Thanks.
I was just curious because while I agree it’s challenging to find beginner horses, I feel like in my area, I still see options advertised for less than than what you’re seeing.
I know of one local instructor who runs an entire beginner lesson program with nothing but free leased horses.
I was also one of these, even into adulthood, and have been reading this thread and wondering if there is a role amateurs like us could play in supporting local pros by volunteering our time/some funds to source and produce lesson horses. E.g. not my local Craigslist, but a state over, there are regularly a handful of western broke backyard trail horses that probably are good raw material and would most likely not take much effort to flip for an English low level program. I would love to do a string of short term projects, but have no experience selling and would almost rather just do $1 sales to lesson programs i know/trust than deal with strangers with unknown expectations/futures. Whether it takes me 1 month or 6 per horse, i would enjoy these projects and giving back to the horse community in this way. I used to volunteer at shows a lot, but my schedule has become very fractured and it is hard to dedicate a whole day or weekend (so i also don’t show much), but extra rides are relatively easy to fit in on a week by week basis and very low level training is a skill i happen to have and enjoy doing.
I have a “Western Jenna” who fills sort of that role, and a “Crazy Katelyn”. Western Jenna is helping me with some riding in exchange for teaching her how to jump (she is a western trainer) and Katelyn is a vet tech, so can’t afford a horse but misses riding. I was shocked at how hard it was to find even these two! Free riding! Free coaching! Heated barn and arena! Close to a major city! I get my horses aren’t fancy, but I am a good coach, my barn is super friendly/supportive, and it’s a great get-away from reality for an adult who can’t afford to ride.
It seems other barns have junior students they use as crash test dummies, but my youngest kids are 17, and its diploma year, and they don’t have time beyond their own horses for the most of the time.
Yes IIRC you specialize in adult beginners or returning riders and have a nice niche. But the downside is that you aren’t going to have a steady stream of your own juniors looking for a soft landing for beloved horses they’ve outgrown or wanting to half lease them.
I wonder if it would make sense to post a “in search of” ad on the COTH “giveaways” forum?
There might be a couple of horses owned by people who frequent this site that might work for you and perhaps wouldn’t be too far away.
That’s a consideration. I don’t feel that there are too many on Coth in my area, but I could be surprised.
I feel priced out of lesson horses too. Its not even the purchase but the upkeep that is so much.
My best lesson horse is old and limited.
I have really hinted that students need to start buying their own horses, if you have special requests, its time for your own horse.
To make that really clear I kept my old lesson prices the same for students but increased them big time for students without their own horse using my lesson horses.
If they dont have their own horse thats fine but they have to use the horses I buy for resale .
I definitely was one of the barn brats. I realize now how invaluable I was. Lol The barn had a summer camp, but during soring, fall & winter I was riding, grooming, lunging pretty much as many horses as I had the time for. Of course even the simple things- changing the radio on the horse, herding geese out of the ring, etc The horses were saints too. They put up with me, but they had their quirks. Lol I miss them💗.
I am at a “fancy” barn now, and there was a huge group of kids that graduated last year, but I don’t see many up & coming. A few of the younger sisters, but not a solid group. Our barn doesn’t have any lesson horses, but a few horses old biddies own but haven’t ridden in at least 8 years- if ever.
Old biddies? That’s A pretty offensive statement. ageism at it’s finest. Why does it bother you that these “old biddies” haven’t ridden their horses? Maybe they have physical Or other reasons for not riding, none of your business either way as long as the horses are being cared for
I’ve gotten offers to ride some nice horses from older owners who can’t ride at all or very often due to time or physical constraints. So I appreciate those generous “old biddies” who just want extra eyes and extra exercise for their Dobbins. Heck I’ve even been allowed to ride one of those Dobbins in my lessons every once in a while!
My trainer has had to raise her prices because of rising costs- feed etc. She’s eaten the extra cost as long as she could but she was loosing money. Times are tough. She has 4 main lesson horses and one who is a sometimes-lesson horse depending upon Maresy’s mood and how prone to acting up in the arena she is.
It’s the internet. I don’t understand why so many people get so offended.
Maybe the owners are “old biddies?”
Or a variety of other expressions used to convey that they are high maintenance boarders, and in this case, not young. I think people happily use and accept “princess” to describe this type of boarder in younger women; is that also offensive? Or only offensive to actual royalty?
It’s funny too, that we all know EXACTLY who @Callista17 was talking about, because we all know one or more of these older ladies who are aptly described as “biddies.”
Relax, folks. If someone is ultra persnickity about everything, they can wear the label. It’s not a big deal.
I wear lots of labels, and I own every one of them. 
I just don’t get the concept that people come to an anonymous discussion board and expect never to hear something that might offend them.
If someone posted to my personal Facebook page and called me an “old biddie” - ok, sure. That would be offensive and out of line. But calling another anonymous stranger an “old biddie?” Seriously?
When I was 20, that might mean someone who was 40. Of course now at 53, I’d call a high maintenance 40 year old boarder a “Karen.” (Sorry if I have offended anyone actually named Karen now.)
They definitely are!!! They own prize horses, haven’t seen them in years accept MAYBE to watch someone show them. They never even pat their horses.at.all. They don’t look twice at any horse, but come to gossip about the other “old money”,and have people scramble to speak with them, and praise how wonderful their horse is. Old money attached with companies many of you have probably have heard of.
I care for my horses, consider myself truly interested in caring for them & riding. Maybe derogatory, but still true!!!
biddy (plural biddies) (derogatory) A woman, especially an old woman; especially one regarded as fussy or mean or a gossipy busybody.
Lol, I am the OP…and named Karen…but not offended.
I used to take in horses for resale that I would use as lesson horses. Either I would buy them, or take them to sell on commission, with a better rate if I was allowed to use them in lessons. it was a great way to get some “new blood” for advanced students to ride, but now that I can’t ride, I can’t really do that.
My good lesson horse is getting shockingly sour of these new riders, so I think I am going to part lease the old gelding for the summer and students can ride him when his owner is away and ride my guy when she is around (she travels a lot in the summer). Unfortunately the old gelding is not that interested in teaching my one beginner to canter - but that’s ok, he can do other things.
There were a couple of mid-late 20 year old horses for sale over the weekend at a reasonable price, but they were too far away to take a chance on. Meanwhile the paint I thought had torn his DDFT is making a surprising recovery so maybe he isn’t a write off? Time will tell.
What’s funny is that I hate anyone being referred to as a Karen, because I have multiple good friends named Karen. And they are the least entitled people I know.
Rebecca
Pre-Internet, it used to be Miss Ann (for an entitled middle-aged lady). Lots of names have taken their fair share of abuse over the eras. Mary Sue, Mister Charlie, Mary Ann, I’ll think of more…
Usually women’s names apparently.
The “Karen” thing only bothers me because it shames people for asking to speak to a manager…but seriously, if you have a problem with a business, isn’t that what you should do vs make the minimum wage employee deal with it or just walk away?
Tired of these “put down” names shaming people from feeling, acting, thinking (Karen, Snowflake, woke). it’s all stupid.
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