then he ran a cracker on Thyestes day at Gowran where he lead at the last.They backed him each way at 16s and without the favourite who beat him.
Then he was beaten when heavily punted the following week.After a couple more disappointments they ran him at Punchestown.They backed him at an early morning 33/1 and he hacked up.Since then he has been placed a couple of times.
In terms of days out and enjoyment they have certainly got their moneys worth but there was a fair amount of disappointment and burnt fingers.
 
I haven't had many dealings with Bloodstock Agents, but I really liked David Redvers, but do not think so highly of Sam Bullard, who like so many seem to have an "agenda". If you find a trainer that you trust, I would certainly leave it to them, and their chosen BloodstockAgent to find you a horse.

Reference feeling at ease with the trainer, that too is important, as long as you feel they are taking you seriously, and have you and your horses best interest at heart.

I have gone from the extremely formal trainer, to the extremely informal trainer, and found the best was the one, somewhere in the middle.

I would love to discuss/advise in further detail but my threads on this subject are continually edited by Ardross just in case I am trying to incite an argument.
 
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