Shopping for Horses - Other Disciplines

[Always_WIP]

I’m starting to look at horse for sale ads. I’m still in the budgeting phase and probably a year off from purchasing. However so far, at least for publicly posted ads I’m not seeing a lot of options (Area VII). For H/J however there’s a lot of available horses and a decent amount of sales barns.

That led me to wonder, does anyone buy H/J horses to use for eventing? I could see a jumpers horse with decent flatwork being a good fit. Or am I better off expanding my shipping and traveling budget?

I have no lofty ambitions. I’m an adult ammy looking for something safe and sane to do BN/N and possibly up to T. The standard unicorn of 8-12, 16hh, minimum maintenance. Trying to stay around 10k but still saving up and looking to see what is out there, will adjust my budget and timeframe accordingly.

[subk]

The short answer is yes, but that’s not the first place I’d suggest an eventer go to find a deal or an inexpensive horse if for no other reason than their price structure starts quite a bit higher than ours. Sometimes you can find a H/J horse that is missing some key element that keeps him from pinning in a H/J class, but won’t be a big problem for an eventer. An example would be a less than perfect lead change or a bit too much step or pep. But a good horse still won’t go for cheap. There are trainers though that really specialize in the under 15k market and seeking one out would be your best bet.

[Arlomine]

Keep an eye out for a nice appendix AQHA. Many are almost all TB, and I have found some in Western barns being underutilized. Cheap, too.

[betsyk]

Pony Club kids going off to college will be selling theirs in the summer. If you want a fun horse for eventing, look for a horse that already knows eventing is fun. Great idea to connect with some eventing trainers, who may know of horses coming up for sale in the next year, before they are ever advertised.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I’d be more likely to look at a low level hunter that doesn’t have a good automatic lead change. But really…ideally you find something that has gone xc and you know does ditches, water and banks. Most probably sell by word of mouth. Call the local eventers near you…and then keep networking.

[Anna_Politan]

@Always WIP

Or am I better off expanding my shipping and traveling budget?

FWIW When I was watching sales ads for similar horses (Thought I was ready to purchase but got laid off and had to use both my emergency fund and horse fund to pay the mortgage! #StartingOver LOL) one of my favorite local (MD) prospects ended up going to a vet in WA, so maybe that’s the ticket.

[Always_WIP]

@bornfreenowexpensive

I’d be more likely to look at a low level hunter that doesn’t have a good automatic lead change. But really…ideally you find something that has gone xc and you know does ditches, water and banks. Most probably sell by word of mouth. Call the local eventers near you…and then keep networking.

Thanks! Yeah because I’m so early in my search I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. It makes it difficult to determine what actually is on the market but just not posted publicly.

I ride with an eventing trainer but she specializes in the < BN and hasn’t helped purchase a sales horse in a while. I’m hoping she’ll have a lot more leads but I’m planning as if she won’t.

[Always_WIP]

@Anna Politan

FWIW When I was watching sales ads for similar horses (Thought I was ready to purchase but got laid off and had to use both my emergency fund and horse fund to pay the mortgage! #StartingOver LOL) one of my favorite local (MD) prospects ended up going to a vet in WA, so maybe that’s the ticket.

Sorry to hear you had to start over! That’s so frustrating. I’m really thinking it may be worth the travel/shipping. Of course there’s also a flight, hotel for trainer and I, per diem, etc. But there seems to be a million of great horses over on the east coast, and a lot with hunting experience which would be a big plus for me.

So many things to consider!

[judybigredpony]

The thing is your looking a year out and being an election year economy may have a change…horse prices are mercurial…I would suggest finding someone whose sale horses you admire and cultivate a relationship…they can keep you in the loop and an eye out. You may get something sooner cheaper or a better horse in your price range than you expected…

[horseshorseshorseshorses]

In theory anytime you pick up a race horse you are shopping for a horse in a different disciplines.

More to your point we have a few ex-dressage horses and jumpers at the barn. A mare i thought about buying but didn’t because she just wasn’t the right fit for me was on the Arabian circuit before she was given to my trainer to sell. She is now running training in under…3 years of learning to jump. My trainer picked up a 1.40 jumper this weekend to either re-sell or bring up the levels for herself. He does something on course that make him not competitive at that height. If you are willing to look you can find nice horses outside eventing that fit your needs.

[endlessclimb]

@Arlomine

Keep an eye out for a nice appendix AQHA. Many are almost all TB, and I have found some in Western barns being underutilized. Cheap, too.

Where are you seeing this? I find appendix QHs hard to find at the moment.