It is a fact that my jumping years are limited. But I’m not quite ready to give up yet.
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Yeah, Heinz57,you got it. Many older riders have to cut back and often find their current horse unsuitable for their new limitations and risk tolerance. BTDT made that decision at age 66 so qualified to have that opinion. I was the last of my riding friends to stop jumping and all the others were younger when they had to make that decision. All of our health care advisors also participated in that decision.
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The funny thing about breed specific searches is that many of the candidates to do non-breed things (or to fit a third criteria, like extra height) are already winnowed out of the ad streams you see.
For instance, I remember looking for jumpers, and there was NOTHING between 14.2 (pony jumpers) and 16 hands (because “no one in their right mind would want a small jumper”, which is, of course, nonsense). And there are lots of horses between 14.2 and 16 hands that exist, but they are being sold to do something else.
So my suggestion would be to choose which of your criteria is paramount, and search only on that criteria, which will cast your net wider.
If size is critical, then don’t limit your search to QHs (though you may well find one who is a QH).
If Ranch experience is critical, then don’t limit your search to big horses. (though you may find one who is bigger.)
If competing on the QH circuit is your primary thing, then don’t worry about size and ranch work.
As for “maintenance”, I would specifically ask if they routinely inject the horses at their barn as a preventive, or if the horse has shown in his past that these injections are required. Some places routinely inject: who knows what the horse actually needs.
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How do I find those?
Privately advertised horses. Not being promoted by a coach or trainer. Located on someone’s private barn or backyard. Stay away from the fancy barns with a full time gardener and barn staff. A horse who has previously been engaged in a different lifestyle or sport discipline, but perhaps is not fitting in well there.
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Word of mouth was the way we found perfect mounts for my kids when they were growing up.
Have you asked your vets or farrier, put up an ad at the local feed store or gone to local trainers/ BO to see if they know of any in the area? Yes you might need to weed out a few strange ones but sounds like you have time.
I am sure you have asked all your local QH showing friends but you may find a gem of a horse ( yes, a QH Registered) , sound and sane in some local backyard who is for sale and safely and sanely taking his owner down the trail who is suitable to do what you would like with a little training.
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What area of the country/world are you in and how long have you been looking?
rocky mountains. Would love to find something around here, but travelling to the midwest/west coast is doable. East coast further than I want to go unless I get desperate, unfortunately that seems to be where most of the horses I’m interested in are.
Been looking about 4m.
