Where did you buy your last jumper prospect?

[tohorse]

I’ve been looking for a mare 2-6 years old with some preference for backed / lightly broken. I’m focusing predominantly on WBs but wouldn’t mind the right OTTB either. I’d hope that eventually the horse would have the scope to do something between 1.20-1.40, but realise that there are no guarantees and most of the time at this age you can at best tell when a horse is unlikely to make it that high (due to soundness/scope/technique). Looking at a fully loaded cost comparable to importing (confident I could get a good deal (high fours, low fives) with my connections back home, but am parking it due to travel restrictions).

I’ve been looking locally for a couple of months and I have to say that it feels like pretty slim pickings (US East Coast). I’m looking at facebook ads, the traditional sites like dreamhorse, warmblood sales and so on, but all my leads so far have come from either personal connection (horse at a barn), owners of auctioned horses (another animal not listed) or an agent. Sadly as much as I liked some none have worked out so far and I’m basically looking for ideas of where else to look. Where did you buy your last horse from? Who made that intro?

[SugarCubes]

PMing you

[gertie06]

My last prospect came from my trainer’s network. I think that’s pretty typical. Do you have a pro who’s network you could tap into?

I feel like the best ones get networked before they ever get advertised.

[findeight]

Those sites are really better for attracting buyers for well started horses with some show experience, not prospects. And how far are you willing to travel? Try your local area trainers and breeders, if they don’t have one, they probably can direct you to somebody in their network who does.

Keep in mind this a challenging time. Some mid level trainers/dealers have pulled prospect types off the market until spring as they have found the prospect buyer pool pretty dried up due to economic concerns and unwilling to travel much, they are putting buying a prospect off until spring. IIWY Id wait too, suspect it will be a buyers market in the near future for this type horse. Wait until winter gets closer if not until spring.

[hairystockings]

Our barn has been buying prospects from Martin Leh with Equisale overseas. He runs a great business and has tons of nice prospects. One of the ones we have he bred also so he knew it for its whole life and when he has had them for less time he is as honest as he can be with what he knows about the horse. Our trainer has found him easy to communicate with and to explain your wants and desires along with budget and he works to find something that fits and lets you know when he thinks he has it, sends good videos. You can find him on facebook and youtube for examples of for sale and sold horses. He is good at working with a range of budgets too. We’ve purchased from $16-30k all in with import from him (and he coordinates the whole thing). We currently have 4 horses in the barn from him and would certainly go back for more. Jumpers and hunters. We find the quality of what we can get for him for the price tag to be something we cannot find here in the US, and that was not for a lack of effort here. It took us 6+ months of one amateur shopping all over the US trying to find a fit for her before we got it from him instead.

Our trainer has formed a relationship with him over the years but the first contact she made just by seeing one she liked on youtube. You can directly contact him online and start talking if you’re a serious buyer.

[GoodTimes]

Since you’re looking for something younger than I’d reach out to breeders in your area. Even if they don’t have something that works for you, they may know if a horse they bred will be for sale again in the next while. They may also be able to put you in touch will a trainer or a few who buys prospects and re-sells once they’re going.

[licketysplit]

I purchased directly from the breeder in FL.

[vangus19]

I purchased directly from the breeder (Flying One Ranch in Saskatchewan). They had/have many unstarted young horses and at great prices. I also ended up with a foal recently from them😬. Edited to add that the quality of the horses are great.

[SilverDragon]

I purchased from Wild Turkey farm and Spy Coast farm.

[weixiao]

I bought mine from the breeder here in the US. She was advertised on the warmblood-sales website.

[Pandora1087]

Off the track. The one I just retired i got in his 3 yo year. He had bowed a tendon. Rehabbed correctly and never an issue. I just got another one from a thoroughbred aftercare. He is 3 coming 4. We shall see what he becomes. With an OTTB you know he has been backed.