Calling it a “practice horse” and expecting it to jump 3’, 3x per week is not a reasonable expectation for a horse on a budget, or a horse looking to step down. That’s a full workload, not a “step down” workload.
Didn’t we just say that finding 2’6" school horses is nearly impossible? And here’s this lady, looking for what is effectively a 3’ school horse, but she isn’t going to show it so she wants it cheap. But no funny business! Must robot me around!
Interesting point! I was thinking more generally, I think … like, you take out a loan, make improvements and pay the monthly expenses (board/mortgage), and sell at a profit. Just like horses can incur hefty vet bills, house renovations can get pretty spendy too when you “discover” problems or something you thought perhaps looked fine but in reality actually needs to be replaced or repaired.
Were you referring to physical ailments that could sideline a horse and/or preclude it from doing the job it was trained or purchased to do thereby greatly devaluing it?
I saw that ad, and I think the idea of a practice horse is whatever if you have the money.
Except the second sentence is “I need something to jump on my good horses[sic] hack days”.
That tells me all I need to know.
It is getting nuts. A trainer in our area asked my instructor if I’d think of selling one of my geldings. Or leasing, she wasn’t picky. And I know she doesn’t particularly care for Morgans after having a couple of lessons with her years ago.
The answer, of course, was no.
Here are some thoughts off the top of my head re: the challenges of horse flipping:
The seller isn’t 100% honest and you get some nasty surprises about behavior once it’s in your keep. Weaving, cribbing, stall walking, kicking, being a sh*t for the farrier, etc are all very unappealing to potential buyers. Some of these behaviors can be untrained, some can’t.
Ostensibly, you’re buying a green horse. What if it doesn’t like (or isn’t talented at) the intended discipline? Say you bought it as a h/j prospect, but in the end, it’s really best suited for a trail horse. Huge difference in price tag.
The horse colics, gets expensive surgery, and then is far less marketable.
The horse develops navicular disease, kissing spine, ringbone, EPM, EDM, rolls and breaks its wither, wrecks an eye in turnout, etc. Horses are masters of self-destruction and all these things affect value.
The horse bows a tendon, pulls a suspensory, tears a ligament, etc. These are all recoverable, but it can mean up to a year in rehab. So what was intended to be a quick flip now has 12 months of holding costs.
There are several COTH threads about flipping horses that have great responses. I would definitely consider reading them if you were serious about the undertaking.
"ISO:
A practice horse. I need something to jump on my good horses hack days. Don’t need it to show. Don’t need it to pass a ppe - idc about maintenance or chips as long as it’s sound! Just be upfront and don’t make me spend $3k on a ppe to find anything of significance. Don’t care if it’s old. It just needs to be able to hold up to being jumped 2-3 times a week. Will be in a program with a reputable trainer.
I take excellent care of my horses, and although not a show horse, it will still get the same ocd care of our show horses. I’m not looking for a babysitter - needing something that can jump at least 3”. No silly business, no stopping and absolutely no kissing spine."
Where does it say it needs to be inexpensive? For all you know, she may want to spend quite a bit of money, and it’s none of your business, and does not make her a bad horse owner.
What about a nice horse that isn’t quality enough to win at the level the lady is showing at? Why do you think it has to be older? And just because it can’t compete at a higher level, doesn’t mean it cannot easily jump 3’. You don’t like the wording, so you have a bias against this lady. But this could be an opportunity for a nice, but not fancy or careful horse to have a really good life.
Horses don’t pass ppe’s for a variety of reasons. Just because a horse won’t hold up to 1.30 doesn’t mean it can’t jump 1.0-1.10 easily; happens all the time. Maybe she’s into hunters; we all know a OTTB probably won’t be as competitive in the A/O’s as the fancy WB, so give a nice TB a really good life
There’s nothing in here that says the horse needs to be cheap, just that they’d rather not spend 3k on a vetting to discover a known issue. Quite likely, they’ll get a nice one that doesn’t vet well on paper but has been performing just fine.
“Practice” horses are very much a Real Thing. Typically though, the “good” horse is a 6 figure animal and the “practice” horse is a mid 5 figure one (that’s ugly, won’t vet, hates horse shows, etc). They take a huge load off the plate of the “good” horse, especially if said good horse has a limited sense of humor. They really can’t be all that cheap (read: lacking) or none of it will translate to the nicer animal.
And, fwiw, Whoa Whoa Whoa Your Boat is my go-to for anything that’s a bit up 
I haven’t the slightest idea who this woman is, so there is no “bias”. I’m not the only one who read it in the way I did, so pull thine horns back in.
Thanks for your thoughtful response! It’s not something I plan to do (in the near future, or perhaps ever) but I’ll definitely search out those threads just for personal reading pleasure 
It’s not just the breathing either! Singing and humming moves your vocal cords in a way that stimulates your vagus nerve, which plays a big part in your parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest, as opposed to the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for fight or flight). So singing when you’re anxious does shift your nervous system to calm you down. I read about it in a book on trauma or anxiety or something and was like, wow, riders have been doing this for ages!
Also, to get back on track - saw an ad the other day for a 10 y/o OTTB, described as a ‘decent but not fancy’ mover, with a stopping problem at 2’6 (!), priced at $12k. If you are shopping for an OTTB at that budget, you have a plethora of very nice options without the confirmed stop… wonder what the seller’s thought process was there.
My point exactly! And I love the whoa whoa whoa your boat, too funny!
Just saw this ISO on Craigslist:
“I’m a young woman preparing for an ocean-to-ocean ride, 3,000 miles from New Jersey to Oregon, and I am currently in search of my partner for the journey. My road horse.
I am well-experienced with cross country travel, having previously walked coast-to-coast solo. Now, I am readying to hop in the saddle for my next adventure. For the last few months, I have been training under the guidance of Sea G. Rhydr, a member of the Long Riders Guild, who made her own 5,000 mile trek on horseback from California to Maine years ago.
What I’m looking for: a gelding or mare. Anywhere from finished to just started under saddle. At least 14.2 hands. 5 to 15 years old. 900 lbs or more. Sound. Not prone to colic. Possessing a good confirmation, and healthy hooves. An easy keeper, the sort to gain weight by looking at graze. With a good horse never being a bad color, or a bad breed for that matter. Above all else, I am looking for a horse with the drive to go the distance, and the heart to enjoy the journey. One who is brave, even if the extent of their bravery isn’t fully recognized yet. One who can learn to love seeing what’s over the next westerly horizon as much as I do.
I aim to ride honorably, consciously putting my horse’s welfare above my own. This includes following the LRG’s advice, such as: resting two days out of every given week, taking ten minute breaks every hour of riding, waiting thirty minutes after dismounting before unsaddling to reduce the likelihood of sores developing (a sentiment echoed in calvary and endurance manuals), and most importantly: allowing my horse to set the pace! Crossing the country isn’t a race, it’s a journey, and it’s not done in a day, but rather over months of slowly, surely plodding along, 10-20 miles at a time, at a pace that keeps my horse healthy-their mind happy, their body robust, and their spirit fully nourished. That is what’s paramount!“
I hung in there but balked at a just started horse riding 3k miles cross country.
I just saw one that made me think of this thread. Posted by a professional at a quite nice, respected facility. Wants a very quiet easy 2’6” horse for care lease or low fives and must go out on trial.
I don’t get how people aren’t adapting to this market. It really really sucks, but at some point you can to accept that it is what it is.
I just saw a very similar ISO. It would have been a reasonable but still hard to find set of asks in 2019; these days they are going to be looking for a loooong time.
As for the endurance trekker person, wow. I sort of got lost after they said “just backed” would be ok. There were days when my last three year old and I couldn’t make it around the barn on a little hack because he was shocked and awed by everything in his immediate vicinity (that he saw every day of his life). I mean, I know some babies are more sensible than others, but my guy had an incredible brain and he was like a giant bunny rabbit on meth some days. Also, what about steering? An understanding of rider aids? You know, things just backed horses don’t usually, actually have? 
Who said she wants it cheap? Probably cheaper than her show horse, but every practice horse I’ve known at that level was a valuable animal, with some kind of hole that made it not a top show horse. But definitely not cheap.
she lost me at “confirmation”
All I will say on this is that I have a book published by the Long Rider’s Guild. I think the title, summary, and the reviews will tell you everything you need to know. (it was given to me as a joke)
That being said, this person doesn’t sound like a TOTAL nut job, just a decidedly non-horsey adventurer looking for a new way to travel the world. Sounds like she could use some more horsey guidance and proper riding lessons, but overall I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what she wants to do. But definitely not with a barely started horse!
“Global equestrian amnesia” 
[Edited to add: I totally agree with the posters suggesting this is not a riding issue as much as deeper psychology.]
Do you have a vaulting surcingle? You might have success treating her like a therapeutic riding student. Could it be that her abandonment issues are lighting up (trying not to say “triggering”) as soon as she is supposed to be the one in charge of the horse?
She might do better when she KNOWS the horse is not under her control and with handles it’s a SOLID grip (emotionally comforting), and handles make things like around-the-world be able to move into sitting backwards, knees, etc.
Each gait becomes it’s own challenge and triumph while being less scary than being all alone … the horse provides the neuro-physical feedback while the vaulter feels that the lunger is still connected as well. The lunger CAN’T abandon the vaulter and maybe that might help subconsciously?
Just a thought. Good luck!
Okay I will say - this always made me roll my eyes but then twice within one day my autocorrect betrayed me and I accidentally sent messages asking for “confirmation photos” without noticing.
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