None, yet! But I haven’t forgotten–either about the pedigree or seeing what the owner might want for him.
[QUOTE=WilfredLeblanc;4479273]
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?[/QUOTE]
what I was saying, gently, was that TBs are not for everyone, and it seemed you had not hunted yet, and had only experienced the steady nature of a draft horse, a TB might not be your best choice. SOME TBs will plod along in the hunt field, and act saintly the first season, but they are usually the small minority. More often they require a full season or two of consistent hunting to settle in.
Since you plan to hunt only a few times a year rather than several times a week, enjoy a solid livery horse til you see how hunting is for you. Have fun!
I am a great believer in going with your gut instinct when looking for horses 
I certainly wouldn’t worry about age.
I have a 24 year old TB cross who did a long distance ride with me earlier this year and goes better now than when he was 16. The only problem for me that although he is a lovely person, he is still a LOT of horse, and I struggle to keep him in full work - because of my lack of time, not his lack of soundness(!).
A pre-purchase is probably a good idea, but if you know the horse and he is fit for what you want to do, be realistic as well - it may not matter if he has the odd lump or bump if he can still perform as you need him to.
Nic
[QUOTE=Mach Two;4494561]
what I was saying, gently, was that TBs are not for everyone, and it seemed you had not hunted yet, and had only experienced the steady nature of a draft horse, a TB might not be your best choice. SOME TBs will plod along in the hunt field, and act saintly the first season, but they are usually the small minority. More often they require a full season or two of consistent hunting to settle in.
Since you plan to hunt only a few times a year rather than several times a week, enjoy a solid livery horse til you see how hunting is for you. Have fun![/QUOTE]
No worries. I understood you perfectly. Sorry if my reply sounded defensive, or anything like that.
[QUOTE=WilfredLeblanc;4475965]
Under $500? That would be great, but I think the owner has already turned down an offer for more. I[/QUOTE]
Just because she’s already turned down an offer for more doesn’t mean she wouldn’t take less if time goes by and she still can’t sell him. The person that offered more might have moved on and bought another horse, etc. The way you described him, I definitely wouldn’t pay more than $1000 for. (of course, I’m in MD and we have TBs by the ton here. And I’m a draft cross kind of girl, myself. ;))
[QUOTE=WilfredLeblanc;4474025]
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.[/QUOTE]
cheap as you can get hes 16yrs old sounds like a tb most are good jumpers and good at hunting very bold
you need to have a firm hand with his tie ing up issues look at my helpful links pages on the sticky on dressage forum
theres an link topic by thomas 1 on teaching your horse to stand
plus other helpful info read all links
[QUOTE=analise;4495093]
Just because she’s already turned down an offer for more doesn’t mean she wouldn’t take less if time goes by and she still can’t sell him. The person that offered more might have moved on and bought another horse, etc. The way you described him, I definitely wouldn’t pay more than $1000 for. (of course, I’m in MD and we have TBs by the ton here. And I’m a draft cross kind of girl, myself. ;))[/QUOTE]
God knows what’s going on with the owner. Tough time, in any case. Apparently she isn’t returning phone calls or emails from the barn. I’m only paying $100 a month to half-lease, so perhaps I shouldn’t be in any hurry to buy, but I’ve just got a nice feeling about this guy (famous last words, right?). He’s got quirks, but he’s basically a gentleman, and definitely can meet any routine needs I’ll have as a rider for the foreseeable future. Either way, I’m definitely getting the message that $1000 is as high as I should go. Fortunately, I think there are a fair number of horses who meet the same basic description as this TB and can probably be had for the same price.
You mention Maryland–I’m from Baltimore, myself, been out here for just six years. I wish I had gotten serious about riding sooner! I know there are barns and hunts galore on the periphery of Charm City.
