Finding a gem?

Question

Has anyone ever came across a freak or a fluke of a horse that you found in someones backyard wasting away and turned it around to be a champion show horse? I found a 1/2 Arabian mare about 25 yrs ago in someones pasture and bought her for 1200 bucks and she went on to win U.S. National Champion 1/2 Arabian Park Horse and U.S. National Champion1/2 Arabian Halter Mare. Weird huh has this happened to anyone else?

Answer 1

I've never had anything that grand happen, but I've had a couple pretty good finds.

My friend owned my first horse before I did. She was skinny; had bad conformation; and was pretty, let's just say, untrained. I bought her for $1800 around a year after I met her. Turned out she was pregnant and had a paint foal. I worked with her constantly during her pregnancy and worked with her and the foal afterwards. She became my best friend. I never really did much actual training with her, but I could jump onto her back with a lead hung around the base of her neck and ride. I trusted her with my life on a daily basis.

My dad and I went to an auction about an hour away. We found a gigantic paint gelding there that we liked. He seemed very sluggish and a bit off, but we decided to get him. Dad paid $650 for him. Once we got him home, he turned out to be nearly untrained and have problems with his back. The vet okayed him to ride, saying that his hips would be just fine and benefit from being ridden. We found out that he had natural cow sense. The first time I took him to a cattle penning, everyone asked me how I trained him. I had to admit that I didn't.

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

Nothing like that.

I've taken someone elses 'garbage' and turned them into decent trail horses, but people don't thow out the fancy ones as much.

**Edit**

Wow Jeff, he's a looker!

Answer 4

That is such a cool story!

Well i fell in love with a phyco horse that nearly broke my instructor's back.

I loved him since the day I laid eyes on him (L)

He is now called Bosky and is winning st showjumping.

Answer 5

Personally, no. But years ago my grandpa's friend bought a big gentle horse at auction and he turned out to be an amazing jumper (Snowman - anyone heard of him?). My grandpa bought a TB at auction for $300 and he raced and won almost $1,000,000. Of course, auction horses can turn out very badly, as we all know...

Answer 6

Yes, we didn't go on to win Nationals, I entered her at Scottsdale though but we were a little to late her hocks gave out. She was skinny as a rail and I also paid exactly $1200 bucks for her!!! She is an Arabian, grey now 20 years old and still (don't tell my other horses) my favorite horse to ride. I can only do light riding with her because of her hocks but she has the BEST personality. What this tells me is you have a great eye for talent, regardless of the condition you can see past that and recognize the real promise in the horse, that is a mark of a true horsewoman! :~)

Answer 7

I bought an arab for $400 when she was 11.  I bought her because she had excellent conformation and a good personality.  However, we found out later that her breeding was from champion stock.  Both grandfathers were US and Canadian Champions and her father who wasn't shown much took 2nd in the IL state.  She has some even more famous world class arabs in her background (a lot of really famous legends).

The mother to my stud was bought for $1200 already bred.  A few months later she gave birth to the fellow on my website

http://www.justwrightfarm.com/

Look at the stallion page to see his picture.

Answer 8

I bought a starved out horse that came from a horse equivalent of a "puppy mill" He was scrawny and all of his hair had fallen out. in a year he had all of his hair back and was nice and plump. I never showed him, but he turned out to be one of my favorite horses I have ever owned and one of the prettiest. unfortunately he broke his leg and had to be put down.

Answer 9

Yes, my mom's horse we bought about 9 months ago when she was 6. Her old owners thought she wouldn't be a good jumper because she's only 15.1 and they called her 'stupid' and 'not worth our time'. As a result, we got her for only 700 bucks and she can jump 2.5 feet with a rider (so far) and 3 feet without! We haven't brought her to any shows yet, but I look forward to, she'll be a great eventer!!!

Answer 10

My trainer friend found a horse like that and paid practically nothing for the horse and turned it into a Champion.  It is good to hear a story like that.