Where do you find the babysitting unicorn?

[lindsay.anne]

We have one. A worth-its-weight-in-gold school horse. The kind that will pack around a 5 year old who is able to begin to learn to trot on their own but also transforms into the perfect beginner canter horse. The kind that will keep on slow trotting along while fireworks are happening behind him. But where do I find another?

Is it just that these horses are so sought after that owners will never be let them go? Or are these the types of horses that run through the auction because maybe they need extra maintenance? Do I need to seek the help of a dealer?

I need to find another one to take the load off our one unicorn, but finding another is proving to NOT be easy. Old, needing extra care, TLC, having a weight limit, whatever is no issue. It will never be jumping, it will only be for the little ones (the future of the sport!). It can take a joke by a little one using a little too much hand to post because theyre just learning, and it will go from the itty bitty legs of a petite 6 year old. The kind that a kid can learn its diagonals but the horse keeps on going. Pony or small horse. How do you find those good as gold schoolies?

Also, what would you expect to pay for a schoolie like this?

Disclaimer: I’m not asking who has one for sale, but rather I feel as though I’m looking in the wrong places. Discouraging, and we want to lighten (the already strictly light) load of our one unicorn.

[I_have_No_Idea_What]

Local C or B level shows. Short Stirrup/Long Stirrup

You will likely get a 15-20 year old big pony/small horse. Not fancy, but very broke.

Expect to spend anywhere between 5-15k

[CHT]

Flat work only semi-retirement home?

Around here they would be either a “free” lease, or very low four figures.

For that you would get a horse owned by someone who boards, and just wants to find their faithful equine a good semi-retirement home so they can avoid paying board on two horses.

In a bad hay year, you may also find them advertised by people who planned to keep them in their pasture, but now can’t legitimize keeping them due to costs.

Another source may be another lesson barn that doesn’t teach beginners, so may have a horse that needs to stop jumping.

A good source of these horses is your vet or farrier…or network through facebook.

[541hunter]

We have multiple of these unicorns at my barn in our school horse program. We paid for two of them – both in the low-4s I believe – and the rest of the 8 were given to us for free or permanently care leased from show homes. They were beloved competition horses who needed to step down to the 2’6" and below and the owners wanted to know they would go somewhere that would take care of them forever. Our barn has a stellar reputation for taking care of the oldies and we have many horses 18+ still competing and happy as clams, so that helps.

Not too long ago, we were looking to replace the best of the bunch, who colicked and had to be put down at 25 (replace is a strong word – it was an impossible task!). I posted a request on our local H/J association facebook page for a good school horse capable of 2’6" and under. We got dozens of calls from people looking for a soft landing for their horses. We ended up with a former GP horse who took a local trainer to her first World Cup qualifier in 2006. He’d been passed around basically all the big show barns in our area as the world’s best babysitter in the jumpers, and finally needed to move out of the 3’ at the age of 20. He’s the perfect teacher for adults and teens learning to canter now, and he still goes to shows to do the .85s and under! We paid exactly $1 for him and he’s worth his weight in gold.

Use your network – you’d be surprised at the quality of older horse that’s out there looking for a home.

[Fig]

For something limited but well broke I agree with others; low four figures. Many are used as lesson or camp horses. I always find Facebook to be the easiest and fastest place to find horses. Looking right now, at the start of winter, will be your best bet as many people are trying to quickly sell or giveaway before being unable to do much riding or not wanting to pay additional board on a horse they won’t use next summer.

[Montanas_Girl]

Find a local breed show barn - QH, Paint, Appy, Arab, whatever you have in your area - and look at older show horses who need a retirement job. These horses have usually seen it all and make excellent babysitters at very affordable prices. They’re small horses/large ponies, which doesn’t intimidate beginners and makes them (generally) more economical to keep. The BEST lesson horses I’ve ever been around were retired reining and/or ranch horses; nothing phases those guys!

[GraceLikeRain]

Find the local Facebook sale groups for your state. In Georgia we have several that seem to almost exclusively have horses for sale under $5,000 or even $2,500. I’d make an ISO for a bombproof packer that is safe for an absolute beginner and not consider anything where you don’t get a video.

If you are even remotely near Georgia I know of one that was on the market as of 2-3 weeks ago. I recommended him to a local therapeutic riding program. He was very reasonably priced and OMG he was the coolest guy ever. The seller had videos of a tiny rider W/T/C out on the trails, going down banks, etc.

[SuzieQNutter]

Mist horses become these unicorns. If you can’t find them, you need to produce your own.

Some come born with it. Some it tales 20 or 30 years!!!

[Against_All_Odds1]

Oh I own a 7 year old unicorn. She was definitely born with it. She has a small arthritic spot on her one hock and will do whatever you ask but would prefer the little girl school horse life of endless treats and chatting in the middle at X with the odd “hey guys! Look at me stand on my horse!” Haha. She’s already in love with my 6 month old. I can’t wait for her to cart my daughter around. I bought her from a slaughter house when she was 16 months old and 2 months pregnant (she slipped the fetus) for $425. She doesn’t get her leads every time, is point and shoot if you are confident, pins on the c circuit and is insured for $5000. She is effectively worthless to the vast majority of majorly, awesomely talented riders on this board. However, She is totally priceless to me for her brilliant mind and honest-to-goodness sweet personality and I’d never sell

Get a mare!

[cazadoreq]

Mine came straight from the track. 4 years old and instantly took to the new life. wtc, leads, jumps anything, no stop or spook. Packs the kids and adult ammies. No one believes shes only 4 *(I forget some days too). This is just who she wants to be. Track life exposes them to so much and they already have the basics.

[costco_muffins]

4H and breed show people. All my unicorns came from 4H kids who moved on to boys.