Really??? I agree that horse prices are staggering in many cases; but, if you aren’t insisting on a horse that would be found in Isabel’s or Charlotte’s barn I think a ‘proper’ dressage horse for no more than $10K is possible. You might have to look harder and longer but proper dressage horses really do come in all shapes and sizes. They just must have 3 pure gaits, a good mind with a willing demeanor, no soundness issues and a decent rider.
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I bought a 3yo in July. I also couldn’t find anything I liked in the US, and ended up buying off video from Europe. I’m very pleased with what I got, although I would have preferred a 4/5 yo, but I absolutely couldn’t afford one. There was a 20k euro difference between 3 and 4, and a 70k difference between 3 and 5. The good news is that 3 year olds do eventually become 5 year olds LOL.
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Crap! That would be my day in a nutshell. Please say you do not have something with chrome, then you would be killing me!
I looked at one that someone might sell last night and really liked him, he was a little small, not a lot of barrel, not a preferred color however felt great at the trot, moved off the leg, lots of little buttons and really soft mouthed. I rode him outside the arena and he got “up” but that may have just been me. Then came back in the arena and asked him to canter, sale lost…right there. Not something I could ever enjoy or would be willing to correct. Seller (hunter rider) could not understand, just get up in 2 point and let him roll on. Thanks, no! I talked her into keeping him, I would not be able to utilize his talents, :winkgrin:
“four2farm - Please say you do not have something with chrome, then you would be killing me!”
Dark bay with 2 matched hind socks. 
I completely disagree, you just have to be flexible on other aspects of the horse and/or the buying process. I just bought a new horse with the same budget and he is for sure going to be “a proper dressage horse” however I bought off lots of video from Canada (no trial). I bought directly from the breeder so no middle-man mark up. He has decent training as a jumper, but not much as a dressage horse (I event as well as show recognized dressage, so the jump training was a benefit for me) - he knows walk/trot/canter on a nice training-level contact. Due to Covid issues, he’d been out of work for 4 months. He doesn’t have “popular” dressage bloodlines (which I don’t care about since he’s a gelding!) and I actually prefer a smaller beast (he’s 16.0h and 16.1h was my max!). I am also flexible about the kind of ride I can handle as long as they are reasonably safe and sane - I can deal with a little more whoa than go or vice versa.
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@ToughShet I totally understand the feelings as I’m shopping in the same budget, but don’t give up hope. I don’t know what your goals are, but you can definitely find something below 10k and make a Dressage partner out of it. I’ve known too many who have done this to believe differently!
It isn’t the easiest way. But possibly. Keep looking.
I paid $2500 for my last horse, and she could comfortably do Third / Fourth. However she was 22 when I bought her. Compromise is everything.
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Look at OTTBs, there are a lot of nice ones out there if you’re willing to do the retraining. I just bought my dream horse for $2.5k. Fantastic brain, good mover, big, and as close to jet black as they come. His legs are a little fugly on the outside, but that comes with the territory and it’s strictly cosmetic.
I’ve seen a lot of incredible movers in the mid-upper four figure range, and even some for cheaper if you get lucky.
Second this.
I had a TB who went to PSG and while he wasn’t an 8 mover, he was a very solid and sane citizen.
The trick is finding the right one. I have two in the paddock who are going to be lovely 3rd + level horses. One has the worlds best brain and the other probably needs to be two stone lighter to be that exceptionally quiet nature you love. Mine both came direct from trainers as I prefer to do everything from scratch myself. I prefer mine to have a fair few starts under their belt as they tend to be very worldly and so much easier than anything that is unraced.
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