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To Purchase or Pass

2029 Views 15 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  verona1016
Hello,
I'm looking for a jumper horse for my 16-year-old daughter, who has been riding for 11 years with a trainer. We found one thats a good fit temperament wise(the horse quickly latched onto her mores than the trainer its been with for a year, and immediately began following her like a puppy-dog), however the fellow has some issues. He is a 5yr old holsteiner gelding, broken at 3, and sent to a trainers a month later. The horse has a full brother who was sent to the same trainer at the same time (he is a year or so older). The older brother was completely ruined &*soured at this trainer, and the horse i am interested in was 'salvageable' as the (new) trainer has put it. The horse does not go on the bit at the moment, and his training is more similar to that of a barely-backed 3yr old. In addition to this, as a foal, the horse had Check-Ligament surgery (which to my understanding should not be a very big issue?) However it still provides a risk. He is underweight and under muscled as well, and there is a possibility he has an ulcer. To top it off, the owner and current trainer have not been honest or upfront with us, not disclosing the surgery at all, and not providing any info regarding the horses weight condition. This being said, the temperment of the horse is wonderful: he's willing, level-headed, a quick learner, responsive, and all around a good seeming fellow. His gaits and jumping technique & ability are wonderful, and even my daughter (whom has back and arm issues and finds many horses very uncomfortable.) says he is very comfortable to ride. The owner has him priced at $20,000...In my opinion this is a lot of money for a horse with several ( unsolved) issues e.g. weight, lack of training, bad starting, and for a horse whom has undergone surgery. I was hoping somebody could provide insight ( or just an educated opinion) on whether I should go ahead and make an offer, and if so, at what price you might recommend?

Thank you,
TheHorseGeek
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I hadn't considered he could have been drugged. Its just not something I would have done, so it didn't occur to me. I appreciate your help-I'll definitely be keeping that in mind. Thank you!
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His bloodlines are impeccable, so I think he will likely not let the horse go for less than 5k. Sorry, I should have given a bit more insight about my daughters riding experience. She does have experience training horses, usually alongside her trainer, though she also trained an adopted mustang by herself for somebody she knew that later used the horse as a guest horse (she has experience western and english). We would be having our trainer get up on the horse at least once or twice a week for the first two months or so.
My family had been breeding, training and selling Hanoverians until two years ago, and the horse we bred for my daughter had colic and did not survive the surgery.

I appreciate all the input and areas I had not considered about this horse. I suppose we will be back on the hunt.
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