I'm Gonna Buy A Horse

  • Thread starter Thread starter solerina
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Icebreaker - just as there are good and bad trainers, so are there good and bad bloodstock agents!!

It very much depends on what you want from your foray into ownership. If you just want to have some very pleasant days out, with like-minded folk and to enjoy the company of your trainer etc and winning races is just a bonus, then as long as you like your prospective trainer's set-up, you know what to expect.

However, racehorse ownership is fairly naturally a competitive hobby - the majority would very much like their horse to win. If that's your aim, then you need to look at the win/horse ratio and the runs/win/horse ratio of those trainers you're interested in.

Ask for a list of horses they've bought which have subsequently won. Ask the prices of them. If they're really on-the-ball trainers, they'll have such lists already prepared as part of their marketing activity anyway.

Ask what percentage of horses under £25K have won as opposed to those over £25K.

Some trainers do better with fillies - and fillies can be cheaper to buy - so maybe that's an avenue to follow? If you're interested in fillies, you might consider leasing as an option - many breeders want to retain their fillies but don't always have the funds to race them themselves, so that may be an option - and one a good b/stock agent will know about.

Some trainers are hopeless at spotting a good prospect

I can also recommend Redvers (when he's not on one!!) but if you're looking to buy a NH prospect, David Minton's yer man.... Don't be afraid of going to the top trainers - they always have interested owners looking to recruit partnership members and it may be an idea to go into a partnership that owns two or three horses, in order to spread your risk.

Not sure where you're based but another option is to go to some of the top NH studs and just ask what is available.
 
Kathy - will you never let something rest :angry: . As Col has pointed out to you on numerous occasions this forum has no interest in what you think of jinnyj as a person or as a trainer nor in what she thinks of you . Please do us all a favour and just shut up about it whether express comment , implied comment or possible innuendo.
 
But as icebreaker, as I have pointed out before, is in Ireland there is little point in going to David Minton, who will go to Ireland to seek out the horses that he will sell on. icebreaker's budget is such that an Irish point-to-point winner is out of the question, so I would think that going to an irish trainer who has a good reputation would be the best route.
 
Oh no! Instant Attention Deficit Disorder has struck, straight after her birthday! Julie (that is your real name), don't forget you promised to keep REACH THE WIND (that's the nice horsey in my avatar) and her foal f.o.c. for the next year...
 
I see that Mighty Duel - the Daggers Drawn -Runs in the family colt is entered at Donny on Thursday
 
I know, Lady Horlicks - however, my IADD will at least keep many on here fully employed in picking up my every small deviation from the perceived norm, won't it? Bless... :P


And anyway, you told me to send RTW to the July Sales a couple of weeks ago... didn't you~???
 
Personally, I think bloodstock agents are a good idea as they do at least know what they are looking for having been given a certain 'spec'. As someone said (can't remember who, sorry!) a lot of trainers use them as although in the main they tend to know what they are looking for, they just don't have the time to go trawling the width & breadth f the British Isles, Ireland, France & so on for prospective new purchases - the bloodstock agents do the legwork in rooting out the crap & putting forward a shortlist of suggestions. There are of course also a lot of trainers who combine training with a bloodstock business on the side. I haven't owned racehorses but if I did go out to purchase one I would start off by knowing exactly what I want (ie an ex-flat horse that'll be a sharp sort for hurdling, a store horse, a potential chaser, an early 2yo etc) & look at trainers that are successful with those types of horses and that is within my budget. I could make suggestions Icebreaker, but seeing as you are in Ireland any I made would be pretty worthless really!

Hi Sols - good to see you about again. Good luck with getting a horse, personally I agree with you, I would go for an ex-racehorse every time - they have so much to offer & there are so many looking for decent homes. Again though, the problem is that any possible contacts I could offer you are in the UK which isn't much good to you. All the best anyway, keep us up to date with how it is all going!
 
Thank you all again for your kind words and helpful advice. However, speaking for myself the jury is still out regarding the worth of bloodstock agents. In my own present situation I have concluded that the employment of one of them is "surplus to requirements"

Solerina, if I am correctly reading between the lines, then you are based in Ireland.
That will cost megabucks so I was wondering if anyone  knows if any decent ex racehorses are coming up for sale
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. Could I suggest that you make contact with the IHWT based in county Wicklow who can fit you up with an ex-racehorse for free. This is a non-profit and voluntary organisation whose patrons include Jessica Harrington, Sir Peter O'Sullivan and Aidan O'Brien. The facility comprises around fifteen acres, accommodation for the stabling of transient ex-racehorses (the horses are given 6-9 months of re-training and re-schooling in situ. If you were successful in your application you would be expected to attend at the facility part-time (about once a week over three weeks) to get acquainted with your horse. But, all the donkey-work has been done for you by the Trust. However, it is recommended that these horses are not suitable for beginner/novice riders.

If it is okay (Mods feel free to delete if necessary, but I can assure that this is a non-commercial site) the following web-address would normally be the easiest manner of making contact:
www.irishhorsewelfaretrust.org

Regards,
Ice.
 
Icebreaker, I personally feel Bloodstock Agents are worthwhile if they get you what you want at the right price. That said, there are plenty of talented owners and trainers, who could also do the same job and possibly cheaper, especially if the trainer get's to keep the horse in training for you and you trust their judgement.

A friend of mine had a horse purchased by their trainer in France for £66,000 and has not so far made the grade on the flat. A lot of money to have spent if the horse fails to deliver.

By contrast, my brother has been fairly successfully pinhooking for 3 years now, and has worked at some of the biggest studs in the UK. I would trust his judgement if/when I was looking to purchase another horse. In fact it was only last night he was desperately trying to offload his 2yo Piccollo filly onto me that he purchased last October - at what he says is a very reasonable price. B)
 
I'm not sure what Solerina meant by 'point to point type' in her subtitle. Does she mean she wants an ex-racer suitable for pointing, or an ex PTP suitable for riding? Does she intend to ride it herself for just fun, or is she going pointing herself? Solerina - come back here and explain yourself, woman! :lol:
 
Originally posted by Songsheet@Jul 19 2005, 06:43 PM
Well, PICCOLO is a pretty hot cheapo sire right now - you could do worse, Kathy!!!
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Funnily enough Songsheet.... that's what HE said! B)

She is being kept not far from me and he has promised to send me some photos next time he goes to visit her. I will post some up if I can remember how to do it.
 
I think that unless you are very lucky it's hard to get anything decent for jump racing now for much less than £50k - and even then, of course, there are no guarantees.
 
I'm inclined to respond, Brian, that AS there are no guarantees, someone wanting a horse to go jumping with might just as well buy something far cheaper out of a Flat seller or claimer by a sire that's also sent a few quite decently over the sticks, rather than the more expensive purpose-bred. Of course, if people have deep pockets, that's fine, but there's still loads of fun and a day out to be had with animals that are nowhere near £50,000 - especially, as you've alluded, fifty grand won't guarantee you even a gallant 5th.
 
Originally posted by krizon@Jul 20 2005, 01:48 AM
I'm inclined to respond, Brian, that AS there are no guarantees, someone wanting a horse to go jumping with might just as well buy something far cheaper out of a Flat seller or claimer by a sire that's also sent a few quite decently over the sticks, rather than the more expensive purpose-bred.
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I was just stating a fact. Of course there are exceptions but the whole game is about percentage chances.

Less than ten years ago we would buy Irish point-to-point winnersfor £25k to £30k. These days a winner of an Irish point-to-point is fetching a six figure sum.
 
Kri - I'm no expert, but I'd reckon that buying an ex-flat horse is generally the more expensive route to take. Those that look like they will make nice hurdlers go for fortunes now - I'd rather go for a correct looking youngster with ok breeding that you probably could pick up a bit cheaper, but that's just me.

Of course, the other way to do it is to do what my old guv'nor did - he bought Decoupage for #5k as a backward yearling, thinking he was a nice type as a store horse. He wasn't far wrong!! :lol:

PS - these ol' flat trainers don't appreciate it much when you go to the yearling sales (they're after sharp, early 2yo types) & the only ones I'm interested in are those that look like they could jump a hurdle.... :D
 
Expanding on Dom's comments above, one way of possibly picking up a cheap store is to look for the 'wrong' horse in the 'wrong' sale.... which means a lot of leg work and catalog checking but it can be done.

B that I mean, for example, going to the St Leger sale at Donny in September and looking at all the yearlings there. Sometimes, theDonny team get it wrong when they go to see all the potential sale candidates - their brief is to fill the sharp, early 2yo niche - and they'll inlcude a decent pedigreed horse but which may well be backward. These can be considerably cheaper, as they can look out-of-place against their more forward peers. Basically, wrong sale for that yearling.

Now and then you'll even find a NH pedigree yearling entered up at the bigger sales - Tatts Pt II in October for example.

Hentry Cole of Dubacille and Just So fame bought their dam as a yearling at Tatts dirt cheap because she was entered in the wrong sale and noone wanted her - wrong pedigree!!
 
Thanks guys for all the pms and good wishes . I'm sorry that I've been out of touch for so long . I havn't really been about at all the last while because of starting this job . It's been an absolute headmelt for the last 8 weeks . I "graduate" apparently on Friday . Noone told me I was doing a degree :P Then I'm a mortgage servicing consultant :rolleyes:
Because I've been away I've only just read the full thread and realised I've missed you all B) I did'nt mind at all that the thread got sidetracked . It's very reasurring to see that you're still stirring Swirly B) I'm just glad to log on and see familiar banter . Really good that some things don't change .
About the horse . Cheers Jon , I did'nt make that very clear . I was meaning an ex- point to point horse that could be re schooled for showjumping / x country . I might have a lead though . Our vet has put me in touch with one of her friends who runs a saddlery . It's all depending on whether I can pass my driving test next month . Once I do that I can start looking seriously . I've worked it out at about 4k /yr at least if you're doing DIY. I found a stable that will charge £17/week for basic and they'll do a morning feed . You pay everything apart from rent of the stable . They're a really small personal place too ,about 15 horses so that's good . Other owners help each other out too and do eachothers horses if needs be .
Cheers guys it's good to be back :D
 
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