My 2018 OTTB gelding isn’t tattooed, just has a chip. You may be able to sneak one by him.
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(Haven’t read the whole thread yet so forgive me if you’ve already moved past breed)
For your budget something has definitely gotta give here. And it should probably the warmblood part. I just sold a 9 yo, 18 hand, trail and show safe German Sport Horse gelding for $45k as a lower level dressage and trail mount that can also jump around for fun because he just couldn’t get the lead changes figured out. Happy to jump around a 1.0m course but wouldn’t be doing it with clean changes and is way way too lazy for the jumper ring (he failed out as an eventer in Germany). He was priced to sell and even with minor X-ray findings the first person who sat on him still immediately snapped him up.
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From what I’ve seen the horses sitting either are not very amateur friendly (young and/or quirky to ride or handle) or are slightly overpriced. Plenty of “snap this one up before we go to FL and the price goes up!” where people clearly aren’t reading the room considering how many stalls are still available (or coming back up as available after someone pulled out last minute) for season this year. That being said, in my experience horses like the OP has described are still selling quickly. I just sold one and he was off the market in less than 24 hours priced $5k less than similar horses I’d seen sitting, but he still went for $45k.
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Thanks, teatime0714. I do think, too, this is a time where people who show are still holding on to horses hoping to sell in FL. We may have better luck in February/March. We’ll see. I’m still looking at everything. My wish list, was just that…a wish list. 
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Like others have said, buying a started warmblood for this budget is unrealistic. Some warmblood foals are selling for more than 20k. Realistically for US breeders to get a warmblood on the ground, keep them to 3 or 4 yrs, and start them, most breeders have well above 20k in them. To import one, you spend almost that on just getting them in the country. While you might be able to find a deal, these are typically going to be horses that have either fallen through the cracks or have serious blemishes and problems that I don’t think you want to deal with. We sold essentially this horse without the 1.10 aspirations last year to the first person that sat on her for 40k. The cost of breeding, keeping, and importing them have just exponentially exploded which is the unfortunate reality.
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I’d look in the foxhunting groups. You’ll often find sturdy solid citizens that are fun jumpers. Maybe not beautiful hunters but point and shoot types and sane enough to fox hunt.
I’m also several inches taller than your husband and my first flight hunt horse was 15.3. He was wide and took up leg very well. I did not look too big. Consider wide horses and you can bring your height requirement down.
And I know everyone has already shot down the young WB idea, but just to give you an idea - I have a 3 coming 4 year old WB from the most well tempered damlines in WB breeding and there is no way I’d recommend him as a quiet solid citizen type ATM because of mental maturity. The guys take a little while to mentally come together, even if by a miracle you found one within budget.
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OP, are you anywhere near VA? I just saw this on FB:
Dustin puts a lot of good miles on his horses. Might be worth inquiring about what he has at the lower end of the range.
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Thanks! I will check this out. I am in TN but willing to travel.
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I will agree with this – Dusty is really good at bringing horses along and putting confidence building miles on them, he is a quiet confident rider and has produced some nice animals! Worth a trip to Virginia in my opinion.
He’s a very tall guy – so most of the horses he rides (and markets) are 16 hands +, just FYI. 
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In your spot, I’d buy the mind, then the training, then the soundness, then the conformation and then the breed, in that order.
All this is assuming that you must have a 3’3" jumping horse. If it can do a different job, including a doesn’t-have-to-be-world-beating-mover competitive job, your mission becomes that much easier.
This is a weird suggestion, but if you found a large, Half-Arabian Sporthorse, you might be able to have almost all of those things. You will have to let go of breed prejudice. And if the horse is large enough, plus can do the job, you’ll get the rest-- a great mind, a very broke, sensible horse, one that’s likely to stay very sound for a long time and it won’t have the price problem that you are running into with your no-TBs rule.
Otherwise, I’d look for a seasoned TB or OTTB. IMO, a WB that will do what you want will be almost the least bang for your buck. If it appears to do the job you want, for $20K, there will be a big hole in its mind or body, just because it’s a WB.
If you can stand to get into a different market, you’ll find horses that get held to higher standards in terms of how broke they need to be and what they can do for the same money.
OK, just veering off into a rant for no one in particular: Having spent more time around the Sport Horse Arabian world, and even getting back to some of the good western horsemanship I saw as a sprout in California… plus having spent time with people doing all kinds of “work arounds” for their WBs that have big holes in them, I’m getting to the point where I’ve had enough. That said, the WB gaits have ruined my eye for all but the best-moving TBs and the light-over-the-ground, straight-legged movers.
But I’ll tell you want, I’m starting to love the look of a light-on-its-feet horse whose expression says “What do you want to do today? Let’s go do something fun together… just let me know the job. I’m in.”
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I rode for a short while at an Arabian dressage farm, and you’re right, they did have some nice crosses. One in particular was an Arabian/Swedish WB cross that was 16hh+ and lovely. I actually wish I was shopping for myself, because you all have given me lots of ideas on where to look next. DH is a work in process.
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I have always loved a nice Arabian (Polish bred preferred) or Arabian sport horse. Generally just lovely, light, intelligent creatures with lots of heart and no “bottom.”
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My first pony was a Welsh/Arab mare. Witchy little thing if something bothered her, but she was fancy and bold if you could win her over.
I also knew a really beautiful 1/2 Arab gelding - I think the other half was Hanoverian? 16h, built like a tank and just really attractive. Gorgeous horse, sweet as pie, but he had no business in the USHJA hunter ring. He didn’t have the step, and when overwhelmed he balled up and got shorter and shorter. He was too hot for the kiddo that had him leased for the 2’3" and all attempts to slow him down just created a stopper.
Naturally, I loved him. He would’ve been a great event horse or low level jumper for someone that wanted the pony ride on a horse.
My next horse will likely be an Appendix, but this thread has reminded me of the potential in 1/2 Arabians (if I want something a bit smaller).
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If you are ok with older, I see this type all the time in the UK … Ref #: 353516 on Horsequest. I don’t know this horse at all, he just looks sweet and easy off the videos.
Another vote for an arab cross as something with potential.
I was lucky enough to distance ride a lovely perch/arab mare belonging to some friends for several years, up to the 100 mile distance:
She is now eventing with another friend:
Most assume she is some flavor of warmblood.
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I bought a very nice draft x mare this spring for under $20K. 12 years old, sound and sane. She hadn’t been ridden much for the past year so needed to be legged up and didn’t have much of an idea about bending or lateral work, but I can train that. I bought her after I rehabbed a TB who had more attitude than I wanted (after I got him up to a healthy weight).
I would second the recommendation of looking at hunt horses with the caveat that if they are sound, safe and nice looking, they will be at least 20K. People are willing to pay good $$ to be safe in the hunt field.
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OP, join some of the Aiken, SC FB pages. I have seen lots of what you are looking for advertised there.
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I hate to say this, but I don’t use FB for personal reasons. I know that’s where most folks go to sell/buy horses, though.
Well, on a hopeful note, we may have a lead on a horse. My trainer actually brought this one to our attention as a possibility yesterday. A compromise, but may be a good one. If it comes through, I will definitely report back. I want to thank you all for chiming in and offering suggestions. It’s appreciated!
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As she is, the original, unedited edition.
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