Good places to buy horses?

[Tjkride]

Im guna be looking for a new horse next month and was just seeing where every one likes to buy from. I'm mostly looking for Quarter horses, but have been looking at Friesian crosses lately after working with them  for the last couple years. Anything over 16 hands and under 8 years old really.

[Mark Brenckle]

I'd talk to your ferrier or any trainers in the area. I've tried craigslist and had decent luck but it's hit and miss.

[bearpaw]

What do you want the horse for? Know that might help determine the answer to your question. A big part of getting a good horse is getting a horse that has been used and not just a feel good pasture ornament.

[magnanimous_j]

Sizzler?

[JimmyHoffa]

Friesian anything over 16 hands, probably check with the dressage horse clubs around Seattle, Portland, San Francisco.

[theleo]

For a trail/hunting animal I'd check around and see if there's any outfitters looking to sell one of their dude horses. Better to spend a few grand for an animal with miles of mountains trails behind it than a papered and pampered arena pony, if you're spending time in vertical country.

[White Pass Outfitters]

Over 16 hands thats a real big qtr horse. Not saying there not out there just a bit harder to find. If your looking for a mtn horse in my opinion I would look for a cross with Draft, QTR and Yes Thoroughbred. Those Big Bone Long Legged son of a guns can cover ground and hold up in the deeper snow.  Let me know just want you want and how much you want to spend. Im sure I can find it for ya.

[bearpaw]

I'm trying to figure out why over 16 hands? There are some disadvantages to big/tall horses too!

[Luna butte]

For a trail/hunting animal I'd check around and see if there's any outfitters looking to sell one of their dude horses. Better to spend a few grand for an animal with miles of mountains trails behind it than a papered and pampered arena pony, if you're spending time in vertical country.

In my opinion, this is not a great idea especially if shopping craigslist. If you were an outfitter, would you sell a good animal? I wouldn't

If it were me, I'd find a rancher with a sizable herd of mother cows, say <200 head who pastures them in country too steep for quad gathering. Horses from them places have jobs and get tons of exposure to all kinds of situations from ropes to bogs to being loaded into overcrowded stocktrailers, you name it. Most of these horses are solid as can be, though as always "buyer beware"

For what it's worth, I make my money shoeing horses full time for the last 15yrs, part time for the 10yrs prior to that with the bulk of them years gathering cattle as a paid cowboy on various ranches in Wa & Or.

[bearpaw]

Just depends what the horse is needed for? Saying they want to buy a horse is like saying they want to buy an automobile, depending on what the horse will be used for will dictate the best type to get and where might be the bast place to purchase the horse! 

Horses are actually used a lot more in some areas than in other areas and where the horse has lived can dictate what they will be good for. Example: If you want a mountain horse you want to buy a horse that's been in the mountains and not a horse that's just spent it's life on flat easy ground and never been in downfall. Some horses are afraid when you take them in steep country on narrow trails, some horses are afraid of crossing mountain streams, some afraid of getting above timberline, lots of horses have never been in a horse trailer!

[theleo]

For a trail/hunting animal I'd check around and see if there's any outfitters looking to sell one of their dude horses. Better to spend a few grand for an animal with miles of mountains trails behind it than a papered and pampered arena pony, if you're spending time in vertical country.

In my opinion, this is not a great idea especially if shopping craigslist. If you were an outfitter, would you sell a good animal? I wouldn't

If it were me, I'd find a rancher with a sizable herd of mother cows, say <200 head who pastures them in country too steep for quad gathering. Horses from them places have jobs and get tons of exposure to all kinds of situations from ropes to bogs to being loaded into overcrowded stocktrailers, you name it. Most of these horses are solid as can be, though as always "buyer beware"

For what it's worth, I make my money shoeing horses full time for the last 15yrs, part time for the 10yrs prior to that with the bulk of them years gathering cattle as a paid cowboy on various ranches in Wa & Or.

I've never known an outfitter to turn down the rite price unless it's for his personal ride. If you were running an operation and you were heavier on the riding stock side and needed more pack stock would you sell 1 decent riding mount to fund  4-5 pack animals? I Might.

Like others have said 16hh is pretty tall. That stirrup is a long ways off the ground and there's exponentially more low hanging branches when you're out riding. The only benefit I've found to riding an animal like that is that there's fewer obstructions in the trail requiring a hop to get over. 

[Tjkride]

More info would have beeen smarter on my part. All my horses are all around use animals. I used to show but got bored with it after 10 years. As to 16+ hands, I just prefer tall horses. I did my time on short reiners and cattle horses, but my horse that I had when I was 2 years old until I was 21 was a 16 hand quarter horse mare that I can never replace but can try. Now adays I just cover alot of miles of trail, move my cows, and ride fence.

[Tjkride]

Im newish to WA and just wasnt sure if there were any good, not on the internet places to look and buy.

[Machias]

Personally I wouldn't buy a horse, I'd look for a solid mule.      But then again I'm partial to a good saddle mule.

[theleo]

Personally I wouldn't buy a horse, I'd look for a solid mule.      But then again I'm partial to a good saddle mule.

[Tjkride]

I had a good mule when I lived in North Carolina. I rode that fool all over the mountains

[Luna butte]

Hermiston ore, has a spring horse sale coming up pretty quick. There's always some good stuff for sale. Back in its hey day (and maybe still today) theyd start selling Friday afternoon and wouldn't quit till lunchtime Sunday. You could get some good deals between the hours of 12:30am and 5am Saturday or Sunday mornings. I haven't been there since about 2003. The fella that owned the salebarn at that time has since passed away and the sales yard is under new ownership.

[Machias]

It's a bit of a drive for you, but check out the Salmon, Idaho Select Horse and Mule Sale in April.  Quite the event.    http://salmonselectsale.com/

[PolarBear]

Check out local equestrian groups on Facebook.  I bought my daughter's 16-3 Palomino Mare from a gal on one of those pages a few years ago and many of our friends have done the same.  I have heard bad things about buying horses off of Craigslist.

[Tjkride]

I will definitely Check out the salmon select, Thanks machias. I dont have facebook or any thing like that. But theres nothing like hopping in the truck, pulling the trailer and not knowing what your guna come home with.

[PolarBear]

We drove 3 1/2 hours into Oregon towing a trailer to pick up a "bomb proof" mare only to find a horse that was basically green broke.  That was one of those wonderful Craigslist gems.  I damn near punched the woman when her horse tried to throw my daughter and pinned her against the arena wall.

[257 Wby Mag]

Best place to buy a horse is from someone you know, that will let ya try it out for a month before you pay for it... that’s how I did it, and never had a bad one

[jackelope]

@mtncook  might also know of some good places to find a quality animal...

[Machias]

@mtncook  might also know of some good places to find a quality animal...

        Awesome person to talk to!!

[Machias]

Several years ago I went in search of the perfect saddle mule.  I probably looked at 40 animals before I found the one I like the best.  She was fantastic!  One thing I would recommend is never take the trailer with you.  Gives you plenty of time to think about your purchase.  The mule I ended up buying cost me $5000, worth every penny I paid for her.  I also got to go and ride her 3 times out in the mountains before I bought her.

[Caseyd]

Jake Clark’s mule sale in June.

*cant get my video to work.

[Henrydog]

Wife and daughter are into horses, and I pay the bills on a gelding AQH (Ya me)

 Anywhoooo a couple of months ago the girls where talking at dinner that a lot of Craigslist sellers dope their horse up with something to make them seem easy going.  I can remember the name of the drug, and then it wears off when and by they time you get it home you own nothing but rodeo stock.

Just a public service announcement. 

[2MANY]

I'm pissed the Salmon Select Sale is a week later than my kids spring break this year.
We won't make it and unfortunately my son will miss the wolf howling competition.
Sucks!!!

There is a big trend to buy color in a mule.
If it has color and is selling for under $7500..........................Wear a helmet.

[Machias]

Beautiful mules Caseyd!!

[2MANY]

They are nice looking mules.
I saw nice riding mules of similar color go north of $10,000 at Salmon last year.

Catch the wolf howling if you go.
It's fun to watch it go down in a true laid back western crowd with a cold beer.

[Machias]

Awesome!!!

[Tjkride]

Ive unfortunately seen alot of doped up horses to get them to sell. I wont buy with out putting a good ride in unless I have a horse imported. Ive been lucky enough to spend my whole life with horses so Im not just buying blind. There are alot of nasty things people do to them to maoe them seem calm or hold themselves a certain way.

[KFhunter]

tag

[Machias]

A couple of other fun places to go and check out some nice mules doing gaming, cow sorting, carts etc... is Hell's Canyon Mule Days in Enterprise, OR (Usually in Sept) and Montana Mule Days in June.  (Location varys from year to year.)

[LDennis24]

Feeding them BUTE. It's a heavy painkiller for horses and easy to get. Horse tranquilizer like Ketamine is used too.

[idaho guy]

Sounds like you know horses and all the tricks horse traders use ha ha! . We are involved in rodeo and a lot of horse stuff do a lot of Mountain riding etc  if you want to pm me I know a lot of horse people we could help you out being new to the area. We are in Idaho but know a lot of horse people in Washington. Warning there is a lot of unethical horse traders around and I don't think you would be fooled into buying one but you might get roped into some long drives to check out some real junk!   I know we could find a really good trail mountain horse not sure on 16 plus hands

[Slenk]

A couple of other fun places to go and check out some nice mules doing gaming, cow sorting, carts etc... is Hell's Canyon Mule Days in Enterprise, OR (Usually in Sept) and Montana Mule Days in June.  (Location varys from year to year.)

Fred
Head over to Rearden Washington the first Saturday of June . They have their Mule days.
http://www.reardanmuledays.net/

[Machias]

A couple of other fun places to go and check out some nice mules doing gaming, cow sorting, carts etc... is Hell's Canyon Mule Days in Enterprise, OR (Usually in Sept) and Montana Mule Days in June.  (Location varys from year to year.)

Fred
Head over to Rearden Washington the first Saturday of June . They have their Mule days.
http://www.reardanmuledays.net/

Yep, I've ridden in that one, my mule club does it every year.  Normally though no one is selling mules, just riding them in the Parade and some years they also have Horse and Mule Gaming. 

[theleo]

Jake Clark’s mule sale in June.

Lot's of good animals go through that sale, you just have to have a wallet big enough to play.  

[Calvin Rayborn]

Sizzler?

 

[bearpaw]

Several years ago I went from being a horse owner to being a horse leasor... 

It's way easier to lease horses and not have to care for them year around, but there are times I miss not having horses available whenever I want them. I lease my horses from the same guy every year, usually get mostly the same horses year after year. He uses them all summer providing dude ranch horseback riding for mostly women and children in the mountains, I use them in the fall, I lease most of his bigger horses, perfect scenario for both of us. In the 20 years I've been leasing horses from him I've never had a horse buck. He buys horses from ranchers who are retiring, getting out of business, etc, horses that have been used a lot in the mountains.

In the last two years he has started buying Tennessee Walkers from somewhere in Kentucky or Tennessee. They are spendy but extremely good horses and the gait is outstanding, so far I like the new horses he is buying.

If I were you I would look more into eastern WA, eastern OR, or southern ID to get horses that have been used a lot in the mountains. As with anything, especially horses, be careful what and from who you buy! There are lots of horse traders out there! 

[kellama2001]

Beautiful mules @Caseyd! My grandpa used to breed Appy mules.  He had two full leopard Appy broodmares and a Jack named Leo.  They made some beautiful foals! 

And I understand about wanting a tall horse, my horse-of-a-lifetime (now deceased) was a 17 hand AQHA blood bay, she was amazing and smooth as silk to ride!  I'll never have another one like her.  Good luck to the OP, sounds like you know what you're doing and will find a great horse.  Post a pic when you end up buying one!

[bearpaw]

I had heard Gary Peters had stock for sale, not sure if he still does, one of my guides used to work for him and spoke highly of his stock.

http://ioga.org/outfitters/five-bears-outfitters

[Tjkride]

Well, I located a 4 year old Friesian mare Im guna go take a look at. Shes only been started under saddle, so I can tune her the way I prefer. She would look awful pretty with a nice black tail tied behind the saddle walkin out of the woods.

[mtncook]

The Billings March 24th sale is offering 359 cataloged horses and mules. This is the annual Recreation Outfitter sale. I've bought 5 mules and 1 horse in the last 2 years. Going again this year.   Search Billings Horse Sale

mtncook

[2MANY]

Mares are good for breeding and producing colts that become trail geldings.

[Tjkride]

I've never liked geldings, always rode mares or studs. The fresian lady is a flake so that didnt happen.

[2MANY]

Bummer and sorry to hear that it didn't work out.
I will try to keep my eyes and ears open for ya.
Good luck on your search.

[Wenatcheejay]

Cobb Family Horses and Mules
Weiser I'd.

I have personally Purchesed from this family. Horses are what they do. My wife's 16.1 hand draft/QH Mustang is one of a kind.