I am over 50 and have done both. I bought a 4 year old who was amazing by the time he was seven–but ages 4-6 I cried a lot. I also have a high stress, busy job. He sadly and unexpectedly passed. When I was ready to get another horse I went for the experienced route because I didn’t have the energy or heart to go through another 2-3 years of a young horse. That was the right decision for me, just have a horse to enjoy things on.
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Entirely unnecessary, and ridiculous. Just wow.
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This past week I did get to ride two very experienced horses.
Not sure how much their experience factored in, but just riding those horses was a lot of fun and reminded me what a different feeling it is to ride a different horse.
And confirmed to me the idea to find my little mare a more fitting home (and me a new partner). I had her since she was newly under saddle and now jumps a 1 m course (on a good day), so there are many good experiences to take along. I think she will be happier to stick around .80, unless she has a really good rider.
I would have taken the second horse I tried home, tbh. And might, if I can convince trainer its a good amateur horse… Though I guess it would be more reasonable to try a few more horses 
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Good decision but realize we want updates 
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Hi Everyone,
Back again… So, soon I will have some real time for horse hunting.
I am wondering to those who were advocating the BTDT horse, how old would you go?
14, 15, 16?
At competitions were I live, I recently looked at the ages of the horses in the jumper classes, and it seems pretty common up to 18 (even a 20yr old won a 115cm class!). But obviously that is the exception.
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I think it is totally dependent on you, the horse in question, and your goals.
Check out this thread that has plenty of amazing examples of horses 15 and older still doing the “bigger stuff” : Age for horses to stop jumping?
I personally bought a 17yo who had up to 1.40 experience and couldn’t be happier with my decision. If your budget isn’t unlimited, sometimes going a bit older helps get it done for the right figure.
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This. Also in my 40’s… we don’t bounce as easily and it’s much more frustrating.
FWIW, I left one out in an exercise the other day, fell off over low fences, and came back a few days later and jumped around a normal 3’ hunter course bc the steady horse didn’t care. It’s a relief to know that I’m the head case in the partnership and if I can get over myself, we are always destined to do wonderfully.
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This depends on if you will need to sell him on or are able to step down as he does and have a retirement plan when the time comes.
Keep in mind medical insurance is very limited or non existent after age 17.
Depends on your honest evaluation of your situation. Depends on finding the perfect horse for that situation too. If you find it, it will be be a perfect age.
You might want to look at leasing too…older Ammy friend went to a winter circuit show to try something to buy. Trued a bunch and then was offered a ride on a 16ish campaigner who was stepping down and not for sale just to feel the ride. Amazing, rode like a MB. Few months later, still had not found anything.
They get a call and were offered a lease on the older gentleman, snapped it up. When they got the paperwork including his show name, it was jaw dropping. World Cup horse.
Trainer networking found and got her that horse so they are out there. Fact this one was mid teens and below the “desired” height plus the fact he was never advertised put him right in her lap. Developing the right contacts yourself and using trainers with a great network can increase chances of finding that perfect match…especially if, on paper it is not a match or not even the horse you went to see.
Often you find the best ones when you aren’t really looking.
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Insurance is region dependent or more of “who you know” - at least in 2020. I insured a 19 year old horse for major medical and full mortality.
I used James Klein Insurance Services Inc.
@Chestnut24 - my eventing barn has old campaigners 17 yrs + who are competing training / prelim level and higher for various clients.
Horses are a bit of a crap shoot, no one can guarantee and age that will “last longer”. I’d say you can also look into leasing an schoolmaster, but if you really want to own - have a facility that is excellent care & step up your conditioning of the “older animal” (staff on premise, bremer, ice boots, chiro access, good senior style feed, turnout with hills, somewhere to do walk only rides outside of an arena, etc.)
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To me, thats limited medical, especially if those are lifetime caps. why does it say policy cancelled?
Yeah, I mean that is how insurance works. you’re not going to get some high value that you would for something younger, but it would cover most medical treatments that are reasonable to perform and the horse continue working in the intended capacity.
Anything above that cost, you’d have a savings account for and or retire the animal or euthanize.
I suppose what you are saying is that you cannot expect insurance to cover like it would cover a 9 year old Dutch WB with great bloodlines and a short, but positive show record - yeah totally true
That’s how I found my guy! Trainer with excellent connections, he was never advertised. I feel very fortunate to have him.
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It helped the owners felt the horse enjoyed competing BUT did not want him overused or passed around a barn hence never referred to his past record or used his show name. Friend was also a perfect match, she was delighted jumping around 1m and had the grin on her face to prove it.
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Royalty living in anonymity!
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There are some really well-loved, well-taken care of horses (with maintenance) that can go a LONG time at the 1m/1.1m who are 16 years+.
I think part of this depends on how often you plan to lesson and how often you plan to show. The unicorns I’ve seen at those jobs usually have a fairly light load and stay at that height, no more–and that’s one of the criteria that gets stipulated in lease contracts.
If you’re thinking of a heavier load/loftier goals (trying to qualify for a particular event, as an example), then it might be better to target that 12-14 year old range where you’ll find seasoned horses who are maybe just starting to step down a smidge but have the energy/legs for the goals at hand.
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Obviously depends on so many things and always knowing it’s a gamble. Mine was 15 when I bought him and I didn’t really bat an eye at that. I would have gone older for the right price and situation. For my personal situation I know I can lease mine to a kid at my barn when he needs to step down to 2’6” because he’s such a hood citizen and I ride with lots of kids/teens/adults that would love a ride on something safe and well schooled. If he was a little more of a complicated ride then I would have wanted him to be either cheaper or younger.
Said saintly gelding took me (jumping 2’6” six months ago) to a clinic last weekend where we got to do the 1.0m+ section and learned so much about finer points of jumping a course because he just did his job the whole time. We got to learn how to ride a Swedish properly, and how to ride an oxer to vertical line differently that riding a vertical to oxer line, not jumping 2’6” and just desperately working on keeping my sh** together
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I ended my lease and ended the policy - I don’t insure random horses I don’t have access to anymore - does anyone do that?!?! Pretty sure I paid in full at the start of the policy term (1 year) and see below for why I ended it after 6 months - a few thousand dollars spread over the year vs in full doesn’t matter much to me, hence the refund.
I moved out of state (CA (LA) to WA (Seattle-ish)) and didn’t / couldn’t take him with me as the lease had to stay in my old trainer’s barn when Covid occurred April 2020 and didn’t move back to CA (not LA) until end of 2022. 
This horse is now retired from jumping - he went to a junior after my lease ended - I think they won a mini prix in San Juan Capistrano Fall 2020.
Here is his recent sale ad for a dressage home only: https://www.proequest.com/horse/rf-easy-going
But he was Marilyn Little’s CIC horse - he was an amazing .90cm - 1.0m horse for me as he aged. He just kept stepping down the levels as needed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owxZOWpTZYQ
I only had him about 6 months - got him November 2019 and ended the lease in April 2020 due to life. We just started hitting a groove. I was a dressage junior so “real jumps” were new to me - and I am extremely chickensh*t. This 90cm - 1.0m fence felt like a crossrail on him. Such an athlete.
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Marilyn showed this horse to the 3 star level (now 4 star) so this ad is incorrect in stating that he did a 5 star. Cute horse though!
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@Jump314 There’s a reason why I left those trainers - now you know how one puts together the puzzle pieces. I am pretty savvy, but I noticed them treating those without as much experience as myself and other seasoned AAs … not the same. Lies are lies…
no such thing as an “honest mistake” in a sales ad for a horse with a FEI record … 
Also notice I said CIC horse - I never said 5 star. I also didn’t write the ad. Oopsies for the dox - better for anyone reading to be informed if they’re in SoCal.
I ride with more household names now (Eventing) with better, vetted reputations.
Best advice ever offered on here:
VET THE TRAINER before the horse. BOTH trainers if you are buying. Plus any agents involved.
Do that and most surprises when you get the horse home can be avoided.
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