"Just a Trail Horse" (Buying help? :( )

[Nisi]

I’ll give you a synopsis of what I’ve learned over a 3 year period trying to find “the” horse. And getting two greenies that were too much and one horse that sounds like yours - got pissed if pushed and responded by bucking.

If you’re not experienced and/or need a confidence builder I would suggest steering away from dealers. The dealers I’ve dealt with have been anywhere between completely honest to out and out liars. But the main things are: they have only had the horse a short time so don’t know its history, and they are experienced riders. Unless they have a beginner type person on site to ride the horses they sell they can’t possibly claim them to be beginner safe, child safe, bomb-proof, or any of the sort.

I decided for my last search (hopefully for a long while!) I’d concentrate ONLY on horses privately owned for several years with a known history. I decided to stop looking for height and age first and make temperament my #1 priority.

Also, it’s a LOT easier to train a lazy horse to move out than it is to get a ditzy horse to calm down - at least at the inexperienced level. Sure a trainer can train a horse very well, but in the end, YOU still have to get on and be sure the horse isn’t going to get silly on you because you’re not as confident or experienced as a trainer is. Just sayin’…

Good luck! There ARE great horses out there!

[MMacallister]

http://www.mtra.org/Rayner/Unnamed%20Site%202/templates/index.html

This looks like a good club you may want to contact both for the fun of trail riding with them and to help you with your horses.

[Foxtrot_s]

The hardest horse to find is a confidence giving trail horse. I don’t blame you for being gun shy and afraid of being loaded with an unsuitable horse because someone wants a commission.

An older horse that has been there done that, or a Pony Club type that will not take advantage of you.

We found our best horse in a field - a Paint, that aint, because he had a bald face but was bay. The best guy, quiet, but no slouch.

There are good horses out there - QH types, Irish types, and a small budget should not hinder you. We have been given horses that were super, because the owners trusted us and wanted us to have them.

Don’t get something that has costly maintenance issues, either. A trail horse does not have to be a super athlete, but he has to be serviceable.

Keep at it - the horses are out there. Don’t settle, and I hope you can get a trial.

[Pipkin]

My ottb is a fabulous trail horse. He’s great in the heaviest of traffic, forward going but you can gallop him in any environment and still pull up super easily in a rubber snaffle. He’s exactly the same whether alone or with other horses. We have encountered motorcycle rallies, had a bus let off it’s air brakes next to us, had dogs jump up at us and he hasn’t even flinched. I don’t know if it’s because he’s an ex racer that he’s so unfazed by stuff, because he’s been exposed to so much in his youth? Or if it’s just because he’s a lazy sod at heart He’s also an absolute delight to handle on the ground, so so mannerly, and to me that counts for a lot.

Oh, he will not walk over drain covers and is still twitchy about indoor schools. But you pick your battles, you know?

I know they have a bit of a rep, but I’ve met some great ottb trail horses, so don’t discount them from your search!

[Foxtrot_s]

The TB’s make great trail horses just because they have the heart and guts of a TB … a good TB is not afraid of anything.

[dpndetfarm]

What about this one?

http://www.testrong.com/forum3/index.php

It’s part of the Michigan Trail Riders site.

scroll down to this post:

6835) Mel #5859

If the ad is even close to honest that gelding is a STEAL! Satisfaction guaranteed.
Looking for a special, forever home.

I think he’s adorable too which is always a plus.

[kkmrad94]

I actually went to try out the Paso Fino that Kathy is selling on that page. I realized I do not want a gaited horse. I tried to ride him and it just felt uncomfortable (because I am uneducated about gaited horses).

I also like to post at the trot. He is a beautiful horse though. I am always a sucker for pretty AND well behaved.

[alto]

[QUOTE=dpndetfarm;7688277]
What about this one?

http://www.testrong.com/forum3/index.php

It’s part of the Michigan Trail Riders site.

scroll down to this post:

6835) Mel #5859

If the ad is even close to honest that gelding is a STEAL! Satisfaction guaranteed.
Looking for a special, forever home.

I think he’s adorable too which is always a plus.[/QUOTE]

he sounds all of those things AND he is no longer For Sale -
Owner decided to keep him :lol:

kkmrad94 you sound like you are actually looking for a beentheredonethat truly broke horse that will do his job regardless of rider inconsistencies, focus on horses that have been out there DOING what you intend to do, for at least a couple of years … that tends to rule out most ex-jumpers, ex-polo ponies, ex-racers etc. Many of these horses are retired as they are no longer sound enough for their purpose-bred jobs: most sellers will state (insist) that they are sound enough for light riding & trails even if the horse has very limited experience as a trail horse :sigh:

Focus on experienced horses that are 10 -12 AND have been u/s for several years AND have been trail riding for several years; the 7-8 year old that always goes out fine with a confident, experienced rider may be very different when the home, the training, the “program”, the rider ALL change.
Some horses are very forgiving of rider or handling “mistakes”, others will quickly take advantage,& begin making decisions that may be contrary to the human preferences

If you know a great trainer (that is farther away), ask this person to assist in finding you a horse/horses.

[kkmrad94]

[QUOTE=alto;7688552]
he sounds all of those things AND he is no longer For Sale -
Owner decided to keep him :lol:

kkmrad94 you sound like you are actually looking for a beentheredonethat truly broke horse that will do his job regardless of rider inconsistencies, focus on horses that have been out there DOING what you intend to do, for at least a couple of years … that tends to rule out most ex-jumpers, ex-polo ponies, ex-racers etc. Many of these horses are retired as they are no longer sound enough for their purpose-bred jobs: most sellers will state (insist) that they are sound enough for light riding & trails even if the horse has very limited experience as a trail horse :sigh:

Focus on experienced horses that are 10 -12 AND have been u/s for several years AND have been trail riding for several years; the 7-8 year old that always goes out fine with a confident, experienced rider may be very different when the home, the training, the “program”, the rider ALL change.
Some horses are very forgiving of rider or handling “mistakes”, others will quickly take advantage,& begin making decisions that may be contrary to the human preferences

If you know a great trainer (that is farther away), ask this person to assist in finding you a horse/horses.[/QUOTE]

I actually am going to look at a horse tonight. The lady who is helping me sell my horse (she does consignment jobs for a living) is also selling this horse.

The horse she is selling has been only a trail horse. She is 9 years old registered APHA. Since the same lady is selling my horse I have faith that she at least knows what I am NOT looking for. I will report back with how the test ride goes tonight.

[JeanM]

Great idea to check out the local trail riding club, as has been suggested. Networking, networking. I’ve seen it work.

Also, you many find an instructor here: http://www.riding-instructor.com/instructors/mi.php These are certified American Riding Instructor Assoc. instructors who are listed as being in Michigan. You’re golden if you find a “recreational riding” instructor (esp. Level II or above) in your area!

Keep in mind: It’s not “just” a trail horse. Think about it, a horse that will carry a human outside of the safe enclosure of an arena or a ring, safely dealing with whatever surprises may be found OUT THERE, being able to lead or follow, able to handle going it alone or with a group, going at whatever gait the rider wants, is an extremely well trained horse!

[Carol_Ames]

consider professional Auction

I would look at a Professional Auction sales auction; if you come to one at Frying Pan Park; I can take the Paratransit bus, meet you there and help guide you through trying a horse, having the vet look at him briefly, bidding, and then :)finding transportation; it would all be pro bono, of course; I’ve bought some very nice horses from PAS

[clanter]

There used to be a lot of ![](organs in Michigan. Like a few others, I suggest you should at least look at some. Most will measure much smaller than they appear.

We showed one Morgan who was only 14.1 and was always challenged when entered in open pony classes as she appeared to be at least 15.2(as a note there are no Morgan ponies, officially by the registry they are all horses)

Our youngest daughter is 5’11’’, she never looked oversized for the horse (pony)
[IMG]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b386/clanter/hunterpleasure.jpg)

Maybe not for you but your mother will appreciate a shorter horse especially when you have had to dismount out on the trail.

Our older style Morgans were horse sized except for the cannon bones which were short.

[Emilia]

Clanter, I love Morgans as much as you do and, yet, I would not recommend one to OP.

She says, her horse bucked her off, because she pushed him, when it was hot and he was “done.” Then trainer had allegedly problems with him for the similar reason.

One cannot push a Morgan like that. That’s asking for a blow-up. I thought, it was funny how we all saw it the similar way in the recent Morgan thread in Dressage Forum.

Perhaps, the APHA horse she mentioned in her last post worked for her.

I still think, she would be better off, if she just took lessons for a while, educate her eye little better, and built her network.

I am little sensitive about the topic of “going through horses.” I think, sometimes, people forget, it is not good for those horses either.

Every wrong match pushes them closer to the edge of “for disposal zone.” It is a tragedy, when it happens to animals that do not deserve it.

[ladyj79]

I don’t believe PAS is running live auctions out of Frying Pan Park any longer, to my knowledge they have switched over almost entirely to online sales. And having been to every PAS sale in Virginia for like six or seven years (and purchased, and had friends purchase, and know dealers who buy and sell there) it is just as hit or miss as the open market.

Trail horses are such a hard find because different people have wildly different ideas as to what makes a good trail horse.

[Kodiak]

As much as I adore ex polo ponies, and own several myself, I wouldn’t recommend one for the OP. They’re trained to be very light off the leg, sensitive to the bridle, and quick on their feet; and the good ones will be stepped down the levels and played until they’re 3/4 lame. The ones leaving the sport sound generally have a ‘quirk’ (to put it politely), and frequently zero trail experience. Great horses, but not a quiet, trained, confidence-building trail horse.

OP, are you near a branch of the Michigan Horse Council or similar? Folks who are extremely active recreational trail riders are a great resources for trainers and made trail horses.

[macmtn]

At the end of this month ALL the summer camps will be unloading their camp horses. A perfect opportunity to pick up a couple of cheap broke to death trail horses and save them from a trip to the auction.

[kkmrad94]

The APHA mare worked out for something for a trail horse. She is very quiet and broke but is a horse for my sister / dad to ride. I am hoping for a horse that is just like her except has some degree of arena work because this mare doesn’t enjoy working in the ring.

I am in a few trail riding groups for Michigan and also follow the MTRA page. We are going to look at a mare in Kalamazoo that is AQHA registered and she is a trail horse and her owner is going to college. She sounds good on paper but it will be a 2.5 hour drive to go see her which won’t happen until this next weekend.

@emilia - I am selling my horse on consignment and the lady who is selling him is putting work into him and giving him a better chance than I could at a better rider fit. She said she has had interest in him, but not the right person. Which makes me feel better.

[saddleup]

Good luck in your search. I’m always annoyed when people refer to them as “just” a trail horse. As you’ve discovered, it’s a very special animal indeed, and not that easy to find.

[kkmrad94]

Went to look at a horse yesterday that was beginner safe and trail safe. Apparently my definition is a lot different than anyone else that I’ve met so far. She was just riding him in the arena and he wasn’t listening to her… she asked him to trot and he surged into a canter and wasn’t collected at all (or listening for that matter). Ack. Going to look at one possibly two horses on Saturday…