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Thoughts on this SSH

3K views 26 replies 13 participants last post by  goneriding 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)


Ad:
This 5 year old NSSBEA is not only beautiful, he's a very good ride. Smooth as glass; will walk on loose rein; nice running walk; nice canter, and did I mention beautiful? Buck is a horse for those who want only the best.
Not cheap, but where will you find one like him?
$6,500...
 
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#11 ·
Yes, he looked wonderful in the video! That's why I am a bit conflicted about him.

The horse is being tried by a local woman until next week - if she doesn't buy him, I might think about going to visit him and see how he does. I'm just looking for a trail/fun horse. I don't know though.
 
#12 ·
I live in MS, and I talked to this guy last year some time before I knew what the heck I was looking for. He's definitely a flipper and sells everything he's had like it's the best thing you're ever gonna find.

When I spoke to him, I'd just started taking lessons at a H/J barn and knew absolutely squat about gaited horses. I told him that I rode English and would I be able to ride a TWH English. His response? "I don't know what that even means, but this is a fine horse and you can ride him anywhere." The horse was $3500.

Now I look back and just laugh. As soon as I saw the wording in the ad, I knew it was him. He claims to only sell a few horses a year and they're usually his "personal" horses and he "doesn't sell junk", but I've seen ad after ad posted from him.

P.S.
This horse is waaay over priced. Does he have a show record for that price??
 
#18 ·
How do you tell a horse trader is lying? Their lips are moving!!!

That's not a joke; it's Gospel truth. The quotes, if accurate, are what I've been hearing from professional sellers of gaited horses in TN for the 26 years I've lived here.

It's not uncommon to find a disparity between "ideal" leg length in the trotting world and the world of the Walker/SSH.

A slightly longer rear leg allows for more overstride in the laterally gaited horse. If you want maximum smoothness then that's a Good Thing. The shape of the leg, however, can cause issues. Consider a steel I-beam. A straight beam can handle more compression stress than a beam with angles. Ditto for a horse's rear leg. The straighter the leg, the stronger the leg. But a real, straight "post leg" have little "flex" and means a very rough ride (those in the QH world know this all too well). So, ideally, you want a little bit more length and angle in a horse with overstride but not so much as you weaken the horse's ability to push with that leg and deliver the power of the back end. This is just applied equine biomechanics.

And if the rear leg is longer than the ideal it will give the horse the "odd" stance we sort of see here and can make the front leg appear overly short. And that can also be the case as a breeder who works to shorten the front leg will give the back leg that differential needed for overstride.

When you buy a horse you buy four things: conformation, temperament, way of going, and training. This last item is the most expensive part of the purchase. If the horse is truly trained such that "anybody can ride this horse" then the price might be quite reasonable. After all, how much does it cost to dumped off an animal that isn't well trained?

The price might be spot on and it might be outrageous for MS (if not for CA). That the seller is a "flipper" doesn't bother me too much. In today's equine market where "fluffbunny values" are often ascendant a seller has to cloak themselves in a "garment" that won't offend a buyer from the get-go. Good horses come from flippers and bad horses come from back yards; and vice versa.

If somebody is just not going to pay this for that horse then it's unfair of them to waste the seller's time in showing it. This does not mean you have to show up with the asking price in cash in your pocket. It does mean don't go if your just fooling.

G.
 
#19 ·
This guy is about 2 hours from me and generally sells his stock for around $3500, so I'm a bit surprised at his asking price for this one. In MS, if you're asking $6500 for a gaited horse, it has a winning show record to justify the price. Most go from between $1800-2500 in my area. Gaited horses with issues (spook, buck, etc) go for $500-$800. He'll sell this horse, but not for $6500, unless the buyer just doesn't have a clue.
 
#20 ·
The price seems very high for a gaited breed. In my area gaited breeds are a dime an dozen. You can buy decent broke gaited horses for $700 to $2,000 all day .

I would do more research on average sell prices in your area. Also beware of ex-show horses that have been shown padded for extended periods because they can develop hip issues. The hind end of this horse reminds me of such a case.

Best of luck
 
#22 ·
You betcha! That is what is called "lit up" in my area. When a horse is lit up in color like that, the Seller can about name their price, if the horse is relatively quiet to show to potential buyers.

I don't get it but, new horse owners fall for color every time. You can't ride the head and you can't ride color.

Give me my bays, sorrels and chestnuts any day. I did have one Palomino that was pretty perfect and two solid blacks that had terrific minds. Overall, I prefer the brown hues, plus nobody looks at them as quick for stealing them:loveshower:
 
#24 ·
I live in Ontario where good gaited horses are going for this price ($3500-$7000).
I have owned quarter horses for years, but found myself in a position where I was wanting to own a gaited horse for trail riding. I had the money available and was in no particular rush. So I was in the market for temperament AND colour. After searching for about a year, I ended up with a stunning 8 year old black and white SSH who has turned out to be an absolute sweetheart. I bought her from a horse dealer who brought gaited horses up from Tennessee. One can argue that I could have got this same horse for a lot less money if I had gone down and got her myself. But put in the time off work, gas to haul, not knowing who to trust down there, etc etc, I think I made out just fine.
Not everyone can breed raise and train horses on their property, Somebody has to sell/deal them. Nothing wrong buying and selling horses for a profit, as long as you stand behind what you sell. I was lucky, and had a very positive experience. Good luck! :)
 
#25 ·
Just out of curiosity, I did a 500 mile range search of my area and this horse's location. The highest priced SSH was $4500 and this horse boasted a show record. The median price was $2500 for well broke, nice looking trail horses. The saying is that a horse is worth what you are willing to pay for it, but why pay double if you don't have to?
 
#26 ·
Oh, it would have been a trade for one of my horses actually. That's why I was invited to go try him before possibly the trade. I looked back and didn't mention that before now - gosh, I thought I had! >< Oops. *is an idiot*

Originally I linked to his video on Facebook to see if I could get opinions on it but I forgot it is against forum rules to post links from there so it was deleted.

Anyway, I am not going through with anything and let the seller know. I appreciate everyone's comments!
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