In which I'm reminded how much horse shopping sucks!

[musical comedy]

Xan, this is a TB, which I know you don't want. I'm putting it up anyway just in case. Looks like he has the scope and bravery for you and in your price range. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt you are going to find any warmblood crosses to meet your requirements in age/price/ability unless you go really young or old, neither of which you want. It's been a long time since I looked for an event horse, so I don't know the current market. I would think that anything youngish with prelim capabilities won't come cheap.

http://www.coresporthorses.com/forrest.html

[Ponichiwa]

Located in Kansas: 2013 RPSI Gelding, jumping x dressage/TB breeding. Some freejump video. Looks like a cute guy. $15k.
https://www.warmblood-sales.com/HorseDe ... erID=18308

Located in NY: 2013 TK mare, dressage/baby hunters video, $20k:
https://www.warmblood-sales.com/HorseDe ... serID=3094

Located in MO: 2015 Hann (Sir Wanabi x TB) mare. $20k:
https://www.warmblood-sales.com/HorseDe ... erID=16798

[Ponichiwa]

More Texas options: 2014 Holst (Cubito x Linero/TB) mare. Some cautionary language in the ad that might be a red flag:

She is athletic and quick, but can be reactive to new stimulus. She would be best suited to a confident amateur or professional with a consistent program.

https://www.warmblood-sales.com/HorseDe ... erID=14160

[musical comedy]

Note to virtual shoppers: Preliminary Capable!

[Beorn]

I myself quite enjoy these virtual shopping requests... all of the fun of window-shopping and none of the money commitment. Besides, I cannot be trusted to judge the quality of anything.

[khall]

Your side of the US:
https://www.facebook.com/Crestline-Farm ... _zvXWe3Dvz

scroll down to the 3 yr old gelding. Gosh he is nice! Has US video and jump shoot video. I've always liked Landkonig, thought about breeding to him at one point.

[Koolkat]

Your side of the US:
https://www.facebook.com/Crestline-Farm ... _zvXWe3Dvz

scroll down to the 3 yr old gelding. Gosh he is nice! Has US video and jump shoot video. I've always liked Landkonig, thought about breeding to him at one point.

I really like how this youngster is being ridden, being started by Jessica Wisdom is a good thing. . .

[heddylamar]

Send it on heddy - Id love an eventer but a great showjumper would be alright too! Thanks

Finally talked to my aunt. Last she heard, the breeder sold off her herd and retired. It's really too bad. Hans was really sensible, sweet, and a beautiful mover, as were the others I saw at the time (I briefly considered purchasing for myself).

[paownyc]

Xan... have you checked with Andrea Baxter? She sometimes has some nice TB eventers or prospects for reasonable prices.

[musical comedy]

There has got to be something very wrong with this horse at this price. I did some quick checking and this is a very well bred mare that was owned and ridden in eventing by a top event rider. Apparently it got sold, did one Novice event in 2016 where it retired. I saw a video of the flat work and jumping from 2015 that was super. Just a beautiful mare and so my type. Just thought I'd put it out here.

https://www.dreamhorse.com/ad/2110942.html

[Xanthoria]

Nice mover! There is indeed probably a v good reason she hasn’t done a prelim event since 2015. Video I saw of a T level cc didn’t have enough gallop, and mare is listed elsewhere at 15.2 anyway so 2-3 inches short for me

[khall]

Xan did you look at that 3 yr old by Palladio o/o the Landkonig mare? Plenty of size and can jump plus a really nice mover.

[Xanthoria]

Yes and I have emailed them and called twice too - no response at all!

[khall]

Man that sucks! Damn nice youngster there.

[Koolkat]

Yes and I have emailed them and called twice too - no response at all!

That's odd, I just interacted with the owner a couple of days ago about this horse (she lives close by). He is very appealing. If you're interested, I'll contact her, PM if that works better for you.

[chantal]

Wish I could clone my guy for you. He does have a half-brother for sale, who is currently 17.2 and only 4 (my guy is 4 also). So too big... Both SWB out of Wild Dance. The one for sale is on the left. My guy is on the right.

[Josette]

Have you seen this site? Check out the 2 in Eugene OR - I don't know your travel / shipping preference.

http://sporthorsenation.eventingnation. ... me_paged=7

[Xanthoria]

Have you seen this site? Check out the 2 in Eugene OR - I don't know your travel / shipping preference.

http://sporthorsenation.eventingnation. ... me_paged=7

Nice. Emailing now

[TBlover]

Hmm if I actually got my butt in gear and got set up for some chute jumping video I might have one for ya...

[Xanthoria]

Xan, this is a TB, which I know you don't want. I'm putting it up anyway just in case. Looks like he has the scope and bravery for you and in your price range. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt you are going to find any warmblood crosses to meet your requirements in age/price/ability unless you go really young or old, neither of which you want. It's been a long time since I looked for an event horse, so I don't know the current market. I would think that anything youngish with prelim capabilities won't come cheap.

http://www.coresporthorses.com/forrest.html

I realized I missed replying to this one. Sorry. yes I may well cave and get a TB but for now I'm giving the WB x thing a shot! I have a few prospects between $15-30k asking price, so we will see. Ranging from fairly dowdy to actually lovely!

[Xanthoria]

OK I have been on the phone today with a trainer who has had a horse for the seller for 6 months. She could NOT have been less interested in talking to me. She didn't even know if the horse had shoes on, or what it ate. "I have SO many horses and I've been doing this for SO long and I'm SO GOOD AT IT..." She told me to ask the barn kids all that stuff, you know, when I FLY OUT TO SEE THE HORSE.

I'm sorry, what is your commission actually for then...? Is 15 minutes of your time too much to spend on a prospective buyer? When I tried to arrange a date to view she was just SO BUSY, but after I said "this sounds like it won't work" she said MAYBE she could get a student to show me the horse...

I hate horse shopping!

[scruffy the cat]

Did you text the person I got my horse from? I saw someone on a FB thread also recommend them .

[Xanthoria]

I did. They texted back and after supplying info about what I’m looking for they went silent.

SOMEONE TAKE MY MONEY!!!!!!!!!

[scruffy the cat]

Darn it!

[scruffy the cat]

I don't suppose you can sell a kidney?

https://www.csquarefarm.com/horses/jagu ... k-and-over

Courtney is known to be pretty expensive. I tried one of her other horses at Windurra and she was fun. Ultimately I don't think she was overpriced for what she was so maybe you could turn a few tricks to make some extra cash?


Also, you are looking on the Area II FB page? And Event Horses for Sale? Ryan Wood has one but it's probably $$$$$.

[Xanthoria]

I don't suppose you can sell a kidney?

https://www.csquarefarm.com/horses/jagu ... k-and-over

Courtney is known to be pretty expensive. I tried one of her other horses at Windurra and she was fun. Ultimately I don't think she was overpriced for what she was so maybe you could turn a few tricks to make some extra cash?

Also, you are looking on the Area II FB page? And Event Horses for Sale? Ryan Wood has one but it's probably $$$$$.

No - I'm in area VI. The more I shop the more I think I need to stay on the W coast for the time being. Flying to see one horse is going to crunch my budget quickly, as I'd need to probably do that a few times. Unless I go see someone like http://www.teamwindchase.com/forsale.htm That said the area VI FB is for USEA announcements only - no sales. I am on the Eventers of the West FB, and that has sales.

I will work on my tricks

[Bip]

No - I'm in area VI. The more I shop the more I think I need to stay on the W coast for the time being. Flying to see one horse is going to crunch my budget quickly, as I'd need to probably do that a few times. Unless I go see someone like http://www.teamwindchase.com/forsale.htm That said the area VI FB is for USEA announcements only - no sales. I am on the Eventers of the West FB, and that has sales.

I will work on my tricks

You would never need to see just one in PA/MD/NoVA. I think I saw 10 and I could have seen more if I’d planned a bit better. Everyone on the entire east coast sends their horses to that area to sell, so there’s a great selection. There must be somewhere similar on the west coast though. Probably Temecula.

[scruffy the cat]

Agree with BIP. Last horse shopping trip, I planted myself down there and saw 8 in 3 days and definitely could have seen more. Every place I went there were 2-3 that were absolutely something worth sitting on. This past trip I saw 6? 7? in a very short period of time. Just at least browse the Area II FB page. Sales are definitely okay.

[Sue B]

I know I live on the wrong side of the country for you, but have you tried contacting these people? https://www.facebook.com/parkwood.equestrian/ This is a very active sales/training barn with lots of horses for sale to look at. They are not far from Salt Lake City too. Believe it or not we have quite a few eventing horses and wb crosses out here in and near Idaho.

[Xanthoria]

OK if I can round up a herd in one place I'll fly. Otherwise, west coast. Specifically right now Portland and surrounding area. Going to have a trip up there soon, already have a few candidates.

[Bip]

OK if I can round up a herd in one place I'll fly. Otherwise, west coast. Specifically right now Portland and surrounding area. Going to have a trip up there soon, already have a few candidates.

That’s probably the west coast equivalent area. I saw a horse for you advertised on the Area 1 website, going Prelim sounds very successful. Mid-5 figures though but if you are a good enough rider to do prelim, you should sell your car (and probably someone else’s too) and get a Prelim horse. I just want someone to be out there doing what they want on horseback!

[Xanthoria]

haha - me too Bip! But cannot afford going Prelim horse, only "maybe one day going Prelim horse as long as Xan doesn't crush its will to live..."

[Chisamba]

Just wondering if you would get more horses if you searched for one star horses rather than preliminary?

[PaulaO]

http://sporthorsenation.eventingnation. ... ur-dreams/

Just noticed he’s TB....

[Bip]

http://sporthorsenation.eventingnation.com/listing/safe-fancy-fun-finished-sport-horse-the-horse-of-your-dreams/

Just noticed he’s TB....

He sounds sporthorse need vs racing bred. Does that make a difference Xan?

[Xanthoria]

http://sporthorsenation.eventingnation.com/listing/safe-fancy-fun-finished-sport-horse-the-horse-of-your-dreams/

Just noticed he’s TB....

He sounds sporthorse need vs racing bred. Does that make a difference Xan?

Well, first off he's already sold but what I'm trying to avoid is the triumvirate of TB woes - some of them come about through track time (training or racing) some are inherent to some TBs: Hard keepers, bad feet, and tendon/ligament/arthritic woes doe to racing at 2 years old.

So I wouldn't discount a TB that had never been near a track if it had GREAT feet and was an air fern

That said, those are rare. And now someone will tell me about their perfect TB but honestly, if it can jump 4' sell it to me, or I don't want to hear about it!

In other news, I have inquired about 15 horses now. The stats thus far:

Inquiries that never receive a response - even multiple inquiries via phone, email and text: 48%
People who reply at first, then disappear: 20%
Horses whose ads are up, but the horse is sold: 13%

I finally found one I liked and went to see it: one front leg was very twisted from the knee down. Didn't even ride it.

Seriously thinking about buying in the UK... even with import the horses are so much more experienced and talented for the money.

[PaulaO]

I think the idea of looking in the UK is smart. Figure about $10K for importing/fees.

[khall]

Yeah horses can be cheap in the UK. They come around on my FB feed quite regularly.

[scruffy the cat]

Lots more in the UK and Ireland for very good prices. Plus there would be that really hard to stomach trip over to find one. That wouldn't be any fun at all. You might need some company to make it less dreadful, even.

[Xanthoria]

scruffy, I've already booked us on a month-long tour of the UK starting with Olympia in London so we can sharpen our eye for quality horseflesh. Felt sure you would be available?

[Moutaineer]

Can I tag along? Not looking for a new horse, but it sounds like it would be fun (I mean, a very serious educational experience!)

[Snork]

If I’m not mistaken, last time harmless banter like this on this board landed aregard and bj in Ireland. Hunting. For reals.

Send pictures from Olympia girls.

[scruffy the cat]

I have already booked the cheerful holiday flat in Covent Garden for the group.

[silk]

Is Sparkleby still in Ireland, or KY?

[silk]

Xan, you should look downunder. Tons of horseflesh for stupid cheap. Esp with the dollars the way they are at present.

[Xanthoria]

Mountaineer the more the merrier. You can be in charge of chocolate (for energy boosts) and scruffs is in charge of champagne ("in victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it" - Napoleon).

Snork, I do recall that adventure! So, are you coming???

silk, I wonder what the import fees are?

[Moutaineer]

I have already booked the cheerful holiday flat in Covent Garden for the group.

Because Covent Garden is so incredibly convenient for horse shopping, after all...

Chocolate, I can manage...

[Fatcat]

Just a comment on horse shopping in general. I learned a valuable lesson on my last horse purchase--find a reputable breeder turning out horses that perform and get one from them. It made the whole experience pleasant and successful. They were very responsive to my inquiries, sending many photos and videos. I was unable to travel to their state (MT and I'm in OR), but I sent my instructor and they were very gracious in working with her. They happily videotaped the prepurchase exam for me to view. They even affordably boarded the mare until I could have her shipped after snow season. Now I'm not in the budget for a WB, but my budget was for a sport Morgan (the poor woman's Vermont warmblood ). Even sport Morgans can be expensive, but I spent less than $6k for a 3yo WTC under saddle by a grand prix winning stallion. She's been a fabulous horse for me, I've had her 6 years and has exceeded all my expectations.

So, in a nutshell, perhaps finding an off breed that's affordable, along with finding a GOOD breeder with a track record of producing performers. Is there such a thing as a sport-horse TB breeder that produces horses just for the 3 day market?

[Xanthoria]

Fatcat I bought my current horse from the breeder and yes - it was a lovely experience, until it wasn't. I did buy a 6 month old colt so the wait to ride was VERY long - mistake #1. The other mistake was buying a horse who ended up having PSSM and shivers. If I had waited till he was at least 3 I would have known and bought another horse. Mistake #3 was buying a horse I was told should jump well, with no proof. So I am stuck with an unsellable 6 yr old who really isn't a jumper.

I have been talking to a couple breeders. But in the USA it's very rare to find one who will freejump a 3 yr old over much more than 2' which tells me nothing.

When you look at how jumpers/eventers are marketed in the UK/EU vs US it's startling. In the UK/EU they all show a photo of the horse jumping. If unstarted, freejumping. In the US, you see a cute head shot, flatwork, or a bad conformation pic. "Top level eventing prospect!" - video shows a very ordinary horse slowly jogging over one 2' high fence. They want $25k. Get real.

It's little wonder then that an 8 yr old with Prelim experience in the US is $50k, but in the UK it's $15-20k...

[Fatcat]

Fatcat I bought my current horse from the breeder and yes - it was a lovely experience, until it wasn't. I did buy a 6 month old colt so the wait to ride was VERY long - mistake #1. The other mistake was buying a horse who ended up having PSSM and shivers. If I had waited till he was at least 3 I would have known and bought another horse. Mistake #3 was buying a horse I was told should jump well, with no proof. So I am stuck with an unsellable 6 yr old who really isn't a jumper.

I have been talking to a couple breeders. But in the USA it's very rare to find one who will freejump a 3 yr old over much more than 2' which tells me nothing.

When you look at how jumpers/eventers are marketed in the UK/EU vs US it's startling. In the UK/EU they all show a photo of the horse jumping. If unstarted, freejumping. In the US, you see a cute head shot, flatwork, or a bad conformation pic. "Top level eventing prospect!" - video shows a very ordinary horse slowly jogging over one 2' high fence. They want $25k. Get real.

It's little wonder then that an 8 yr old with Prelim experience in the US is $50k, but in the UK it's $15-20k...

Yes, I've had a horse with PSSM, it was a nightmare. Can you find a breeder who's is producing 3-4yos under saddle from proven jumping parents? That was my thinking--parents that perform = offspring with stable minds and sturdy conformation.