At 07:33:47 on 05.08.11, dancingwithdevils wrote:
Alright so i have been riding horses for almost 8 years now, and im getting my license in like 5 months. The only thing i want, ever, is a beautiful saddle bred that people are jealous of and swoon over. :) I have been looking around a lot, all sorts of websites for a relatively cheap horse that hasn't shown, so i can try and teach it some. Long story short i ended up on craigslist. Yeah yeah i know that it's sketchy, but i was just snooping around. I searched saddlebred and i saw a link for a 3 year old, $500, and she is absolutely gorgeous. I have fallen in love with the video and pictures... So is it a bad idea to buy a horse for $500? I'm definitely going to go see her before i buy her and all, i just want to know what you guys think. Sorry this is so long! SHE IS BEAUTIFUL :)

At 16:37:17 on 05.08.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
if i saw a horse for sale for $500 i would be thinking... why is it so cheap? my friend bought a TB ex racer straight from the track for £300 (which is about $500/$600) and it had to be put down less than a month later from medical problems. also as a first horse i really wouldn't buy a 3 year old, at 3 years old it will still be a baby and need lots of bringing on and time to mature before you start doing serious work, if you really think you're ready for the comitment of a youngster (and have the knowledge) and you want this horse get a 5 star vetting including x-rays, blood tests, the lot i mean the last thing you want is to get it home to find it has been buted up to its eyeballs so it can't feel pain and then get it home to find out it has something seriously wrong with it. also i would look at other horses other than saddlebreds you may be suprised to find a horse perfect for you that wasn't really your 'dream' i always dreamed of a beautiful friesian stallion that was awesome at dressage and always said i would never get a thoroughbred, especially never a ex racehorse and grenville (who is also my first horse) is both! and i couldn't ask for a better horse, he is right for me and i don't care his head is abnormally large or that he is really long in the body, to me he is gorgeous and he isn't the friesian i dreamed of but he is all i think about now so i would go horse hunting with a open mind, you may be suprised :)

At 20:09:36 on 05.08.11, dancingwithdevils wrote:
oh yeah? that makes a lot of sense. I have always been around arabians and quarter horses and i love long bodies and necks. babies are too much fun, i love them. At my barn I get to deal with the 4 year olds that are barely broke and it's just wonderful. I'll see what we can do with the vet! that is something i didn't think of and should have! thank you :)

At 09:16:15 on 06.08.11, Flicka wrote:
I'd be very careful-yes sometimes you can pick up a good horse cheaply, especially an ex-racehorse as Jess mentions although they need a lot of specialist knowledge to bring them on well straight from the track. Unfortunately when it comes to selling horses there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who knowingly sell a horse with an injury or degenerative disease and cover it up with drugs. If a horse is well bred but cheap then I would be particularly suspicious. You could be buying yourself a horse that works out much more costly in vets bills and heartache. Like Jess I would recommend a vet check and I would also advise taking someone very experienced with you. And really watch that the dealer doesn't pressurise you into a quick purchase by saying that someone else wants it etc. Luckily when I was looking for my last horse the dealer allowed me to have a trial period with the ones I was interested in. Good luck with finding your dream horse :)

At 10:19:54 on 06.08.11, kibby wrote:
I would never get a horse without a trial period... I have picked up cheap horses, but they have been ex race horses or neglected horses, both need a LOT of time and patience.. But you never know, you may have stumbled onto something amazing. never a harm in looking.. I know it can be seen as rude but tell them you will be there at say 12.30 and turn up at 12, say, sorry I thought we agreed on 12. You can find out a lot of dirty secrets this way. Keep an eye out for signs of excess lunging (another bad sign) also if they advertise the horse as broke, get them to get on it first.. NEVER EVER GET ON THE HORSE FIRST!!!

At 08:56:49 on 07.08.11, Flicka wrote:
Good points, particularly the last one!

At 07:20:54 on 08.08.11, kibby wrote:
I have caught people drugging horses and lunging horses by turning up early. If the person has nothing to hide them they really wont mind..

At 13:39:05 on 15.08.11, NoraPieterse wrote:
Always get the horse vetted and always have it on trial! Even if you've had 'fun' experiences with other young horses, owning a 3 yr old yourself can be a different story. No matter how beautiful or well-trained it is, a 3 yr old needs work. like- daily, or it will become more and more difficult. Not saying it's impossible- my first horse (now 5) was 3... but I wished I'd been more open minded and chosen something older, more experienced and easier at the time because I spent a lot of time struggling with Mickey's baby habbits and training him. Just make sure you always talk sense to yourself and have a really really good think about it. If you have any doubts at all, don't do it. It's your first horse so you don't want a bad experience. And I completely agree with Kibby. Good luck! and no harm in looking, so even if you think you found 'the one' keep looking!

At 13:53:43 on 15.08.11, JaymeeLS wrote:
Just to add onto what NoraPieterse said, don't just assume because it's an older horse that it has appropriate training. My 16yo is 16 going on 2, she doesn't know much. She's broken to accept rider. Can only w/t at the moment, planks round corners, doesn't know how to step-over, spooky outside of the yard, very bad napping vice. I still love her though! She's the sweetest mare though Haha. She's a challenge for a beginner!

At 05:02:04 on 17.08.11, Part Arab wrote:
All good advice above. IMO there is nothing wrong with buying a horse for $500 as long as you are aware of and willing (and able) to work with it (handle, ride, keep etc) once it is in your possession. So let me answer your question with another question: What do you want in/from/with a horse and do you have the time, patience and skill to achieve it with this one? I would think that a 3 year old being sold for $500 would need ALOT of work. Good Luck :)