Totally hear you on the horselessness/crazy part. I came off in January of last year, took xrays of horses’ back in March after ribs were healed and decided that getting on him again was a no-go, and he colicked in May. I could have done a 3rd colic surgery, but why do that when he wasn’t necessarily going to be rideable. Saved the surgery money and put it towards the new horse, which is about what I spent between the vetting/shipping/purchase price.
I don’t even like to talk about the money! It’s good I don’t have kids or grandkids because I could have sent one to college with the money I’ve spent on horses. The bill for yesterday’s vet check made me choke.
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I find some decent Andalusians on inland empire craigslist. I am just practicing buying another horse, but damn it to pony…I cannot help looking.
There is this guy who looks cute for the price…
And he is just waiting to be…broken. yikes.
Speaking of, though further than you would like, there is a super nice pally 3 yo Andy in Texas for under 20k. I want want him, but would gladly watch him blossom from afar.
Let me post his ad, so I am sure to not do something crazy. 
He’s really pretty. Whispers suggestively…“get him!”
ETA, I am saving myself for an Onion. Unless someone else snags her.
EventerAJ has some amazing young horses for sale that I would skip a PPE on and ship, might want to see if anything she has brought along strikes a fancy. I know it’s far, but she has the COTH stamp of approval!
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There are some very nice Welsh Cobs that pop up occasionally in the area. You could also consider looking across the border in Canada as the exchange rate would be very much in your favour.
I have looked in British Columbia. Also, I have owned two Welsh cobs. They are wonderful, but some can be hot. There are a few advertised now on Facebook. One is quite green and apparently had little handling. Some cobs are very high priced.
I just wanted to commiserate as I am in the exact same position and stage of life as the OP. I’ve been looking for the past 7 months without much luck. It’s discouraging that the prices are insane not only for warmbloods but for unpapered/grade horses. I sometimes watch the online auctions to see what horses are going for and an unregistered 6 year old Friesian/Percheron gelding with no show record, but allegedly safe for the whole family sold for $70k!! Most of my riding life has been in the Arabian sporthorse/dressage world but even there the pickings are slim with very few bred for sport anymore. What is available are the hot and sometimes lunatic halter bred lines. I’ve cast my net wider to other small breeds or smaller horses and will continue to keep looking under every rock for a hidden gem. The horses I have enquired about lately have issues that the seller thinks is no big deal “mild kissing spine”. I saw an ad that said “Mild kissing spine, but who doesn’t have it these days”. Ummm yeah no thanks. At this age I’m not willing to take a chance on acquiring another pasture pet. Ughh…I’ll just have to believe that if it’s meant to be the right horse will come along.
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I’m sorry. We are sisters in suffering! I perused FB today looking and everything that would be a great fit for me is so expensive. Off-breeds for 35k, horses taught dressage “tricks,” super-green horses. All priced way too high. I’m looking at everything, QHs, Morgans, Arabs, grade.
Three years ago, I had no problem finding a nice, reasonably priced green horse. Not today! Now I wonder if anything will even pass a vet check.
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There are plenty of sport bred Arabians and crosses available regularly (well, “plenty” being a relative term for a breed that has only produced ~2,000 registered foals per year the past few years). But the good ones do get snapped up very quickly. I can think of two very nice geldings off the top of my head I’ve seen ads for recently, one in FL and one in TX, in the $8-10k range. As far as I know, they are both still available.
That’s what I am looking for. There are lots of Arab crosses, mostly with QHs or Paints, very suitable for dressage. Some didn’t make it as WP horses and are transitioned to dressage. I knew one years ago and you would have sworn he was a warmblood. I’ve also seen very different looking Arabs with no dishy face and bigger bone. Nice movers, too.
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I’m admittedly very, very picky regarding bloodlines, color and ability for upper level work. I love the breed and earned my bronze and silver dressage medals on my purebred.
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Sorry I haven’t read the whole thing yet. Have you added yourself to Facebook groups of horses for sale? I’m surprised you can’t find a decent priced horse in B.C. as I see those ads all the time, and our exchange rate is so much in your favour.
Some FB groups:
B.C. Sport Horses
Okanagan Horses and Tack
BC Horses Tack and More
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You can thank those Cowgirl Cadillac auctions for that. Where magikal gypsey cross horses from an amish family you can stand on go for 100k
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Sending you a PM about the one I know of in TX, in case that’s not too far for you.
My FB feed is clogged with ads from the groups I’ve joined! I’m in the Northwest U.S., so British Columbia may work if I find the right horse. Shipping does add at least $1500-$2000 to the price, along with another $1500+ for a pre-purchase.
As someone currently trying to sell a horse, its wild to me to see the disconnect between people looking to buy and those looking to sell. Or maybe its just so different regionally. I live in the Midwest and have a super cute OTTB mare who is on the smaller side, but is happily jumping 2’6 courses and would make a super fun project for either jumpers or dressage, priced in the mid-upper 4s, and my trainer can’t even get anyone out to try her. Of course trying to sell during the winter/around the holidays in the midwest can be difficult. But I see so many people complaining about current prices, but when one that has a good amount of training is offered for less than 5 figures, people don’t even want to come look at it! Not trying to discount everyone’s experience who is currently buying, it just kind of feels like a hard market all around.
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Totally understand. Although I have owned and competed five TBs in dressage, there is a still a prejudice against them, especially if they have raced. If I could find a small, sound TB with the right movement and temperament, I would snap it up. That type is very rare.
Yes, the prejudice against certain breeds for certain disciplines is frustrating. I totally understand that a lot of people may not be a good match for a recently off track or green TB, but one that has had years of retraining and has proven they can do the job? Its very frustrating for those animals to be discounted. Especially since these are the ones that are typically in the price bracket that most people are looking for. I think a lot of people have unrealistic expectations or unfair biases that prevent them from being able to find something in this market.
Obviously not directed specifically at you, @sparkygrace just buyers in general.
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I believe that the vast majority of shoppers these days are not looking for a project. I bought a new horse two years ago. I had no interest whatsoever in looking at anything that was described as “a project.”
It seems to me that the demographics of horse shoppers is increasing shifting to older riders like me. And I think many of us older riders are looking more for “been there done that” than “super fun project.” I also think that when people complain about current prices what they are really complaining about is current prices for those safe, well-trained, been there done that horses. Nice prospects and projects may well be more affordable, but that doesn’t really matter to shoppers who aren’t interested in prospects or projects.
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This is likely true, and that’s what I meant in my last post that I think a lot of buyers have unrealistic expectations. I don’t know anywhere now that you can get a been there done that horse for 4 figures. Depending on discipline, you’re going to be hard pressed to find that for low 5s as well, unless its older or has health issues. But you can potentially find a horse in that price range that is not “finished” but is also not completely green. I’m not sure what the OPs budget is, and I agree that there are definitely some crazy outlandish prices out there, but a “safe, well-trained, been there done that horse” that also passes a PPE is worth its weight in gold and most sellers know that.
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Yes. I didn’t mean to suggest that people ought to be able to find good quality “been there done that” horses for 4 or even low 5 figures and I agree that some buyers do have unrealistic expectations.
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