I don’t believe Philip takes/caters to “general boarders”. Most if not all of his “boarders” are not “owner operators”. In other words they own the horse or parts of a syndicated horse that are trained and ridden by him and or one his team.
As others have said biking from Exton to this area would take quite a long time and would be changeling with traffic. But certainly would be impressive dedication and you would get quite fit!
I ski raced in my early to mid teen for a ski area in Vt. I lived on Long Island and would generally get rides up on the weekends with friends who had a house in the area. But when they weren’t going I would hitch hike, my parents thought I was getting a ride. Play hookie on Fridays from school. Slept in my tent in the woods. I was also very much into mountaineering and would hitch to New Hampshire to climb. My parents would give me bus fair but I pocked that to save and buy more and better equipment. Thinking back now I can’t believe I put that much effort into it, lol. In later years I hitched hiked around many parts of the country. Met a lot of interesting people and had some very interesting encounters.
Too bad you don’t live close by I would take you on as a paid “working student”. You sound like a person that would be worth picking up and taking home. I enjoy working and teaching beginner, intermediates learning to jump.
The Maryland Huntcup “center fold” picture in the Chronicle a few weeks ago of Sarah Shafer was a former “working student” of a few years ago. Granted she had a solid riding back ground but had never ridden Steeplechase horses or racehorse. She was working at Lowes when her number was given to me. A year later I helped her get her jump jock license. That chance encounter changed her life. She left here knowing how to gallop and work with racehorse, I put her together with a trainer who also help her to learn the ropes of flat racing. She has ridden amateur flat races in Europe, expenses paid and quite a few jump races. Had a great HS gal work for me and she got her jump jock license. She now trains racehorses.
I have two 6 year old TBs that have a lot of re-schooling at this point. A lot more that the others suggested to take a look at on the websites in the same price range. One lightly race one unraced. One is an “easy rider, point and shot” perfect for a person just leaning to jump. All around horse, Eventing and or Hunters and definitely has the mind to be a fox hunter also. The other is easy also but needs more of a low level intermediate rider to bring out the best in him.
I can’t speak for all “sellers” but I have found “young people” that get on to me about horses for sale are VERY “unprofessional” and tend to waste my time. I take a lot of time to give detailed information, videos and pictures and they can’t be bother to email back, “thanks, I will look over and get back”.
So, please understand that when you get on to people it takes time to respond, give in formation and provide videos and pictures. Be dead honest about your riding skills and have the courtesy to respond regardless if the horses suite or not. Just say thank you very much but I don’t think the horse/s are/is what I am looking for.
I don’t mind showing horses most are tire kickers IME or just very unrealistic about what their budget will buy. But it is really disappointing after spending hours of my time and the expense of paying a rider they can’t be bothered to send an email and or call and say “thank your”.
This courtesy will be remember by many even if you don’t buy a horse. They may, will come a time when you will want to look at horses in the future and there is a good chance the same people may have what you are looking for. You don’t want to burn bridges. I have a list of people I won’t bother to respond to anymore. I pass it on to others with a “seller be warned”.
Good luck with your search. Feel free to get on to me about the 2 horses I have.
