Where to find higher level, quality dressage horse

[Roni4444]

@Cat Tap

Are you familiar with Esther Mortimer at M2dressage? They are in Ontario and often have well trained horses for sale.

No, but I will check her out! Thanks!

[Roni4444]

@pluvinel

You just made my point…EXACTLY!!!

When you tell someone your “budget,” the horses’ price will magically be EXACTLY your budget.

I am confident enough in what I want in a horse that I don’t work thru intermediaries or agents and prefer to deal with the seller. Most good horses are never advertised.

Products have prices. Good sellers know this. If a seller wants to know your “budget” first…(s)he wants to price the animal at your budget point.

I also get the feeling that a lot of the better horses aren’t advertised and was hoping to get tips on how to locate them here. I have gotten some good feedback and am looking into those sources! I know what I am looking for and what will work for me. And I prefer knowing the price of a horse before I spend time looking at it or discussing it - or before I share my budget!

[Roni4444]

@netg

So I assume low 6 figures to be in the $100-$150k type of range. I agree that’s a healthy budget (and again - I am making an assumption based on the OP not wanting to give exact details, understandably.)

It isn’t, however, a budget which will cover all horses as described. You can easily find horses as described in a $250k-$500k range. Who have been pre-screened to know they’ll pass your vet check, lots of experience, nice movement. Horses who appear certain to be international competitors will be out of that range, but that’s a more than healthy budget. At lower 6 figures, you can find horses who are not as clearly advertised who are really well trained by someone who isn’t as well known. You can find horses who are with trainers who ride with the named trainers, more easily than horses with the trainers themselves. It depends on level of fancy. I don’t have regional/national aspirations, and don’t care if I ride a horse with the kind of movement who could do that (I get to sometimes, but not my own horses!), so for me low 6 figures would be above what I needed to spend for a horse doing those levels at a young age, and if I had it available I also wouldn’t share my limit, hoping to find something for less but willing to spend what it took for the horse who is just the right match for me.

Anyway, I think it’s a pretty reasonable request and budget - good luck to you, OP. I still think contacting the specific trainers whose riding you most admire will be a really good start for you.

Thanks! I am not looking for international quality or show experience. I mainly want a correctly trained horse that is athletic and a great “dancing” partner. As I am not interested in showing, I am more than willing to accept a few “flaws”, “beauty” issues or a horse that needs additional training with certain movements. I just dont want to go with a horse again that hasn’t shown and worked with an aptitude to collect. I would like to see quick enough hind legs and ability to carry and then I would be less concerned if the horse is at 3rd level.

[BigMama1]

Did somebody upthread already mention Tina and Jaimey Irwin / Stoney Creek Equestrian? They just posted a very cute I1 schoolmaster for sale on Facebook.

[alibi_18]

@wBigMama1

Did somebody upthread already mention Tina and Jaimey Irwin / Stoney Creek Equestrian? They just posted a very cute I1 schoolmaster for sale on Facebook.

I did but it bears repeating. They really are friendly and good trainers.

[atlatl]

@pluvinel

My comments in blue

Your psychic powers are truly amazing. Please reveal the winning lottery numbers for this week.

Each time I bought a horse in the scenario I described, the price was well within my budget and I was, and still am, very happy with the horses which were as represented by the sellers.

No “trap”, no feeling “inferior”, just professional sales encounters. In the situations where the horse was out of my budget and there was no negotiating room, I thanked them for their time and moved on.

Apparently your experiences have been different, that’s a shame.

[pluvinel]

@atlatl

Your psychic powers are truly amazing. Please reveal the winning lottery numbers for this week.

Each time I bought a horse in the scenario I described, the price was well within my budget and I was, and still am, very happy with the horses which were as represented by the sellers.

No “trap”, no feeling “inferior”, just professional sales encounters. In the situations where the horse was out of my budget and there was no negotiating room, I thanked them for their time and moved on.

Apparently your experiences have been different, that’s a shame.

No “psychic” powers here…I wish.

I was just pointing out that someone saying “you cannot afford this xxxx” is a well known sales technique.

And no need for shame for me. I have walked out of car dealers for exactly the same reasons.

[Dee-Vee]

RCMP auction is fall 2018. http://www.rcmp-f.ca/english/news/horse-auction/

You can get a nice well-bred Hannovarian Mountie horse within your budget.

Check out the catalogues from previous years, plus all the sale prices are posted…so you have an idea of what will be available.

Keep in mind the RCMP often sells because of colour…no chestnuts or bays. Black with minimum white is preferred. Stock is culled for these reasons or unsuitability for the musical ride. Which means that they can go on to wonderful careers.

Talking about RCMP, check with Laprise stables in Quebec Canada…home to Sir Wannabi a cull from the RCMP program because of colour thrown. SW babies are known to be ammy friendly plus oodles of talent. His progeny often move better in the dressage ring than he does. If I were interested in breeding, Sir Wannabi would be my choice. There are a number of stables in the Ottawa (Canada) area that have SW offspring for sale within your budget.

[alibi_18]

@Dee-Vee

RCMP auction is fall 2018. http://www.rcmp-f.ca/english/news/horse-auction/

You can get a nice well-bred Hannovarian Mountie horse within your budget.

Check out the catalogues from previous years, plus all the sale prices are posted…so you have an idea of what will be available.

Keep in mind the RCMP often sells because of colour…no chestnuts or bays. Black with minimum white is preferred. Stock is culled for these reasons or unsuitability for the musical ride. Which means that they can go on to wonderful careers.

Talking about RCMP, check with Laprise stables in Quebec Canada…home to Sir Wannabi a cull from the RCMP program because of colour thrown. SW babies are known to be ammy friendly plus oodles of talent. His progeny often move better in the dressage ring than he does. If I were interested in breeding, Sir Wannabi would be my choice. There are a number of stables in the Ottawa (Canada) area that have SW offspring for sale within your budget.

This is really not what the OP is looking for.

Great horses at the RCMP but far from trained at the level expected. They also mainly sell youngsters.

SW babies are more for the hunter ring.

[Dee-Vee]

@alibi_18

This is really not what the OP is looking for.

Great horses at the RCMP but far from trained at the level expected. They also mainly sell youngsters.

SW babies are more for the hunter ring.

Unless you know what your options are, then you do not know what the possibilities are. Why wouldn’t one want to be aware of these things??

Totally disagree with you on SW. He is being promoted as hunter mainly because that is the discipline of his barn and owner and that is the market she chooses to pursue. There are a number of SW babies who have jaw dropping movement in the dressage ring. His babies tend to improve on him in dressage movement and for that reason a number of breeders in my area are breeding to him for dressage babies. Of course…you always gets what you gets despite how you put your program together…yes, you can always get a hunter…or a jumper. That’s the luck of breeding rather than buying ready made.

But thanks for your opinion anyway…

[alibi_18]

@Dee-Vee

Unless you know what your options are, then you do not know what the possibilities are. Why wouldn’t one want to be aware of these things??

Totally disagree with you on SW. He is being promoted as hunter mainly because that is the discipline of his barn and owner and that is the market she chooses to pursue. There are a number of SW babies who have jaw dropping movement in the dressage ring. His babies tend to improve on him in dressage movement and for that reason a number of breeders in my area are breeding to him for dressage babies. Of course…you always gets what you gets despite how you put your program together…yes, you can always get a hunter…or a jumper. That’s the luck of breeding rather than buying ready made.

But thanks for your opinion anyway…

Have you even read this thread?

[Silverbridge]

If someone really wants to explore purchasing a 2018 Mercedes, the car-shopping advice of friends and relatives who’ve recently purchased 2018 Audis and BMWs at dealerships is more relative than that of their knowitall neighbor who proudly walked away from a 2008 Honda because the ad on Craigslist lied about the car.

[pluvinel]

@Roni4444

I also get the feeling that a lot of the better horses aren’t advertised and was hoping to get tips on how to locate them here. I have gotten some good feedback and am looking into those sources! I know what I am looking for and what will work for me. And I prefer knowing the price of a horse before I spend time looking at it or discussing it - or before I share my budget!

Roni…my suggestion is to go to clinics given by people you respect see what is out there and put the word out that you are looking. Talk to people and let them know what you are interested in.

I have sold 2 horses out of clinics where I was riding in. People came up to me to say how much they liked my horse and I said, “He is for sale.” One thing led to another, I left the horse at the barn holding the clinic for a trial (I knew the barn owner) and he was sold.

Another, I was at a lesson, a person saw use and the instructor said “He is for sale.” I left the horse at the instructor’s barn for trial, and he never came home…he sold.

Finally, I was a rider at at Charles DeKunffy clinic at Hassler Dressage Riveredge and one of the people in the audience came up to me to ask if the horse I was riding in the clinic was for sale. He was NOT for sale…and I said so.

So don’t be shy…your budget is ‘non-trivial.’ There might be people willing to part with a horse that interests you…if you just ask.

I friend of mine drove Carol Lavell to the airport after a clinic. She offered that she had been offered $1 million of Gifted…her reply was he was not for sale. So you never know. I person may or may not sell you their horse…but it never hurts to ask.

[Dee-Vee]

@alibi_18

Have you even read this thread?

bits and prices, thanks much. But I kinda believe the OP can weigh in on her thoughts, not the thread police. She can disregard should she please.

[atlatl]

@pluvinel

…

I was just pointing out that someone saying “you cannot afford this xxxx” is a well known sales technique.

…

No, this is what you wrote:

Well, then you fell into the trap of “what is your budget”.

It was not an overt “what is your budget”… just stated another way to make you feel inferior…“you can’t afford this horse.” It gets you to play the game.

So you gave a dollar amount just to “show them” and magically the horse was priced at that amount.

Own it.

[alibi_18]

@Dee-Vee

bits and prices, thanks much. But I kinda believe the OP can weigh in on her thoughts, not the thread police. She can disregard should she please.

Then I’m just gonna suggest the OP to look for that nice margarita cocktail kit : https://www.barproducts.com/margarita-cocktail-kit

That’s the most relevant post so far as the OP will need a drink or two to go through all this…

Cheers !

[Roni4444]

@pluvinel

Roni…my suggestion is to go to clinics given by people you respect see what is out there and put the word out that you are looking. Talk to people and let them know what you are interested in.

I have sold 2 horses out of clinics where I was riding in. People came up to me to say how much they liked my horse and I said, “He is for sale.” One thing led to another, I left the horse at the barn holding the clinic for a trial (I knew the barn owner) and he was sold.

Another, I was at a lesson, a person saw use and the instructor said “He is for sale.” I left the horse at the instructor’s barn for trial, and he never came home…he sold.

Finally, I was a rider at at Charles DeKunffy clinic at Hassler Dressage Riveredge and one of the people in the audience came up to me to ask if the horse I was riding in the clinic was for sale. He was NOT for sale…and I said so.

So don’t be shy…your budget is ‘non-trivial.’ There might be people willing to part with a horse that interests you…if you just ask.

I friend of mine drove Carol Lavell to the airport after a clinic. She offered that she had been offered $1 million of Gifted…her reply was he was not for sale. So you never know. I person may or may not sell you their horse…but it never hurts to ask.

Great suggestion! We do have a number of very good clinics in my area. I actually used to be on the East Coast and audited a few CdK clinics at Hasslers! I love Charles! How lucky you are to have ridden with him!!

[Roni4444]

@alibi_18

Then I’m just gonna suggest the OP to look for that nice margarita cocktail kit : https://www.barproducts.com/margarita-cocktail-kit

That’s the most relevant post so far as the OP will need a drink or two to go through all this…

Cheers !

LOL - I hunkered down and have received a number of VERY good suggestions and leads! Hey, being involved with horses is not for the faint of heart - for many reasons!!

[iberianfan]

Just to add to the confusion, Yvonne Barteau has posted a horse, Carera. May or may not be what you are looking for. I know nothing about it, but a friend shared the ad on my FB page. Good luck to you!!

[ToN_Farm]

@iberianfan

Just to add to the confusion, Yvonne Barteau has posted a horse, Carera. May or may not be what you are looking for. I know nothing about it, but a friend shared the ad on my FB page. Good luck to you!!

I found a May 2017 ad for this horse on Dreamhorse. It’s been deleted, but cache has it. 150k. I’ll bet that Barteau ups the price. He’s a 2007 so I would consider him an 11 year old at this point.