[QUOTE=3Dogs;6618785]
I know I get flamed every time I say this but I do not think there are that many foal buyers of “hunter prospects” …they go with trainer or trainer goes IN GENERAL to Europe for those.[/QUOTE]
I’m laughing because after reading 60+ pages, this is what gets me to post. (and since I haven’t finished and I know there are more developments since page 105 which is where I currenlty am, I appologize). BUT…LaurieP is right. I am the ammie that cannot afford to go to Europe or buy a domestic 4-5 year old of the caliber I would like to own. I have spent a lot of time, and have been sorely tempted by, the GFF website/foals. I could afford a nice foal and then gamble on it training up to what I want it to be. In fact, that’s the only way I will ever own a really nice horse (no offense to my current, lovely in his own right, horse. :)).
AND, I just might show that horse on the line…NOT because it was my goal, but rather because I think it’s a good way to get a youngster out and about as early as possible so the show scene is no big deal. The horse probably wouldn’t do all that well because I don’t like young ones that fat, but it’s wouldn’t be about ribbons but rather about exposure. Just another step along the path…
IMO, I think there are VERY few people who buy only for HB. It’s just a fun/useful stepping stone to the performance horse they are ultimately hoping for. There are a ton of obstacles that might mean that the youngster doesn’t make it as a performance horse, but you can say that about a slew of the foals/young horses that are purchased into show homes.
The GFF website always had me planning how to make buying a hunter baby a reality. Thankfully, I never got around to it. Trust me, if I had property and didn’t board, I would have had to count myself as a GFF client…and hoped that I would end up one of the lucky ones.