You do both.
You have lessons until you find a horse then you have lessons on your own horse.
Any horse and pony can jump 3 foot. It is up to you for the horse to do it calmly and easily.
Yes at only buying a sound horse
Ouch. I hope you’re paying a dry stall cost!
I agree with some of the other posters. Take lessons and keep saving money to increase your purchase budget. Also agree that it will be unlikely that you’ll be able to jump over 3ft regularly (or ever) on lesson horses, but find a lesson barn that will work with you on the flat and small jump exercises and courses to prepare you for when you are ready to buy a horse that is capable of 3ft. Also consider dressage lessons as well. Good luck.
I have never taken lessons so my opinion would be owning over lessons. How about taking some lessons and after a time if you trust and like the instructor maybe get their help in finding a sound suitable horse? If nothing else keep riding while you look. Plenty of sound horses out there, although it seems some have a hard time finding them.
ok, well contrary to probably everyone on here and contrary to good sense, we are giving Trial Horse #2 another 2 weeks and the vet is coming back at that point.
The thing with jumping 3 ft is that I seem fine at 2’6" and then my brain goes goofy when it looks high and I do dumb things as if I can’t ride. That’s why it’s a goal. Again, if I don’t ever achieve it but I continue to get to ride and have fun, I think I am ok.
I have realized that I really do just like having a horse to care for. And, yes, I could “save” money up - save is in quotations because technically I could spend more for a horse now, I am fortunate enough to be in that kind of a position, I just can’t justify the expense to myself for a hobby. In my mind, I’m going to have vet bills whether the horse costs $5K or $25K, and I plan to give my horse a super high quality of care. I don’t plan on buying a lame horse but I totally trust the vet so if this guy is workable, I really do want this guy because he checks all of the other boxes. I realize this may seem stupid and you are all free to point that out :-).
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Well, I am going to be the contrary one here. I have been in your shoes. I like to compete at fun shows, because for now it’s all I can afford. And I LOVE owning my own horse and all the goes with it. When my show horse had to be put down I didn’t have much of a budget. My new guy took a little adjustment, he’s sound enough for what I do, but will never hack mountain trails. He has presented me with a ton of training challenges, none of them dangerous, more like fine tuning and adjustment for the way he moves now VS then. I have had to step up my training and think outside the box. I do not go to shows and win all the time, I have come back frustrated a few times. However he has made me a better trainer, and when we do well it’s all because of me. He’s taught me patience and how to problem solve, and we have built an incredible bond. I will mention I have a trainer I took lessons from repeatedly. Shows have had some moments where he has lost his marbles some, all things due to a young horse. If you love a technical challenge, and don’t need to show high, learn to train for yourself on a nice quiet mount. And then be content with where you get to, maybe it’s not 3’. But will that really matter if you enjoy the ride? Just my experience.
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Try to think really long and hard about this. Myself, along with a lot of other posters, have spent thousands and thousands on unsound horses. If he is still not 100% sound and able to pass a pre purchase exam in two weeks, I would send him back. Too much heartache, too much money. All the money you would be spending on vet bills for an unsound horse could be set aside for a sound horse that you can accomplish your goals on. I’m sure you don’t want to buy a horse just to handgraze it and pay vet bills. Have you had xrays taken? Does the vet have any idea what’s going on with the hind end? That would help guide my decision if I were absolutely set on owning that particular horse. You have gotten a lot of good advice here, good luck OP.
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Yes, if he is still off and seems unworkable in 2 weeks, I will pass.
OP, wait for the right horse. Don’t settle for the horse right now. Marry in haste, repent at leisure. Continue to take lessons at the new barn, continue to shop for a horse with your trainer. Great plan. Send horse number 2 back to seller. Unless they are sound before I take possession, it won’t happen.
The longer you keep horse number 2, the more of a bond you will form and the more allowance you will give for the soundness issues. Save yourself the possibility of years of vet bills and riding time.
Sheilah
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Bad idea! Don’t get attached to a horse that isn’t sound. I’ve spent more than $5k in vet bills on a not-quite-right (but not obviously lame) horse in a single visit. I don’t recommend it.
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In the nicest way possible, based solely on what you’ve written in this thread… I could make a quilt out of the red flags you’re throwing out. :eek:
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You’re paying board for a spot, for a horse you don’t have. No wonder you’re under pressure! What a POS person to put you in that position. I’m VERY concerned they aren’t looking out for your best interests. My guess is that you’ll also be paying a commission on whatever you buy. Might as well tattoo “TRAINER’S ATM” on your forehead now, holy shit.
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The horse isn’t sound. Stop wasting time on it. If it isn’t sound now, and the cause is unknown, the likelihood that it will reoccur is high. FIND SOMETHING SOUND.
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If your brain checks out over 2’6” you NEED a horse that has experience at 3’. Not a prospect. It’s not fair to a green horse to have a rider who checks out trying to show them the ropes. There’s absolutely ZERO shame in this. If you are going somewhere new, you want to have a Sherpa that has been there and done that. If the blind lead the blind, they both fall into a pit. Increase your budget, or expand your parameters. I bet a slightly older horse, or one requiring maintenance would be found in your budget and you’d spend the same as the unsound horse you have now.
Gosh girl, I wish you luck. I’m pissed on your behalf that your trainer is putting you in this position. Three foot is a very reasonable, attainable goal - BUT, you have to be smart about it. The physical difference in 2’6” and 3’ is minimal but the mental difference and the horse required is exponential.
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^^^^^ THIS
OP, step back. This situation feels really not in your best interest. That horse you want is out there, wait for it, save for it. (And stop paying for a stall you’re not using. When the right horse comes along, if there are no stalls at your barn, you can board him elsewhere for a month or two while waiting for a stall to open up. )
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Op, I’m basically in your same position. I owned a horse for many years and then basically free leased a horse after my horse passed away. The free lease only lasted 7 months and then I was horseless again. First time in over 20 years. This spring I started up lessons. It’s just not good enough to satisfy my horsing needs. There’s something really lacking for me in that. I need the whole thing. Hanging out and taking care of one, the fussing etc. It was also eating into my horse shopping budget. I’m trying to find another buddy. Right now I’m blessed to be able to ride and fuss with a friend’s pony so that helps in the meantime.
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Thanks - this post has been really helpful to help me clarify a bit better what I want. I’m still going to the lesson barn this weekend to see how it is and it’ll be good to ride a school horse and see how it goes.
I get it is a terrible idea to buy a horse with soundness issues and I am still looking at other horses while I keep trying this one…if after 2 weeks, the vet says that this is a high risk horse for what I want to do, I will walk away. No problem doing that, bonded or not. I cried over lease horse for like a month. I cried over Trial #1 horse. I may cry, but I have no issue walking away from a horse I’ve bonded with. But your points are all well taken and if I were in your position, I would 100% agree with you all and think that I am crazy for extending the trial for 2 weeks and paying for another vet visit. So, maybe this isn’t the best decision I’ve made but it’s not irreversible.
I do have to defend my trainer here. Trainer is earning 0 commission on this. Trainer is not BO and is not getting my board $. Trainer is working with my budget instead of trying to push me to a higher budget. Keep in mind that my lease horse was not the easiest horse - I started jumping after 25 years on this horse and he would get excited about ground poles and take off bucking (he hadn’t jumped in over a year due to injury and he was the super excitable kind of guy - trainer has no relationship to horse prior to me bringing it to the barn). She saw me work through all of that and we went from literally not being able to canter ground poles in a normal manner to doing 2’6" courses in a few months. So, I think she has faith in my ability to be able to work through things, regardless of the horse. Also, my 3 ft goal is not a near goal - if I get trial #2, goal would simply be intro level next summer as a first step - and I’ve already jumped him that high and he was fantastic…the guy self adjusts to the fence, which my lease guy NEVER did.
On the board costs, I will say that every time it came time to pay board, I had a horse in my stall so I never asked about reduced board. If Trial #2 leaves, I will ask.
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I just want to touch on the “buy a green OTTB” idea. While that is a great option for some people, it doesn’t sound like it makes any sense at all for you. As a poster above noted, it is not fair for a green horse to have to carry the load of building up a rider’s confidence over higher fences. That doesn’t work. You need to be the one building up the horse’s confidence, not the other way around.
It’s also really important to remember that experience working with green horses doesn’t automatically translate to handling a green OTTB. Sometimes it can. But OTTBs often have some really quirky issues that are specific to the racing environment and it can be baffling to work through them. They’re actually not so much green, as in blank slates, as they are slates in need of re-routing. They’ve had all kinds of experiences that can create weird habits, odd behaviors, and often explosive reactions. You have to be able to recognize which behavior is a pain signal, which is frustration at not knowing the answer, and which is an ingrained bad habit. Because TBs tend to be very intelligent, highly energetic and motivated, and hugely sensitive. So firm but fair is my mantra with them.
You, on the other hand, want to build yourself back up to where you used to be so an experienced horse makes a lot more sense (and yeah, a hard no from me on the unsound prospect).
One other thing. You may find that with work, you do go right back to where you were as a rider. You may find that you don’t. That can be disconcerting and upsetting. So just remember that we do this for the joy of it and no matter what level you reach, it’s about having fun and enjoying a partnership with your horse.
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You will find the right horse when you stop looking for a horse.
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This is actually how I have found my best horses! Both of my once in a lifetime horses came out of the blue, when I totally wasn’t looking. Sometimes taking a step back can open you up to other possibilities as well.
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(…) if after 2 weeks, the vet says that this is a high risk horse for what I want to do, (…)
that I am crazy for extending the trial for 2 weeks and paying for another vet visit. So, maybe this isn’t the best decision I’ve made but it’s not irreversible.
This is not your horse - It’s up to the seller to find out what’s wrong with their horse… and paying for the vet!
You know… the right thing to do, what your trainer should have told you as well, should have been to send the horse back right away and wait until he gets sound again, as in the owners paying for the vet, and then ask to see him and his vet record afterward…
It’s not like someone else would buy a lame horse…
You are being taken advantage of…
(…) and I’ve already jumped him that high and he was fantastic…the guy self adjusts to the fence,
Green horses do that, being impressed at first and all… but it does change overtime.
Lame horses do all sorts of things like that too - they don’t all just stop or buck… some slow down because they know it’s gonna hurt…
Also, you’ve been jumping a lame horse with an unknown condition?
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Paying to hold a stall is putting a great deal of pressure on yourself to find a horse ASAP, which could result in a rash decision you’re likely to regret. If your budget is $5,000-$8,000, an unsound horse’s care can cost many times over that, and also the training of a very green (or just quirky horse), if you don’t have the time or the confidence to start/restart them.
I’ve been a leaser, and, yes, owner conflicts can be heartbreaking (I know owners have truly horrific stories about bad leasers, too, so don’t unleash your fury, COTH). But not wanting to do maintenance treatments on her horse isn’t the worst friction I’ve experienced or seen, and I wouldn’t discount leasing at least one more horse before actively searching for your own. Perhaps a BTDT horse who will build up your jumping confidence, which you said is a priority.
It would be one thing if you had found the perfect match, but since you haven’t, I would relax both the financial (give up the stall) and personal pressure to find one right this minute.
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I feel for you, OP! There are so many variables in situations like this.
Other have made very sensible points.
1.) First and foremost: Don’t buy the lame horse!
2.) Your BO sounds like a jerk.
3.) Buying an attractive, competitive packer will cost you the earth right now. For some reason I can’t quite fathom, prices are extremely high at the moment, so there are good reasons to stop giving the BO money for nothing and wait a bit.
4.) Buying an unstarted 3 year old can be fantastically satisfying (best thing I’ve ever done with horses, honestly) but I think it’s very hard to be sufficiently attentive to the details of training if you don’t have the youngster at home. I’ve tried it, and I know: nobody wants to be called to a barn an hour away because her 17hh baby is to so worked up the BO is afraid to lead it out to the paddocks.
5.) Lessons and social life at a big barn will put you in touch with more people buying and selling horses, and give you a better sense of how much horses at various levels should cost.
Putting it all together, I’d probably recommend sticking with lessons and simultaneously looking for a better barn.
Just an old horselady’s two cents - along with best wishes, of course. 
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