Where do I even start?? - Horse Shopping

[Hawks_Nest]

This is part gripe and part looking for advice.

I just started looking for my next horse, aiming to find a young (4-6yo) horse to have going for when my other horse steps down, especially since my heart horse has decided that he is done. I’m a former event rider, all of my horsey world contacts are eventers, and I just have no idea where to even start looking for a young talented dressage horse in the states. My dressage trainer will help me if I decide to go abroad (which is a strong possibility).

I’ve got 30k to spend (and can do up to twice that if it is the most amazing match ever made), but as I’ve started browsing, why are so many adds not listed with a price!? I don’t want to have to ask if the horse is even near my price point!! Just give me a price range at least!

Suggestions? Anyone know of some good breeders in new england that might have started horses for sale at a reasonable price?

[Smthn_Like_Olivia]

I would join some of the FB sale groups and post an ISO with your requirements and budget and let them come to you.

[GreyDes]

Have you checked in with Greengate Hanoverians (Rachel Erlich) or Majestic Gaits (Kathy Hickerson)? Both have solid breeding programs and are relatively local.

[alibi_18]

If you want to come to Canada, the DeLys farm in Ulverton has good prospects in your price range.

They are in Wellington with some horses right now.

ETA : The one who’s going to buy Lià ng DeLys will be very lucky. I was there for a few of their win last summer as a scribe. http://www.delys.ca/De_Lys/A_Vendre_Dressage.html

Check on their facebook page as well for more recent videos/photos. They’re really friendly, so do bother to ask.

[joiedevie99]

I’m also shopping right now - broader age range, higher budget, but same issues. Short answer: it’s an absolutely miserable process. You have to chase people for prices and much of the time, for videos. I work with 3 different professionals who are all actively looking for me, and it’s still mostly impossible. I’ve found 2 so far, but both failed the vet. Happy to compare notes and share ideas if you want to message me your email address.

Rolling Stone in PA sometimes has 4 year olds in your price range. Their website is usually up to date.

[beowulf]

Already sent you a PM, but Hof Mendenhall in MA. Love their horses & program. Their website is not up to date as far as I know, but I believe there are a few youngsters currently available.

[Hawks_Nest]

Thanks guys! Waiting to hear back from a breeder friend (guy who bred my heart horse) about more videos of a 6yr old in argentina, so I will keep you guys posted

[xQHDQ]

And regarding not posting prices…FB has decided that they won’t allow horses for sale ads, so people aren’t putting prices because their ads will be taken down.

[GreyDes]

To add to the Facebook ISO suggestion - check out “Dressage Breeders Group”. It has both US and EU breeders and would be a good place for your ISO.

[Samantha37]

I know several people who have bought outstanding young horses from Rolling Rock Farm, but it’s not in New England.

[bip]

@beowulf

Already sent you a PM, but Hof Mendenhall in MA. Love their horses & program. Their website is not up to date as far as I know, but I believe there are a few youngsters currently available.

An HM horse is on my bucket list.

[GraceLikeRain]

Id look at Wally Woo out in Kansas as well. Their youngsters are really reasonably priced.

[inne]

I saw some fantastic horses in that age range and within your budget in Wellington this past December. Of course Wellington prices are often on the higher side, but for me it’s worth it to avoid the hassle of travelling all over the place and see so much at once.

[beowulf]

@bip

An HM horse is on my bucket list.

I am extremely lucky to have one. She is the real deal. :encouragement:

[SillyHorse]

@Smthn_Like_Olivia

I would join some of the FB sale groups and post an ISO with your requirements and budget and let them come to you.

This is how I found my horse. I had to churn past a lot of responses that pretty much ignored my requirements, but once I stopped responding with “Thanks, but…” it was a lot less stressful. I figured if they were going to ignore my requirements I (for example, I required confirmed changes, and actually got a few responses from people wanting to sell me unstarted youngsters!) I didn’t need to respond.

It took about two months, but eventually the right one appeared. I tried two others, horses that met most of my requirements (flexibility is your friend), but this was the one that made me smile from the minute I swung my leg over.

[Joan_from_Flatlands]

Danielle Gavriluk in So Dartmouth MA has always had lovely youngsters she has imported and bred. No idea what she has currently tho. Might be worth reaching out to her.

[CLB15]

Check the NEDA DSHB results to see the breeders represented! I’ve brought personally owned young horses to the sporthorse breed shows the past couple years and the “local” (New England + NY) breeders have young ones out & about, but not always listed for sale online.
The FB crackdown makes posting horses hard (individual posts or whole groups pulled if people post $) but I second or third putting up an ISO.

[Absolut_Equestrian]

@joiedevie99

Short answer: it’s an absolutely miserable process. You have to chase people for prices and much of the time, for videos.

I’m also going through this now, and can absolutely concur. It’s a nightmare trying to track down individual breeders, and beg for video. Then, the breeders complain when Americans go to Europe to shop.

Of course, trustworthy connections in Europe are a valuable asset. To get an idea of quality and pricing to be found there, check out eHorses.com

[SillyHorse]

A search of Warmblood-sales.com in your age range and in New England turned up these:

https://warmblood-sales.com/advance-…=48&bloodline=

[rothmpp]

The pain goes both ways. I had my very nice, very well-priced horse with a pro that I though i could trust to sell. I ended up responding to a bunch of the ISO ads that my horse was a match for, only to hear from more than half of those people that they’d contacted the trainer about my horse and never heard back from the trainer. Trainer was happy to take my full training board every month. Not so excited to sell my horse.