[QUOTE=2LaZ2race;7875031]
The group is called " OTTBs 15.3 and under" ?[/QUOTE]
Yes! Although I just noticed there is an errant apostrophe in the official name: “OTTB’s 15.3 and under”
Happy hunting!
These horses are often sold by “word of mouth” without ever being advertised. So ask around and tell EVERYONE what you are looking for.
[QUOTE=Jarrn;7874973]
http://delaware.craigslist.org/grd/4725835829.html
This horse could probably switch to lower level eventing pretty easily!
http://delaware.craigslist.org/grd/4764897629.html
This one as well[/QUOTE]
Oh, I like that horse from Denton, MD. That is the perfect type and what a sweet expression!
Ranch horses! LOL But seriously! We used to buy cowboy broke $1000 large ranch ponies/small horses and turn them into Beginner Novice pony club packers in 90 days. They are BRAVE, calm and will go over and through anything you ask. We looked for the athletic build and found some GEMS. Two ended up on the A circuit in hunters. We scoured Craigslist for those ads with cowboys standing on the poor horse and doing all sorts of crazy things. We’d visualize them with a topline and a pulled mane. Once we got them home we pulled the mane and clipped them and they instantly looked like a little eventer! A month of two of dressage training and starting over low fences and those puppies would do ANYTHING you asked of them. I don’t want to know how the cowboys got them so brave and obedient but boy did those ranch ponies make a lot of Pony Club kids happy and safe. Worth a look! The only training requirement was that they were dead broke for anyone on the trail and rode out safely alone. The rest was just a little grooming, a concept of taking the bit and they turned out fabulous! We used to joke not to accidentally point them at a Prelim sized fence when starting out because they no doubt would have said “Yes mam!” and gone for it! LOL You can find ones with surprisingly beautiful movement and brains to die for if you just look past the western tack!
I found my boy on a FB group, I believe it was the OTTB Connect one. He was 8 hours away, so too far for me to go test ride, but I took a chance and after many pictures, videos, recommendations from previous clients, etc, I bought the boy and have been incredibly happy. I would only buy sight unseen from an incredibly reputable training/sales barn, though. In my case, I’m glad I took the chance.
There’s currently one from Infinity Sport Horses that keeps coming across my newsfeed that makes me wish there were more hours in the day so I had the time for 2 horses. Looks like a good prospect for an ammy.
I also agree that while you may not be looking for an incredibly fancy winner, you will find that you want to at least be competitive. I spent less than $7k on my guy because he was green. He has a great brain though, and I can safely hack him out on my own and also do well in the show ring. Good luck!
OP, I’m on the Eastern Shore - (perilously close to that TB gelding in Denton) and my girl is a retired 4-H pony. I know the folks who bred her, and the families that she was passed through before she came to me. Around here, the 4-H kids do a little bit of everything and the horses are usually pretty solid citizens who are totally willing to take a joke (you have to be, if the kids play broomstick polo on non-horse show days at the fair!). I got my girl because her latest 4-H kid had graduated from college and moved away, and she was a bit older (though not too old).
Also, the 4-H group leaders can be a great resource - they know EVERYbody! (I’m sure Pony Club would be great, too, but in this area, 4-H is much more common than PC…)
I’m going to look at something tomorrow! (before Turkey time) fingers crossed!!
Keep us posted? Are you going to see the TB in Denton?
I have one of these for sale right now! She has had someone out every weekend to look at her, they all love her, but she doesn’t move well enough in the trot for them. Hello I told you she moved like that at the trot before you came, and she just packed you half falling off around that course. You OP are a rarity I must say though, nobody ever wants to admit that they aren’t all that great and don’t want to do all that much. I hate to break it to most people but of the 10 people that have come and looked at this mare only maybe 1 of them would ever outgrow her talent wise, and that would be years down the line. She is young, sweet, good sized, sound as they come, a phenomenal jumper and a so/so mover at the trot and she is priced accordingly but I can’t get her moved.
[QUOTE=Keg-A-Bacchus;7875327]
Ranch horses! LOL But seriously! We used to buy cowboy broke $1000 large ranch ponies/small horses and turn them into Beginner Novice pony club packers in 90 days. They are BRAVE, calm and will go over and through anything you ask. We looked for the athletic build and found some GEMS. Two ended up on the A circuit in hunters. We scoured Craigslist for those ads with cowboys standing on the poor horse and doing all sorts of crazy things. We’d visualize them with a topline and a pulled mane. Once we got them home we pulled the mane and clipped them and they instantly looked like a little eventer! A month of two of dressage training and starting over low fences and those puppies would do ANYTHING you asked of them. I don’t want to know how the cowboys got them so brave and obedient but boy did those ranch ponies make a lot of Pony Club kids happy and safe. Worth a look! The only training requirement was that they were dead broke for anyone on the trail and rode out safely alone. The rest was just a little grooming, a concept of taking the bit and they turned out fabulous! We used to joke not to accidentally point them at a Prelim sized fence when starting out because they no doubt would have said “Yes mam!” and gone for it! LOL You can find ones with surprisingly beautiful movement and brains to die for if you just look past the western tack![/QUOTE]
This is my experience too. Bought a 4 year old cutting pony in May for $3500 (which was a mark up because he is palomino :dead: ). A friend was riding him for her cowboy farrier. He was born broke, is super supple, and not at all spooky. As a bonus, I have never had as much fun in dressage as I do on him. He even scored a 28 in his second event. My pro even uses him for lessons.
Yep, second the ranch horses!
One of his first time jumping:
[IMG]http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL1111/4304110/24608442/410468622.jpg)
$1200 on Craigslist, registered and papered. I figured I could resale him if he didn’t take to jumping as he hadn’t done it before and it was a bit of a gamble, but he quite enjoys it and is super on cross country and not half bad in dressage.
(I guess he is not really unflashy or boring though… 
)
What a great thread! I love the posts about the ranch horses. I’ve always passed over them when window shopping. When I shop for reals instead of for plays, I will definitely add them to the mix 
I’ve been drooling over this guy for weeks:
http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1925995.html
I’m just window-shopping now so I haven’t called about him or anything, but at least the ad makes him seem like the type of solid citizen you’re looking for - and as a bonus, he could be competitive in the LL (or maybe even higher) if you do indeed get the bug to be more “serious”.
And here’s a guy that’s actually in the school string at my lesson barn now:
I’ve only seen him go twice (I was out of the saddle with an injury all summer and just got back 3 weeks ago), but my trainer says he’s great and needs his own person…
I third or fourth ranch horses, I’ve a barn full of 'em!
And mjrtango your experience is the same as mine. I agree with everything you said!
[QUOTE=Anna Politan;7881735]
I’ve been drooling over this guy for weeks:
http://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/1925995.html
I’m just window-shopping now so I haven’t called about him or anything, but at least the ad makes him seem like the type of solid citizen you’re looking for - and as a bonus, he could be competitive in the LL (or maybe even higher) if you do indeed get the bug to be more “serious”.
And here’s a guy that’s actually in the school string at my lesson barn now:
I’ve only seen him go twice (I was out of the saddle with an injury all summer and just got back 3 weeks ago), but my trainer says he’s great and needs his own person…[/QUOTE]
He’s cute but he’s HUGE!
From my quick glances at him, I wouldn’t have guessed that he was 17HH. More like 16.2 or so, but I could easily be wrong. What did strike me was his breadth and girth. He’s BROAD - or so he seemed to me. But then I like slab-sided horses. Supposed to be very sweet, though…
[QUOTE=2LaZ2race;7873158]
I’m sorry… I should have been more specific. Low, LOW level eventing. Unrec BN is fine for me![/QUOTE]
I paid $1500 (asking $2000) for a Morgan X mare, 15hh. She could jump a small hunter course, completely uneducated in dressage, but coming along. We did 3 BN unrecognized shows this summer. We had fun. She IS super cute, but I wouldn’t say flashy- OK I would, because she is SO cute. She also toes in, but actually moves decently in spite of that. She is good to hack, doesn’t love to go out alone, but she’ll go (doing the drunk walk until a good distance from the barn). Everyone says that she is perfect for me (after me having OTTBs forever)
It also depends on whether you want to spend $ up front for a little more education, or if you want to learn/progress with a greener horse. My budget and personality led me to the later.
Oh and I found her on CL, after MUCH kissing of frogs.
THe lesson that I learned. – If they won’t/can’t send you a RECENT video of someone riding the horse, don’t bother going to look at it. (I’m sure there are exceptions, but I can’t think of one. Pregnancy is not an excuse… you know SOMEONE can sit on that unflappable mount that is being advertised!)
Good luck and DO keep us posted. I’m so excited for you now!
How Good of a rider are you ? How much time do you have to invest ?
How about buying a OTTB for free or almost free ?
Contact a OTTB rescue organization such as CANTER. Go to some “Sport Horse” auctions. Pony Club, 4-H Clubs, Fox Hunt Clubs. Many of the breed associations have a FOR SALE page available via website.
There are LOTS of horses out there that suits your needs. I KNOW its possible to find a horse that can accomplish those goals & its attainable for under $5000 & even less.
Happy Horse Hunting
[QUOTE=PonyTales;7882309]
How Good of a rider are you ? How much time do you have to invest ?
How about buying a OTTB for free or almost free ?
Contact a OTTB rescue organization such as CANTER. Go to some “Sport Horse” auctions. Pony Club, 4-H Clubs, Fox Hunt Clubs. Many of the breed associations have a FOR SALE page available via website.
There are LOTS of horses out there that suits your needs. I KNOW its possible to find a horse that can accomplish those goals & its attainable for under $5000 & even less.
Happy Horse Hunting[/QUOTE]
I actually have OTTBs, so I’ve gone that route before. I’m looking at a wide range tomorrow, from 5 to 14, OTTB to western pleasure.
We’ll see!
[QUOTE=Anna Politan;7881735]
And here’s a guy that’s actually in the school string at my lesson barn now:
I’ve only seen him go twice (I was out of the saddle with an injury all summer and just got back 3 weeks ago), but my trainer says he’s great and needs his own person…[/QUOTE]
My draft cross was named Guinness and looks just like this guy. He is 16.3 and I’m a petite 5’3 (and 3/4!) There is nothing that horse wouldn’t do and I regained a lot of confidence that I had lost to some degree with a former ottb. He now packs around beginners and riders with confidence issues or physical disabilities. He is also a baby sitter on the trail for the younger horses in training. At one time i was doing the 3’6 jumpers with him and had started training level eventing. He never batted an eye at a thing. He has very nice movement that is comfortable to ride. If I were in your shoes and this horse was at all close by, I’d check him out. I’m now back with a very green ottb. I’ve always said though that everyone deserves to have a horse like Guinness at one point in their life
