Lesson horses? Where to find

[Meredith_Clark]

I have a lesson program (part time as I’m actually a school teacher) but I do average about 30-40 students.

I have gotten horses from all different places and most find a place in my program.

I have 3 OTTBs which I personally competed in eventing and are now a bit older and slower. They’re great for the intermediate kids.

I have a former advanced level eventer (imported Selle Francias) which I got for myself as a dressage school master but actually LOVES kids. He’s massive and can be quirky so only the older girls ride him mostly. But he has so much to teach! He’s older and has some management issues (he doesn’t like being in, he weaves, etc) and I was actually given him for a crazy low price (like 1 figure… hahah)

I have a great quarter horse I bought from a western sport horse auction. We had to teach him to jump but he came around very easily.

I just recently adopted 2 off the track standardbreds from a rescue. They are AMAZING. They had never even had riders and we saddle broke them in an hour and were hacking them around the property. I’m keeping one as walk trot but am in the process of teaching the younger one to canter… you should see him jump! They were both under $2000 combined adoption price, super easy keepers and so gentle.

This is my most random… I adopted a shetland pony from New Bolton’s feral pony program. They breed them and have the vet students learn from them. He was only 4 and sorta-kinda halter broke when we got him but he’s such a kind soul it wasn’t hard to finish him. For $250.00 i’ve been offered 5k for him now b/c he’s such a kid packer.

[enjoytheride]

How much are you wanting to spend?

Although this has been a weird year in general for horses prices I am always shocked by lesson programs that want something that can pack a beginner around over 2’ 3" or 2’6" and they only want to pay $1,000. And those same people are selling their lame used up lesson horses for $2,500.

There seems to be a massive price cut buyers want to pay in the same horse when you call it a lesson horse instead of “ammy friendly”

[CHT]

That is fair. I was hoping to stay under $5000. I am not looking for beginner safe, but I am looking for not prone to shenanigans, and those have a huge market right now. I teach adults/professionals who don’t want to take the same risks as a junior. It used to be I could buy the oddball horse (not show quality- breeder cull), but it doesn’t seem that is as much a limiting factor when selling as it used to be.15.1 hand hunters with no lead change and a 10 foot stride still sell for a decent price. According to my vet, even lame is selling for a decent price…assuming the horse is sane.

[2bayboys]

Hm. I don’t know anyone who runs a lesson program who expects to get a useful horse of the type you described for $1000.

But the reality is that safe teaching horses that can jump around a 2’ course are now going for about $10,000 and that’s way too pricey for most of us. Not show horses, just average forgiving horses with enough physical ability to do the job and stay sound doing it. Twenty years ago I expected to pay about $2500 for that sort of horse.

To the OP, in my case I’ve really networked amongst my friends and let them know that their former show horse/hunt horse/kids backyard babysitter might be welcome to join my program. I let the owner know that the horse will be treated the same as my show horses, with a stall, fans, blankets, maintenance, and vet/farrier care. I’ve been the final home for quite a few saintly schoolies this way.

[Bluey]

Right, only one more opinion, everything else is more costly now, we should expect horses at some time catch up and also cost more, as they are now.

I would caution about “forever home” promises or expectations.
Good intentions doesn’t mean we really will be able to fulfill such promises, as life keeps changing, our circumstances also.

I think is more realistic to promise we will always provide the best care and see that, if we need to move a horse on, we will do due diligence that such continues for the horse.
That should be part of the code of ethics of owning horses, for all.

Horses are a small world, that tends to keep most horses honest and if they are not, found out and warned against in the circles they move in.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I also have to add, although I understand that having a greener horse in a program for more experienced students can be valuable (or just another horse for students to ride, period, for the horse’s and students’ sakes), I’m personally not a fan of having only recently restarted or broken horses in lessons for which the students are paying. It’s not fair to ask students to pay money to put training into the horses of a lesson string. First, they are paying for their instruction to be put first and foremost, and secondly, most aren’t riding the horse frequently or consistently enough to train the horse. It’s very easy to pick up bad rather than good habits on a green horse.

[Meredith_Clark]

I think it needs to be a balance. I said above that I adapted 2 off the track standardbreds this summer. I have a group of teenage girls who literally live at the barn all summer. They were their “projects”. They took their normal lessons on the more experienced horses and also put time into working with the OTSB. Now, even a fresh OTSB is not the same (IMO) as a green OTTB or green sport horse. They have a very easy going nature. They really enjoyed the learning process and the achievements they made with the horses. Now that one of them is learning to canter, I have brought in a professional (I’m pregnant or I’d do it myself). But the girls still come and watch her ride and continue to work with the horses.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

That’s very different though! It’s one thing for students to pay for lessons on more experienced horses and help the instructor put miles on green horses outside of lessons for extra saddle time.

It’s another thing to put a very green horse in a lesson when the horse doesn’t really understand much of what is expected, and have the student pay to put in that training.

[Meredith_Clark]

Yes I agree. I never “assign” the green horses to students, sometimes they do ask and depending on what the group is like that evening I will let them take a lesson. But I do have to stress, even “green” at my barn is very safe and uncomplicated!

[CHT]

It is hard to find the balance though - green is not ideal, but at the same time, a long time student/adult will also find a dull older horse boring…and the in between is out of the price range that I can pay for what I charge. I could charge more, but then that is also counter productive for what I want to offer. The students have to accept some compromise (or buy/lease their own horse). I used to have boarder horses I could borrow to add to the mix, but I don’t anymore (mix of them retiring, being full leased out, or moving away).

As an aside, I let one of my long term taller adult students ride my big yellow horse in a flat/dressage lesson. It was interesting. She had watched him go with me many times, and was keen to give him a try. They did OK at the trot (some moments in leg yield where she struggled with how sharp he responded to aids and she over corrected), but what surprised me is how intimidating she found his canter - it took a lot of convincing for her to let go of his face. He isn’t that big a mover, but he really carries himself and somehow she felt that power pushing from behind meant he wanted to run off. I had to remind her that she has seen me literally canter him without a bridle. He didn’t understand the constant pull, but handled it well. I don’t think he has the forgiving attitude of a lesson horse, but for now she is going to try weekly flat lessons on him.

[CHT]

Picked up two 5 year old AQHA mares today (he would only sell them as a pair). Nice type. Seem sensible. Supposedly started under saddle/pasture ridden last year, but owner was in a car accident and can no longer ride. They seemed to think through loading well. Fingers crossed that one or both has the mindset for lessons.

[anon68314200]

Auctions. I know several people who have gotten fab deals. You just have to be willing to run them back thru if they don’t work out.

[CHT]

I couldn’t do an auction. I am WAY too soft and risk adverse. Also wary of the high rate of strangles at our local auction house. I do know other barns take this route, but neither I nor my husband could be objective enough.

[TheDBYC]

Hopefully the AQHA mares work out. I’m a little confused. You say you teach adults/professionals? Do you mean professional riders? Or that they’re adults who are working professionals?

Imo, it sounds like you may be doing too much legwork on behalf of the students & asking too much out of one horse. I don’t know of any places anymore where you can just show up & expect to jump 2’6" on a schooling horse. Want to jump anything much over 18" crossrails, you’re expected to be leasing or owning.

[StormyDay]

@TheDBYC

Hopefully the AQHA mares work out. I’m a little confused. You say you teach adults/professionals? Do you mean professional riders? Or that they’re adults who are working professionals?

Imo, it sounds like you may be doing too much legwork on behalf of the students & asking too much out of one horse. I don’t know of any places anymore where you can just show up & expect to jump 2’6" on a schooling horse. Want to jump anything much over 18" crossrails, you’re expected to be leasing or owning.

This. Lesson barns rarely have horses that do much more than WTC and little baby jumps because it’s just too much strain on the horses. Once a rider is ready to progress past that point, you sit down with the rider and discuss their goals, and possibly leasing or purchase options.

[rockonxox]

We have plenty of places out in my area where you can lesson at 2’6 and everywhere I’ve ridden has had at least a couple 2’6 horses (and potentially the ability to borrow boarder’s horses if an agreement has been worked out). I’m sure all of us ammy riders would love to lease or own, but it isn’t always possible.

Hopefully your QH mares work out for you.

[2bayboys]

Everybody has different philosophies about the use of their horses but I would never allow a once-a-week lesson rider to jump above 2’ as it’s simply not good business sense. The risk to my investment is too great without enough return.

[CHT]

My lesson riders ride twice a week. Typically the jumps stay smaller, but as my lesson horse riders ride with my own horse riders, sometimes we do a bit bigger. It would be pretty typical in my area to limit lesson horses to 2’6". The gelding is going great after 12 years as a lesson horse, so I think I am doing ok.

If the new mares are too limited for lessons, or of the wrong temperament, they should be sellable to help finance an upgrade. I don’t expect to get new students in the winter, and hopefully they are useful by spring.

@TheDBYC, yes, sorry, I meant people with professions/professionals.

[NC001]

I totally agree with this. We’ve been to a few barns and 18 inches to 2 feet would be max and that would be by riders who lesson twice a week and/or have years of experience. Half lessors can go higher and I’m sure occasionally a single jump higher may happen but overall stick to low stuff for lesson horses.

I partial lease our horses and am strict about what kind of jumping, how often, how high, how many per session.