DH is 5’9ish. So not super tall, which makes it easier to ride more of a height range. I almost wish I didn’t have a 17.2 horse to compare. He had a 16.1 TB and looked find on him. So it’s possible if the horse is bigger bodied, he’s be okay with it. He basically wants to work on training for jumpers, though he may only show once a year. Maybe he won’t show at all. I am not sure. The horse would likely fall to me to ride during the week, which is why I need one that I enjoy as well. DH’s work schedule sometimes gets pretty busy, so often times I keep them going during the week.
Sigh, yes, I’m coming to realize that’s what my trainer meant by, “It doesn’t exist.” I’ll shop the TBs again. I personally think it’s a good idea.
6 Likes
I think you are on the right track there. If you DID find a WB with those qualities, dollars to donuts it would be lame, crazy, or both! It would be really suspect and I’d assume there was SOMETHING wrong. I’m a skeptic when it comes to horse sales and think that when it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
I love a nice TB. My last few were better than my baby WBs to handle/on the ground.
6 Likes
You are going to have to compromise on something of your list. There is nothing wrong with a nice draft cross, quarter horse, other stock breed. Honestly, you may find even these breeds may be out of budget if they are nice horses. If you want all the bells and whistles you are going to have to up your budget for what your husband wants. Finding a horse doing the 1.10 that’s a bombproof packer for 20k is going to seriously be tough.
7 Likes
Thanks. Oh, eyes, I’ve been looking at QHs for a friend. Crazy! As far as bells and whistle, they don’t need to be installed. Bombproof packer wasn’t on my list. 
Horse doesn’t have to be doing a meter. Cross rails are fine, but a potential would be nice. Hard to judge potential other than maybe seeing the horse in a chute. I understand the chance on that. Yes, my list was a wish list if I could snap my fingers. I know I won’t find the exact horse. That’s why I was sort of venting. Thanks.
1 Like
Not that QHs are always nice, but if you end up stuck with young horses again, I would NOT be looking at 4 year old warmbloods. I’d be looking at 4 year old QHs and appendixes, who in the gamble of things are liable to have better brains. Best yet, go looking for a TB-turned-pony-horse. That one should have brains, and height.
13 Likes
If your husband likes the process, would he be unhappy about toddler time, should it happen? It’s not like the toddler time is guaranteed. And most horses like to trot out some evasion or resistance or forgetting what they had down pat six months ago, when asked to do the hard work, so it’s not like something else annoying as crap won’t come along. Horse training takes as long as it takes. You want a good brain and some natural ability. Stick with that and leave everything else on the table.
3 Likes
I would go shop in eventer land. Your budget will still be a challenge there, but there is at least a shot of finding something.
7 Likes
My perfect 3/4 yo homebred was a total punk at five. If he wasn’t a third generation for me and hence I was overinvested emotionally I would have sold him on to someone younger and braver. He was good at 6 and perfect at 7. I definitely agree there is a punk stage!
1 Like
Might want to take a look at the Bowie livestock auction. You can’t beat the prices. I am always looking, just in case I need another horse.
They get in quite the variety of horses, you never know what will turn up in their pens. I have seen some really nice horses go through I still regret not buying.
ETA: I know you said no TBs, but look at this guy…
https://www.bowietexaslivestock.com/product/3869-nice-4yr-old-tb-lots-of-potential/
4 Likes
Sending you a PM
Thanks, all. I’m doing so more research/searing based on this thread. I appreciate it!
1 Like
I would agree with this. I bought a 6 year old Clyde/Paint cross who had only 90 days of training on her. I personally think she was born broke. I was told she was hard to catch, but honestly, I can’t even sneak to the barn as she knows my car and immediately comes to the gate whinnying for me… 
8 Likes
I was you about two years ago when we bought our second. We got very lucky with her but here’s how it went.
I’m Ok with green but he is a pretty novice rider. The horse was for him as his lease got sold. Husband is 5’7 so his height requirements were smaller. Similar budget though we were more flexible and didn’t mind an OTTB or something closer to 10 years as long as it would vet clean.
Basically all nice WB are out of budget or at least were at the time (2022 was not a good time to shop for a horse)…
We almost vetted a pretty solid OTTB and she was nice but ultimately stumbled on our current mare last minute who we were introduced through an acquaintance and wasn’t openly for sale. Price was the deal of century and she was 5 at the time though barely broke. The good parts were that she was pretty, WBX, nice disposition, well under budget and vet bill came out clean and has stayed that way. The bad parts are/were that she was 15’2, barely broke and bucking (still does sometimes), UGLY cribber, and basically unsuitable for my husband’s level.
So we bought her regardless because what can you do when a man falls in love… And over time we discovered that she is actually pretty fancy. She will probably top out at 1m/1.10m as she hangs her legs pretty bad, but after about a year or two of education she’s otherwise a pretty nice mount, knows her laterals, changes etc., can take her to a show and get ribbons and so on.
My husband rode her a lot in that first year but ultimately things got out of hand as it was too much of a blind leading the blind situation and I didn’t have much time to put more miles. Nobody got hurt but now he barely rides her though as she has upgraded fitness and while overall a kind soul she is still a bit too much horse for him. And even at 7 she needs frequent “adult supervision”.
Now we aren’t gonna sell her as she’s family and my other horse is iffy at best so it worked out for me. But looking back, if I wanted to maximise my husband’s riding time as opposed to get myself an interesting project that would over time morph into my main act, I probably should’ve gone with a been there, done that OTTB aged 9-12.
5 Likes
I agree with your trainer. Avoid the younger Horse bracket. I tell my clients the same thing. Also I think the market is about to soften in a big way, I’m seeing a lot of horses sitting on the market. I’m doing a lot of shopping right now so I’m watching. It’s never going to soften enough for 20 on warm blood though So if you see one run away, unless it’s got some very obvious hole that you can live with.
10 Likes
Another vote for he needs to let go of the WB mandate and just focus on finding a good horse! Chiming in to say a draft cross could definitely be a good option - I leased a strawberry roan draft cross who had done the 1.10 with his prior owner and didn’t have a lead change (and didn’t care which lead he went around the turn on lol - you messed yourself up more trying to do the simple change than letting him counter canter!). Most fun horse you can imagine, and I took him to plenty of big A shows, and everywhere we went, people stopped me to say I watched you guys go, what a cool horse, he looks like so much fun. So, think outside the box and see what you can find! See what Picturesque Farm in VA has - sometimes she has some foxhunter types come through for more reasonable prices who look really fun!
9 Likes
I highly discourage the young horse option. I was in the same boat - didn’t want to buy something older due to maintenance and lameness issues with past retired horses. I ended up buying a 4-year-old from a reputable breeder who swore the horse was an angel with an old soul brain. I’m sure maybe at 4 he was easy but now at 5 - the 15 year old boy antics are popping up. I’m 50 now and maybe in my 30’s the process would have been more fun - but now it’s just killed my confidence and I’ve sent him away for training - aka I don’t ride much these days and the barn is way less fun. If I could do it again I would have found a less fancy older horse that I can be safe on…I might not win but I would at least be riding and having fun. Finding a 7-10 year old in the price range will be tough - they are grown up but not having maintenance issues yet. The best bet would be to find something between 12-15 - not fancy but decent - with some maintenance but has been doing its job long enough that you know it will stay sound. Just my 2 cents… hindsight sucks…
8 Likes
This 100%. I’ve been watching ads and keep seeing the same horses over and over.
4 Likes
How about a Standardbred? They are sturdy and good minded. I board with a gal who trains retired broodmares into riding horses and I’m impressed with how quickly they pick it up. New Vocations often has some nice geldings too. For example:
13 Likes
And maybe look outside your discipline at something that could have potential in your discipline. I bought a trained western horse that had great basics in WTC and we are trying to do dressage (no trainer, so trying is the right word!). She’s super smart and picks things up - she’s 9 so young but not too young. If she had been trained in dressage I’m sure I would have paid at least 15k more for her (unpapered andalusian).
4 Likes
