Lesson horses? Where to find

[CHT]

Silly me thought that the hay shortage would mean I could more easily find a lesson horse to buy or lease. I thought people would be happy to find a semi-retirement home, or a second career for their horse. But no. The prices are unrealistic for my program, but even worse, is that horses are selling pretty much overnight - which means you can only try once, and no vet check (at my price point)… and you need to be able to get in the car and go look as soon as the ad is posted.

It’s hard as my current lesson horse is phenomenal. I mean, horrible conformation, but still happy to work, with lots of buttons after being a lesson horses for 12 years. He cost me $1400 and took 2 weeks to get going into lessons. I would like to see him step down and bring on new riders, but need to replace him first.

This might just be a vent really. I know nobody owes me a horse, I am just shocked that the market is still so hot for a very average horse. I guess this is another downside of the 2 foot divisions…a very limited horse is still worth money as a show horse.

I think it is harder too, because I teach adults primarily, so a petite little arabian (those are cheap), won’t really be useful.

Getting an older OTTB x-rayed tonight (something going on with a front leg), but I am not even sure that he is what I want…I just feel pressure to make a decision and this is a horse not yet advertised so I actually can get a vet check.

I guess this is why lesson horse lessons are getting harder to find for adults, and more expensive.

[StormyDay]

‘Back in the day’ they used to go to the fall horse auctions and pick up the camp horses coming off of the season. You’d get a bunch of serviceably sound horses who just spent a whole summer being ridden by a bunch of complete beginners, and it was usually very reasonable prices. (However, they also took any of the crazy ones back to the following auction. I don’t think I could ever do that).

I’d also ask your vet and farrier. Many times they know of a few horses in the area that fit the bill but the owners don’t want to directly advertise.

[ClassyJumper]

Are there any “good” rescues in your area? Obviously not every rescue horse is going to be a good lesson horse candidate but I bet there are some out there. Most reputable rescues will take the horses back too if it doesn’t work out.

[BellaFortuna]

Camps used to be a source of lesson horses as well. Another option is finding horses, who needs a low impact, easy job, but isn’t quite ready to fully retire. This would be the care lease option. Often these horses are real gems, because they have the miles and experience that make them wonderful teachers, but finding them is a lot harder. Connections and word of mouth, as well as what you/your facility have to offer (esp. care) will be key here.

[Scribbler]

OP I think you are in Alberta? Jump scene focused on Spruce Meadows but most of the province rural beef ranching? Can you use old ranch horses in your lessons or do you need horses with an English jumping resume?

[CHT]

I don’t even need it started under saddle! It needs to have potential to jump though, and do shoulder in etc, so old camp or ranch horses aren’t likely to really suite that need…plus, the old ranch horses are still going for high four figures!?! A 15.2 hand, poorly trained QH that runs around with its head up in a curb, has an asking price of $6500.00.

Trying to find a care lease, but so far nothing. I have spoken to my farriers and vet. The vet said he has found it a strange year, in that he vets horses that are clearly lame in the check, but the people buy them anyway…which makes him wonder why they pay for a PPE. It is very much a crazy time up here.

Still waiting to hear results of TBs x-rays.

[MadTrotter]

Maybe there’s something “missing” in the ad, but geld this guy and he looks like a likely sort.

Beautiful Black Bay Mustang Stallion for Sale

[StormyDay]

@ClassyJumper

Are there any “good” rescues in your area? Obviously not every rescue horse is going to be a good lesson horse candidate but I bet there are some out there. Most reputable rescues will take the horses back too if it doesn’t work out.

I don’t know about rescues in OP’s area but I actually looked into doing this. There was a horse who seemed to be perfect for a light work lesson home w/t only. I contacted them and was informed they do not allow any rescues to be used in riding lesson programs. Upon further investigation I found several of the rescues in my area have it written into their contracts that the horses can’t be used for riding lessons.

[CHT]

he is a stallion, and a pony. I could geld, but I can’t make him grow…I teach adults, I having something really limited size wise, just doesn’t work.

There is a rescue that seems reasonable, but they don’t have anything suitable right now.

My current lesson horse can do all the things: jump 2’6", flying changes, counter canter, all the lateral work, (Not show quality, but good enough to teach the aids and feel) ridiculously adjustable…I need something that his riders will want to move on to. They might feel engaged in bringing along a safe project as their next challenge.

It’s just frustrating to have a horse market this crazy. I don’t like the high pressure/decide now sales format. I also have a customer starting her horse search, but I can’t imaging buying without a vet check/proper try out.

[MadTrotter]

Well he’s a mustang and they take up a lot of leg. But anyways there’s a handful of OTTBs on that site, as you say you’re open to restarting.

Some Gave All” Beautiful, 9y/O TB Bay Mare

Not sure what your budget is but it seems to be same as those of us in New England, US. Basically, something young and off track/unstarted will run 2-5k. Something broke, safe and not 1000 years old is 5k+.

Even Amish cast offs with really unknown
Not sure what your time frame is but if I were in your shoes I’d just start picking up the TBs that look promising, put a few months on, see if they work out as lesson ponies, if not hopefully flip for a decent profit in n this crazy market.

I hope it works out!

[2DogsFarm]

Why rule out Arabs?
Hilda Gurney did pretty well with the breed.
And they are capable of jumping.
Are your adult students too {ahem} “fluffy” for a hony?

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

You say you need a horse your riders can move up on, after your current horse (who can do lateral work, flying changes, and jump a course), but you also don’t mind if the horse is started under saddle?

[Mercedes2]

I see some posters above me saying some rescues don’t allow adoptions to lesson programs but maybe New Vocations does? It might be worth contacting them, and I do see older Standardbreds there from time to time that sound like they could be great w/t lesson horses.

I know someone who rescued an eventing prospect from New Vocations and the process went smoothly for her. She had time to get her PPE done and everything.

[Night_Flight]

I believe I saw recently that New Vocations requires its adopters to be Americans, though.

If the OP is in Alberta, I’ve seen LOTS of ads for OTTBs from Manitoba. Could be worth looking into an older OTTB who has seen everything on the track and doesn’t think that life is too exciting anymore. Maybe they’re also selling a bit slower than OTTBs located closer to the OP?

[c0608524]

There is a women in Ontario who has posted quite a few quiet lesson horse types at such a reasonable price it would be worth the ship out west. They were frequently popping up on my Facebook feed…. And of course now I’m trying to find them I can’t recall her name! Once I find them I will forward you the name.

[Sdel]

@2DogsFarm

Why rule out Arabs?
Hilda Gurney did pretty well with the breed.
And they are capable of jumping.
Are your adult students too {ahem} “fluffy” for a hony?

Agreed. I ride at a hunter/jumper Arabian barn. My instructor has several Arabs that are in the 15h range and jump 3-4ft with a rider from a trot.

[CHT]

I am not against Arabians, but the ones I am seeing for sale are petite. My current guy is half Arabian, but is deep chested with a big barrel, so at 15.2-3 hands, he can still take up a decent amount of leg. I want something someone who can take up the leg of someone 5’10".

I am fine with a hony, but prefer 15+ more for the length of stride. (yes, I know smaller horses can have big strides). A deep chested 15.2 would be my idea.

[CHT]

These are adults, so they just want some feeling of progression - that progression could be in the form of bringing a horse along/developing the skills along with me - as long as they don’t feel in danger, and assuming the horse is sane enough that I can have it w/t/c in 90 days. They could do one lesson a week on greenie, and one on old faithful. I guess I don’t mean “move up”, it could also be a lateral move - they don’t have ambition to jump higher or anything, but they aren’t going to want to move on to a dull, used up old camp horse.

[CHT]

@MadTrotter there does seem to be some nice TBs down south! But that is about a 6 hour drive for me each way, and I am not comfortable buying sight unseen for this purpose.

It’s actually more the lack of being able to vet/try that bothers me more than prices. I am not good at snap decisions for horse buying.

OTTB I looked at x-rayed horribly - more chips than a chip’s ahoy cookie.

[StormyDay]

@Mercedes2

I see some posters above me saying some rescues don’t allow adoptions to lesson programs but maybe New Vocations does? It might be worth contacting them, and I do see older Standardbreds there from time to time that sound like they could be great w/t lesson horses.

I know someone who rescued an eventing prospect from New Vocations and the process went smoothly for her. She had time to get her PPE done and everything.

I’ve always found that OTTB rescues tend to have way, way less restrictions on horses. Sometimes these ‘rescues’ use their non profit status as a convenient way to get stuff at a lower cost while keeping the adoption bar so high that almost no one could fulfill it, allowing themselves to enjoy their horses while not paying for a bunch of stuff.
Not all of them of course. But some of them do that.