Bigger is not better. I’m a weenie and every time I got to mount my behemoth from my three step mounting block I long for a nice 15.2 cob type. Bigger horses do resell better all things equal.
I don’t know that a green, large 4 yo TB is a suitable first horse for a somewhat timid and inexperienced rider just generally speaking.
I was going to ask, did the trainer ever mentioned a PPE? I bet not, may mess the sale.
That trainer and you could possibly make this work, but you have so many hits against you to start with and seems your trainer is the main one to benefit, at least starting out.
First, you will be paying all the bills, boarding, vet and farrier, any extras that may come along, including training horse and keep horse and you learning, for long time.
Second, what will you do with this horse you won’t be able to manage on your own, if your circumstances or that of the trainer change?
Third, what if the horse doesn’t come along suitable for what you want, will the trainer let you know and lose that extra income, or keep trying to fit a round peg in a square hole, as you are already starting, horse way young and inexperienced, too large for a too small inexperienced rider?
Leasing would work, but the pressure to buy may be incessant, is job security for the trainer, will you resent that?
If you are a good, old time client and a trainer hits a tight spot and you gladly help getting a horse bought and trained, both of you knowing that is what you are doing, that is ok.
Trainer at other times may have gone out of it’s way to do you as a client other favors, is part of doing business.
Not sure your situation is that, or is it?
Your first two sentences say it all… Trainer bought horses she can’t afford, she knows your capabilities and is trying to pawn off her mistake on you, her client.
Red lags all around.
Oh, I forgot to mention, as a beginner you are always better taking lessons on different horses, is how you learn best and cost way less than owning one horse.
Put that money for now on lessons, it will serve you much better than what you may learn from just one horse to ride, as your time and money will be invested on just that one horse.
Or, trainer wants to keep horse in her barn, so that she can show the mare while the client watches and pays the bills. This is is very very common even, or especially with, newly imported WBs.
The bigger is better bit is just nuts. Old saying from the track: Big horse, big problems.
Generally I would agree a 4yr TB is probably not a great first horse. But, a m mentioned you have first hand experience with this horse, you must like her(things went well) or you wouldn’t be considering a purchase.
I would ask for a month lease and a PPE.
How often would you be able to rider her? I think frequency of riding, min 3x a week at this age is really important to establish a good work ethic and readability. She seems good now with a week or two between rides but that can change and lack of progress is frustrating.
Some TB’s are easier to maintain than others. I currently have a wb that drops weight at a hint of north wind!
Do you know another coach or experienced person who could help you evaluate her suitability to you in person? Some horses are very easy to ride until you start asking them to work, then the evasions start. Being petite may be a challenge, maybe not… a short stout Fjord may be more of a challenge…
I would also want to be very clear of expectations with currant trainer owner. Some people have a hard time letting go. Particularly if they view the other as less experienced.
She is 100% acting in her own best interests and not yours here, she’s seeing you as an easy way of getting this horse off her own bills and getting an income from the mare instead. A been there done that horse that is all ready doing the job you want it to do is a much better choice as a first horse.
No. Unless you are a very experienced rider who has just happened to never own their own horse, I’d be pointing you towards a horse that has already done the job you want it to do, in a similar living situation and work program to the one you want to keep it in.
And yes, never buy a horse without a prepurchase exam from an unbiased vet (this means a vet who doesn’t work for the seller, and has never treated the horse).
Well slightly different perspective. I’m a GP dressage trainer who used to event thru prelim with extensive experience restarting OTTB right from the track.
If you came to me with this horse for training (even if it’s lovely and kind; with the info you have provided) I’d not be having kind thoughts of your trainer nor think this match was done in your best interest. And by the way I am in NJ and no indoor or method for keeping any horse in constant work schedule for a timid, petite adult amateur is a hard no.
(I’d maybe be slightly more forgiving if this was spring and going into winter after 8 months of a partnership)
And I’d only take you on if the horse in this scenario would be in full training so I could protect you and your horse from a bad wreak. After a year of a successful partnership training could be backed off during warm months to see…
Thanks, this is really, really helpful from your perspective. If I end up wtih this horse (probably not likely at this point) I may be coming to you! (joking, although not really :))
Good lord there are so many red flags in your posts we could have a parade! Your trainer, who is finding herself financially strapped heading into winter, is looking out for herself not you.
OP I love thoroughbreds. Grew up with them, my daughter does the jumpers on one I absolutely adore. They will always be my first choice. But this is not the horse for you and I would suggest looking closely at your relationship with your trainer. This was a really shady.
Well, I guess I’m the lone wolf here.
Buying a horse from outside the immediate barn is also a risk. Yes, 17hh is big, but that ADDS resale value to this animal should it not work out for OP.
OP never indicated in her posts that she’s had any trouble with this mare. The fact that the mare is a TB should have no bearing on anything - every TB is different, lots are dead heads right from the start. She has handled this mare, ridden this mare. She’s quiet (and that’s outside, because there’s no indoor at OP’s barn).
That said, I will fully admit I didn’t ask OP’s experience level. I didn’t realize there’s no indoor, which sure sounds like the trainer is trying to dump this horse off the feed bill before winter sets in. Those are questions I should have asked.
OP, I 100% agree with those who said to try a lease in the spring, if the mare is still available. That’s a good way to flesh out if you two are a good fit.
the time of it being winter is a coincidence, actually.
My gelding was 16.3. My mare is 15.2 on a good day, with shoes, on her tippy toes. I prefer my little sports car. She’s handy and quick to respond. My gelding was a much better dressage horse but took more energy to ride.
Reeses, why this horse? If you are serious about getting a horse, look around and see what your options are. And, remember, the purchase price is generally the absolute least of your expenses, horsewise.
Has the trainer even listed the horse for sale? Selling only to students is a weird business model. And “happy accident” foals born at the barn? That’s fruitbat. I suggest looking for a new barn, one with an indoor so you develop your skills.
so hard for me to know sometimes what actually makes sense, which is why I’m posting here haha
Thank you for the clarification. Whew!
I would still be wary of this sale, especially since you’ll likely be spending $10K in training before you can safely ride her on your own.
But she is trained - to be a racehorse. You are not starting with a blank slate; you have to untrain “racehorse” and retrain to your discipline.
I say this as an OTTB owner. To assume he or any other OTTBs come without bad habits or bad training is naive.
I guess I’m in the minority that it would not be a definite “no” from me. I lived in PA (now the midwest) and I don’t have an indoor. We rode all winter outside, still do mostly, and even going back to when tbreds were the thing in hunters. I don’t do a whole lot in the winter lately anyway if I’m not going to show in Florida. I hack down the driveway or work on our walk in dressage in craptastic weather.
My thoughts are - so have you seen other sales this trainer has done? Have they been well represented? I’d do a PPE on anything anyway. I’m not saying to buy the horse, I just do not think it is a red alarm.
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