Buying a Dressage Horse

[Dressage_Trainee_on_a_budget]

If you had no choice, lived in the middle of nowhere, who would you trust to find you a dressage horse? Give you a realistic budget to fit your situation? Understands buyers that do not have unlimited income. Someone absolutely worth their commission. Would appreciate any advice on similar experiences.

What is your opinion on a starting budget for a game adult amateur (5’11) looking for a consistent horse that comes ready to train? No real interest in showing. Prefer to clinic and learn. Would prefer a schoolmaster but do not have property to retire after and have another riding horse. Would you consider a serviceably-sound younger SM that might need more maintenance than allowed to show (provided the animal is still comfortable while training)? Do those horses exist? Thank you for any advice helping me on my search.

[islgrl]

Do you have a trainer? What part of the country are you in?

[Dressage_Trainee_on_a_budget]

Yes, but does not travel.

[DressageD1va]

I’d ask the trainer to refer you to someone they trust that would travel.
there’s also the magic of FB. Maybe stalk trainers in the areas that have sales barns? Risky but maybe your only option?
as for older school master types with maintenance- we have some amazing ones at our barn. The soundest horses we have. Those “warhorses” are sometimes god sends. That being said this is all a crap shoot!!!

[Dressage_Trainee_on_a_budget]

Grateful for having a quality trainer used to riding green and problem horses but she is very busy and can’t leave to travel for horse shopping. We are 200+ miles from any dressage barns. So word of mouth and local connections are minimal at best.

[MsM]

It sounds like you can hash things out with your current trainer first. Things like what type of horse would be suitable, what level of training, etc. You have to decide on your budget both for your horse and then for lessons and training. What is your current skill level?

After that, you can go a couple of ways. If you have a substantial budget, your trainer may know someone who can act s your agent in finding prospects (for a fee). Once found, you can video your trial rides and get your trainer’s opinion.

If (like me) your budget is not large, you can shop on your own, keeping in mind your trainer’s advice. Once again you can video your rides before deciding to move forward in the purchase process.

Without strong competitive goals, you have lots of options for “off” breeds and different types who still possess the ability to perform the movements, even though they might not be competitive. You are buying a horse first. Buy one you like and will enjoy - who also will be able to do dressage with you.

Me? In my retirement, after losing my retired horse and with lessons and training a distant memory, I bought a new horse to do dressage with. Did I consult and video and pay commissions? Uh, no. I fell in love with a golden Morgan who didn’t even canter reliably under saddle and bought him. But I knew I enjoyed the process of working with a green horse. In good weather I get a lesson once or twice a month - then trainers bail for Florida in the winter! But my horse makes me smile and is at least as capable as I am to go up the levels. Find what you love.

[2tempe]

Whereabouts are you - generally? I agree with the off breed, my first real dressage horse was bought at 15, a TB trained/shown to Prix st Georges, a sweetheart who also did trails, sound as could be. He taught me tons. Current trained up horse is a Lusitano; he came to me at 13 with a very wired brain and some contact issues. Loved him from day 1, took a while to understand and manage the brain, and reestablish correct contact but he is safe, honest, brave, the worst he does when worried is lay on the bit and not hear the aids.
Schoolmasters sadly aren’t cheap, dont know your budget. I’d be careful re one that needs too maintenance. What level schoolmaster are you thinking?

[right_horse_at_the_right_time]

Dressage is training. Buy the horse you love, sane and sound. Buy one whose canter has jump and has a four beat walk and a curious personality and who can take a joke. Then have fun!

sometimes it’s a bit of a crapshoot.

There is a sales barn in PA who has videos of their well-broke horses doing all sorts of silly things…some nice movers, not international world beaters but still nice.

Again, sometimes it’s a crapshoot.

[mzm_farm]

I have some info that may be helpful, but can’t private message you - feel free to reach out/email and I’ll be happy to share!

[RPM]

Start with your trainer and local word of mouth about locally available suitable horses. Suitable as in sound, sensible, no vices, three good gaits under saddle. A schoolmaster is not necessarily an old horse on the brink of retirement, but could be pricey because of its experience and work ethic. You don’t say where you are, but it doesn’t have to be “dressage horse.” As long as it’s not a peanut-rolling 4-beat-lope WP horse, it might be worth checking out.

Gaited horses can do dressage too, BTW.

Maybe try leasing to start?

[Dressagelvr]

How long have you been riding? What is your current level of training? What sort of horses are you riding now?

[Airfern]

For an AA with no showing ambitions a schoolmaster may be out of budget. It may be better to look for an off breed doing second level work. Maybe something that has done a few local or schooling shows and has maxed out due to conformation issues or is an older horse. Horses like this enjoy the AA working lifestyle , they have it a bit easier than in a show barn and can always be sold or moved on to another AA or kid moving up from a pony.

Shopping without a trainers eyes on ground I would take video of seller riding horse doing the level of work you intend to do as well as try to get seller or friend to video your ride. Have your trainer review video. and as always get a PPE.

Having just went through a three year shopping search I can say my budget in Southern California was approx. 10-15k. many horses were available cheaper but I did not have the skills as a nervous AA to make them work.

[rulex]

@right horse at the right time

Dressage is training. Buy the horse you love, sane and sound. Buy one whose canter has jump and has a four beat walk and a curious personality and who can take a joke. Then have fun!

sometimes it’s a bit of a crapshoot

This sounds like a great approach to me. If you are comfortable going to try horses on your own, would you be able to have your trainer review video back home and go from that?

[Dressage_Trainee_on_a_budget]

Thank you all for the replies. For some reason I stopped getting notifications. I had a close friend show me an ad for a horse that was in my current budget and although skeptical I went. Sent the video to my trainer who happened to have her wknd show rained out, so we went back down together. Needless to say, pending a PPE this week, I will be a horse owner again. I sure hope so because life is much better with a horse.