[QUOTE=85union;7883079]
Thank you all so much. A friend sent me a link to a facebook page called Amish Treasures where 3 DHH geldings are listed for sale. I particularly like the one called Curious George. He looked like a possibility. Here’s a video of him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1LOJn2J54A&feature=youtu.be[/QUOTE]
Why?
To elaborate. NO. Hard pass.
That is a very large, very green, very spooky horse who has most likely been ridden hard on the road and will very likely have soundness issues. He has zero correct under saddle training beyond “you can sit on him and he probably wont dump you.” He is currently being ridden in an awful lot of bit.
His hind legs are in a different zipcode, his hocks are in a different country, and I’d be surprised if his head even reaches the ground!
This horse would be a massive mistake to anyone but a seasoned professional willing to take a huge risk on a pretty pasture ornament.
To answer the question asked, why? Because I am a sucker for animals in need and I see a kind spirit in need of a kind hand.
There are animals in need all over the place that would be far more suitable for dressage and your level of experience.
hugely overpriced.
Give yourself a really big half- halt about this one!
There is a sport-appropriate horse out there for you who also is in need of a kind hand.
Find one of those.
Lots of european warmbloods have the dutch harness horse blood in them. Not my Samber grandson, but lots more of them do. Mostly around the Netherlands. Mixed with some TB blood to “refine” them, as the breeders say, they are great. I like the old style WBs, which my Hessen is, despite being 1/2 TB and 20% Arab. He doesn’t look a bit like my old elegant TB mare Callie did, and I had to to get used to people calling him a percheron. The hock action on the Dutch and Deutsche horses is great, btw.
hugely overpriced.
[QUOTE=chisamba;7883453]
hugely overpriced.[/QUOTE]
Maybe for you guys, but not for Amish.
$3500 is not out of line for a black, chromed out gelding. He is grade A Sunday Church horse material. The Ams spend quite a bit on their horses. I’ve seen DHHs go for $10K at a local sale. $3K-$5k is the norm, but $20K, $25K is not uncommon.
Also like much like racehorses, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy an older horse of theirs that is sound. If he’s sound as a 7 yro, likely he’s going to stay sound.
I’d be more impressed if he was shown to a bike rather than bareback.
[QUOTE=85union;7883435]
To answer the question asked, why? Because I am a sucker for animals in need and I see a kind spirit in need of a kind hand.[/QUOTE]
There are plenty of horses in need all over the globe. You can buy whatever you want but then, don’t expect him to fit whatever goals you have in mind.
Also, good luck re-training his spooking issues because from that video, the rider is only reinforcing that. That’s probably why he’s being sold to begin with; doesn’t look safe at all for driving and if his amish owner wasn’t able to train that out of him…I hope you know what you are doing.
Good luck!
[QUOTE=85union;7883435]
To answer the question asked, why? Because I am a sucker for animals in need and I see a kind spirit in need of a kind hand.[/QUOTE]
really?
Don’t kid yourself. That horse is sound & in good flesh, why does he need you?
My trainer sold a perfectly good gelding at a sale for $2500 to an Amish guy. Amish guy turned around and sold it to someone like you for $3500 the same day. Amish guy probably made about $30K in a weekend reselling horses that people wouldn’t buy for less money from a reputable trainer.
[QUOTE=red mares;7883547]
really?
Don’t kid yourself. That horse is sound & in good flesh, why does he need you?
My trainer sold a perfectly good gelding at a sale for $2500 to an Amish guy. Amish guy turned around and sold it to someone like you for $3500 the same day. Amish guy probably made about $30K in a weekend reselling horses that people wouldn’t buy for less money from a reputable trainer.[/QUOTE]
All too true, but the OPs point of giving him a soft landing without a future on the road is wonderful.
As for the video-- I bought horses from the Amish for over 30 years, and this is the way they ride, and present a horse. Without exception, everything I purchased became a dressage horse. Competitive? Quite often, but not always, but then, I’ve seen a whole bunch with brands on their asses who were not competitive, either.
Do not let those who cannot see anything that is not packaged perfectly for marketing to the masses let you believe that horse cannot do the work. You will need someone who can give you a hand helping him grow up, and make the transition, but then, the journey is-- for me anyway-- the best part!!
Was going to add that he is likely unbroke. Just because he is tolerating a rider right now does not mean he is actually broke to ride. Also, he may not be that spooky after retrain. I’m working with one right now (not a DHH but a draftxmorgan or something driving horse) that is not spooky in the lines but is not yet understanding saddle work and is very spooky as a result.
He does look quite spicy, and that the canter won’t likely come easy to him, but I like him. However, I’m partial to the hotter ones. I don’t love having to push a horse.
There is a reason they are called “Harness Horses”… you know. 
Yes, and you well know that nothing is pure anything, any more.
For whoever said something abou this head carriage- you try putting your head somewhere else, when ridden and trained like that.
After decades of working with horses who either have been taught to raise up, or are bred for it (and not conformed for it) I generally figure that if they can graze, they can learn to work over their backs. :winkgrin:
I think it would be foolish to play the “yeah but everyone can do dressage” card in this situation.
I ride remedial horses. I ride off breeds. I ride dressage. However, I wouldn’t suggest that someone go out and get an Amish horse to show dressage on without knowing much more about their skill level and goals.
I retrained an english pleasure NSH to do dressage and while it was “easy” for me I had him because what he was and what he needed was far above his owner’s capabilities.
I also wouldn’t assume he was sound because he was an Amish horse. In fact, I would be concerned that they were unloading him because he was either A. Crazy or B. Unsound when put on the road or C. Both. Horses are always for sale for a reason
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;7884116]
I think it would be foolish to play the “yeah but everyone can do dressage” card in this situation.
I ride remedial horses. I ride off breeds. I ride dressage. However, I wouldn’t suggest that someone go out and get an Amish horse to show dressage on without knowing much more about their skill level and goals.
I retrained an english pleasure NSH to do dressage and while it was “easy” for me I had him because what he was and what he needed was far above his owner’s capabilities.
I also wouldn’t assume he was sound because he was an Amish horse. In fact, I would be concerned that they were unloading him because he was either A. Crazy or B. Unsound when put on the road or C. Both. Horses are always for sale for a reason[/QUOTE]
True that- and, with the Amish, profit is generally the reason. Oh, and with the English who are breeding, buying and selling…
Any horse can do dressage. Can they do it well? Not always. But dressage techniques will help every horse. This gelding may, or may not, be broke. He looks like 90% of the horses that I saw on Amish farms over the years. I am guessing the camera, and the person holding it were not part of his usual day. He may or may not have seen turnout, and the weather was cold. And a million other things.
It is so easy to say something isn’t perfect, but then, where is the joy in trying?
The first horse that I ever trained through GP was a Canadian TB who had been a M/M horse. Two dressage judges told me he would never go on the bit, etc. I beat the first one at his first show.
Never say never…
Paint the horse a solid chestnut and would you still want him?
Hard pass.
[QUOTE=ASB Stars;7884337]
True that- and, with the Amish, profit is generally the reason. Oh, and with the English who are breeding, buying and selling…
Any horse can do dressage. Can they do it well? Not always. But dressage techniques will help every horse. This gelding may, or may not, be broke. He looks like 90% of the horses that I saw on Amish farms over the years. I am guessing the camera, and the person holding it were not part of his usual day. He may or may not have seen turnout, and the weather was cold. And a million other things.
It is so easy to say something isn’t perfect, but then, where is the joy in trying?
The first horse that I ever trained through GP was a Canadian TB who had been a M/M horse. Two dressage judges told me he would never go on the bit, etc. I beat the first one at his first show.
Never say never…[/QUOTE]
Karma kicks @$$ sometimes.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
