@TXKing99, I’m just curious–did you tell the owner the reasons you decided to pass on the horse? If so, what was her response?
Also, can you tell us more about your ideal horse? What do you want to do with him/her? Do you have a preference for mares or geldings, or do you like both equally? What age would you consider? Have you completely ruled out a gaited horse, or would you reconsider if the horse checked all your other boxes?
Gaited horses are really fun! They also tend to be easier to ride. If you can find a gaited horse that trots, you can have a regular walk, trot, canter horse plus additional gaits. I’ve found I don’t like walking horses, especially if they tend to be pacey. If they can do a 4 beat gait, that is just about as smooth as you can get. I love Pasos, but they tend to be hot/forward little dragons.
Foxtrotters tend to be more laid back and are one of my favorite breeds, as they tend to have a really good mind on them. I have 2 foxtrotters right now and a foxtrotter cross. You might want to try a foxtrotter. Nothing wrong with Rocky mountain, Kentucky Mountain horses, or spotted saddle horses, except for the tendency to pace. Foxtrotters tend to have multiple gaits and a nice trot, if you want to trot.
Actually foxtrotters should bob their head and it doesn’t indicate lameness. Most foxtrotters can do a regular trot. If you are concerned about unsoundness, see what their trot looks like.
This horse needed more work than I felt I was capable of and that is what I shared with the owner. She had admitted that the horse needed more work and conditioning. I had asked about the tail swishing and had shared that I was just coming out of a rough experience with my first horse who also had a swishy tail among other things. She was completely understanding and professional.
Prefer a gelding. 14.3-15.3 (ideally) hh. 6-14 years old.
Good health and a good mind are very important to me.
Likes attention but isn’t needy. No vices (crib, buck, bite, bolt etc)
Loads on a trailer easily. Good for farrier.
Calm easy going personality.
Good work ethic and willing to learn.
I like to ride in the arena doing lower level dressage. I am not planning on a show career. A solid WTC and a leg yield at a minimum. Also do trail riding. May start doing some working equitation or obstacles too but don’t see myself being competitive. Maybe some clinics or a schooling show.
A nice mover would be a bonus.
I wouldn’t completely rule out a gaited horse.
Did you ever consider a standardbred? Some make really nice, versatile pleasure horses. And if they have been raced they are usually pretty accustomed to trailering, farrier and the commotion of being at the track. Also, a Morgan might fit what your looking for if you can find one of the older type ones. I really hope the right horse shows up for you soon and you get to have some fun.
Where are you generally located in Texas? Maybe some of us might know someone down there who has a perfect gem of a horse waiting for you.
I am in Fort Worth
I would love a Morgan. I joined a Morgan FB group and did an ISO post there. Got one response saying I would probably need to look outside of Texas. I am not necessarily opposed to looking in other states, I just don’t have a big budget and I am not buying something I haven’t seen in person and that adds to the expense. Seems like I could find something within 4 hours of my home.
Haven’t considered a standardbred, but not opposed to looking at them.
Check with @Clanter - he’s in your area and has Morgans, and I think he has a trainer friend nearby that he gets some of his stock from. Or at least he worked with his daughter.
Would you consider buying a grade horse? There are some disadvantages of course–you couldn’t absolutely verify the age or lineage, for example. Even so, there are some very nice grade horses out there, and they generally sell for less than a similar registered horse.
When I was shopping for my horse, I thought I would get either a quarter horse or a Missouri foxtrotter. Then a grade paint gelding caught my eye. Long story short, I rode him, checked him out as well as I could, and bought him. I’ve had him nine years now, and he has been the perfect horse for me. I literally would not sell him for a million dollars. He’s got a lot going for him, but the thing I like best about him is that he likes to explore new places. If I offer him a choice to either head home or go where we don’t often ride, he’ll choose the road less traveled almost every time. My point is that the right grade horse could turn out to be a real diamond.
Just a suggestion–if you want to do trail riding as well as low level dressage, look for a horse that is already good on trails. Dressage training would be nice, but if the horse is willing and adaptable, that could be trained. And a well trained trail horse should already know basic maneuvers. Some horses that are ridden mostly in the arena aren’t used to trail riding or just don’t have the temperament for it, and there’s nothing worse than a spooky or balky or jiggy horse when you’re out trail riding.
Have you searched any of the online sites that advertise horses for sale? It never hurts to turn over every rock–you might get lucky.
I started horse shopping this past May and it took me until December to find something. It may just take a while to find the right one, but hang in there and keep looking. I had 3 horses I took on trial, none worked out. I tried 3 others under saddle and then shifted to looking at unstarted 2 year olds.
My friend picked up a broke Paso for $1000 and so far he has a lovely, if slightly older horse. So there are definitely some gems out there that don’t have a huge price tag.
Standardbreds are the best. I have one in my barn that fits all of OP’s criteria, plus excellent husband horse and unflappable baby sitter. If it weren’t for the freeze brand, I think most people would think he was bred for sport. I really like him.
The good news is STBs can be had for quite cheap. The only thing is there’s a huge variety in this breed too so definitely shop around before making your mind up on the breed. Mine raced for 212 starts (pacer) and is tough, athletic, and has a lovely trot. His canter under saddle isn’t great but he also isn’t in consistent work. He canters well in the paddock and I never see him pace. His main job is to be a hay burner here, occasionally husband horse.
Uploading: 346AFF3B-615A-4EC0-A119-7964F1315ED5.jpeg…I think you stick to your criteria and look at any horse that seems to check the boxes. It might be more common to find what you want in some breeds than others, but I would hunt “breed blind”.
If you like an unregistered stock-type horse, I would have it 5 panel tested. Unfortunately, some stock horses are sold without papers because they are NOT 5 panel negative.
Thank you for the advice. I truly appreciate it.
I would consider grade. Not knowing their age for sure is a bit of a concern but I wouldn’t pass up a great horse because of they didn’t have papers.
I am going to look at one this week.
@clanter Do you by chance have anything or can you point me to someone who might? I tried to message you but it says you aren’t accepting messages.
Thanks in advance!
Yes, this should definitely be included in the PPE. The possibility that the horse I bought could have one of these genetic diseases was a big yellow caution sign flashing in my mind when I went to look at him. One question I asked the sellers was why the horse wasn’t registered, but they were the third owners and didn’t know his entire history.
Another question I had was why the horse had been sold at least twice. The reason was that he was just too much horse for a complete beginner rider. He’s very forward and when I first got him he was determined to be the one who decided which way we would go. He also had the bad habit of being very hard to catch, but he learned that I will keep after him until he’s caught or the end of time, whichever comes first, and now I can walk up to him anywhere and he will follow me without a lead rope. Working through these problems made me a much better rider and horse person.
The moral of my story for the OP is that the horse that is perfect for you may not be a perfect horse. We all have our quirks, even horses. You just have to decide what you can work with and what is a deal breaker.
my daughter works with Garn Walker who is pertty much one of if not the top western dressage trainers in the country, she helps cover when he is out doing seminars/clinics He is located in Bartonville (that is in the Flower Mount area of Denton county)
When we lost Socrates in the pasture accident, Garn and wife gave my daughter a five year old Morgan mare who has turned into a wonderful regular dressage mount. Horse had never been saddled until this last June, by August she was at her first dressage competition winning her intro A and B sections … then in Oct was taken to the Morgan Nationals where she place second and a third against horses who had been in training forever.
Another local place that may have a Morgan that fits the needs is from the Morgan Safenet Foundation, it is located south of Dallas in Midlothian, Colleen Saint Loup is the director. We got Bonnie from her
We have gotten three Morgans from Prairie Hill Morgans in North Dakato, two have become Morgan World Champion Sport Horses
We have used our Morgans for nearly everything you can do with a horse, from backyard riding to national championships in multiple disciplines. They are easy keepers to the point we need to weigh the hay they get otherwise they fatten up.
Agree wholeheartedly.
Your daughter’s horse sounds lovely. Thank you so much for your guidance. I will check out your suggestions. 
well Lexie (GW Inspiration) thinks she is lovely also 
glamour photos for Nationals taken by older daughter in our garage
WOW! She is a beauty!! 
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