Not to mention continuing to pay those expenses once daughter leaves for school if you can’t sell it OR what if it gets hurt?
The plus with leasing is if it gets hurt it’s not your forever problem, once you own it there’s a possibility it’s yours for life
i know leasing for 3 years might not be in the budget but once you own one and shovel money at it when something goes wrong… you look back and realize that leasing was the cheaper option (I’ve done this a few too many times)
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sending you a PM
Can’t you help her change her goals? Doing the Big Eq requires a six figure horse. A horse that jumps around 3’6 easily with a flat jump that won’t unseat the non releasing riders has had a lot of money put into it. There is no getting around what an industry this division has become. If your budget is low (although it is probably more money than 6 out of ten Americans have in their savings accounts) perhaps you don’t have a healthy budget for horse shows. Do you have a decent local circuit? Could she make up a Thoroughbred and make it a goal to have a nice horse that is really well schooled at the end? Can she just do the jumpers but make sure her horse is as well schooled as possible and the jumps are beautifully ridden because she has done her homework?
Yes, I am jaded. I have seen your situation happen so many times. Kids can have National goals with Pony Finals on a $15000 green pony. It is really hard to have National goals on a $15000 horse when the Junior years are coming to a close. She can always have horses in her life and if she knows how to ride really, really well, it will help her buy the more difficult horses later on and be able to make them into something.
Good luck!
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I was in your shoes many moons back (well, your daughter’s shoes) and we ended up with a 15.3H TB mare who came out of an eventing barn. We did NOT cross over into the Equitation but she was good enough for me to be very successful in the High Children’s and Low Junior Jumpers (competitive at indoors). So, you will likely sacrifice size and age… I tend to agree with others that the equitation (at least the 3’6 equitation) is really for the uber-wealthy as it requires such a specific type/quality horse ($$$).
That said, there are horses out there… I just saw an ad for a very well bred small chestnut mare… She is 14, so prepare yourself for more maintenance costs than say, a 7-year-old… but you might find something.
I also like the idea of trying to part lease something quality from an amateur who maybe doesn’t have the time or finances to go full in for a show year. I am that amateur today… LOVELY young horse but I don’t have the time or necessarily the drive to want to be out chasing points. If there were a great riding kid who kept said horse in a program, I would be happy to let them go show etc. and be the proud owner on the sidelines.
Good luck!
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I would look for something that is doing eventing now. Perhaps a TB that has proven it will jump the natural jumps and has a decent foundation in dressage (flatwork) that could likely step into the jumpers now and polish up to be competitive in the eq next year. I would compromise on the fanciness, knowing that you can make a very plain looking horse appear pretty damn “fancy” spending quality time with a curry comb and a rub rag, nicely maintained tack and a GOOD RIDE. This has the additional benefit of building excellent horsemanship along the way 
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Doing the big eq does not. Winning the big eq… well, it sure doesn’t hurt to be sitting on San Remo VDL.
I learned a lot in the big eq on a 15.2 1/2 ISH jumper who is exactly the profile I posted upthread- safe, sane, sensible, and correct, not fancy, an ex-eventer. We routinely qualified and/or got ribbons at state medal finals and although we didn’t light the world on fire in the national classes, I don’t ride that well anyway. A barnmate went to Harrisburg and just missed the cut at Maclay Regionals on another ISH who had come from the same event barn as my horse. Another barnmate did the big eq on her 15.2" Thoroughbred jumper mare. I know how much my horse and the jumper mare cost, and it was definitely nowhere near six figures for either (I got a bargain. )
If the OP’s goal is to get valuable equitation experience and go around respectably, she needs a horse with the scope to jump around 3’6", an adjustable stride, a good brain, and good flatwork. You can make the stride to some extent and you can make the flatwork, but you have to buy the scope and the brain- and it can be found for a lot less than 6 figures.
Also, there is no such thing as a horse who jumps too hard for the equitation. I am paraphrasing Missy Clark. She’d know.
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You are absolutely right and like I said, I am jaded. Seeing so many kids move off their reasonably priced ponies that they made up and took to PF and then watching them deal with the price tags of WB’s because you know “TB’s are crazy and can’t jump 3’6” has clearly stomped on my optimism. Thank you Renn for your hopeful and valid perspective.
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Leaving aside the abject nonsense about scope and the Thoroughbred horse, and carefully not repeating any of the many things I have said about warmbloods as I remember your wonderful Archie (is he still with us?)… you know my motto is buy Irish!
In seriousness, you have a good point about realistic goals. At the price point the OP is talking about, there’s some degree of making up to do on whatever horse she buys- whether that’s bringing something young up to the level or teaching an eventer or foxhunter to go a little differently. That is a different educational objective than bringing along the rider and it does make it more difficult for this rider and her cohort to get to finals this year. If the rider just wants to do it for the experience and is clear in her head that going to Harrisburg may not be a realistic goal, then great- she’s set. Otherwise, it would be prudent for Mom and trainer to have this conversation with daughter and focus her on reachable goals for her level and the level of whatever horse they buy.
Another area of compromise for the OP- You are looking for a horse with a hole in it. Find the holes you can live with. Maintenance, manners, not a bay with chrome. Example: I tried one that took a kid to Harrisburg in the eq, jumped well enough to be a believable junior hunter, but which was $20k. Couple reasons. One, it was nasty in the barn (big, threw its weight around, bit, pushy.) Two, it needed some physical maintenance, though nothing crazy. Three, it was positively the ugliest horse I have ever seen in my life. I joked that if I bought it I would have to name it Radio Star, as in “Video killed the.” It was way too educated for me and couldn’t take enough of a joke, but somebody else got a great equitation horse for a good deal there. This was 15 years ago, but an example of the kind of issues that can bring an otherwise qualified horse into your price range, and which you can think about dealing with.
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Yes, I agree with the above poster that said - what a wonderful Mom.
I don’t have any suggestions, sorry… just here to support your love for your daughter and her passion. I have that passion and wanted to show as a kid, didn’t have the family support or finances… living that passion now as a + 50 rider and you are 100% correct that I wish I was introduced to running… ha ha… it is an incredibly expensive sport at those levels that are set aside for the wealthy. And sometimes us hard working struggling families!!!
Good luck in finding the right horse for her!
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Is a horse that has the physical and mental capability of doing a three foot six course that rare? Until about three feet, a horse is just striding over a fence. Yes, obviously a horse needs the appropriate training, etc,to bring it on to be able to go around a course, but I am struggling to take on board that a horse that can jump three foot six around a course is such a rare find. Maybe I am just wrong.
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Considering most trainers want (and rightly so) a horse to go from 2’6/2’9,3,3’3 to 3’6 and do it in a slow and steady way to attempt to produce a confident, capable and happy horse who softly canters between the jumps, and can easily jump the 3’6 from a tight distance or even (gasp) a miss, yes, a horse that does the 3’6 is hard to find if you do not have a $$$ budget.
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But why? If jumping is just flat work with fences in between ( as is often said) and if many horses have the physical capability to do that height with a rider, why so rare? Is it because flat work is skimped and the horses do not have good basics? Only certain heights begin to require a jump, rather than striding over. A carefully produced horse will never have been overfaced and will gain confidence. An overfaced or rushed horse-- yes, I can see them not being able to go around a course. Like I said, maybe I am just wrong. I am just curious/puzzled at why so rare at this height.
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Have you watched many Maclay final trips? They show the ideal. Perhaps if you look at what the class requires, it will help you see why it is hard to get a horse to that level because time and money.
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Horses can heave themselves over jumps. Some, no, they are not athletic enough to get over a 3’6 without clobbering it… whether it is because they have dangling legs or don’t jump with any effort or forget their hind end and take the poles with them or have the brain of a nervous nelly 2yo and spook at the slightest change of scenery (or jump) - yes, these can all be potentially “fixed”, but some horses just don’t have the conformation or ability to get it done. Even if you do get a horse that can jump around a 3’6 “good enough” to keep most jumps up that doesn’t mean they will look good doing it. Your winner is not going to be one that has to be ran down to the jumps, that has to heave-ho to make it over unseating the rider, etc. Now, for jumping, while they don’t have to make it look as effortless but they do have to be able to do things quickly and be handy enough to make the turns and get their body out of the way to clear the jumps. Not all horses are capable or willing to do that - and to get them to the point where they do it well enough to compete, that is a lot of time/effort/money involved. Much more than getting a horse prepped for 2’6 and 3’. It is why there is a plethora of 3’ and under horses… not everyone is made to be a 3’6+ rider just like not every horse is made to be a 3’6+ horse.
Jumping is not “just” flatwork between fences. Yes, flatwork is incredibly important… but how the horse goes over the jump is also very important. I also agree that you need to watch some videos. A horse free jumping vs a horse competing over an entire course with a rider at the top levels… two different animals there.
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Is your daughter tied to a particular barn?
Finding a horse to half-lease may be your best bet, and looking at some other barns/trainers will open up those options.
In terms of a purchase, I echo the recommendations to look outside the H/J world. With your timelines, an eventer may work. Event price tags tend to be lower, and there are some progress-limiting factors in eventing that could still work for you. There are some nice horses that are simply not terribly convinced that they should be jumping into water, jumping over ditches, or may just be a bit less brave overall. Bravery is definitely relative, and the same horse can excel in the H/J world where the jumping takes place in a ring and the jumps have less diversity. You’ll need to look at the horse’s record - I’d accept something that often has one stop on XC, but not something that has had to retire or been eliminated frequently.
Going to Canada will also help. You get a 25-30% increase in your budget.
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One thing NOT to sacrifice is the trainer on this one. When you have a limited budget, their commission is worth every penny. For a really fearless kid, a “quirky” but talented horse may be a compromise you can make. For a kid who broke her collarbone last year in a fall, that may be the worst kind of horse and you’d be better off going with something that is super reliable but may be older and doesn’t vet perfectly. Your trainer will know best, and you’ll probably look at a number of horses with very different things “wrong” with them.
I’m thinking of two horses that fit the bill, sadly neither are currently for sale. One of them is older, doesn’t vet, and requires maintenance, but is very well suited to the job, both big eq and jumpers. She’s a tall, beautiful, well-bred warmblood - things I would tell you in theory are the first things to compromise on. She’s a bit hot, a touch quirky, but safe. She sold for low fives to a super confident kid, and with maintenance has stayed sound. The other is a perfect saint of a horse, but is the ugliest thing I have ever laid eyes on, and of … unconventional breeding. Is he a horse? A mule? An emu? Jury’s out, but he jumps like a freak and wins A LOT. Also low fives, to a beautifully riding kid who is just a touch more timid. These horses were not advertised for sale but were brought into our barn by our trainer just through their connections with other trainers in the area, who were comfortable knowing their good horses were going into a good program.
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I have to agree with the Irish comment. The OP needs to clarify with her daughter and trainer what the goals are. Does she have aspirations of the BIG Eq or is she wanting to do the Zone equitation medals. If the later the goal is much more attainable, OP won’t be foregoing college tuition and 2nd mortgages to fund such goals… and can find a horse much easier to reach those goals.
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Never more than pipe dreams for me… but maybe this teenager’s dreams can come true.
Your so right here…
And Sunflower, maybe not that rare if you have 200,000.00 or so. Most horses can jump 3’ but above that, it changes.
And I will tell you from the last year of showing - I have been competing in 3’ and at the show, my friends and I say the jumps sure are bigger at horse shows!! In the Jumpers the oxers are spread pretty wide…
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