What I’m looking for…

At the beginning of my new horse search my trainer had me put together a list of what I was looking for so I wanted to share that. I’ve added extra notes to clarify what some items are about.

• 5-8 years old would be ideal
  • With the thought that I may need to go younger due to my other requirements and my price range.
  • Shockingly I’ve ended up being interested in a lot of 9 year olds as opposed to young ones as many young ones are outside my price range!
• 16.3+ to take up my leg
  • Yep I’m tall and I have extra long legs, tall = more expensive horse 🙁
• Gelding preferred but not completely opposed to a mare
  • I’ve not ridden many mares in my adult life, so not averse just like the gelding mentality I’m used to
• Pretty much any color but gray
  • Between the added cleaning needs and the extra risk of melanoma I have to pass. One special needs horse is sufficient!
  • Also is it possible for me to own something other than a chestnut? My history is 3 chestnuts – all different breeds.
• Avoiding TBs unless it’s really amazing and/or already showing/proven
  • Too much risk for me to go OTTB directly (no more special needs horses), harder to get one that will fit my leg, not “in” for my discipline, etc.
  • TB crosses (which lets face it is a huge population of what many other breeds are) would be great.
• Planning to do hunters and equitation
  • Ugh I haven’t jumped since August of last year
• Able to hack out alone or in a group
  • I already greatly miss my evenings alone in the field with Mr P. Stampede was never 100% reliable to hack in the field and I would never try it alone.
• Prefer a forward thinking horse
  • I look really ugly when I’m squeezing a horse all the time and it’s not fun.
  • Nothing feels better than a horse that takes you to the jumps
• I know I’m probably looking at green but would like to find something that already has a lead change if possible
  • Teaching P changes was not a good experience for me. I was a kid and probably screwed it up royally but I’d rather get a horse with an easy change.
  • Stamp always naturally had an easy change even when he was green

Also hoping to find the horse within a few hours of my location. Michigan has a very nice HJ scene particularly a couple of hours north so hopefully I have a chance. If something truly amazing pops up I would do differently but until then I will try to be patient!

I want to be thorough in my search and find a long-term partner. I definitely have the mentality that I purchase a horse to keep it for the rest of its life. Obviously if it’s a bad match or something like that I would be better off selling but otherwise in for life!

I’m not going to share my budget here but I think it’s really a decent amount. Honestly more than I would like to spend but I realize what’s necessary for my goals.

Here’s hoping my next horse is tall and athletic like Stampede with the heart and soundness of Mr. P.

A young Mr P with a young me <3

When you need a tall horse to look normal sized 😉