What kind of horse(s) should an AA buy with $45k

[WW_Queen]

(Asking for a friend!)

Rider friend may be coming into some money in the next year due to a financial windfall. She is currently riding a Training level mare but is competing novice. The opportunity to buy another horse(s) could be on the horizon…

She has access to regular (local BNT) coaching and definitely the possibility to put a horse on training board/have a pro compete the horse.

What would you do? Buy the most experienced horse you could? Import something? Lease something experienced AND buy a youngster to put into training?

(Insert your own different scenario here. )

===> Also the current 14 yo mare could definitely do prelim but is a tricky ride and requires a pretty exact amount of X, Y, Z to each jump (particularly stadium).

[PaintedHunter]

I’d buy the horse I love that can do what I want it to do for the price I can afford. There’s no right answer here. It’s a personal preference. (but I certainly wouldn’t spend the whole windfall at once. Because horses.)

[Xctrygirl]

Read this about 5x or more.

http://eventingconnect.today/2016/12/13/i-over-horsed-my-child-dont-be-stupid-like-me/

Emily

[Pennywell_Bay]

As someone who came into some money:

1. Talk to a financial planner. They will tell her to put 6 months or so expenses away and not touch it. They will help set up college funds and get a retirement fund in place. I get one from my job, including 2 pensions and still set up additional accounts.

2. Figure out what she wants. Just because she came into a “windfall” doesn’t mean she should blow 45K on a horse. Think realistically and budgetary. Before the windfall- what was the top range she was looking at?

Of course saying that isn’t any “fun” and certainly we all like to dream. I did stuff like- replaced my furnace, put money away for taxes (she may owe taxes on her “windfall”) redid my fencing. For fun I did have my barn interior redone, but I price shopped.

I’d caution not to blow all the money at once (saying this I have no clue how much she is getting).

[Pennywell_Bay]

Just to clarify- I don’t consider mine a windfall. My father died and I’d give back even new stall door, grill and fencepost to change it.

[ladyj79]

I would spend as little as possible on purchase price. You can get spectacular prices on eventers, especially since your friend is only riding novice at present.

My former trainer (significant international experience) sold her personal horse for 15k as a nine year old because it was recommended by vet he not continue beyond prelim.

If your friend wants to ride I certainly hope she doesn’t just buy something for the pro to compete unless that’s really what she wants to do from the get go.

[Ibex]

It would depend on her goals and her skill level, as well as how much time she has to ride daily.

It could be something that if she doesn’t want to go up the levels has the temperament and gaits to also be a dressage horse. If she does want to go up, it would well spend on the purchase or lease of a packer that will give her the confidence and skills she needs, plus potentially a young horse coming up behind said packer. And if she goes that route, can she ride two a day, or would the youngster have to go into training, and is she ok with that?

[WW_Queen]

I have forwarded her the link to this thread w/ all the above advice, thanks!

[Mango20]

I’m pretty sure I’d never buy a horse with the intention of having a pro compete it. Maybe that’s something I’d do if I was a rich old lady who no longer rode, but for now, that’s not going to happen.

If I had $45k to suddenly spend on horses, I think I’d buy a young prospect for way less than that, then spend the remainder to take more lessons/clinics with my current horse, and enter as many competitions as I wanted with her. Your friend still has room to grow with her current horse, and can be bringing along her next horse at the same time.

That’s just me, though, and her goals might be different. Maybe she wants to buy a schoolmaster ready to go at a higher level and avoid the hard work to get a young horse, or her difficult horse, there.

[2DogsFarm]

IIWM & 45K was the whole ball of wax, I’d shop for something that’s BTDT at the level she’s riding but more in the 20-30K range.
Then budget the rest for training and showing, board & (of course) any unexpected ZOMG! expense*.

*the kind that any horseowner knows lurks just around the corner.

[WW_Queen]

The $45k was a flexible number; all of the fixed costs + “unexpected” are already factored in.

[[She notes: “The windfall was purely through investments. All other financial considerations have been accounted for.”]]

We typically chat over Google Hangouts (she is based in another city these days) but longtime friends. Her aspirations are 1. Have fun 2. Do a CIC*/CCI*

[Highflyer]

If the goal is to do a one star (not necessarily win the dressage at a one star, but put in three solid, respectable phases), I’d look for a nice horse in roughly the 8-12 year old range with solid Prelim mileage and be willing to be a smidge flexible on age and height and gender and breed and stuff like cribbing. I wouldn’t say there are thousands of them but it should be reasonably doable to find something in that price range that has decent flatwork and is a good, safe reliable jumper and experienced and brave and fun to ride.

[pheasantknoll]

Looking for a 1*, I’d import from uk/Europe. Horses who are already competing at the level, but can’t move up have to be sold under BE point system. This creates a favorable market for buyers.

Or, I’d buy mine:)

[SnicklefritzG]

Never spend more than you can afford to flush down the toilet if you had to.

[Meredith_Clark]

I’d buy a level headed, fun to be around, OTTB that’s already been restarted and has some miles (under 10k) and then put money into lessons, clinics, training board maybe with a trainer I trust. Then I’d put money into going to shows, having celebratory dinners after those shows (regardless of placing), buy myself a comfy saddle… etc.

In other words, I would NOT spend 45k on a horse.

[asterix]

I’d buy a nice horse that was solid at training and headed towards being a packer XC. Good gaits so I could do straight dressage up through third level, sensible enough that I can hack out alone and maybe fox hunt. I’d expect to take a while to get to prelim but have fun doing it.
I bet you could find a horse like that under 12 for 30k.

[frugalannie]

She can come and buy ANYTHING in my barn for that!

[Ajierene]

It depends on the long term aspects.

If I were looking for “one star tomorrow”, I would buy an upper level horse that was stepping down. I would be willing to put up with some maintenancy issues for packer guaranteed to get me around cross country.

If I were looking for “most likely but give it a bit” then I would go with asterix’s suggestion of a horse confirmed at Training and packer quality.

If I were looking for “someday but enjoy the journey” I may be tempted to buy a young OTTB or other prospect and have a good trainer help me bring it along.

Me personally…I would buy this gelding that’s still racing (last I checked) that I just adore, as well as a horse in my barn that I adore and ride them both, along with mine…that’s assuming I have time to ride but then again that racing horse is about 10 now and buying him is just so I can guarantee him a life of leisure.

[yellowbritches]

The kind that best suits the riders needs and desires. Not everyone wants a made horse, while not everyone wants to deal with a greenie. 45k can get you a good horse (or two) either way.

[elizabeth_Callahan]

Or to quote Kim Meier 'What most riders need is a $1000 horse and $10000 of lessons"