When you have a full time job, squeezing in the seemingly-necessary and tedious hours of scouring the web can be difficult. Finding the days to travel to see good candidates is even more difficult. So a lot of what I have come to depend on in my horse hunting is a village of people.
Many of these folks make up my closest friends, and send me appropriate horses, and sometimes wildly inappropriate horses (though adorable- but Fjords generally aren’t seen clearing 3’6″ jumping tracks) that they’ve noticed during their social media wanderings. Others are sweet bloggers, people I have met through sometimes random real-life events, or folks I have connected with along the horse-shopping journey.
This weekend’s potential pone.
One of the things I am attempting to reign in is the number of hours I spend traveling to see horses. My reasons are thus- family in the hospital and needing to save those funds spent on plane tickets to go towards the creature itself. I’ve already logged over 10 hours in a car to see two horses in the last week, and next weekend am making a big trip to Aiken, to see 3 good candidates and recoup some of the travel costs with portrait sessions (and bonus- get to meet Beka as well!).
Last year’s KY horse-shopping trip:
Hillary has kindly offered to peak in at a couple horses for me in Lexington, KY, soon, and it got me thinking… What other bloggers out there might be willing to lend their eyes, ears, and bums to see a solid candidate in their area? Because… I don’t know, what’s more fun than horse shopping without the expensive repercussions? Occasionally I see horses in Florida, or Texas, Maryland or New York and wonder… is it worth the trip? Do I really need to take 2 days away from house and home to go see what could easily be a dud?
Realizing that most other bloggers have full time commitments, families, and you know, their own horses to take care of, I wouldn’t want anyone to go out of their way to inconvenience themselves unless it sounded like a fun idea. But if you are into the idea of my obnoxiously crowd sourcing your talent (and video camera) in search of the perfect horse, well, let me know!
Red on the Right 
I love the one bay with the back white wraps on, super cute and awesome mover, definitely my favorite out the video! My boss has a 17yo previous 2* horse for sale as a novice/training packer. 10K. I can send you more information if you’re interested in coming up to the ohio area.
Thank you!! I’m trying to stay below 10 years old if at all possible 🙂 Hoping to have many many years ahead of competition and shenanigans with the future horse!
If there’s anything within a few hours of me in Texas I’d be glad to go take a look!
I absolutely may take you up on that!!
I was about to offer as well, but Amanda is probably a better choice for your purposes. True story, every time I see you try a horse with a flat kneed sweeping trot I jump up and down in my seat and say BUY THAT ONE BUY THAT ONE!
Haha there have been some H/J crossovers for sure in the horses I have been looking at. This Saturday one of the horses on the list is a H/J horse as well 🙂
Ooh! Depending on location, I might be convinced to take a peek at MD, DC, Northern VA ponies for you!
not sure how helpful i could be but ditto what Austen said above. i’m happy to nose around maryland and surrounding environs!
Wonderful- I do have a small list started for up in that area!!
feel free to send me an email at fraidycat.eventing at gmail. maybe Austen and i can divide and conquer (or make it a blogger trip for ya haha – the whole ‘it takes a team of village idiots’ thing lol)
I volunteer as video-er! Not much help on the riding end of things 😛
Video is always super helpful too!!
PICK ME I VOLUNTEER. But seriously, I’m willing and able to go film anything in the Nova area.
May seriously take you up on that!!!
If you find anything in WI or northern IL, hit me up! I’d be happy to take a gander for you.
Will do! There has been at least one or two in the Chicago area…
I’m happy to help for Northern California!
Awesome- thank you!
Anything in Central or Northern Ohio, and I’m happy to take a look for you!
Sweeeet… My mother keeps nagging me to contact a Menonite guy we’ve bought horses from in Ohio. Ha!
I feel so guilty even thinking of asking people to look at horses for me which is why I gave up but I can look at anything in the San Diego area.
I guess I’m not as good a person as you lol.. though that being said I am happy to look at anything you see in NC that’s interesting!!
Unfortunately not much here in Idaho
You never know!!
I’m not far from you now (upstate SC/Tryon area), but am always happy to tag along or venture out!
The horse market in CA is really not up to par with the east coast, but I could go see something in the Bay Area if you find such a horse exists.