I am searching for a TB to do hunters, TIP division and dabble in eq, would like something already going at least 2’6 at local shows and with capability to do rated 3’. My current horse was a totally green purchase that we have brought along, but now I will have a bit more to spend and want to get something that is already showing.
I am overwhelmed with the amount of Facebook groups. It is hard to search them, and when I come up with something it’s out of my area or already sold. Most of the horses advertised on the WEC related groups are WBs. It doesn’t seem like folks are really using Equinenow or Dreamhorse like they used to.
I am in Central Florida and willing to look throughout the southeast. My trainer can put feelers out, but I would like to look as well.
Any ideas are appreciated.
They have a member sales page. Many in FL. You requested show experience, many have been to the 4 day long fall show at Ky Horse Park. And consequently shown since then.
The fact you want it already pretty well restarted, going 2’6” courses and not right off the track should lead you and your trainer to the usual places and trainers network. Always found hitting local shows and just hanging around the warm up areas a good place to look for likely candidates.
Most of the best ones off the track get snapped up before they even are offered by those on the lookout for short term let down, basic skills retrain and sell within 6 months. Those are not as far along as it sounds like you are looking for but it might end up a good source.
Oh…prices in central Florida are higher right now, Get a bit more sensible after the end of March after they’ve been for sale a few months.
I’d try big eq, or if your budget is less than 10k, there’s a group called hunters and jumpers under 10k on Facebook that tends to be only OTTBs with Hunter careers.
OTTB Market on FB is really, really active. More focused on horses recently off the track but if you post an ISO ad, I bet you will get a lot of responses. TB people know other TB people and I’m sure someone in that group has or knows of what you are looking for!
Thanks all. I already checked out that RRP site and have inquired on one. I’ll check into the other resources mentioned. Appreciate it!
If your budget is out of the 4 figured I would also try the Hunters, Jumpers, & Equitation Unicorns FB group. It’s very active and while it has a lot of WBs going to high 5s/low 6s, I posted an ISO recently without a breed preference and got sent some nice TBs. My ISO was similar to what you’re looking for, and it trends more towards TBs already jumping courses/with more mileage than the other groups that have more straight off the track types. My go to in your shoes would be that group, OTTB Market, and OTTB Exchange. (You will see a lot of overlap).
I know of one in Southern NJ (no relationship to me, I have just seen the ad) if that’s an area near enough to interest you
OTTB Market is a wonderful group, and, depending on your budget, some of the more general H/J groups that have been named here. I have a wonderful one for sale at the moment, but he is priced like a warmblood because he has the quality to match. They are not selling at bargain-basement prices as they used to, which is wonderful for the industry.
Can we stop saying stuff like Warmblood-looks and moves like a warmblood to describe quality TBs? To me, this stinks of “you have a pretty face for a fat girl” - which I think we can all agree is a horrible thing to say!
How about we use language that describes the qualities of the movement or looks that make it “warmblood-like.” I feel like this kind of language cheapens TBs too.
getting off my soapbox now
Good luck in your search OP. There are many gorgeous TBs of all types out there 
I agree! I’m gonna try to keep this short as to not derail the thread. But I am also of the opinion that we should value the TB as it is by nature and appreciate them for those qualities and not just because how close it is to a knockoff WB.
Not to mention I’ve seen plenty of WBs that move like crap.
Thank you for eventers who can say ‘gallops like a Thoroughbred.’ Because nothing moves better than them. That effortless ground covering. Same for ‘stands over ground.’
Ugh, yes. Any OTTB that is on the porky side they claim looks like a warmblood.
Which is stupid, because warmbloods come in many different shapes and configurations, and also we don’t need to act as though a horse is worthless if it isn’t a warmblood.
I was going to come here to say this: good TBs aren’t a “bargain” anymore. I’ve seen a couple that are going for just as much as any other sport horse hunter as well as some greener ones in the low fives (but still significant fives) that have the jump and movement.
Definitely great for the industry. Definitely means that for anyone who likes to shop for a sale, you’ve got to find them earlier in their careers to get a good deal LOL. I always have a lot of admiration for people who can look a bunch of OTTBs and make a call on which ones will be successful in the hunters.
I haven’t seen that happen in my area yet. Moving an OTTB, even one with a bunch of miles, is a downright chore.
I had my OTTB available for free lease for 2 years before someone actually was interested. And he has AA show wins.
Did anyone say that? One person said the horse was priced like a warmblood because it has the quality to match - I read that as it has the quality to back up a warmblood price tag. That poster is selling the horse as a h/j, and WBs sell for more in that market. TBs are going for a lot more right now, but generally WBs are still getting higher prices in the h/j market (I’m not saying they should, just that they do).
I also really despise every ad that slaps a “always mistake for a WB!” tagline in an ad for a very classic looking TB just because it’s a little beefier, but I did not think the post (I think) you’re referencing did that at all.
OP, one of the issues you may be running up against is that TBs are known to have poor resale value. So people are either not buying them as much with the idea of reselling, or they are only posting in places that they know TBs are appreciated. It sounds like the OTTB sales group would be a great place to start. I would also recommend following Jessica Redmond (Benchmark Sport Horses), the TBs she sells are typically going to be greener than what you are looking for, but she gets lovely horses, and when they come up for sale after being retrained and shown, she will re-post them, so she might share something you are looking for.
Last year I sold a beautiful, sound, sane TB to a woman I knew. I could have marketed him for a lot more, but people are so dumb about TBs. He was the sanest horse I’ve ever known (comparing to dozens of WBS and draft crosses I’ve owned/ridden) and I just couldn’t deal with having to explain that he was “nice for a TB”, or when i say he was quiet, i don’t mean “quiet for a TB”, i meant “Quiet for a horse who still has a pulse and is standing on all 4 legs”. The woman who bought him said she has never felt so safe on a horse as she has this one. So, I saved myself a lot of grief by selling him cheap. And he gets a forever home that adores him.
Good luck on your search! I feel confident that your horse is out there!
Can you please PM me details. I know of several folks looking.
What state are you in?!
