Okay, so as some of you know, I've been looking at getting a second horse. Aires is amazing, but he's not old enough to start jumping, and I'd rather know how to jump (or at least have a good foundation) before I start him jumping in a few years. That being said, none of the horses at our barn are capable of jumping with an adult on their back. Heck, some of them couldn't even free jump. lol I want to stay at our barn because I love our trainer and I'll be taking lessons with her anyway on Aires for flat work. I also want a horse that can be used by either myself or my friend as a backup trail horse, or in case we have someone who wants to tag along on a ride, but doesn't want to rent a horse from the BO (at $35 an hour :shock.
So, I'm fairly open to breed, but I do have requirements for size, temperament, etc. Because I'm 5'7" and 180lbs with A LOT of leg, I prefer a taller horse, preferably between 16-17hh. Also, I like a horse with good bone. Color isn't a huge factor for me. Temperament has to be good. I like a sweet, loving horse. Gender isn't a huge factor, either, as long as I click with the horse. I'm also on a budget of under $1000 (small budget, I know, but there it is).
So, I've found a couple of TB geldings that would work, but most of them aren't trained to jump. I'd prefer something with at least some jump training.
So then I came across these two mares. The first one I actually wasn't looking at; I was looking at another draft cross mare the lady had for sale. The draft cross didn't work out, so she suggested this TB mare she also has for sale. She's 18hh, dark bay (or black?) and 6-years-old. Doesn't have any real jump training, that I know of. No real good confo pics, but something about her seems...off...to me. Thoughts?
Here's her ad: Beautiful TB mare, amazing bloodlines
She's asking $2000 for her, but is very negotiable and is even willing to do payments.
Then there's this second mare. She's a holsteiner/TB cross. 16.1hh, bright bay (with a little chrome...my absolute favorite), and 9-years-old. Great on trails, started training eventing last March and LOVES stadium jumping and cross country. Again, not a real good confo pic, but better than the first one.
Here's her ad: Warmblood Mare
Also a few videos. The rider is not the greatest, for sure. Mixed signals, all over the place in the saddle, yeah. Pretty sure the last two are the same as the first one, just before they edited it all together and added the music.
They are asking $1500 for her, but will take $1000. I talked to the lady tonight on the phone and she was super nice.
Okay, so here's what I see, conformation-wise...
The first mare's back end is...odd. It doesn't look like it belongs to the same horse. She's got kind of thin legs, she's slightly sickle hocked, with long cannons. Her hip just looks weak and her coupling rough. Her neck looks weird to me. Maybe it ties in too high? I don't know. She appears to have a decent slope to her shoulder and her pasterns are a good length with good slope. Her back end just really bothers me.
The second mare is built uphill, which I like. Can't tell much about her back legs, since they're stretched. I like her neck. Love the slope of her shoulder. Pasterns appear nice and short, with a good angle. Hocks maybe set a bit high, but nothing horrible. Back maybe a tad long? I just really like her overall.
So, I'm fairly open to breed, but I do have requirements for size, temperament, etc. Because I'm 5'7" and 180lbs with A LOT of leg, I prefer a taller horse, preferably between 16-17hh. Also, I like a horse with good bone. Color isn't a huge factor for me. Temperament has to be good. I like a sweet, loving horse. Gender isn't a huge factor, either, as long as I click with the horse. I'm also on a budget of under $1000 (small budget, I know, but there it is).
So, I've found a couple of TB geldings that would work, but most of them aren't trained to jump. I'd prefer something with at least some jump training.
So then I came across these two mares. The first one I actually wasn't looking at; I was looking at another draft cross mare the lady had for sale. The draft cross didn't work out, so she suggested this TB mare she also has for sale. She's 18hh, dark bay (or black?) and 6-years-old. Doesn't have any real jump training, that I know of. No real good confo pics, but something about her seems...off...to me. Thoughts?
Here's her ad: Beautiful TB mare, amazing bloodlines
She's asking $2000 for her, but is very negotiable and is even willing to do payments.
Then there's this second mare. She's a holsteiner/TB cross. 16.1hh, bright bay (with a little chrome...my absolute favorite), and 9-years-old. Great on trails, started training eventing last March and LOVES stadium jumping and cross country. Again, not a real good confo pic, but better than the first one.
Here's her ad: Warmblood Mare
Also a few videos. The rider is not the greatest, for sure. Mixed signals, all over the place in the saddle, yeah. Pretty sure the last two are the same as the first one, just before they edited it all together and added the music.
They are asking $1500 for her, but will take $1000. I talked to the lady tonight on the phone and she was super nice.
Okay, so here's what I see, conformation-wise...
The first mare's back end is...odd. It doesn't look like it belongs to the same horse. She's got kind of thin legs, she's slightly sickle hocked, with long cannons. Her hip just looks weak and her coupling rough. Her neck looks weird to me. Maybe it ties in too high? I don't know. She appears to have a decent slope to her shoulder and her pasterns are a good length with good slope. Her back end just really bothers me.
The second mare is built uphill, which I like. Can't tell much about her back legs, since they're stretched. I like her neck. Love the slope of her shoulder. Pasterns appear nice and short, with a good angle. Hocks maybe set a bit high, but nothing horrible. Back maybe a tad long? I just really like her overall.