Looking for a solid, dependable trail horse

[stb]

Does anybody have any leads in the area of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida area for a packer type trail horse? I’m 56, have ridden since I was a kid, but just want something solid and dependable to ride me into my old age.

Ideally looking for quarter type, no more than 15 hands so I can drag my carcass into the saddle without a mounting block if I have to dismount on the trail.

I know this kind of horse is hard to come by, as people don’t often sell a really good trail horse with a good brain. So, I thought I’d throw it out there just in case. I can offer an exceptional home. My animals get excellent care and I stink at selling them on, so if I can find the right horse it could reasonably expect to live out it’s days with me. TIA

[AKB]

You might look at Irish Draughts. They are usually bigger than you want but the full RIDs tend to be very good on the trail. I am a timid 60 year old. My RID and I go trail riding regularly, alone and with friends. We even went to Ocala for 2 weeks last winter. His attitude about life is that nothing is too exciting. The best gait is the walk. Trotting is good. A canter is fine, as long as I don’t make him do it for very long. If I need to dismount and remount on the trail, we find a downed tree or something else I can climb on. He is a good athlete, but prefers to not have to use his athleticism.

[saddleup]

I’ve found two that fit that description on dreamhorse.com. Do your search with “ranch horse” in your job description. I bought them both sight unseen, and both are excellent and rock steady trail horses. Like you, as I’m getting older my horses are getting shorter, and that works for me! My six year old gelding that I bought last fall (an overo Paint gelding found online) is a hair over 15 hands, and I’m still surprised at how easily I can mount and dismount after a lifetime of 16+ hand horses.

[stb]

AKB, you and I would make compatible trail riding buddies! Saddleup, I’ll try looking for ranch horses, although there aren’t many to be found on the east coast. Maybe I’ll get lucky. Thanks, y’all.

[Cherry]

Try looking for camp horse or current 4-H or Pony Club horses/large ponies. They are generally been there, done that kind of equines.

You may have to find the names of some of the 4-H or Pony Club leaders who are near you. They know which kids are moving onto different, younger, larger mounts for next year. This is a good time of year to look for a new horse too. There are some people who don’t want to carry horses they consider useless over the Winter.

Also, network to find a horse. Call your vet, farrier, tack shop folks and feedstore people. You will probably get a nicer horse that way too.

I wish you lived closer to me–there are horses all over the place here!

Best of luck.

[Luseride]

I have a boarder that has a wonderful trail horse. He is about 15.2-.3, I would have to check to be sure. I bought him as a four year old, I think he is sixteen now, would have to check his paperwork.

I think he is the best trail horse I have ever ridden and I have ridden a lot. We are in Northeast Georgia. I think they want $1500.

[kdow]

Be careful with camp horses, though. I’ve known a few camps that got horses that worked in the program they had, but are not what I would consider a solid steady btdt type. Depending on the camp sometimes they just get good at working with equine quirks, and I wouldn’t trust the folks selling those horses to mention that fact when they can just let you assume camp horse = bombproof.

(Don’t get me wrong, I have quite enjoyed riding some of said horses. They just aren’t all what I’d recommend to a friend looking for an easy sort of ride possibly solo. Some of them only stayed sane when the rest or the group did, etc.)

[clanter]

might want to look at the standby an old line Morgan as there are or were a lot on the east coast, they have shorter cannon bones so most are ponies rather than horses, yet they have the endurance and ability to make great trail mounts. Most will appear to be bigger than they are. Our 14.1 mare was often mistaken to be 15 plus

My personal mount was a 13.3h Morgan, she could climb any hill/mountain with ease

[stb]

Clanger, I would love to find an old style morgan. I haven’t been able to find any around here though. A few show types, but that’s it. If you here of any please let me know.

[candysgirl]

Just poking around on Dreamhorse:

http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1922340/lectric-dual-bay-aqha-quarter-horse-gelding-2004-registered-aqha-14-2h-sorrell-gelding-north-carolina.html

http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1923741/derawnda-girl-friday-cremello-morgan-horse-mare-price-reduced-on-this-gorgeous-mare-florida.html

http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1932294/jg-oakie-wood-grey-aqha-quarter-horse-gelding-super-sweet-horse-florida.html

http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1955869/paco-chestnut-aqha-quarter-horse-gelding-confident-qh-gelding-north-carolina.html

http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1958007/hunters-mariah-chestnut-appaloosa-mare-aphc-hus-mare-for-sale-georgia.html

http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1957690/gws-two-eyed-shasta-grulla-aqha-quarter-horse-mare-beautiful-big-and-broke-to-ride-5-panel-nn-georgia.html

http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1956468/six-red-roan-apha-paint-gelding-flashy-all-around-trail-horse-florida.html

http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1957259/nyla-red-roan-apha-paint-mare-beautiful-mare-for-sale-florida.html

Okay I’ll stop. Little bored hanging out at home waiting on my daughter to get up from her nap to go run errands!

I searched: Under $5000, under 15.3h, 5 or less temperament - Carolinas, FL and GA.

[stb]

Thanks, Candysgirl! There are a couple of interesting horses in there.

[mountainhorse]

I will add, as we used to work and live in that area (and have searched the area for steady trail horses for clients and then my husband,…), take the time to search (don’t rush it) and set aside the money to do a PPE before buying, not matter your budget. Especially for your criteria for the horse, past and genetic issues are a dime a dozen.

There are several reputable trainers and ‘ranches’ (farms really, but call themselves ranches, so oh well) in the area (GA, SC, NC, FL) that sell ‘great’ trail/ranch horses, but totally unsound. We went through 4 horses (different farms that were selling, but all the usual QH, 15H types) for one client that otherwise met the bill but did not pass the PPE until we found the right horse for client that checked off the boxes and passed the PPE with flying colours-looking back and seeing some of the horse we looked at originally now with complications from issues we found during the PPE, totally worth it and client (and their checkbook) agrees.

I suggest looking at horses that have been used as school horses as well, non typical breeds, and also searching for horses that are advertised to fox hunt.