Mine too, but I’d buy a $15 -20k horse, and then $30k in lessons.
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Same. SAME.
Oh to dream of a new horse that doesn’t need to be started from day 1…to be able to miss those years of almost dying every ride 
What I would do for an already trained horse!
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A horse that makes me smile for under $10k, and the other $40k in my retirement account. 
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Here, about feeling like you are going to die everyday it’s so hilarious and so true. I just bought a young horse for resale and I’m already questioning why I thought it would be a good idea to sign up to feel like I am dying every ride until he’s trained enough to sell, LMAO
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just an update. The horse scored a 66+ and a 67+ 3rd-3 today and yesterday at WEC. Two different judges. Won both (small) classes. That will give seller something to advertise. For all the to-do about the ad, and the rule violation, this seems to be a capable and sane young horse. I have no dog in this fight, but as an aging ammy IF I were shopping, I’d give him a look.
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Me too!
That is so awesome for the seller
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I’ve been suffering for years with young young horses, only one left to start showing and then the routine almost dying can finally be over!
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Someone get him!
My mare a year after I bought her at that price range. Though the farm her dam came from/where her sire stood would have had her close to that price when I bought her (she wasn’t.)
My mare has stellar gaits. I’d be happy with 7 gaits, especially with how hard it was for me to learn to ride her canter because of its size. So I’d happily compromise to lesser gaits.
I’d prefer smaller - I bought her despite her size, but 15.2-16hh-ish is more where I’d really like to be. I suspect she’s 17hh now that she’s regularly standing lifted in her withers.
I didn’t give a rat’s behind that she’d had a foal and it put her behind the international horse training time scale, because I’m no international rider. I want a happy and sound GP horse at 20, not a CDI horse at 10.
I would compromise with hotter and more reactive, and even slightly less well behaved overall. My girl is a saint, and after nearly 2 weeks without being ridden, a horse in the herd dying and the related herd uproar, and a 30+ degree temperature drop, she just marched out and went to work. She’s that horse, and her personality is why I bought her. Also why farm her relatives came from thought I stole her at the price I paid.
When I bought her, I really struggled with her canter, and my trainer did most of the cantering for the first year, really. That’s why I’d say a year older - my trainer passed away, and I need a horse I can do all the training on… which is where we are now. I may need to send her to a trainer for some things at some point, but the way she’s developing we’re starting to get changes if I overcurrent when asking for straightness, and she’s developing decent half steps. I wouldn’t settle for less than a horse I can ride and work with like her. Color, size, age, amount of training, and gait quality beyond a need for basic correct gaits, are all negotiable for me.
If I had the money, I’d consider looking at a horse like this one. I do question the pricing even with the scores he’s getting, as he appears to lack the knowledge of how to fold his hind legs in response to a half halt. I’d go in with an open mind, but for $50k, I would not be looking for a horse who didn’t know how to respond to a half halt by sitting. If I were an international/CDI type rider, I would expect a horse to not know that yet, but would be looking for far better gaits - and likely a horse who knew a lot less in the way of movements.
(Edit: I just realized I never mentioned breed. I simply don’t care except for how we match up physically. I’m not in the best health, so need a horse who provides enough energy on its own. And I am physically uncomfortable on very wide horses - but also horses whose ribs go more out from the spine than angled down, even when they aren’t super wide. So I would be less likely to want any of the breeds who give a wider feel due to their shape. Beyond that, I like examples of every breed I’ve met, so wouldn’t rule them out.)
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OK, now if somebody wants a REALLY nice horse…a better mover than the horse being discussed, and will likely sell for a whole lot less than 50k, take a look at this appendix QH. Very nice mover, well built, and has a great start (yes, western so far, but you can see the potential). He’s very balanced, not forehand heavy at all, and looks like a good guy. If I were in the market, I’d be bidding.
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I dunno, that TB is much nicer in my
book (but I’m also a hunter).
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I agree. Sounds like that is someone else’s horse for sale, not fair to critique it, I think.
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I love a good QH but nothing about this one says “dressage horse” to me.
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I think a horse at public auction is pretty much being critiqued by a lot of people. 
I liked what I saw in the video, and stand by my opinion. 
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Appendix QH. Did you watch the video?
I’m interested to know what you like about this one as a dressage prospect? To me he looks more suitable for hunters, if an English discipline is in his future
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My first horse was appendix QH and I loved him. And yes, I watched it.
“A lot of people” is generally not COTH, unless the horse is yours or you are going to buy it and then only offering politely a critique.
That horse has plenty to run him down for as a dressage horse, not fair with the bit we see in a video. Opinions, everyone has one. 
Thats a lower level kid horse, or an AA horse, not a dressage ring move up the levels and place really well each time horse. But he can be the king of training level and beat the naughty ones and put down a solid training test forever.
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