Young, Sound Theatrical Gelding $150 (!?!?!)

ZiaLand · Postby **ZiaLand** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:56 pm

Young gelding that looks to have wonderful breeding (according to database). He's by Theatrical out of Capdiva, a Capote mare that earned $241,493 and won the Canadian Oaks and Fury S. Second dam is by Deputy Minister.) Fee is only $300...and website says 50% off adoption fees as a Christmas special!!!! (Pic below. More pics on New Vocations website.
http://www.horseadoption.com

Hidalgo

Age: 4
Color: Chestnut
Height: 16h
Location: Hilliard, Ohio
Adoption Fee: $300
Suitability: Lower Level Performance
For more information: [url][email protected][/url]

This classy gelding retired from racing last Winter because he was not competitive. He has not raced for months but was being housed at the track until September. Hidalgo is doing great with turn out. He has been worked with on the ground and just started back under saddle. Hidalgo is young and and has a lot of potential. He is athletic and sound. He doesn't rear or buck under saddle but is just really green. With the proper training he would be suitable for most disciplines including jumping.

Waternymph · Postby **Waternymph** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:04 am

He is a beauty. I'm ready to pay his fee if someone is ready to pay his trip to Europe

Sounds like a good deal ??

Sysonby · Postby **Sysonby** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 8:05 am

With saddle horses, you buy training not breeding and he sounds pretty green and like a real project horse.

The one that I found intriguing was La Smoke. Even with his swayback, he clearly gets the concept of collection and submission and looks like a lovely ride.

Inyureye · Postby **Inyureye** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:52 am

Poor La Smoke. He looks like two horses put back together wrong. I'm glad he's sound and working well, though. Sweet looking.

ZiaLand · Postby **ZiaLand** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:41 am

Sysonby wrote:With saddle horses, you buy training not breeding and he sounds pretty green and like a real project horse.

I absolutely agree, Sysonby....but even with a green horse, $150 for a reportedly sound gelding with this kind of quality breeding and good looks has got to be a HUGE bargain for anyone in the market for a sporthorse prospect.

Sure would make someone a fabulous Christmas present. :shock:

Laurie

toadie · Postby **toadie** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 11:13 pm

I do not need another horse, I do not need another horse, I do not need another horse.
One question though. If Hidalgo is only 4 and supposedly sound, why do they say his suitability is only "lower level performance"? Is this just a policy so no one will get thier hopes up on getting a $150 grand prix jumper, or do you think he has some mental issues? Not to be judgemental, but even though that jump in the pic. is really small, it's a backward oxer and not something you should be schooling a really green horse over.

Marli · Postby **Marli** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 6:10 am

Well Toadie, you actually saw the same thing I did - backwards oxer? Of other noticable mention, the rider (appears to be young, not that it makes any difference) with NO helmet? Realize it's a totally personal preference, but for advertising reasons and any young impressionable riders, I do think a helmet would be in order. JMHO

ZiaLand · Postby **ZiaLand** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 8:28 am

toadie wrote:I do not need another horse, I do not need another horse, I do not need another horse.

LOL Toadie...I found a sweatshirt in one of my gift magazines with that logo on it and cracked up. I just HAVE to get one.

Laurie

Intrinsic Worth · Postby **Intrinsic Worth** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:06 am

Sysonby wrote:With saddle horses, you buy training not breeding and he sounds pretty green and like a real project horse.

The one that I found intriguing was La Smoke. Even with his swayback, he clearly gets the concept of collection and submission and looks like a lovely ride.

Wonder what that horse looks like when he's actually going forward and into the bridle, instead of slow and behind the verticle.. Let's see how submissive he is then.

skeenan · Postby **skeenan** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:53 am

Just my opinion, as a hunt seat rider... I like Hildago, project horse or not... he has a nice neck/topline for flat work "appearance", and the fact that he's willing to jump is a plus... I couldn't get Bell to trot over low pole this past summer to save my life... :wink:

In the photos, he doesn't appear to be as nice a mover as the other horse above, but a lot of that is head carriage—get him to relax and drop his head, work on extending his trot, and he'd be gorgeous...

My farrier picked up a couple of off-the-trackers from someone local for cheap money (I think around $500 for both) and sent them to the sale barn of a lady he knows. She just sold the gelding as a dressage prospect for over $6,000 and the mare for around $3,000—don't remember the exact amount of money, but it was in that vicinity... not too bad an investment! Hildago is a nicer-looking gelding than the one he had... he'd sell well up here...

If I had stall space & more time, that's the business I'd be doing... some of the horses I've seen from Suffolk, it kills me... I know for the price that I could do some basic retraining & turn them around for a decent profit... at least in this area of the country, where hunt seat and dressage are both popular...

timex · Postby **timex** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:26 am

skeenan, you and me both! there's always a market for a decently started greenie around here. and i rather like Hidalgo. and for $150?!?!?! i'd take him in a heartbeat, if i had the room.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:52 am

Ah but $150 is the adoption fee. There is one of those tie your hands contracts that prohibits you from selling the horse, etc.

The way I see the adoption thing, here's the problem. The horse is NOT retrained and in non-professional hands could (a) get ruined or (b) the novice get injured. Either way, not a happy ending at all. A professional trainer wants to retrain these projects for resale. It's a Mexican standoff.

Anyhow, I'd rather pay a bit more and be able to move the horse along.

ZiaLand · Postby **ZiaLand** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:05 pm

madelyn wrote:Ah but $150 is the adoption fee. There is one of those tie your hands contracts that prohibits you from selling the horse, etc.

Madelyn is correct in that there is a contract for the adoption, as with most adoption facilities, but I believe the "no sale" stipulation is only in effect for two years. I've seen a good many "adoption facilities" that have an "adoption fee" on their horses at 5 to 10 times the fee that this facility does, or has much more stringent requirements written into their contracts. New Vocations is in the business of finding good homes for promising OTTBs and Standardbreds that fall through the cracks to help keep them out of the kill pens or bad situations, and I feel they fill their role honorably and responsibly.

For the $150 adoption fee you are obviously not going to get a professionally trained sporthorse...you are only going to get potential at a very good price. I've seen many, many horses in my area with worse breeding, looks and conformation sell as a "potential sporthorse" for 10 or more times his current adoption fee. Heck, I've seen designated "lawn ornaments" sell for more than double his price. In posting this my hope was that someone might read this thread who is in the market for a potential sporthorse at an excellent price, and they would have the opportunity to take a look at him.

Thank you to those of you who offered positive and constructive comments.

Merry Christmas,
Laurie

skeenan · Postby **skeenan** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:13 pm

Nope, I agree with you all... I realize there is a contract, etc. and that he wouldn't be able to be resold... I was only using my examples to say I think he's WELL worth the money to the right person!

Hopefully he'll find a home for Christmas!

Inyureye · Postby **Inyureye** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 6:04 pm

As for the backwards oxer, I'll bet the little darlin ran down the line one direction, turned around and ran back, photographer clicking away. This is a tiny jump, folks. Its what, one foot across? Who cares whether one element is lower or higher than the other, doubt the horse does, this is something he could rise over standing still, if it was in his way. As a matter of fact, he just may have done that, the way he's sort of rocked back on his heels. I wouldn't call it an oxer. I'd call the jump an obstical in the horse's way, and his form and enthusiasm is just darling.