Buying a horse is nothing like I thought it would be. It's like a mail-order bride. Or buying a super expensive, high-maintenance used car...that has a personality and bad habits. There has to be a "fit" in terms of personality and behavior between you and the horse. Plus, every horse has his own collection of good and bad qualities.

And I'm not even going to start on the amount of out-and-out lying that goes on in the horse world.

CLICK on each horse's name below to link to his page...

August 2006

What am I looking for? As with houses and men, everyone has a list of what they want. But you don't expect to get everything on the list, and some qualities outweigh others. So I'm not looking for the perfect horse. God knows I'm not the perfect rider!

I've been riding only a year, but I'm good with animals, I'm studying natural horsemanship, I know when I'm sucking, and I have light hands. I have a trainer. Sure, I want to show, but more importantly, I'm looking for a lifelong partner. He would have the best of care and attention. I've waited 30 years for this!

• Gelding
• Age 4 - 15
• Smooth gaits, particularly the canter
• A good heart and willing disposition, a soft eye: Safe.
• Good work ethic. I can't take lazy.
• No bucking, biting, ewe necks, or avoiding the bit
• Draft-cross, TB, QH, paint, various crosses, whatever; at least 15 hands.
• For low-level hunter/jumper and low-level dressage, as well as occasional trails. The horse doesn't have to have tons of training if he has a good heart.
• Is a forelock too much to ask? Seems to be. I'd like a reasonably pretty horse. This is the least important quality, of course. Now I am ashamed.

UPDATE: JENN BOUGHT A HORSE. We can all get on with our lives. GO HERE

Jasper

I bought him. Black thoroughbred who's been at my stable for a while; I've loved him from afar. Excellent hunter/jumper or even eventing prospect....More Jasper

December 2006

Beau

My choice...who failed the vet check with navicular syndrome, breaking my heart after raising the bar, dammit.

Black Percheron (draft)/quarter horse cross, 12 years old. Ridiculous mane and tail, not a mean bone in his body. Super sensitive (massive dressage potential), has a great heart, and I felt safe with him. More Beau...

September/October 2006

Elegante

A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE. Read the story.

December 2006

Wes

Brieflyon the track, 7 years old, great conformation except a bit of a ewe neck, fast trot, doesn't listen, yet expensive. More Wes...

October 2006

Diego

Only 4 years old, a small cream palomino quarter horse. Green and a little choppy, but sweet. More Diego...

October 2006

Fitzgerald

8 years old, chestnut Appendix (Thoroughbred/Quarter Horse cross). A bit clumsy but "bombproof." Hunter, jumper, dressage, trails.

More Fitz...

August/September 2006

QH/Thoroughbred cross

Stormy

13 years old, gray "shadow" paint. Hunter, jumper, some dressage, shows and ribbons. However, my trainer pointed out he had been ridden hard for 13 years, so although he seems healthy, he is more likely to develop health issues soon. Likes a HARD rein, way more contact than I'm used to. In retrospect, though, a great candidate. More Stormy...

September 2006

Paint

Rolling Rock Titan

5 years old, one blue eye, green, and apparently colicky when we tried to ride him. More Rolling Rock...

Fall 2006

Oz

If you're trying to sell a horse, don't tell the prospective buyer when she shows up on the appointed day, "Oh, he hasn't been ridden in a week. I don't feel comfortable with you cantering him."

August 2006

Storm

Something tells me a $1,000 thoroughbred is likely crazy. I didn't even ride this cute scary creature. More Storm...

December 2006

Jesse

A sad, cautionary tale for anyone who doesn't realize that buying a horse is a ridiculous gamble. More Jesse...

Amazingly easy to ride thoroughbred; push-button training. Sadly, tendon injury makes him high risk. And still high priced... He's still up here because his canter is the gold standard...See video

August 2006