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How much would you offer for this horse?

Hunting
#1

Not to seem obsequious, but I’m posting this here because my impression is that hunters are the real experts. Anyway, I’ve been trying out this mount and have really taken a shine to him.

17h TB, 16 years old. Flunked out of the track early on, then alternated periods of doing Western (?) and being turned out, doing nothing, until last summer, when someone got the idea he might be a good schooling horse and might like jumping. What do you know? He likes jumping and is very honest over fences. I haven’t tried him over anything higher than 3’, but his legs are so long I suspect he could sail over anything. In other respects, he’s a bit rough–isn’t too used to moving off the leg, one twitch of the pinkie and he turns sharply. Maybe that comes from his Western experience somehow. But no spook, no bite, no kick, or any of that. His ground manners are kind of quirky. He’s never learned to tie, and doesn’t like being girthed inside the barn, so you kind of have to watch it a little when you’re tacking him up, but once you’re on, he feels like a diamond in the rough. No soundness issues at all, great stamina. I’d characterize him as easy to ride, as long you’re moderately assertive.

Anyway, any idea what a fair offer for him might be? He isn’t for sale, strictly speaking, but the owner never rides him, is getting a divorce, etc., so I imagine she’s going to be ready to part with him before too long. If not, he’s great fun until the right thing for me does come along.

An ancillary question is, would it be too late in life for him to try the hunt field, if I ever get my ducks in a row for that otherwise?

Thanks.

#2

Around these parts I’m getting lots of offers for free horses younger and with better resumes. It’s tough out there, with lots of good horses in need of homes. $18,000 one day, “take him. he’s yours” the next. Sad

#3

For an unproven fox hunting horse, there is no boundry on how low or high his price could be. If I really liked the horse you describe I guess no more than $1000 because of the market.

As for the age, I picked up a 16 year old gelding in August '08 who’s resume was trail horse. He took to hunting perfectly and is enjoying his second season. He goes front, back, middle, solo or in huge groups. Goes through the creeks and slopes at whatever pace I select. He doesn’t jump anything of merit only because of me, we do teeny stuff. His price- $400. Because of his price I really wasn’t picky about his age. However, I’ve examined his teeth very closely and he is closer to, or just on the other side, of 20 and doing fine. He is not a elegant TB type but very well suited to hunt.

Good luck!

#4

Thanks for both replies–most helpful.

#5

Our hunt has several horses going out regularly who are all in their mid twenties. For what it’s worth…

#6

Thanks, ponyclubrocks.

I’m due to take my first stab at hunting (on a livery horse) before too long, and I guess that will give me a better sense of what a horse needs to be able to do to hang with it. In terms of behavior (vs. fitness) my guess is that being relaxed on the trail would be a minimum requirement, likewise comfort around dogs zipping about. As far as I can tell, this TB I’m talking about has got these pieces down, but I know there’s the whole thing of galloping in a group, dealing with variable terrain, and all these other things that are kind of unknowns until you actually try the horse at them. Anyway, it’s good to hear that older horses take to hunting fine. I figured as much, but confirmation is nice.

In terms of looks, I should note that he’s mighty handsome, classic TB build and a choco-chestnut sort of shade with a couple of socks–neither I nor my tack have ever looked better on anything. He got thin from being in the pasture and not having his teeth done for too long (not being able to crush his food well enough to get all the nutrients, etc.), but those things have been taken care of and he’s getting his weight back.

After spending most of my mere 2 1/2 years of serious riding on draft crosses, I have to say I’m mighty pleased to be on a TB. Maybe it’s just the particular TB I’m on (it seems like he’s been waiting all his life for someone to figure out what he really wanted to be doing), but if the responsiveness, the enthusiasm for jumping, and the stamina typify the breed, I don’t think I’m ever going back.

Another ancillary question: I’ve heard conflicting arguments about whether a 16 year old can learn to tie. Is he stuck with his issue around that for life or not? He’ll let you loop the lead line over something, and will mostly stay put, but I’ve been told he has a history around pulling posts out of the ground, pulling sliding doors off of paddocks, etc. There might be some hyperbole in there, but he definitely seems to have issues with being inside a barn, if nothing else. If I take him outside to tack up, he’s much more mellow. But still, he doesn’t want to tie up to anything.

Anyway, if I could get him for $1000 or less, that would free up some dough to get a trailer and flask.:slight_smile:

#7

As far as not wanting to tie, use a Blocker tie ring. It works wonders. They can still move their feet and pull the lead rope out, but with time, it becomes less and less. I have one and use it on everyone. With most of mine now, I just drape the lead rope over the post…they stand stock still.

#8

I’d say under $500. His age, breed, and lack of experience are all working against him. Unfortunately, very few people want to buy a full TB these days unless they are proven, it is a lot harder to sell a horse over 12, and with no real experience? Ugh. Not that he wouldn’t be a great “keeper” horse, but certainly nothing I would expect to work on and then resell.

#9

The blocker tie rings are really a nice tool for a horse that doesn’t tie.

We had a Quarter mare that did tie just fine. Then one day something happened and from that day forward she was unreliable to tie. As she was my young daughters riding horse, safety for the kid was critical. This was in the days before the blocker tie rings so we created a leadrope, dedicated to tying her. 3’ from the clip we placed a knot- large enough to not slip through the tie ring but with pressure it would pull through. We placed knots every 8" on that rope creating (if my memory is correct) about 4 or 5 knots. So now we had a way to tie her and when she pulled it was diffused and the kid was still safe. It wasn’t perfect but it worked.

You sound smitten with this horse! Again, good luck as you consider your options!

#10

[QUOTE=SidesaddleRider;4475057]
I’d say under $500. His age, breed, and lack of experience are all working against him. Unfortunately, very few people want to buy a full TB these days unless they are proven, it is a lot harder to sell a horse over 12, and with no real experience? Ugh. Not that he wouldn’t be a great “keeper” horse, but certainly nothing I would expect to work on and then resell.[/QUOTE]

Under $500? That would be great, but I think the owner has already turned down an offer for more. I don’t fancy him as a resale project. That kind of thing is above my pay grade, anyway. I’d just see him as the kind of fun, forgiving, but athletic mount I need for the time being. Some of you might recall my “When to get another horse?” thread, and my guess is that this TB matches what people there were saying I should be riding–something basically safe and predictable that’s not going to punish me for my mistakes, something I can have fun bombing around on while also getting my adrenaline kicks over jumps, etc.

#11

[QUOTE=SLW;4475098]
The blocker tie rings are really a nice tool for a horse that doesn’t tie.

We had a Quarter mare that did tie just fine. Then one day something happened and from that day forward she was unreliable to tie. As she was my young daughters riding horse, safety for the kid was critical. This was in the days before the blocker tie rings so we created a leadrope, dedicated to tying her. 3’ from the clip we placed a knot- large enough to not slip through the tie ring but with pressure it would pull through. We placed knots every 8" on that rope creating (if my memory is correct) about 4 or 5 knots. So now we had a way to tie her and when she pulled it was diffused and the kid was still safe. It wasn’t perfect but it worked.

You sound smitten with this horse! Again, good luck as you consider your options![/QUOTE]

I checked out the Blocker Tie Ring on Adams Horse Supply, and it looks like it might be just the thing. I’ll see if the barn will let me put one up somewhere. Meanwhile, I think I’ll have to stick to looping and keeping an eye on him.

Smitten might be putting it too strongly, but I do like this TB a lot. It seems like we’re both late bloomers, in a way, and in that sense good potential comrades. I’m sure it has to do, also, with the new barn–a much lower key place, much lower key trainer, no hard sells going on.

#12

Somewhere between 500 and 900.00, perhaps, because he has not been hunted…(jumping and hunting are very different, as you probably know, and even a 16 year old can become too much horse in a hurry. ) and because he’s aged. You won’t know til you do some conditioning if he is sound enough. If he works out, you may well get ten years of hunting out of him, if he holds up, but please plan to do some long trots, and canters for conditioning first, at least 4-5 times a week. A horse that has not been in work is one that gets hurt out hunting.
Most horses are pretty good first time out, OK second, and third time out is the telling trial. By then they know the drill and either plod right along, or come apart. Most TBs are not as tolerant of rider errors as draft horses.
Jumping big fences also has little to do with hunting, many hunts top out at 2’9 to 3’, yes, I know there are some VA and PA hunts with BIG coops and panels 3’6 to 4’, but they are not as common as smaller coops with a rail added, which comes down before use and goes back up after.

If the horse is not for sale, why is the owner letting you “try” him? Just curious.

#13

[QUOTE=Mach Two;4479206]

If the horse is not for sale, why is the owner letting you “try” him? Just curious.[/QUOTE]

He was offered for lease, but once I went and checked him out, I came to find the odds were he’d be on the block before too long.

#14

Here’s something I wrote recently that might help you:

Is your horse ready to hunt?

It might help you evaluate the horse you’re looking at.

However, until you hunt several times it’s hard to know what you’ve got. His value as a hunt horse right now is not much. His age isn’t an issue – like others here have remarked, we’ve got some senior citizens on our hunt. Rather it’s suitability.

I don’t believe you’ve ever hunted. It might be better to go out for the first time on a horse that’s a proven foxhunter, even if you have to borrow or rent one.

#15

[QUOTE=Bogie;4479258]
Here’s something I wrote recently that might help you:

Is your horse ready to hunt?

It might help you evaluate the horse you’re looking at.

However, until you hunt several times it’s hard to know what you’ve got. His value as a hunt horse right now is not much. His age isn’t an issue – like others here have remarked, we’ve got some senior citizens on our hunt. Rather it’s suitability.

I don’t believe you’ve ever hunted. It might be better to go out for the first time on a horse that’s a proven foxhunter, even if you have to borrow or rent one.[/QUOTE]

Thanks. You’re right that I haven’t yet hunted. My first time out is Nov. 22–on a livery horse, of course! I’m sure it will give me a somewhat clearer sense of what a hunt horse needs to be able to do than I can possibly have a priori.

Either way, if I wanted to keep hunting a couple, three times a year with this hunt, they’ll always have livery horses, and this TB may be good to hang onto for riding at home.

RE: Mach 2’s remark about TBs not necessarily being ideal for the hunt field, I was under the impression that they were kind of the classic hunt mount. Was that never the case? Have draft crosses always been preferred?

#16

Many people ride TBs in my hunt. But then again, there are lots of other breeds represented, too. You really need to evaluate the horse, rather than the breed.

I hunt a TB (used to hunt a Trakehner). I love hunting my TB because he’s quick on his feet, comfortable and never has a problem keeping up.

However, there are days when I really miss my Trakehner who would stand quietly at the check, and was generally quite mellow.

My own TB is a horse that is not for everyone as he can be quite anxious. He certainly would not be appropriate for a rider who got nervous, tense or who hung on his mouth. My Trakehner was much more tolerant. He knew his job and was going to do it regardless.

Hope your horse works out!

#17

my 2 cents: be sure to get a thorough pre-purchase exam, even if the horse is inexpensive. Otherwise, you could be face with some tough choices, big bills and/or heartache. TB’s can last a long long time with good care, but I am guessing you dont know his history in detail. And think about what you are going to do with this horse when he is ready to retire. Or, if you really want to hunt and he is not a good hunt horse ?

As for hunting a TB, they can be the best! a TB is built to gallop, and there is just nothing like that fifth gear they have. A TB that hunts beautifully is a treasure. When they are fit they can go for hours, and the good ones just adore hunting. Just dont be surprised if Mr Casual around the barn wakes up in a big way for hunting. All of that “go-man-go” energy took some getting used to, and some TB’s hate standing at checks or are just full of it at the start. But Bogie is right, its very hard to generalize,

do you know his registered name ? would be fun to run his pedigree!

#18

[QUOTE=Ray;4479571]

do you know his registered name ? would be fun to run his pedigree![/QUOTE]

No, but I can find out.

#19

I had a pony with a similar issue. Taught him “stay” like a dog. Worked ALWAYS!!!

#20

update??

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