I love reading these stories going through threads. So let me see your CL gems. Extra points if you have before and after pictures!
This was Dexter when I picked him up:
He was a year and a half in the photo. I found him based on a ZOMG CL thread here on COTH, although his ad was not really horrific–just posted by someone trying to join in the CL pile on, I think. My first thought on seeing the photos is that I wouldn’t kick the pony out of my barn, and I contacted the seller to find out what his breeding was. Turns out he was bought in a sheriff’s auction and no one knew. His coggins said draft cross, which is doubtful. He needed his feet done and to be dewormed, but he was overall in pretty good condition–much better off than many, many horses in Texas as the time (coming out of winter after the very bad 2011 drought).
I still don’t know why I went down to see him later that week, because I had no use for a grade, hairy yearling, but I did. He came home the next day.
This was him a year later, when I had started groundwork in preparation for backing him sometime that summer:
Unfortunately a few months later he developed some health issues that wouldn’t respond to treatment and I let him go. He was the goofiest, happiest little pony, though, and I don’t regret picking him up and giving him a year of just hanging out and enjoying life.
I’ll start.
Another COTHer (Kasjordan) actually found the Craigslist ad for Xander for me. I was looking for something as an eventual endurance prospect. He had all the right blood lines and some really nice old school heavy duty Arab bone. I did what you are never supposed to do and took my trailer along with me when I went to look at him.When I got there, I found a skinny little bay gelding tied to a guy’s front porch next to a 4 lane highway and I knew he was coming with me whether I planned on keeping him or not.
Here is Xander a couple of weeks after I got him
Another COTHer found my horse for me, too. I’d been leasing a disaster of a mare for two years and had sunk so much money into her, and finally decided that enough was enough. That was in April of 2010 and I wasn’t planning on buying another horse until the fall. Well, my friend was trolling the Phoenix and Albuquerque Craigslist horse ads, and came across one that said, “16.2, buckskin QH/WB gelding, $800.” The ad had just been placed, there was no picture, and I called first thing the next morning (I was in Virginia so I had to wait a few hours so it wasn’t too early) and happened to be the first one to call, so I had dibs as soon as I saw pictures.
One of the first photos I saw of him.
When he was starved over the winter by the trainer I left him with in Virginia
[QUOTE=see u at x;7647083]
Another COTHer found my horse for me, too. I’d been leasing a disaster of a mare for two years and had sunk so much money into her, and finally decided that enough was enough. That was in April of 2010 and I wasn’t planning on buying another horse until the fall. Well, my friend was trolling the Phoenix and Albuquerque Craigslist horse ads, and came across one that said, “16.2, buckskin QH/WB gelding, $800.” The ad had just been placed, there was no picture, and I called first thing the next morning (I was in Virginia so I had to wait a few hours so it wasn’t too early) and happened to be the first one to call, so I had dibs as soon as I saw pictures.
One of the first photos I saw of him.
When he was starved over the winter by the trainer I left him with in Virginia
Portrait[/QUOTE]
Wow- that is quite the transformation. Good looking horse 
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;7647093]
Wow- that is quite the transformation. Good looking horse :)[/QUOTE]
Thank you! He’s a pretty special guy and lives up to his barn name of “Ham.” Your Xander is very fancy - I like the older, heavier Arab boned horses, too. It sounds like you gave him just the right home that he needed.
Halt Near X, your Dexter was adorable. I’m so sorry that you lost him, but it sounds like you did right by him while he was in your life.
I found mine for half lease on CL and later bought him. He was 16 at the time and so strong and heavy in the bridle my hands were blistered after every ride… And that was in the double bridle! He and I both made our FEI debuts at PSG last year - a huge accomplishment, especially with him being 20! Perhaps an even bigger accomplishment, after 5 years of VERY hard work fixing his training I can now do all of our FEI work in the snaffle 
Here he is from the the first month I leased him:
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t1.0-0/26832_1365574867756_2512568_n.jpg
Last year:
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t1.0-0/263291_10201135773224786_1190592467_n.jpg
And a few weeks ago at our last show. Decided to retire the old man from the show ring but we’re still going strong at home.
I love my CL horse! He’s truly been the horse of a lifetime
My CL horses were $600, all tack and gear included. I was looking for family and friend safe horses, these had been sitting in a field over a year with nothing done to them. Both are registered paints. The black and white gelding was 10 and the chestnut mare 22. They wanted them to go as a pair, and I needed a babysitter so I took both.
Craigslist gelding photo
Craigslist mare photo
The mare has moderate to severe allergies that were not disclosed, but now medicated they are manageable. She also came with these all over her legs:
Sores and scabs
Both needed a healthier diet, ribs on the old mare, and lackluster coats. Fixed all that up, and what a deal they were:
Gelding aced obstacles and loves water a little too much. He’s very athletic, great gaits, and neck reins like a dream. Fun for a person with a little experience.
The old mare is just as awesome, also loves water, and is super safe to put anyone on for anything.
We got very lucky. I have friends that would love to have either or both of them 
I didn’t save the ad, but the one for my MFT mare was just another ad in a sea of ads.
I kept going back to it and watching her price drop - I had a little black pony who was lonely and I was ready to move up to a slightly larger pony. Plus I have always been interested in gaited horses.
The picture showed a rather ugly sorrel mare with an ugly expression but I figured, why not go see!
She acted like a heathen the entire time, much to the dismay of the owner. I asked her to bring the mare to my place for a second ride which went beautifully, and mare stayed.
She still needs a confident and firm rider when going out alone, but her issues are all fear and spookiness, not a mean bone in her body, and with someone confident aboard, she is a great ride. When being ridden at home or with buddies, I can put anyone on her and know she will do her best to care for them.
My craigslist horse is a complete find. A husband horse with “too much TB in him” they thought he was too hot to be a trail horse and didn’t have the inclination to work with him. He was 8 when we got him and basically greenbroke. He had a stubborn streak (comes from getting your way all the time) and looked like a three year old.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=547866654169&l=a5eb70a3eb
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=547866659159&l=f7050c5a16
When I test rode him, though, I could tell he might be something special…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=547865476529&l=87f72473c3
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=547865461559&l=860f37303e
A year later he was trucking around in the 2’ divisions in the local shows, getting his lead changes and giving beginner lessons to a kid. His stubborn streak was quickly amended and he simply became opinionated, but willing.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=594983616399&l=2c00981e49
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=583785512489&l=552c8e0685
The following year he was champion of the 3’ division at our local show series and we did a bunch of clinics with Greg Best. Danny proved that he has the biggest try in the world, and would do anything I asked.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=661349508619&l=1346f66ad3
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=668988340339&l=0890237bf5
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=660335276149&l=66a8eac71c
After long talks with Greg about what I wanted to do with riding and what was fair to ask of my horse, I reluctantly leased him to a girl who is doing the pre-childrens on him this year. The girl loves him, Danny is happy that he is jumping within his scope, and I love watching him when I can.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=693297100389&l=c9d9251ed2
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=714459450869&l=6f210e41a7
And for those of you who want the before and after:
April 2011: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=547866654169&l=a5eb70a3eb
May 2014: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=714548647119&l=a7a2e70104
A day after I had to say goodbye to my beloved Tutt, I was searching online for another horse to fill my heart, the barn, and Angel, the donkey’s, world. The TB rescue didn’t respond quickly, so I turned to craigslist. Ad read: “not to be missed.” The key was his real name, Fairest Riches, so I quickly searched his pedigree. Not only was he related to Tutt through Sir Gaylord, he had the rare Tudor (Minstrel, King of Tudors, etc.) on his dam’s side. That made him a relative of my long-ago national amateur hunter champion, No Alibi (by Tudor Grey). Now nicknamed Elf, Fairest Riches actually looks like Tudor Grey. The young woman and her farrier had rescued him from a Civil War reenactor. He had raced 50 times and won $100,000, and is sound. I paid $1,200 (which she put towards her current rescue from Charles Town track). She delivered him with his winter blanket. He’s been here three years, now 16, fat, and I’m going out to ride him around the field now. And he adores Angel, the donkey. https://www.flickr.com/photos/angellensphotography/sets/72157627460391741/
I’ve got two!
Colder Than Halo (Grimsey)
Grim was actually found by a friend, and came with two other geldings. He’s a OTTB by Devils Bag. When I got him, he had the Dead Eye. There was no personality in that body, whatsoever. It took me two weeks to name him because I just didn’t have anything to go off of (everyone kept saying “call him Halo, or Shiver”). He’s SUPER smart, and has a great learning curve. Lazy as can be until we start to jump, but he’s the perfect hunter. He finds his own distance, and it’s so rare for him to chip in or leave long (he has to pack me around because of my neurological nonsense… I just can’t see distances). He’s the one who tossed me and resulted in the discovery of my tumor :yes:
After
After he found my tumor, last ride before my surgery
Next is B J’s Party Dice (Charlie)
The first time I met Charlie, he was so weak he could barely walk. He was about 250lbs underweight (vet taped him at 1,089 a week after I got him… he recently taped at 1,305). He had all sorts of issues per my initial post about him. Recently, he’s been a pasture ornament after hurting his back pretty badly out in the field (no idea what he did, but there was a pretty good height deviation between one hip and the other… it was shocking to stand behind him and see how uneven he was). He’s a bit of a dumb blonde sometimes. I have to re-teach him constantly, but he’s a lovable thing. Not a very confident learner. If he gets uncomfortable, he just stops dead.
Also, as a bonus, this is Rooster. That’s one of the only pictures I have of her. I owned her for a couple of weeks before she hit her head on a round bale feeder. Poor baby girl 
She had such promise as a kid’s dressage pony. She was APHA (solid).
My craigslist horse is pictured below in my sig gallery.
She is a black Friesian/Arab mare a friend e-mailed to me, repeatedly, until I agreed to tell the owner no in person.
So I e-mailed her to have a look see, said I was NOT buying this mare, saw her, visited her again, and picked her up a week later. Hadn’t been ridden, 7 yo, no vet check. What was I thinking??
She was in full blown heat and such a doll anyway. Ever since she’s lived up to what I knew she would. A little trier full of a gentle fire. The big risk was not knowing how my bad back would handle her unknown trot. It ended up being fantastic!
Never thought I’d have two horses, she is a joy. So is my gelding, but he is now in his 20’s so she and I will be trying new things together.
That was in Sept. Don’t regret it a bit!
This was 4-5 years ago now, but…
The before was actually taken the day I brought him home. Said to be 5 (really 12), the people had bought him from a boarding barn where he’d been abandoned. He was supposed to be the husband’s horse (he’s HUGE), but they had not ever ridden him in the year they’d had him, and now, said they couldn’t afford to feed him. He was originally listed for $7-800 a few months earlier, but they gave him to us for free. It was about 4 months of weight gain before I was comfortable putting a saddle on him, and even then, he needed major padding. I climbed aboard that first ride and have never looked back - earned my lifetime-to-date best dressage scores on him, taught him to jump and he gallops around over XC jumps like he’s been an honest packer his whole life. His big, plain brown head makes my heart happy.
I can’t see facebook at work, bah! Checking out all your beautiful horses when I get home!
No glory here-ours arrived looking like this: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.a.steele/media_set?set=a.10203018898566956.1073741872.1039577974&type=3&uploaded=1
She was for free on craigslist… I bit, we went and looked and she and my daughter bonded like crazy on the spot. She has a split hoof and scar tissue on a knee but she operates fully functional. 5 year old mare. Free. Sweet and smart.
I was not looking for a horse. Seriously. Had just started reading CL after all the tales about it on Fugly Horse of the Day. Then somebody advertised a Sweepstakes nominated Arab gelding for $300 so I had to go look. (Mistake #1). Took my enabling sister (Mistake #2).
This is what we found:
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/bicyclewoman/03-09-09_1653.jpg
His owner (not the guy in the pic BTW - he was trying to find him a good home) had lost her job, she hadn’t been feeding her horses much. I thought he was stone ugly, but he had good legs and feet and I thought I could trail ride him if nothing else.
Brought him home, fed him, he sprouted up 3 inches, got him broke, took dressage lessons, trail rode, tried combined training, took him to Florida, just have had a blast with him.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/bicyclewoman/PDR_0073_zpsb6a6eeaa.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p168/bicyclewoman/montyfl2021612.jpg
He’s my ugly duckling that turned into a swan!
[QUOTE=oldernewbie;7647800]
He’s my ugly duckling that turned into a swan![/QUOTE]
He is quite the looker! Love the photos!
I’ve got one!
In 2010 my BFF neighbor went on CL to look for a bicycle, and came across this guy. This was before many CL threads or gems were getting much attention. I myself was aware of it but had never been on that site. So neighbor had just lost an older horse, she has 30 acres and a couple horses. This horse was within 20 minutes of us so we said what the heck, well just take a look, but we agreed to be strong, we really didn’t need another horse… Seriously guys, we were just going to take a look for the heck of it.
So the ad stated he was a dead broke 14 yr old, 16 hand TWH. The ad had the classic typos, and poor quality photo (blurry taken at an angle so you couldn’t really see the horse), stereotypical of your standard CL gem. I don’t want to sound mean and won’t go into details but when we met this adult woman and the mother that she lived with, let’s just say the women and their property represented white trash at its finest. They also had about 4 thin horses on maybe an acre in the back yard which was never pasture , just a wooded area that they put a fence around so it was a dirt lot
And the horse we came to see was a complete skeleton. When the women showed us the horse, my neighbor and I exchanged glances and we knew that despite promising each other we were just going to look, we had to get the skeleton horse out of this place. We had a rush coggins and health check by our vet ( who said it was the skinniest horse he’d seen) and picked up the horse as soon as everything checked out. We never saw him trot because it didn’t matter if he was sound or not, we just had to get him! The pics below do not adequately show how bony he was in real life… But here he is upon arrival to his new home
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p300/Fivesocks/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpse7d31e5a.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p300/Fivesocks/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsf75ac26b.jpg
After we got him home we followed a careful re-feeding plan, and has his teeth done. The vet who floated his teeth (a month after we got him in 2010) estimated his age between 20 and 25. Remember the ad said 14 He eventually graduated to full time grassy pasture turnout and was a pasture ornament til January of this year.
Turns out he’s probably a 5 gaited saddlebred. With some serious saddlebred training in his history. It’s been a challenge at times, but he has come a long way since January and it turns out he really likes jumping! The seller was right about the bomb proof part… I don’t think this horse is afraid of anything. We’re still not sure about the age, going by the seller and the vet, by now he is somewhere between 18 and 29??? I recently started a teeth thread on here and folks are putting him in his mid teens. http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?439425-Teeth-aging-round-2-Bottom-teeth-pic-added-Guess-away! His body looks good but his face has quite a bit of gray, and although he’s very sound, I think he may be a little stiff in his hocks but he’s not on any joint maintenance whatsoever. Any particular age range you start to see stiffness in the hocks? Maybe that’s an age clue?
Sweet face
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p300/Fivesocks/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsaf968717.jpg
In good weight
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p300/Fivesocks/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsee7abc5e.jpg
Nice trot
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p300/Fivesocks/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zps4b380664.jpg
My goal is to get him to a schooling horse trial this summer, and maybe eventually show at the elite level of beginner novice He’s very bold and I think eventing is a good fit for him.
[QUOTE=Heinz 57;7647721]
This was 4-5 years ago now, but…
The before was actually taken the day I brought him home. Said to be 5 (really 12), the people had bought him from a boarding barn where he’d been abandoned. He was supposed to be the husband’s horse (he’s HUGE), but they had not ever ridden him in the year they’d had him, and now, said they couldn’t afford to feed him. He was originally listed for $7-800 a few months earlier, but they gave him to us for free. It was about 4 months of weight gain before I was comfortable putting a saddle on him, and even then, he needed major padding. I climbed aboard that first ride and have never looked back - earned my lifetime-to-date best dressage scores on him, taught him to jump and he gallops around over XC jumps like he’s been an honest packer his whole life. His big, plain brown head makes my heart happy.[/QUOTE]
Either he is VERY tall or you are quite short! I love the plain bays!
