Buying a Hunter-Jumper Horse

by Mr. Edward F. Vaughn

When one is considering purchasing a hunter-jumper horse, most people utilize their trainer to assist them in making that purchase. This is recommended for those who are not knowledgeable or have not acquired an eye for how a horse moves. The disadvantages of having someone else select your horses are:

Barn Politics

The barn politics can create a conflict of interest for the trainer.

1. What happens if a trainer purchases a horse for a client that costs $25,000 and that is taking 3 lessons a week from the trainer? Then the trainer buys a $5,000 horse for a client that “trailers in” for lessons and does not board at the barn but then the cheaper horse wins at the shows?
2. If you were the trainer would you encourage that purchase (the purchase of the less expensive horse) and risk losing a valuable client?
3. How would you feel if you were the one that paid twenty thousand dollars more for a horse that got beat? I wouldn't like it, would you?
4. Would it let the trainer “off the hook” if the client found that horse and the trainer was not involved in the purchase?
5. That might give the trainer “a way out” in that then the trainer could consider it a fluke? Like finding a piece of art at a yard sale?
6. Is there a “pecking order” created in a barn that is systemic and necessary to maintain harmony?
7. Should the most expensive horse be the best and then the others fall in line?

The trainers that I have used accepted the horses that I located, liked, and were able to continue that horses training and development. When I purchased our first hunter the trainer encouraged me to sell it and get another. I liked that horse and within two weeks the trainer had changed her mind and said it was ready for second level dressage. Once she understood that I did not have deep pockets and was not going to buy my daughter that “perfect pony” that trainers locate, we were able to work together and win many ribbons.

We have been lucky to have wonderful trainers in Jane Meyer, George and Leslie Governo and Nora Rushing.

The Cost

It takes us approximately four years to foal and train a horse. Our green horses have consistently won their first time out. They are bred to move well just as horses are bred to run fast. We price these horses around $5,000. We have sold to trainers that have owned them for a short period of time and sold them for considerably more.

The Fit

Fit is important and not every rider can ride every horse. My philosophy is different from others in that I wanted my daughter to learn to ride on horses that were not made horses. Many trainers don't want “green riders” on “green horses”. I don't think people learn balance on schooling horses.

At sixteen, my daughter was asked by her trainers to ride others horses that were “not forward” or “acted out”. She was able to do this because she started (on average) ten horses a year (after I rode them and determined that they were safe). She began “starting” horses at age eleven. I believe we should teach children to rise to the level of the horse's potential. I think we should create athletes and then teach them to ride. I see children in the saddle that have no balance and count on the horse for their safety. These children should be “started” in gymnastics, soccer, or swimming before they are put in the saddle.

We do not want to set people up to fail on a horse that isn't right for them. Yet we all see the over esteemed rider (adults and children) whose ability is not consistent with their confidence. When children are treated this way we see them arguing with their parents and trainer, believing that their opinions are equal to anyone else's. They over value their opinions and undervalue the opinions of others. These individuals can become arrogant and have difficulty relating to others because their self-esteem is not reality based. We all contributed to it because we wanted to be seen as “positive”.

I would rather see children rise to the level of difficulty (challenge) to ride a horse than to win on a horse that anyone can ride. We all need realistic challenges to feel a sense of mastery and confidence. We should not “train children” in ways to “distort reality”.

Finally I dreamed of owning a horse all my life. I don't want someone else selecting my dream for me. I think we all work harder on realizing our dreams than someone else's. I think that is the concept in helping parents bond with their newborn. Would we have gone through what we have for someone else's teen? I don't mind correcting my mistakes as much as I do a trainer's mistake and now that is now defending a horse that they encouraged me to purchase. Trainers have valuable opinions but the judges at horse shows determine which opinion wins. Our horses win. Look at their ribbons and welcome to Windwalker Farm.