Post by: Tjkride on March 07, 2018, 11:55:13 AM
Post by: Mark Brenckle on March 07, 2018, 12:25:13 PM
Post by: bearpaw on March 07, 2018, 12:47:26 PM
Post by: magnanimous_j on March 07, 2018, 12:48:05 PM
Post by: JimmyHoffa on March 07, 2018, 12:53:58 PM
Post by: theleo on March 07, 2018, 01:24:37 PM
Post by: White Pass Outfitters on March 07, 2018, 02:30:36 PM
Post by: bearpaw on March 07, 2018, 02:40:54 PM
Post by: Luna butte on March 07, 2018, 02:44:15 PM
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.
Post by: bearpaw on March 07, 2018, 02:57:44 PM
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!
Post by: theleo on March 07, 2018, 02:59:14 PM
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.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.
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.
Post by: Tjkride on March 07, 2018, 03:33:47 PM
Post by: Tjkride on March 07, 2018, 03:34:49 PM
Post by: Machias on March 07, 2018, 03:40:30 PM
Post by: theleo on March 07, 2018, 03:58:32 PM
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.:yeah:
Post by: Tjkride on March 07, 2018, 03:59:26 PM
Post by: Luna butte on March 07, 2018, 04:49:52 PM
Post by: Machias on March 08, 2018, 07:47:46 AM
Post by: PolarBear on March 08, 2018, 08:01:44 AM
Post by: Tjkride on March 08, 2018, 08:34:29 AM
Post by: PolarBear on March 08, 2018, 08:53:21 AM
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 08, 2018, 08:59:50 AM
Post by: jackelope on March 08, 2018, 09:01:55 AM
Post by: Machias on March 08, 2018, 10:04:01 AM
@mtncook might also know of some good places to find a quality animal...
:yeah: Awesome person to talk to!!
Post by: Machias on March 08, 2018, 10:06:15 AM
Post by: Caseyd on March 08, 2018, 10:33:10 AM
*cant get my video to work.
Post by: Henrydog on March 08, 2018, 10:43:34 AM
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.
Post by: 2MANY on March 08, 2018, 10:44:34 AM
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.
Post by: Machias on March 08, 2018, 10:51:05 AM
Post by: 2MANY on March 08, 2018, 11:06:25 AM
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1232.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fff374%2Ftriggerhappy12%2Fcdf4e266-abfc-45e2-ba1c-637838de7f4d_zpsmsmdzt6f.jpg&hash=c82e51a730c6822c08441a0dcfad558628640d08) (http://s1232.photobucket.com/user/triggerhappy12/media/cdf4e266-abfc-45e2-ba1c-637838de7f4d_zpsmsmdzt6f.jpg.html)
Post by: Machias on March 08, 2018, 11:40:28 AM
Post by: Tjkride on March 08, 2018, 11:45:01 AM
Post by: KFhunter on March 08, 2018, 11:50:20 AM
Post by: Machias on March 08, 2018, 12:21:37 PM
Post by: LDennis24 on March 08, 2018, 12:24:14 PM
Post by: idaho guy on March 08, 2018, 12:39:21 PM
Post by: Slenk on March 08, 2018, 01:01:00 PM
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/
Post by: Machias on March 08, 2018, 01:27:50 PM
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.
Post by: theleo on March 08, 2018, 01:34:29 PM
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. :o
Post by: Calvin Rayborn on March 09, 2018, 01:54:05 AM
Sizzler?
:chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: bearpaw on March 09, 2018, 02:09:51 PM
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! :chuckle:
Post by: kellama2001 on March 09, 2018, 02:53:32 PM
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!
Post by: bearpaw on March 09, 2018, 03:08:30 PM
http://ioga.org/outfitters/five-bears-outfitters
Post by: Tjkride on March 09, 2018, 03:38:54 PM
Post by: mtncook on March 20, 2018, 09:20:29 AM
mtncook
Post by: 2MANY on March 20, 2018, 10:11:50 AM
Post by: Tjkride on March 20, 2018, 12:20:10 PM
Post by: 2MANY on March 20, 2018, 12:28:12 PM
I will try to keep my eyes and ears open for ya.
Good luck on your search.
Post by: Wenatcheejay on September 04, 2019, 01:35:47 PM
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.