Would you buy a thin 19 year old horse?

[Barn_Mom]

I ride an appy at my barn. She’s an early teen, maybe 13 ye old, chestnut…and the antithesis of a chestnut mare. In the field, the tiniest ponies boss her around. She’s totally unassuming. I’m a very green, older re-rider, and she is my perfect partner. She came to my barn after being abandoned at a boarding facility. She came with little to no other history, some sort of arthritis that she works out of, and is green, but learning, and she tries so damn hard to figure out what she’s being asked. She anticipates what’s going to happen next and can get quite speedy at the canter, she’s not always the easiest ride but we’ve learned a ton together and I trust her.

The best is that she knows the sound of my truck, watches for me and then knickers when she finally sees me!

This past summer, I came off of her at the canter when she heard a “Bigfoot” aka deer, in the woods next to our ring. I bonked my head pretty good and left the ring in a car…(my helmet saved the day, no concussion or bruising even!) The next Tuesday when I went out to get her out of her field for our lesson, it was as if she’d thought she’d seen a ghost. She “nosed” me up and down (gently) and was knickering softly like she couldn’t believe it was me, she seemed so relieved!

Another time, we were leaders for a tiny girl on a tiny pony for their lesson. She listened so intently to what was going on behind us, trotted so slowly that I couldn’t even post and whoa-ed when the instructor told the child to “W”!!! I don’t know, but I’m sold on those appy spots!

$3k sounds like a lot for a skinny, 19 yr old…but she could be worth her weight in gold! Fingers crossed for you both!!!

[js]

Do take the horse out on a good ride outside the ring. I bought a 21 yr old Arab thinking older, quiet been around the block (I should have known considering he’s an Arab) but actually he is a two year old hiding in a 21 yr old body. Good luck, older horses are worth it and deserving.

[Mango20]

My first reaction was that I’d never pay $3000 for an older horse in bad shape. However, everyone is making a very good point. If what you need right now is a SAFE horse for your son, and that is what this horse is, then it would definitely be worth paying for. I’d still make them a lower offer, though.

[rideon2]

Heading back tomorrow afternoon for a little trail ride on her, going to be a high of 39 and windy so should be a good test!

[HenryisBlaisin]

I had offers in that ballpark on my horse when he was around that age. I declined; he will spend his remaining years with me. But had I offered him for $3K at 19, I’d have had people from my barn lined up to buy him. He’ll be 24 in the spring, is riding sound and could go in the show ring tomorrow and put in a good ride in whatever was asked of him, so someone would have gotten a good deal.

The one I had before him was an App (half TB, but ApHA registered and loud! spots). I met him when he was 20, showed him to several year-end awards when he was 21, and bought him when he was 23. He was exactly the horse I needed at the time and we had some great years together. When I bought my current horse, I sent him on to teach a 7-year-old the ropes because he was not ready to be retired (and got in trouble when he was bored) and he was much loved. I’ve never known a horse with so much personality.

[lifeishorsesarelove]

Someone said this a ways back - I’m not clear on how thin she really is, but please consider if you end up refeeding her a hundred pounds or two she might not be quite so quiet, and are you prepared for that. She might stay the exact same, too, but its a consideration. If she’s just ribby, I would worry less about it.

I hope she ends up being the perfect fit for your family and that the sellers cooperate so your son can have a Christmas miracle pony!

[Ruth0552]

I agree with the above- she might be really quiet NOW but not so much when she gains weight and condition.

I suppose a non-accusatory way of pointing out her thinness would be to ask if they have any idea why she’s so thin and when was the last time she saw the vet? (Although in my head I’d be thinking why the hell aren’t you taking care of this horse???)

I’d at least have a vet out to give her a once over and maybe pull some blood. If there’s no obvious reason why she’s thin they probably just aren’t feeding her right. And frankly if the vet thinks she’s REALLY thin and they won’t sell her to you I’d have ZERO issues reporting to animal control.

[rideon2]

Bummer, rain and snow coming so I can’t go try her today again! She’s definitely not OMG why aren’t you caring for this horse thin, so no need to call animal control! Just thinner than I prefer, and agree with others that her demeanor could change with more feed. I do think it’s a product of their herd dynamics and she’s likely not getting her fair share. Mad I didn’t take a pic of her now! I did take video clips but can’t tell her condition in those.

[fordtraktor]

I generally have that concern especialy with young TB types, but IME those old WP show horses are usually broke to death. Did the owner’s kids show her? If so, I would bet she is safe as houses. They usually have MUCH higher expectations for “behaving” than English sports!

[findeight]

My concerns are with why she is skinny and " quiet" can be because she doesn’t feel well or can be artificially influenced when they know you are coming to try her.

Look, bottom line, based on what you have told us, I don’t trust these people. They jacked the price after personally quoting you a different price for your friend…yet you are still on the hook so maybe that was a good move on their part.

Did they call you to cancel the trial or did you call them? Know the weather is impossible but they have already disrespected you so watch for them being wish washy about a reschedule. I I wouldn’t iffer a cent more then the original quote for friend and I would stipulate a PPE. If they balk, run away.

[rideon2]

@findeight

My concerns are with why she is skinny and " quiet" can be because she doesn’t feel well or can be artificially influenced when they know you are coming to try her.

Look, bottom line, based on what you have told us, I don’t trust these people. They jacked the price after personally quoting you a different price for your friend…yet you are still on the hook so maybe that was a good move on their part.

Did they call you to cancel the trial or did you call them? Know the weather is impossible but they have already disrespected you so watch for them being wish washy about a reschedule. I I wouldn’t iffer a cent more then the original quote for friend and I would stipulate a PPE. If they balk, run away.

The price did not change, but the grand-daughter said $3,000 negotiable to good home, then the grandmother who I’ve not spoken with and owns her told her $3k firm. So not really a price change. Agree she could be quiet due to her thinness, I cancelled the trail because I did not want to drive an hour and a half and get rained/snowed out.

[WildLittleWren]

Take pictures when you do get a chance to go back and try her! Hoping she ends up being your horse. Oldies can be goodies and 19 isn’t that old.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

Could you talk to people who show on the same circuit who might be familiar with this mare? That might tell you something about what kind of temperament she has when in good weight and maybe even why she was retired. You probably have a little time before the weather clears up.
I don’t think 19 is old at all for a stockhorse-type. That’s why I’d like to know why she’s not been in consistent work. I bought my QH when he’d just turned 23, and he’d been shown or working since he was 4. Could be a very innocent reason - maybe Grandma just loves this horse and wasn’t trying to sell her once no one on the farm was showing her anymore - but show gossip being what it is, I bet you can find out if you talk to a few folks.

[khall]

Well I went horse hunting with a friend who needed a quiet calm kind horse, we found a young (7) OTTB g and he was OMG thin. We both loved him, super super horse to ride and she bought him. I did have concerns that yikes he might not be that calm when he puts on weight. No worries what so ever! He has now gained so much weight he has to wear a hoop tree, gets a good bit of feed daily to maintain his big self (he’s almost 17 hh) yet his brain is still just the best. He did not have good ground manners when he came but that was so even thin. Nothing that some time and handling would not fix. His brain definitely was worth the risk and it did not change with putting on weight and fitness.

[rideon2]

OK, so no real update, but heading back this Sunday to do a trail ride on her. Will get pics. Forecast is calling for rain again, so hoping it works out that I can make it down there!

[cloudyandcallie]

When I first saw Callie she was so skinny that I could see all her skeleton. The auction workers said she was 13 but I knew she was older. Weeks later the jockey club helped me decipher her tattoo. She had just turned 18. for the rest of her life people marveled at her perfect conformation. She gained weight in only a few months. She also got her inbred Ottb mare temperament back so I and she had to get some lessons.
I never regretted buying her. She was was great and smart and took care of her German cousin Cloudy
buy the horse.

[beau159]

For a horse that is SAFE for a beginner child to ride, $3,000 is not unreasonable in my mind.

So it just depends if this horse is truly a good horse that can pack a beginner.

[KBC]

@rideon2

OK, so no real update, but heading back this Sunday to do a trail ride on her. Will get pics. Forecast is calling for rain again, so hoping it works out that I can make it down there!

I hope you do as well!

[WildLittleWren]

Good luck! Jingling for no rain!

[Foxtrot_s]

Nope. I wouldn’t. If it were my old mare I’d be delighted to find a forever home for her where I know she would get the good care - the money does not seem that important to me…maybe a token amount because there would not be a lot of people lining up to snatch her up this time of year.