Next Event Horse

[alwayssharpie67]

My daughter lost her horse to illness this past month and we are now beginning to look for her next event horse. She is a working student for an amazing 5* Eventer in PA who has been incredibly helpful during this time.

Ten years ago we were not well educated about the horse buying process and we didn’t look at any other horses before buying our horse from our trainer at the time . This time I would like to make a more informed purchase that will help my daughter pursue her riding goals.

We know that our budget will not buy a 4* (or even a 1*) horse and my daughter knows that she will have to put time and training into her new mount.

Any suggestions for making a more informed purchase this time?

[islgrl]

Work with your trainer, the know your daughter best and likely have tons of contacts…

[Willesdon]

It is heart and brains that make a good event horse. Most horses do fine at the lower levels but as the horse and rider move up through the levels then more blood becomes important: to gallop; to have the athleticism; to have the stamina; to have the courage. You could look at a Warmblood, particularly one with a high percentage of Thoroughbred - and potentially pay a high price for fashion. Alternatively, look at an OTTB, which will probably be considerably cheaper and some of the best eventers come from this background. There is always a lot of discussion about such horses in this forum and some wise advice. The third option is to go for a more unusual breed such as a Standardbred or a sport model Saddlebred - which is where character, heart and brains comes into play. Your daughter will learn most if she likes her horse and is having fun!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

So sorry for your loss. Horses can be heartbreakers.

Best advice…be realistic in your goals. Don’t try and buy a horse for the future…get one good for shorter term goals. People often get way ahead of themselves.

First, have your daughter and trainer be open and honest with her skills. Is she brave or timid. Confidence or needs confidence. Strong on the flat or over fences. You shouldn’t buy a horse that matches your strengths and weaknesses…in other words, if a rider is more confident on the flat and more timid xc…you don’t by a dressage winner on the flat who needs a confident ride xc. You buy the xc machine who needs more help on the flat.

Also, be honest in the goals. Does she enjoy the process or competing. I don’t recommend buying a green horse for a rider who LOVES to just compete. If the goals are competing a lot…get something going that is in your budget. And since you said you can’t afford a going 1* horse…if her goals are really competing and moving up levels, you may want to look for a lease not a purchase as you may be able to find a more experienced school master type. If her goals are just to enjoy the process and eventually compete…then you can go for greener (but riding green horses is NOT for all riders…it takes braveness and patience). NOW spotting a talented prospect…that takes knowledge on the right type of horses. Yes, you want a good brain. And you want help from someone experienced at spotting a nice young prospect AND be in a good program to produce them…that honestly is a skill set that is quite lacking in the US.

It is also very important that a rider get along with a horse…especially a prospect. So you daughter needs to be very honest with herself about what sort of horse she is good at riding and enjoys riding (kick ride, finesse ride, sporty horse or big strong one etc.)

Good luck! She can learn from really any horse…and so that is the number one mind set that I always take with me when I’m going to buy. I’m not looking for my dream horse…I’m looking for a horse that I think I will have fun as we both learn from each other. I’m never disappointed…and have learned from them all…even the ones that didn’t turn out quite as I expected.

[Christie_Wishlove]

I’m so sorry for your loss, I’m sure this is a difficult time for your family. Horses have the ability to bring us unimaginable joy, and yet some of the most gut wrenching pain.

I think bornfreenowexpensive gave you some excellent food for thought and I wholeheartedly agree with everything s/he said.

It is difficult to add more to the conversation without knowing a little bit more about your daughter, such as her age, maturity, experience, riding level, short and long term goals. These are all very important considerations in the buying process, while also finding her a mount that will keep her as safe as possible on their travels.

Would you be willing to share these details along with your approximate budget for the new horse? This can help us further steer you into the right direction.

[melula]

Does she need a horse? If she is a working student at an eventing barn, she may have access to horses of higher quality than you want to purchase. Generally, barns have more horses than riders.

[alwayssharpie67]

@melula My daughter does need her own horse even though she is a working student at an eventing barn. She gets to ride some fabulous horses but in order to compete this year she would like her own horse.

Hoping to find one in Aiken very, very soon.

[judybigredpony]

To be very honest your daughters trainer will have the most in-put on the horse and most likely be steering the buying ship…They know your daughters riding skills and limitations. I agree do not buy for the long range plans…spend your money on the BEST horse you can afford for the moment and if it doesn t work out to be a 5* there is a solid market for well made LL to Mid L horses with quality training and Mileage…a stepping tone to buying one who is running at the next level…Putting all your eggs on the next purchase is going to put all ot of unrealistic not yet achieved expectations on a new horse …

[JustTheTicket]

I agree with buying the horse she needs now, but…what are her long term horse goals? Does she want to become a trainer herself or is the working student gig more of a “I don’t know where my life is going but I know I want to work with horses for now” thing? Because if she wants to turn this into a training career, now would be the perfect time, while she’s employed by a higher level trainer, to pick something young and/or green and start learning some trainer skills and maybe also learn a bit about marketing and selling horses too, as she can take something green, teach it something, maybe make a buck or two and then move on to the next project.

Does she want to learn about taking a young horse to its first event and then take it up the levels or does she want to just get out there and working her way up the levels on something that’s already been there? Is she trying to get onto a young rider team? Etc, etc…There’s not a wrong answer there, but it all plays into what exactly will be the best horse for her right now.

[kookicat]

How about a loan? I loaned my Advanced horse to a young rider while I was pregnant. They got on fabulously and she now rides one of my younger horses.

Her trainer will likely have contacts. It’s worth looking into if you don’t have the cash to buy an experienced horse.

[alwayssharpie67]

@JustTheTicket

I agree with buying the horse she needs now, but…what are her long term horse goals? Does she want to become a trainer herself or is the working student gig more of a “I don’t know where my life is going but I know I want to work with horses for now” thing? Because if she wants to turn this into a training career, now would be the perfect time, while she’s employed by a higher level trainer, to pick something young and/or green and start learning some trainer skills and maybe also learn a bit about marketing and selling horses too, as she can take something green, teach it something, maybe make a buck or two and then move on to the next project.

Does she want to learn about taking a young horse to its first event and then take it up the levels or does she want to just get out there and working her way up the levels on something that’s already been there? Is she trying to get onto a young rider team? Etc, etc…There’s not a wrong answer there, but it all plays into what exactly will be the best horse for her right now.

Yes, her goal is to be a trainer one day and she knows that she will need to make her horses due to our financial situation. The horse that we just lost was one she started as a 3 year old and was never an easy horse so green horses do not bother her. Her goal ts to bring it up the levels- no rush to be at a certain level in any time frame. Becoming a working student after her 4 year college career puts her age above the Young Rider team max age so her goals are to be the best horsewoman she can be and learn about how to run an eventing business.

[alwayssharpie67]

@melula

Does she need a horse? If she is a working student at an eventing barn, she may have access to horses of higher quality than you want to purchase. Generally, barns have more horses than riders.

Barns seem to have more horses than riders but sadly those horses tend to be out of our price range. It seems like the $10k -$15k range has the least amount of options out there based on our experience and conversations with several others looking for the same thing.

[alwayssharpie67]

@kookicat

How about a loan? I loaned my Advanced horse to a young rider while I was pregnant. They got on fabulously and she now rides one of my younger horses.

Her trainer will likely have contacts. It’s worth looking into if you don’t have the cash to buy an experienced horse.

Yes, she is open to a loan as well! The horse would be in a great program so it would be a benefit to both parties if we could find someone willing to work with us.