Are people not advertising horses for sale?

[dressage4ever]

I am having a tough time finding horses for clients. We have actually had more luck looking at individuals websites and contacting them but most have already been sold. So fellow breeders do you have or know of a horse that would fit the following descriptions? Maybe people have given up advertising in this economy but some people are looking! We are located in Florida.

Client 1 would prefer a half arab half warmblood cross. Not over 16 hands and under 10 years old. Would prefer gelding but open to mares that aren’t marish. Show record would be nice. Would prefer something at least doing 1st level. Nice mover but doesn’t need to be a extravagent. She is a nice rider but out of shape. She has been taking 1-2 lessons a week and wants to do more. She has had a horse most of her life and just lost her older arab she had so needs something to ride. Nothing spooky or hot but light off your leg and a little sensitive is fine. Budget around $15. Willing to travel to look at the right horse.

Client 2 needs something quiet. She is a lovely women and currently has a 16.3 paint wbx. He is just way to big and doesn’t really offer much help to her. She would like to be able to show lower level dressage but honestly has only ever cantered on a lunge because of her horses size and he is not really reliable. She has been riding a few years though and has a nice understanding but spends most of her ride just trying to get her horse to go straight. He really is difficult, not bad, just doesn’t really want to work. She is probably only 5’4" and a little overweight so we would like to stay in the 15.2-15.3 range. A nice WB cross or nice moving QH cross would be fine. She honestly just wants a horse to have fun on and who likes to work. Budget around $10-12. We would prefer to find something within the state.

Thank you for any leads. I have scoured everywhere and looked at a few but not having much luck. We even had one vetted but it didn’t pass.

[buschkn]

I previously advertised pretty heavily but wasn’t getting a ton of traffic from the usual site so kind of let most of the ads die. I’m probably going to re-advertise some again soon once I have a bit more video and new show photos but sometimes word of mouth can do wonders too.

Have you put your requirements on warmbloods-for-sale.com? They have a “Horses Wanted” section and as a seller I check once a week or every couple weeks in case I have a horse who is an exact fit for someone’s needs.

Good luck in your search. I’ll ask my friend if she has anything that might suit.

[clint]

I don’t know how far you are willing to travel, but a friend of mine has your horse. I don’t know if she is advertising, but he is for sale, and gorgeous, I might add, with show experience.

[andyvee]

I 2nd warmbloods for sale, they have lots of options to look through including a arab cross section.

[secretariat]

Hilltop shows a couple of Riverman x Arabs on their breeder’s sales list.

[Signature]

We have a fantastic older schoolmaster type Oldenburg mare that might be perfect for your second person. She’s on our website! Just a gem, wish we had 10 like her. Sorry we’re not closer, but she is worth the trouble. Would probably work for your first person too if she were younger. Video coming this weekend.

[Wayside]

Perhaps a Trakehner would suit Client #1?

I’ve always been a big fan of Arabs and Tb’s, and have owned several. Though I thought my dream horse would be an Anglo-Arab, I actually came home with an Anglo-Trakehner, and she and her 3/4 Trakehner daughter have a lot of the qualities that I really enjoyed about my Arabs and Thoroughbreds.

Just a few minutes ago, I looked at and and linked to the Valhalla Trakehner sales page for another person who was shopping. I’m not usually one to throw someone’s name out so much, but I think it might be relevant to your search as well. They’re in Florida, but I’m not sure how far from you they are. http://www.valhallatrakehner.com/sales.htm

As for your original question, yes, I do know several people who have horses for sale that they just aren’t realy bothering to advertise or market with the market being what it is, though most of them have young stock that they don’t really feel pressured to move until they’re ready to start under saddle.

If you haven’t already, it might be worth letting your vet and farrier, and any other professionals you work with, know that you’re looking for your clients. The last couple of horses I brought home I found through word of mouth.

[Burbank]

have you tried looking at the AHA classified on their website? http://www.arabianhorses.org/marketplace/classified/search_pas2.asp

they actually have pretty good search features and would be a good way to find a 1/2 arab for client 1, and maybe even client 2

[dressage4ever]

Thanks guys I will look at those options. I didn’t realize warmbloods for sale had a wanted section. I would guess she has looked at the arabian site as she is a member and has found inside information on some of the horses we’ve found. She is pretty set on a half arab. She has had a few full arabs and loves them, so since this will probably be her horse forever she really wants to be picky. She would take a full arab but it’s hard to find them that aren’t way behind the bit from doing hunters as well. She had a Trak x in the past who was a little quirky so probably doesn’t want to go that route again.

The second client just needs something really safe. She has taken a few a spills off her big guy and just can’t take it. She has bad hips and it takes it toll on her. She has even bought an air vest to wear while riding. And you can imagine how hot that is in the FL heat!! So I really don’t think a young horse will suit her but thanks for the PMs.

Signature let me know when you get a video. At this point we might travel for the right horse. Clint let me know about the horse you know too. Client 1 was looking at horses in WA so again for the right horse might travel that far.

[camohn]

for half Arabs check here
http://fieryrunfarm.com/sale.html
though I am pretty sure Beau Nuit is sold.
Personally with the bad economy I had let my ads die. When I decided to sell my Paint/WB cross mare I did put up an ad at “priced to move” but I was still really surprised when she sold in one day. I guess I got lucky that the right person looked at the ad at the right time!

[smokygirl]

For both… check out www.toskhara.com Dick, Christine and Wendye are awesome. They have some gentle, safe, and reliable horses. All are well trained, well taken care of, and they go the extra 3000 miles to make sure you are happy. (and as a bonus, dick takes amazing photographs, so you can really tell what the horse is like before making the trip). They are in Tx, but do show frequently.
( i really like this mare… http://www.toskhara.com/sales-details.asp?id=152 ) she used to be a wp horse but they retrained her. (arab wp isnt quite as… ummm… scary… as QH wp… lol. definetely no sniffing dirt).

And, if they don’t have one… they are likely to know of someone whom does. They’ve been in the business for a long time and have a lot of contacts.

[ASBJumper]

@dressage4ever;5721461

The second client just needs something really safe. She has taken a few a spills off her big guy and just can’t take it. She has bad hips and it takes it toll on her. She has even bought an air vest to wear while riding. And you can imagine how hot that is in the FL heat!! So I really don’t think a young horse will suit her but thanks for the PMs.

sigh Young horse does NOT have to = spooky/quirky/difficult/dangerous. Really. Truly. Honestly.

In the past 6 years, I have done nothing but back/train babies. I have fallen off a whopping twice - both times were because of a slip/trip, not because of naughty behaviour - could’ve just as easily happened to a 20 yr old geriatric horse.
I do NOT have a velcro butt, nor am I a pro (by any stretch!). I honestly don’t remember what it feels like to have a horse bolt or take off broncing, cuz it hasn’t happened with any of my youngsters.

When my latest youngster had 3 rides on him (3 rides being walking around the arena, halting, hopping off), I took him out on a hack on a blustery fall day, off property, through water/ditches and woods and open fields. He was a saint, despite being a bit nervous.
I took him to 2 shows this year as a green 3 yr old, he behaved impeccably, far better than many of the older “young/green” horses. Stood tied to the trailer for 2 hours, munching on hay.
He behaves no differently an older horse, except that he’s still green under tack. That’s it.

It’s really frustrating to put 3 years of painstaking work into a youngster, have it be 100% safe, sensible, easy as pie to handle/ride, no vices, no holes, no issues, no herdboundness, no nothing - and yet people still assume, even if you have multiple videos and stories to back all that up, references galore from coaches/barn owners/vets, etc, that your young horse is still going to be dangerous or looney JUST because it’s young.

I would bet every last dollar in my bank account that my 3 yr old is as safe if not safer than 99% of the 15 yr old been-there-done-that horses out there. As was my last 3 yr old (now 5 yr old mare), and the one before that. They have been put in situations time and time again that tested their flight instinct or their tolerance levels, and they have never, ever “checked out”. Ever.

I know I’m not the only one with youngsters like this, either.

Perhaps another reason people have stopped advertising is because buyers are insanely frustrating to deal with, and shop with ironclad preconceived notions about everything from breed, to sex, to color, to age… :no:

Sorry, rant over… best of luck in your search.

[SaddleUp158]

A friend of mine has a nice gelding for sale. I have ridden him quite a bit and he is very uncomplicated. A nice ride. I hope this link works, still trying to figure out how to work my iPad. If the link doesn’t work, google Misty Green Merlin.

YouTube - Misty Green Merlin‏

6 min - Aug 8, 2010 - Uploaded by gdmadole
Merlin as a 2006 Morgan Gelding 15.1 hands. He is a fantastic junior or amateur horse. Merlin is very uncomplicated to ride.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV9ai8Er9D8

[Wayside]

I think the OP is wise to want to focus her search on older been-there-done-that horses for her fearful client.

Although young horses can be very quiet and have great personalities, they just haven’t had the years of reinforcement that a good schoolmaster does. It’s much easier to inadvertantly teach a youngster bad habits, and it would be much easier for them to feed off of a nervous rider’s fear.

Plus the older experienced horse is a much more “known” quantity. Horses are not automatons, and even if they’re cooperative and quiet and bold, most of them have some kinds of habits, dislikes, fears, or minor quirks. And if the horse has a long history, you’ll have a much better chance of knowing what they are, which takes a lot of the rider fear out of the equation.

People fear the unknown, and unfortunately, there’s just a lot more unknown when you’re talking about a young and/or green horse.

[dressage4ever]

Yes I’m sure there are quiet 3 year olds. But honestly if I go to this lady in her 60’s and tell her I found her a lovely 3 year old she’s going to think I’ve lost it. I’m sure they are quiet but they haven’t been there done that. I’ve had many a dead quiet Tb’s as well but I still wouldn’t really want that for her. And I wouldn’t bet all your money on it as we’ve had lessons horses you could literally shoot a gun off of.

And call me crazy but we have driven many a miles to go look at quiet horses and they really aren’t. The old, my 4 year old daughter can ride this horse, turns out to be she can sit on it while they lead her around. :lol: So yes the frustration goes both ways. I know it’s a tough find but she needs a packer who is a cute enough mover, easy off the leg, but not too sensitive, and very forgiving. She would eventually like to show so any experience there would be great too.

Thanks again.

[ASBJumper]

[QUOTE=dressage4ever;5721654]
Yes I’m sure there are quiet 3 year olds. But honestly if I go to this lady in her 60’s and tell her I found her a lovely 3 year old she’s going to think I’ve lost it. I’m sure they are quiet but they haven’t been there done that. I’ve had many a dead quiet Tb’s as well but I still wouldn’t really want that for her. And I wouldn’t bet all your money on it as we’ve had lessons horses you could literally shoot a gun off of.

And call me crazy but we have driven many a miles to go look at quiet horses and they really aren’t. The old, my 4 year old daughter can ride this horse, turns out to be she can sit on it while they lead her around. :lol: So yes the frustration goes both ways. I know it’s a tough find but she needs a packer who is a cute enough mover, easy off the leg, but not too sensitive, and very forgiving. She would eventually like to show so any experience there would be great too.

Thanks again.[/QUOTE]

Just to clarify - i wasn’t implying I felt my 3 yr old would work for your 60 yr old client, if anything he’ll be too tall (he’s going to finish around 16.1hh). But this applies to 4 yr olds and 5 yr olds as well - if a horse is quiet, and has tons of video footage and multiple glowing references from reputable sources and show/trail/hunt experience, then chances are very, very good that’s not going to change. Unless you do something to ruin the horse (and I mean the collective “you”), then if the horse is quiet and easy and brave as a 3 and 4 yr old in multiple settings and while being asked to do many different things, it’s not going to suddenly morph into a fruitbat at 6. Just doesn’t work that way.

And if you didn’t get good, EXTENSIVE footage of said “4 yr old kid proof” horse, then it’s completely your fault that you wer duped, sorry. Buyer beware. Do your homework, check references, call the horse’s vet, call the farrier, call the barn owner, do internet searches if you know the person posts online, ask for many many videos and ask tons and tons of detailed questions. Ask about the horse’s parents as well.

Anyways, like I said, i personally don’t have a suitable horse for either of your clients, but it’s a huge shame you won’t consider a younger horse, one that has a clean slate and doesn’t have years of “ingrained” issues.
A little training issue (whether on the ground or under tack) is much, much easier to fix on a young horse than on a horse that’s had that issue for 10 years.

Carry on! :winkgrin:

[Burbank]

just because I love looking at horses and love arabs and turning people to the darkside

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1689698
Oldenburg/Arab

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1624231
Saddlebred/Arab

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1694647
Arab/Dutch

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1692752
Arab/Quarter not a dressage horse, might be to hard to retrain as he is HUS but shown by a child, but the child is a hand wiggler

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1676652
Half Arab

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1673360
pony Arab/Welsh

these were all on dreamhorse, some might be way to far but you never know

[Wayside]

@Burbank;5721835

just because I love looking at horses and love arabs and turning people to the darkside

http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1689698
Oldenburg/Arab

I’ve never met this horse, but he was bred by my trainer, and I rode his dam last winter while my own mare was laid up with a pasture injury. His mother was really a lot of fun to ride.

ETA: His damsire is also on the property, and is still sound and healthy even though he’s 28 years old or so. I farm sit for them sometimes, and although he’s very easy to handle, he still likes to strut his stuff.

[Rhyadawn]

[QUOTE=ASBJumper;5721625]
sigh Young horse does NOT have to = spooky/quirky/difficult/dangerous. Really. Truly. Honestly.

In the past 6 years, I have done nothing but back/train babies. I have fallen off a whopping twice - both times were because of a slip/trip, not because of naughty behaviour - could’ve just as easily happened to a 20 yr old geriatric horse.
I do NOT have a velcro butt, nor am I a pro (by any stretch!). I honestly don’t remember what it feels like to have a horse bolt or take off broncing, cuz it hasn’t happened with any of my youngsters.

When my latest youngster had 3 rides on him (3 rides being walking around the arena, halting, hopping off), I took him out on a hack on a blustery fall day, off property, through water/ditches and woods and open fields. He was a saint, despite being a bit nervous.
I took him to 2 shows this year as a green 3 yr old, he behaved impeccably, far better than many of the older “young/green” horses. Stood tied to the trailer for 2 hours, munching on hay.
He behaves no differently an older horse, except that he’s still green under tack. That’s it.

It’s really frustrating to put 3 years of painstaking work into a youngster, have it be 100% safe, sensible, easy as pie to handle/ride, no vices, no holes, no issues, no herdboundness, no nothing - and yet people still assume, even if you have multiple videos and stories to back all that up, references galore from coaches/barn owners/vets, etc, that your young horse is still going to be dangerous or looney JUST because it’s young.

I would bet every last dollar in my bank account that my 3 yr old is as safe if not safer than 99% of the 15 yr old been-there-done-that horses out there. As was my last 3 yr old (now 5 yr old mare), and the one before that. They have been put in situations time and time again that tested their flight instinct or their tolerance levels, and they have never, ever “checked out”. Ever.

I know I’m not the only one with youngsters like this, either.

Perhaps another reason people have stopped advertising is because buyers are insanely frustrating to deal with, and shop with ironclad preconceived notions about everything from breed, to sex, to color, to age… :no:

Sorry, rant over… best of luck in your search.[/QUOTE]

I have found this too.

I train ponies and small horses for kids and they are the safest sanest things I’ve come across. It starts with good bloodlines known for sanity, comes with lots of exposure, and finishes with a calm attitude from the rider. They aren’t perfect but I trust them with their riders.

[dressage4ever]

We loved Rudy Tuesday but he was already sold, getting vetted, when we called about him.

The others all look lovely. Thank you I contacted a few for a video. I want that arab/Qh for a lesson pony. He is so cute. I wish he were closer as he might even work for client 2.

And ASB in my opinion there is a big difference in a 3 year old and a 5 year old. By 5 they have probably shown and all their training is pretty well ingrained. I wouldn’t be oppossed to a nice 5 year old. At 3 they haven’t had a lot of time under sadde, hopefully, and I don’t want her to have to pay me to sit on it 3 times a week to keep them tuned up. And yes even an older horse will need a tune up but they can usually get away with every other week or I can put an advanced student on for a lesson. But that is just my opinion and I’m happy to agree to disagree. I sell horses as well and have a few 3 year olds so I do see where you are coming from. But that is just not what I want for her.