Horse shopping: What does $10k get?

[Lusoluv]

I am ready to buy a sporthorse. If I stick to the Midwest (WI, IL, IN,MI…maybe KY) can I get what I want for $10k or less? I’m looking for:

1. Younger horse (4-6 yrs), well started undersaddle. Either sex.
2. Sweet/willing, confident, sound. Nice mover mainly for dressage and LOW level eventing (BN/N). Training or above (eventing) scares me!
3. Any breed (WBs,TBs, QHs, or athletic crosses, around 16hh.

I’ve been told what I’m looking for is doable.I’ve also been told it’s more like $15 - $20k because I specified “nice mover”. Well, I don’t mean FEI or international quality mover, but still…nice. I’ve also been told I might have to wait a looong time to find that NICE ‘needle in the haystack’ OTTB that comes along every so often. I’ve seen several horses that meet my criteria “on paper”, but they’ve been scattered all across the country: VA, PA, SC. DON’T want to travel this time around! Are there any barns bringing along steady, nice moving, low level eventers in the Midwest???

Thanks in advance!!

[IndyEquestrian]

You can certainly find that. . . I don’t know what Megan Moore at Team CEO Eventing has in that budget, but contact her. She puts out lovely horses.

I also know of a TB mare that is super sweet and willing. She has had the summer off because her owner moved, but she would be within your budget as well. She is 6 this year.

[enjoytheride]

I think for something without much showing in eventing you have a very reasonable budget for a nice horse, especially if you are searching OTTBs or off breeds such as QHs or Arab crosses. Even in that price range you should be able to get something that has been started over fences and even shown a bit. It isn’t going to be scoring 20s in the dressage, and it isn’t ready to pack you around, but it’s very reasonable.

[judybigredpony]

Yes…and that is the horse price…not your whole budget including PPE and shipping?
Very doable…especially in that area.

[Jleegriffith]

Absolutely doable and honestly that is a very healthy budget.

[kcmel]

I got that exact horse for less than your budget. A dutch harness cross that had been imported from Canada. I looked for 6 months though (part of the problem being that I didn’t really know what I was looking for until I found him). He’s pretty fancy! He came from Dundalk Sport Horses in Fredrick, MD, if you are willing to travel that far (lots of sellers in S Md/N Va though if you wanted to plan a trip). They broke him there and my event and dressage trainer are both very impressed in how well he was started.

[Lusoluv]

Thank you everyone! Yes, $10k is my budget before PPE. I know that will run me at least $1k if it’s a thorough exam with x-rays. I have my own trailer, so if I stay within the midwest area I can bring the horse home myself!

Ideally I would love a sane, nice OTTB. That was my very first horse. A TBx would be great too. IndyEquestrian, if you’re willing to pm me the information on your friend’s mare, I’d be happy to consider looking

Thanks!!

[ksbadger]

Might want to check Canadian listings. It will soon be Fall and therefore the market price often drops as people don’t want to pay for Winter board.
BTW you might want to add your location, it will help focus replies.

[Lusoluv]

Thanks, I listed the surrounding states I’m willing to travel to in my OP in order to avoid high shipping costs. I definitely do not want to travel out of the country for the same reasons.

[Twigster]

I feel like I have seen a couple ads in the Twin Cities, MN area for nice horses like that. Your budget and expectations seem quite reasonable to me.

[OverandOnward]

If you don’t find the perfect horse in the states you named - can you go as far south as the Dallas-Fort Worth / North Texas area? Easy drive on I-35. The place is crazy with horses that fit your description. A number of good trainers, and good amateur/juniors, that have such horses.

You can start with the North Texas Eventing Association website. If you are a member you can see their fairly comprehensive list of eventing trainers etc.
http://www.nteventing.net/

Facebook with for-sales, hunt-seat/eventer type
https://www.facebook.com/groups/281580768568039/

Demographically there are more horses per capita in that area than anywhere else in the U.S. And the folks there like the kind of horse you describe. :yes:

[KayBee]

I always loved reading the Canter MidAtlantic blogs - sadly they all seem to be defunct. But one of their trainers now has her own business and she has some horses for sale.

Can’t say that she produces great horses; can only say I liked her based on her blog. (Note that I have never purchased a horse in my life; have only ever half-leased.)

http://www.benchmarksporthorses.com/horses-for-sale.html

[LadyB]

Go to Canada? The US dollar is on the up, so you will be able to spend a little more because of it.

[mychestnutvalentine]

Contact Shannon from Infinity Sporthorse! She has many awesome prospects and made horses!

[netg]

You can DEFINITELY find what you’re looking for, for that budget, especially since you’re flexible on breed! Generally it means you give up something somewhere - age, temperament, breed, training or soundness.

That budget got me:
8 year old (technically 7 by a month), evented through training, had schooled advanced, finished at or near the top on his dressage score, fancy mover, 16.3 with “the look.” Tricky ride, but fun for me and the right personality fit for me. Now he’s a pure dressage horse because it’s what I want to do, though I have jumped him a bit, and my former trainer used to jump him regularly just to cross train and have fun. Better walk and medium/extended trot than any of the warmbloods around who can score 8s in their dressage tests, so he definitely has the movement, too.

It also was a good budget for a talented unstarted warmblood with a great temperament, so that time giving out experience/age/training for the budget.

[eventerchick517]

With that budget I looked at a very spicy chestnut TB mare who was incredibly talented, young (only 8 I think), shown through training(ready to move up to prelim, easily could be a /* horse). However, she was not an easy ride and had a fantastically athletic buck.

However, with that budget I bought a 6yr old bay TB gelding that was very green, but a wonderful mover with the best canter I’ve ever sat on. Hopefully he will also turn out to be a fantastic eventer.

[butiwantedapony]

I have no personal experience with this person, but I see Jodi Hemri advertising lovely horses at VERY reasonable prices fairly often on Facebook.

[GutsNGlory]

Around here, that budget should get you everything you want/need with your flexible parameters!

A few suggestions for contacts: Megan Moore/Team CEO Eventing (KY), Meghan O’Donoghue (IL), Shannon Riley/Infinity Sporthorses (IL), Blair King (KY), Megan Corbett (KY - She doesn’t have much for sale anymore as I think they just moved, but I do think I saw Johann’s price just dropped to $500… if you’re willing to do some maintenance)… I know there are more but I just can’t think of everyone. Most of these will suggest other professionals or horses they know of for sale if they don’t currently have anything that matches your needs and budget.

You should also look on some of these Facebook sites for individual sale horse posts: Indiana Eventing Association, USEA Area 8, MSEDA (or their website), Mid South Equine and Tack Sales, Indiana Hunters/Jumpers/Eventers, Ohio Hunter/Jumper/Eventer (horses and tack), Eventing Horses for Sale (all over, so would require some browsing), Eventers Under $10k (same deal), etc.

ETA: I don’t remember which group it was posted to… but last night I saw a LOVELY ASB gelding posted for $2500. I believe it said he was currently showing Training level dressage and schooling some first movements. I know a few ASBs that are great LL event horses. So don’t rule out breeds like that either!

[visorvet]

Do you need size/height? This guy is cute:
https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/grd/5112121293.html