I am definitely going to do my best to talk my friend out of purchasing the horse with the suspensory injury. Just doesn't seem like a good idea, especially given the fact that he's young and huge (17.2)...it doesn't bode well for his future soundness.

With that in mind, I am back to square one. What do you all think of this guy?

http://www.warmbloods-for-sale.com/HorseDetail.asp?HorseID=21675&UserID=1999

She wants a young gelding, green-broke, at least 16.3 at maturity, and inexpensive (like, she really would prefer to keep it at $5,000 or under...actually, more like 4k if she can help it). Doesn't have to be registered, and she's open to TBs, warmbloods, warmblood crosses, TB crosses, Percheron crosses, etc. Mainly, she just wants to do low-to-mid level dressage, maybe hop over the occasional jump or two.

 Well, the seller is a ***.  Adding $1500 to the price if you make them do the work they are SUPPOSED to do to sell the horse?  Ugh, that rubs me the wrong way.  "Hassle-free"?  Yeah, if you want to buy a horse with no info except the sellers word and we all know what that is usually worth.

Why does she want such big horses?  She'll save money avoiding that crazy trend and probably end up with a sounder horse.  It's preference of course, but unless it's got hella bone, that puts a lot of wear and tear on legs, even dressage.

 And yes, my life IS so boring that I get on Equisearch like 500 times a day.

Yeah, I thought the seller adding $1500 for all of that was pretty f-ed up. But, even at $5,500, that's not a bad price. Trust me, I have been searching the ends of the earth for a horse for this lady!!

There's no way I am gonna talk her out of getting a big horse. It HAS to be at least 16.3. I rode that really lovely 16.2 h TB gelding on Saturday who jumped around all soft and quiet, got all his lead changes, moved super cute, etc. She has zero interest in him, partly because he is not 16.3 or bigger (she actually prefers 17 hands or over). *sigh* Alas, I do not have a magic wand. I think we have narrowed our list down to one horse.

Solaris:

And yes, my life IS so boring that I get on Equisearch like 500 times a day.

I, too, am a member of that club.

 I really dont like the way he looks

Wow I was searching for warmblood crosses and tis has got to be the loooooongest mare I have ever seen in the second picture!

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=9513&Type=Horse

 17H $2000

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=25060&Type=Horse

16.3 $2500

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=24975&Type=Horse

17H $5000

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=18489&Type=Horse

19H $3500

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=25019&Type=Horse

16.3 $2500

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=24907&Type=Horse

17.2 $1000

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=23390&Type=Horse

17H $3500

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=18875&Type=Horse

16.3 $3500

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=15427&Type=Horse

17H $3000

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=10892&Type=Horse

17.1 $6000 holsteiner

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=10186&Type=Horse

17.2 $5000

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=9406&Type=Horse

17H $6500 Fresian Cross

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=6134&Type=Horse

17H $650

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=4636&Type=Horse

17H $1000

http://www.horse.com/classifieds/showhorse.aspx?HorseID=4162&Type=Horse

There is some homwork for ya

Pretty sure its just the pic. Haha! That is LOOOONG. 

Frizzie, I've been away. Did you ever get a new horse?

WOW, Amber...homework, indeed. Hahahaha. Hhhmm, what don't you like about the way that he looks? Just out of curiosity. It looks like his hocks might kinda trail behind him a bit (but it might just be the way that he's standing?).

Thanks, I will get started on sifting through those horses!

Thatwindow, I haven't gotten another horse yet because I quit my job and haven't found a new one yet. I sure am busy looking, though! The great thing about this deal is that my friend wants me to find a horse for her, and then I get to keep it for at least 6 months to put some miles on it. So, I will have a free horse, with no expenses, for that period of time. She's my friend, so of course I would help her regardless; but, this would be great for me, too!

 Does your friend have a lot of horse experience?  Would she go off of just your word?  If the 16.2h is that great, I think you should say 'oh wait, they measured him wrong, looky there he IS 16.3h!'  He sounds like a great horse, and height is everything! I am 5 ft 9 in and I wanted a big horse, but the (so far) perfect mare I will probably be getting is 15.2 or maybe 15.3.  If that 16.2 h is really good, press her, tell her you know more :) and you say she should get him!  Or you could always get him yourself...

Hahaha, crittergirl. No, she has a lot of horse experience and I also wouldn't lie to her. I did really love that TB, he is sooooo far along in his training for a 4-year-old and is just a cute, super-chill guy who is tons of fun to ride. For some reason, she just does not want him. (???) I had brought a friend along with me to look at him, and this girl has tons and tons of AA show experience. She wasn't expecting much, since he's so reasonably-priced, but even she was totally impressed with him. I would buy him in a heartbeat if I had an extra 6K lying around!

Frizzle:

what don't you like about the way that he looks? Just out of curiosity. It looks like his hocks might kinda trail behind him a bit (but it might just be the way that he's standing?).

I dont like the way his back looks.  He looks kind of sway backed and then in the picture of him facing you he looks really akward and butt high.  I understand that he is young but that back scares me.  I would be afraid that they dont want you to find something with the vet check and that is why they want to charge $1500 more

Yeah, she sent me some more pics and he looks super-akward and just oddly put-together. Plus, that whole extra $1500 for the vet check/video just rubbed me the wrong way. Pass.

The good news is that I have found a very promising prospect. He's in Ocala and totally in our budget. He only has something like 60 days under saddle, so he's quite the green bean, but he's cute. Here's a video clip -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIf_CMsmRxw. Thoughts?

 Yeah, I guess you would be a bad friend if you were dishonest to her, but it seems a shame for her to pass on such a great horse because of a 1 inch deficit.  Oh well, and good for you for being a good friend.  That horse in Ocala looks nice, esp if he only has 60 days on him.  I think it is the right decision for you to pass on that other horse though, that extra 1500 for a check is weird.  Are you planning on going to see the Ocala horse soon?

I like that grey TB.  I personally think $3500 is an unholy ripoff for a really green TB, but I know Ocala is the home of unholy ripoffs and hey, if you friend has money burning a hole in her pocket, more power to her.  I can't tell a whole lot from the video, but he's not lame at least!  He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of suspension his gaits though, pretty flat moving horse.

His movement might look a little better if he wasnt so completely against the bit. I would question his training after watching how resistive he is. Either his teeth really really need to be done or the bit is bothering him. Maybe worth trying out, but I wouldn't want a horse started that way. Our young horses are lunged in a caveson and long lined for months before we get on them, so they can begin with a nice, soft mouth. Is this an this horse off the track?

FCP, no, he isn't off the track. In fact, he only has about 60 days under saddle. I do agree that his mouth does not look soft. But, I think that's something we can live with/work with. We're just having a hard time finding horses that fit her specifications (young, green, huge, and cheap). 

Solo, I wish I was in NC; it sounds like there are great deal on horses up there! Here, not so much. The other super-green TB that my friend was looking at is $5,000 and the very well-trained one that I really liked is $6,000. Maybe it would be cheaper if I went up to NC and looked at horses! Lol. Got any hot tips?