This is a really great thread and I’ve been enjoying going through it. Much of the conversation echoes what has been pinging among my own local circle. Ramble time:
I’m an adult re-rider, very much a novice but with over 15 years of experience owning and learning how to work and handle my family’s horses, as well as those for an arab show barn at one point (warm-up surcingle stuff, tacking, bandages etc I had a health condition preventing me from riding but still got my fix in). At my current barn we are seriously hurting for lesson horses. In fact, one of our VERY best once in a lifetime equine maetros was recently laid to rest, putting a strain on everyone else. From my chats with the trainers and management it has been HELL finding new schoolies (the kind that are gentle and can take a joke), and their budget is reasonable (mid-5 figures) and they have been looking literal states away. These lesson horses have it made, by the way — super nice place, horse is always first.
My usual schoolie is an amazing old gal. She has bolted under me twice, and once saved both our butts by swirling out of range of an angry mare who decided to try and kick her in the arena, but is indeed a reliable soul. However she is now doing double time to take on the kids who are without a horse now that we are missing one. I am on the cusp of riding more advanced horses and have, but still taking it slow and developing my foundation with as much time as it takes (currently this means a quiet canter seat and two point exercises to help my core strength in posting).
Via an ISO ad on fb, out of over 40 responses (mostly not matching my terms in any shape) I found a young OTTB whom I drove out a few hours to meet and try. Was quiet enough to be trusted by a pregnant rider for a hack after two weeks vacation. After a PPE she came home. Coming five, track trained but unraced, doing basic stuff under saddle and pretty dang quiet. She does have her moments and quirks but honestly, she was such a near-deadhead at first that it’s been nice to see this youngster open up and have an actual personality.
There was NO way I could afford a middle aged or older, made and Done It All type. Even this green TB with the basics was more expensive than she would’ve been five years ago. And, with my experience in horse ownership and the fact that our barn’s schoolies are stretched so thin, I decided to buy my own horse. After I recover from this surgery I will be riding her in private lessons while
my trainer continues to bring her along on other days, and touch wood I think in a few solid years she absolutely has the disposition to be a packer. I haven’t been out there to see her a ton lately thanks to job, surprise family obligations, my own health yadda yadda, but I do ensure she has top-notch farrier care, well-researched supplements and quality hay, piles of bedding, turnout, expensive blankets of various weights to get her short-haired California self through our harsh winter, bodywork, pro saddle fitter visits, the very best trainer to help us both on a full time basis, etc etc. (A big part of me is living out my horse-deprived but fervently horse-obsessed childhood dreams of pampering a glorious mount, I think).
With the prices the way they are I went and got a youthful green bean, yes — but was decidedly very picky about her basic mental traits and have plenty of professional assistance. The market is just so WEIRD…even with rising hay prices!
Low fives, not mid. Not sure why I wrote that.
