Does this horse sound like a good choice?

[BeginnerTrainer]

I teach lessons. You could tell that from my name though.
My program has been growing and I need another horse/pony. I can not decide if the one I saw today is a good fit.
-15ish year old gelding. About 14.2, probably a hony. Cute, well mannered. Seems pretty bombproof. Goes W/T/C but has only been truly under saddle for about 6 months. Was used as a ranch horse for rounding up cattle before that, and looks like it got rode hard and put away wet. Has some visible ‘stuff’ from the years of that. Nothing too alarming, one front fetlock is pretty big but cold and the he was sound. Nice under saddle, cute mover, easy ride, great canter. However, power steering isn’t installed yet, leg yields, bit contact, etc is not there, stopping is a bit abrupt as green ones tend to be.
They are asking 2600. Does this seem too high to anyone else? I really liked the horse, but I have a hard time paying 2600 for a green 15 year old who most likely wouldn’t pass a rigorous PPE.

However, i have had bad results finding anything. I’ve looked at a lot of really unsuitable ones so far. My idea of bombproof beginner safe seems to not align with many sellers out there…

My other idea is to go to New Holland and try my luck at picking up a few horses there. I’ve done that before with moderate success. But I’m looking at minimum 3 weeks quarantine with anything from there. I’m not panicked to get a new lesson horse, but 3 weeks of waiting gets me really close to winter before I even get a chance to see what the training is like on them.

Thoughts?

[Equkelly]

IMO, power steering and breaks are pretty easy to add on to a horse like this. They tend to go like this when they’re used to being ridden by beginners and novices that don’t steer with their legs and don’t stop with their seat. I think if the pony is sound enough, is quiet and safe enough for kids, it’s a fair price. Temperament and soundness are way harder to change than steering/breaks.

[Classic]

I would be sure to find out if this horse can teach beginners to canter safely. Many don’t.

[Jo]

What is the population of your program? 14.2 is too small to carry most adults.

[akhunterrider]

I agree with @Jo size would be my main concern if you have a fair amount of adults in your program. Beyond that, I think it sounds like a good deal. While “green” to arena work, ranch horses are pretty darn broke otherwise. Can you take the horse on a paid trial for a week and see how it does with more of an arena program with some different riders aboard?

[merrygoround]

I would radiograph that big hind ankle.

You are talking about 6 mo under an English saddle. A horse used for handling cattle is pretty darn broke, if ridden properly.

[dani0303]

Ranch horses tend to be the epitome of bombproof. If he’s sound at 15 (even with some jewelry) that’s a good indication that he holds up long term. $2600 sounds like a pretty fair pricetag for that type.

My trainer’s very best school horse started life as a ranch horse working the cattle feedlots. He’s grade, a hony, and not much to look at but has packed an entire generation of kids from their first lesson to the 2’6 hunters and jumpers.

[Scribbler]

Was the pony in consistent ranch work for years? If so he will be dead broke and level headed. He also probably steers and stops just fine by neck rein and weight aids. If he is a genuine retired ranch horse he is probably handier and faster off the aids than most of your other horses.

The dilemma is of course that he is probably faster off the western aids and neither you nor your students know what those are, or how to use them.

If you have a friend who rides Western well you might ask them to evaluate the pony and tell you his level of western training .

These horses can be reschooled English but they will always prefer weight aids to a big hauling beginner direct rein or whoa!!

I think if he’s a real retired ranch horse he could likely be a saint in a lesson program, and go around nicely in light contact.

Around here $2600 would be a fair price because he’s probably a fantastic back country trail horse, and if he’s sound, has another good decade of work.

[Equkelly]

I wouldn’t be too worried about the size. Most 14.2 ranch horses are pretty stocky and can cart around an average sized adult without issues.

[BeginnerTrainer]

I went for it. That front fetlock gives me some worry but I’ve seen worse on perfectly sound horses. I don’t PPE lesson horses because usually, as long as it is sound, it’s better not to know what jewelry the horse has inside
I find the beginner adults like the littler ones when starting out. I think he’s bulky enough; plus, I’ve got a 16h and a 18h for those who like bigger ones.

I may still go to NH and pick up a few as we go into winter. Ive got the room right now.
does anyone know if it’s still mondays at 10?