Horse Shopping Online- A Brave New World
A baby boomer recounts horse shopping the old fashioned way and her own adventures horse shopping in the 21st century.
Part 1 of 2
Read Part 2 Horse Shopping Travel Adventures in Idaho
By Karen Prell
It wasn’t bad enough to wake up one morning and realize that I am firmly planted in territory that is more than middle aged (I’m 55, which means I’d have to live to 110 to even consider myself “middle aged”), but when it comes to shopping for a new equine member of the family, well, I’m hopelessly out of touch with this brave new world. Whoever thought that we would one day “shop” for a horse without ever leaving our computer chair!?! When did this happen!?!
I am an official member of the baby boomer generation along with being a lifelong devotee of all things equine, which happens to fit yet another demographic that the horse world is starting to wake up to. Many horse-loving members of this generation are now finally able to indulge their life long dream of actually owning their own horse, and we represent the fastest growing segment of the horsey population.
Horse Buying Tip: It’s a good idea to take an experienced horse person with you when you see a prospective purchase.
Just think of all the things that go with the new horse that need to be purchased, and you get the idea of equine merchants everywhere just drooling for our business. This article is for everyone who may be horse shopping, thinking of horse shopping or just fantasizing about horse shopping. Since I have now shopped and purchased the old way and the new Internet shopping way, I feel I can speak to both methods and let you decide which was/ is better suited to your comfort level.
When I bought my first horse, I was eighteen years old at the time and newlywed. If you want to really test out your relationship–– tell them you’re buying a horse. If they don’t run screaming into the night, they may be crazy or they may be a keeper!
Just the trip to the farm to look at prospects would have been enough to discourage the most lionhearted partner, but my husband was undaunted and we drove the hundred plus miles from New Jersey to Pennsylvania in the winter in a Pinto wagon just to go look at them! That’s either insanity or true love. Thirty-eight years later, I’m still not sure!
Horse Shopping The “Old Fashioned” Way
At that time I employed the usually accepted method of horse hunting through actual magazines, local horse newsletters and put the word out with other horse related friends of what I was looking for. I was very specific. I wanted something appropriate for showing in the Hunter division, but also wanted to be able to go down the trail with friends as well.
Well, when I started looking, the prices for a decent riding horse were out of the range of my savings at the time. Aren’t they always? Even green broke horses, which means the horse is green, as in not seasoned and you’ll go broke getting it trained OR you’ll get broke(n) trying to train it yourself if you aren’t experienced at training, were too expensive.
Luck was with me on the day I read a small classified ad in “The Chronicle of the Horse.” I saw a help wanted ad from a Pennsylvania farm that bred Arabians and Anglo Arabians for show. Although they were looking for help, I thought heck, they must have something to sell if they breed, right? So, I called the number listed for Haileybury Farm and inquired about what they had for sale. The owner of the farm was a lovely woman and she was taking their Arabian stallion, Bayaref, back out for competition. She was also having a dispersal of their youngsters.
We talked about what I was looking for, my price range, riding experience, and that if I was interested, she would send me a sales list of what she had to offer. She said she might have a few that would fit my wish list if I didn’t mind buying a yearling and she would drop the information in the mail to me. Imagine that! Something had to be sent by regular mail! No pointing and clicking.
Well, to cut to the chase, I received the information and narrowed it down to two of the Anglo Arab youngsters–– colts, one a bay and the other a chestnut. I decided that we just had to make a trip out to the farm to see them in the flesh and determine just what their personalities were like and which one would be the better fit. I mean, we were talking long term commitment here, and in my head, I was already riding this prospective new horse, jumping fences and winning ribbons. Not too much expectation there, eh?
We gassed up our venerable Pinto wagon and headed out to the wilds of Pennsylvania. Let me just say right here that the Pinto earned my undying respect for making it out to the farm on roads that were iffy when the weather was good and downright hair raising when covered with six inches of snow! That little car got us there despite some very wrong turns and almost running out of gas on the way (Note: Never believe anyone when they tell you the gas station is “just a little ways” down the road).
We arrived at our destination, a lovely old farm, in one piece and met with the owner. We then went to look at the actual horses. Off we went walking across snow-covered fields to look at youngsters who were very skeptical of looking at us. Now, here is where the “looking” at horses finally gets down to “seeing” them!
Horse Buying Tip: If the seller to won't ride the horse or have someone ride him before you, it could indicate a problem.
I approached the lovely bay standing off to one side of the pasture. I approached him slowly so as not to alert him to the fact that I actually wanted to catch him, but had to approach slowly as the snow in the field was darn near knee high. We got to within six feet of him, and he flew off like someone had just rung the dinner bell. Oh well!
I decided to see the chestnut. He was standing by the giant salt block in the pasture with his Donkey buddy. Great! I wonder what kind of affinity I have with Donkeys? Well, the chestnut stood his ground. He let us come up to him and catch him, making him now waaaaay ahead in my decision making book!
He was sweet and quiet and just stood there and let us go all round him, touching and petting him. And he was one of my favorite colors–– chestnut with a star, stripe and snip and one white hind sock.
I had just about made up my mind when my husband said, “we have to buy this one!”
Now remember this was 1974, when I asked him why the chestnut, he replied “Because he’s marked like Secretariat!”
Well now, that pretty much sealed the deal, if ever I needed an excuse. We made the deal, made arrangements to have him vetted and shook on it. No money changed hands until I got back home and mailed them a check for the deposit. Imagine that. No Paypal, no electronic transfer of funds, no contracts. Just a hand shake and promise to pay. Wow! It was different back then. And here is the kicker. That horse, my stallion, which I named Copyboy, was with me until the day he died in 2003. We had shown together, won more ribbons than I care to count, ridden trails together and made the long move from New Jersey to Florida–– and he only cost me $500 bucks.
He was as honest as the day is long and a very responsible type of horse that took an inordinate amount of care of me, his very grateful rider. I could write many more paragraphs on his value to me as a friend, companion and teacher, but that is for another day. It was this great generosity of spirit that led me to start searching for a future companion to aim at once again entering the show arena. My thought was that if a half Arabian was as good as Copy was, then a full Arab would be even better!
This time, I was thrust into the 21st century version of horse shopping! This was an adventure of a lifetime!
Read Part 2- A Horse Shopping Travel Adventure to Idaho
About the Author: Karen Prell, aka "Triple Crown Karen," came from a very non horsey, working class New Jersey family and started riding at age three. With over thirty years experience as a riding instructor, Karen is passionate about developing beginners into confident riders and compassionate horse owners. A favorite expresion heard often by her students is "It's ALL about the horse!" A lover of all things "horse," she is especially passionate about promoting the retraining of retired Thoroughbreds and adoption and rehoming of unwanted horses. Her ultimate dream would be to see the US Equestrian Team mounted on these great reclaimed athletes. Her career in media focuses on the everyday equestrian adventure and how a horse lover of modest means CAN make a difference for even ONE horse.
