I would start with 6 months to a year at an h/j lesson barn. You’ll get exposure to jumping different types of horses, and you’ll be able to jump more often than you would if you had your own horse (and wanted to keep him sound/fresh).
When you’re comfortable again, I’d look for the safe 7-12 year old with some novice/training experience, or the 15 year old stepping down from prelim+.
I don’t know anything about H/J barns, but you might look at Waredaca. They have school horses, and along with the lesson program they have some options for private lessons. Although the main eventing trainer, Steph Kohr may be south for the winter.
Also, I know you said you’ve networked extensively looking for a lease horse, but you might consider posting on the USEA Area II Facebook page if you haven’t done so already. It has a pretty large membership.
Yes, I think Steph is away until March but Waredaca is a good suggestion.
Greystone Farm in Brookeville and Destination Farm in Dickerson (just across the line in Frederick County) are both eventing barns with a few horses available to ride in lessons.
As far as H/J barns, maybe try Surmont in Poolesville? They’re lower-key than some of the other H/J barns in the area.
I’ll keep thinking…
@RooTheDay I have no advice, no experience in the eventing world but I just wanted to say… you really should start a blog about your eventing journey, I love your writing style and your self-evaluation!
This is what I was figuring, but it’s really good to have it confirmed by someone in a position to know what she’s talking about. Excellent advice all around. Thank you!
Sage wisdom about not getting too far ahead! On the one hand, it’s very hard to know where your journey’s going to go; on the other hand, setting goals can sometimes be useful for its value in figuring out how to get there.
There’s two main cases you address: I don’t want to play, and horse doesn’t want to play.
For the first, if I do wind up buying something (even something with the talent for more) and don’t want to go above Novice, that’s fine by me. I won’t feel like I’ve wasted the horse or failed; I’ll just feel like I’ve learned more about what I want to do. I don’t think the horse is likely to pine away wanting to jump an extra three or six or nine inches if it’s fat, happy, shiny, well-kept, and getting regular attention.
For the second, if I already had a horse that didn’t want to event, I’d certainly find some other way to work with it, because I know I would be delighted with the animal I had. With that said, given that I am in a position to try and find something that wants to play, I’m going to try my best to do so; if life has other plans, though, I’ll roll with it.
Waredaca is an amazing place! Unfortunately, they’re a bit light on schoolies who can jump at the moment; some of their Pony Club horses can, but the PC kids get priority there.
Also, I know you said you’ve networked extensively looking for a lease horse, but you might consider posting on the USEA Area II Facebook page if you haven’t done so already. It has a pretty large membership.
A really good idea, but I haven’t been on Facebook in a decade or so. I’ve been considering/weighing whether it’s worth getting back on exclusively for networking opportunities, but so far haven’t pulled the trigger on that.
Thank you! Destination looks like an amazing place, but would be hard to make the drive work at the times I’d most likely be going. Will look into Greystone and Surmont, and appreciate any other ideas that come to mind! Will also post a thread over in H/J just in case anyone else has some ideas.
You are so sweet! I used to write a fair amount for pleasure, but now with the full-time-plus job, two part-time jobs, return to riding, significant other, and dog, it’s harder to find time. I feel so lucky that so many smart people have taken the time to advise me here, though! COTH really is a wealth of expertise.
I agree that 6 months of jumping at least 2-3 days/week at a H/J barn before you buy is a great idea. Either on school horses or a lease. I understand the paid lease fees are daunting when you compare to the cost of a going training level eventer that would suit your needs, but you will progress so so much quicker if you jump as many jumps in the ring on a broke horse as you can. It will allow you to safely improve your position and It will give you the skills to evaluate the horse you then buy. This will translate into confidence and safety cross country and of course help in the stadium phase. It sounds like your flat skills are already quite good. The best event riders I know are the ones who can also confidently ride a nice course at a jumper show without looking out of place. I also think sometimes a HJ barn is better equipped to give you a good EQ foundation than some eventing barns.
My sad story that is somewhat relevant to your situation: I tried to re-learn to jump on a powerful spooky 3 year old that I started myself and it was a complete mistake. I then doubled down on my mistake by continuing to start horses and got hurt, never getting any closer to being a better jump rider and also now being afraid. Not that you are suggesting or even considering buying a two year old to start, but I can’t emphasize enough how much I wish I had spent that time jumping consistently on a broke horse before I went down the rabbit hole of starting young horses. I had good flat work and continued to bank on that instead of getting as much over fences work as I could. Instead of increasing my understanding of riding to fences I only succeeded in a decade of progressively decreasing my confidence and ingraining bad habits and defensive riding. My position and Eq was good over fences (I think in contrast to what you’re saying about yourself) so it appeared that I knew more than I did to my instructors (and myself) but I really had no idea what I should be feeling or how I should be reacting. I thought I had a solid foundation from my younger years when really I did not. Finally, I lucked out in spite of myself with a horse I started who is a very good jumper and am finally learning to jump on a green but talented jumping horse who has enlightened me for the first time what it’s supposed to feel like. After a lifetime of riding, I had never once ridden a horse that allowed me to properly learn because I never made access to one a priority because I didn’t know just how revelatory it could be.
The point of that whole story is: get in as many jumps as you can on an experienced jumping horse before you chose the horse that you want to buy because you really need to know what that horse and ride should feel like. Time can go by so quickly when you’re an AA, especially if you want to progress, make sure you make the best of it.
Also, excellent advice that you will have many horses. Do not think the now horse has to be the later horse if you have serious sport goals.
I’m not sure I have any truly helpful advice. But I do want to say, I love your attitude! Your appreciative, nearly self-deprecating descriptions of where you’re at and what you want show a lovely mindset.
I’m a re-riding newbie. Parents met in a stable, I grew up on horses, mostly green, mostly western. Came back to riding as an adult and went English. Was never an educated jumper, and confidence was an issue one I reached the no-more-bounce age.
Then…
I rode my Winnie B. A project horse of my sister’s. The first time I jumped her, things were fun instead of scary. I’d jump the three tiny jumps Mom specified in the correct order, then WAHOO over a fourth because it was sooooo much fun! The accidental super-long spot was hilarious instead of terrifying. I loved her! She listened at a volume at which I was comfortable speaking (I like a bit hotter vs colder). She was perfect. I rode her daily for a week at a time during two visits.
And Sis gave her to me. I had zero dressage exposure, zero XC exposure, but I knew I wanted us to try XC. (The “give” was a little complicated. I’m in Ontario, horse and Sis in Oklahoma. I’d never boarded before, only had horses with my parents, etc. But where there’s a will…) I found an eventing coach, and less than a year after she landed with me, we had one of the most fabulous experiences of MY LIFE at our first HT (I think Canadian Entry is equivalent to US BN).
All of this to say, winging it with my responsive, athletic, sensitive, smart girl has been SO rewarding. I’m for owning. I love having MY mare! I set tiny, arbitrary goals. But I don’t care if we fail, so long as the journey is fun. And my budget sounds a lot lower than yours.
If you want to focus on riding, don’t buy your own. Ride the schooling horses until you get to the level you want to be.
If you want your own, pick a horse at the level you and your trainer think is appropriate. Best advice I can think of is to take your time. The right horse will come along. Wait for the one that hits all the required boxes, no matter how cute or sweet that green one is. 
While I wasn’t in the market for my first horse, I did have my aspirations on a goal when shopping for my most recent horse. I had muddled around most of my life on borrowed horses in the 2’6" divisions, but I always had dreams of doing the A/A jumpers at 1.10m. So that’s what was on my mind when shopping. I was also pretty set on wanting a lease.
The problem I found was that the lease options that allow you to basically “own” the horse for a year are really expensive. And most people won’t let you take a horse away from their trainer/barn to your own unless you pay a year lease fee. Nice horses/packers/etc are worth their weight in gold and it’s not worth the risk to allow someone to take it off property without ample financial incentive.
At the point where my lease fee was 90% of the purchase price of the same type of horse I said forget it and just bought a horse instead.
This may not be totally on your topic but I wanted to say it just because of what happened to me and my dream goal. I went out and bought a horse capable of doing what my goal was. Been there done that but at a reasonable price. I moved up and immediately realized I didn’t like it at all. The jumps were big, they came up really fast and I just don’t think I’m cut out for that. I never before had considered that I might reach my goal and decide I didn’t want it.
Luckily the horse I bought is a nice, safe little three ring horse so I can either do the hunters, or move down and stay at a lower division - whatever makes me happy. Anyway, I just wanted to bring that up since it had kind of taken me by surprise.
I guess that’s a long way to say, buy the horse you need now and 1-2 years in the future. Live in the moment and enjoy.
As someone who couldn’t own due to financial and time constraints up until recently I really feel your pain in the limited school horse and lease department. The reality is our culture has become so much more risk averse (not saying that’s bad, just reality) that off property care leases on nice horses are a rarity at this point. One of my friends lost her horse, is a very competent rider and wonderful caring horse woman with good finances and has been looking for a full lease for 6 months and no dice. The one I know of is to a super talented junior, people really pulled strings for her and the owner lives in the area and is still super involved. I think your original plan was good for what you need but as you’re finding, it may not materialize.
It sounds like you have a relatively sticky and are brave so maybe someone would be interested in a care lease on their project horse they’ve lost time/finances for if you could put the horse in part training and lesson once a week. Basically someone with a reasonably sensible but green horse that would find the free training/relief from expenses appealing. You may need to hold off on jumping it for a little while as the trainer gives it more miles. You may find it’s too much horse if it’s green or you may really take to it and learn a lot. The nice part is you could always send it back if it’s a poor match.
I agree with others that without more jumping miles I just don’t think you’re ready to know what you want. I’m sure your trainer is great but horses are super personal so what she thinks is great may not really click with your style. I think you need probably another 6 months of lessons on a variety of horses, not just the same 2 to figure what you really like in a horse. It sounds like you tend to bond and are super responsible about retirement care and I’d hate for you to rush into a purchase now and then feel obligated to stick with a horse that you just don’t gel with, which can really hamper your enjoyment and progress.
What about asking your current trainer to help you with an ISO ad for Facebook. I was recently looking for a horse and had my trainer type up an ad for exactly what I was looking for (age, height, sex, lease/or buy, price range, location and brief description of your riding abilities and what you want to do with said horse). You mentioned that placing the horse at your trainers was very important so definitely put that in the ad! I joined a bunch of local area horse for sale/lease pages and literally got 10-25 prospects to look at!
What if you change your goals for your first horse? Instead of a talented TB, what about considering a less typical breed (QH, Saddlebred, Morgan, Draft Cross), that is sane and safe, and will carry you around 2’-2’6" in a non-spectacular manner, and be a blast to trail ride. You can get one like that for under $6000 where I live. The reason I say sane and safe, is that those are typically resalable even if only sound enough to flat. I think buying a tough horse for your first horse isn’t the greatest idea, as it will be harder to resell once your skill set outgrows it. Get confidence and miles on horse, and let your horse savings grow to afford a Prelim horse.
Have you looked at Bascule Farm? It’s in Poolesville. I’m not sure which part of Montgomery county you’re in so don’t know if it would be convenient or not. I’m not familiar with it personally, but they seem to have lesson horses and various half lease possibilities.
Reviving this old thread because I always enjoy hearing what the OP ultimately chose and how things turned out for them!
In Summer 2020, I bought the nicest horse I’d ever sat on for right around the number I’d had in mind. She’d gone Prelim and done the 1.30m jumpers, but her USEA record sucked; that said, a pro almost bought her to be their Advanced horse, but didn’t because of concerns about a medical condition that we at the time thought might limit her to Prelim, which was fine by me.
As you might guess from the above, she can jump the moon (and the paddock fence, but that’s another story) and does if you give her half a chance. I nearly fell off her in the test ride. I got off (under my own power) with stars in my eyes and asked “Can I buy this one?”
“We’ll see.”
In the end, the answer was yes.
I spent the rest of 2020 learning to ride her, on the flat and over jumps, and most of the time I dismounted under my own power, and when I didn’t I popped up laughing at myself. I did all the stupid things that a crazy horse kid who never got the chance before wants to do upon finally getting their own, like hacking around bareback (which I’m pretty sure, based on her initial reaction, she’d never done before) and feeding her everything horse-safe in sight (Pop-Tarts and Entenmann’s plain donuts are favorite offerings.) I taught her to get in my trailer (eventually) and I missed a couple lessons because she didn’t feel like being caught (which we then practiced) and I braided Christmas lights into her mane for a schooling show (we won.) Then in February she hurt herself in the pasture and was off through May; as best we can figure out, she slipped on the ice.
We brought her back slow and got in two HTs at BN, the first of which was her first ever with an amateur and my first ever full stop, and we finished on a number both times. I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot of cool things in my life, but coming through the finish flags with no stops ranks high on that list of favorite memories. In the photos (which of course I bought) she’s jumping everything at least a foot higher than necessary, just to be safe.
Then in August she came in three-legged lame from the pasture again, and remained NQR even after the lameness improved, and a bunch of diagnostics later we found that she had a SI injury (which had been my guess based on reading here–thanks, COTH!), which is likely to get better, but also that the condition that all of us thought might limit her to Prelim is actually bad enough that running XC at any level probably won’t ever be a good thing for her to do again.
That’s horses, right? In the end, all the money buys you is a shot.
But I have no regrets, and she has a home for the rest of her life… even if her only job is to look pretty while mowing the lawn.
And fortunately, she’s very, very pretty.
Well… of course we need pictures!
My daughter got a horse last year. When I met the previous owner I told her- if this horse never does more than she has done this past year we will still think she is the greatest.
Glad you got the right horse and no regrets.
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