Has anyone had any dealings with Diane Matheis of Hunting Ridge Farm in Street, MD?
I have. You can PM me for details if you’d like.
Diane Matheis or Diane Marple?
I’ve seen a lot of well photographed draft x’s on Facebook recently being marketed as hunt horses. Many are picked up cheap at New Holland and being flipped for thousands (without much under saddle training, let alone hunt experience). I do hope anyone interested in these animals have them vetted for soundness as being an Amish cart horse is no easy task.
Also, if a horse is being advertised as having hunted, make sure you request references from the huntsman/field master. People can say anything they want, or take posed pictures in tweed coats.
No personal experience with this woman/farm, just a cautionary blanket statement.
I was wondering about her as well. I have oggled her dreamhorse ads for a few years now (not in the market, just love to look!) and now have friended her on FB after seeing her post some in the Foxhunting groups.
I’ve never dealt with her, but she does at least take GOOD sales pictures. Which is a breath of fresh air.
On FB she does post videos of some and the few I’ve seen look like solid citizens (though I haven’t seen them in person so who’s to say they aren’t drugged, etc).
From what she puts up in public they look like nice horses for decent prices. If I were to seriously look at them to buy though, hell yes I’d be getting a vet check/references first. This should be norm for any horse you buy, at any price.
Bumping in case anyone else has input, before I possibly call about one…
My experience
I bought a horse from her last year. He is as advertised for the most part, taking into account that everyone has a different idea of what a 1 out of 10 temperament is 
He was advertised as “would make a good hunt horse”, so no unfounded claim, just an opinion. (I think he will need more mileage before going hunting, but I’m an inexperienced hunter.)
I didn’t have him vetted for several reasons:
- the selling price was relatively low and I didn’t want to add $500 to it.
- He was a young horse (5 yrs)
- I don’t have high-performance ambitions for him.
He was advertised a 100% sound with no vices (a common theme in her ads). He was in full training all winter after I got him and has been sound.
Diane was straightforward to deal with, the sale went off without a hitch and I have no complaints.
As always, YMMV.
Thank you. Can’t ask for much more than that in horse shopping. 
Don’t skimp–get a PPE
A basic vetting without x-rays won’t run you $500.
Again, I have no experience with this woman/farm, but there was a post on “Local Horseman’s Classifieds” (Facebook) from someone who bought a horse from her, age was misrepresented, and horse was unsound (navicular).
A basic PPE will at least tell you the age, and general soundness with flexions. and at $150-200, is money well spent on a horse you intend to hunt.
But, hey, i don’t trust anyone when buying a horse. Just because you don’t have “high ambitions” showing doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice soundness. Hopefully you are also local and can visit the farm/horse yourself.
More info please!
Hi- I am interested if anyone has more info to share on this topic. Please pm me- I would appreciate it! Trying to figure out if we just have really bad luck. Also, how can I find the person who had a post on local horsemans classified? Thanks!
Looking for more details on this particular subject myself as I am seriously considering one of her recent posted draftX. please pm me. thank you!
PPV by a good vet around here is $200 plus the farm tri call. I have fond bone chips in five year olds. Might be fine, but not for hunting.
Any further information about Diane Marple in Street, MD? We are considering looking at a horse of hers next week. I know she gets her horses from a friend out of state and only has them a month or so before selling them. The videos and photos are good. Can anyone tell me if they have had experience with her? Either purchased a horse from her, or decided not to after see the horse or dealing with her? What about her health guarantee? Any experience with that? Thank you!
Just adding on to this. I have experience with the farm and have actually leased there, the horse was perfect and just as advertised with no maintenance needed. I also have a friend who has bought a pony from before who was the same he foxhunts great and she even shows him from time to time, he has had no medical issues.
