What do you think? 18 y/o Gelding as a new purchase

[StilettosAndBoots]

:detective: I'm looking to make the next step and purchase instead of lease for 2010. I've been looking for something with some experience that I can have fun compete on at local A shows. I found a gelding by Champagne Fizz by Good Night Gracie. His name is Say Goodnight. He's 18. According to the current owner, he's competed and placed in national evel shows. He's pretty cute. He's very typical of what I see of Champagne Fizz's get (Sorrel, Flaxen, Chrome) and as far as I know, he has no leg problems. He's a pleasure horse, but I would show him in country pleasure. I don't think he woud be competative in the midwest as a show pleasure horse. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could give me any kind of an idea of what kind of record he has, and any info on his dam that may help with any soundness/temperment issues.
Thanks! :detective:

[StilettosAndBoots]

Please excuse ALL of my typing errors! LOL I'm still at work and trying to juggle :)

[williedriver]

A quick lookup indicates that he is 20 (or will be in the spring). He had a show career as a 5g in the mid to late '90s. But no record of any shows since 1999. So, what has he been doing the past 10 years?

[StilettosAndBoots]

Yikes ... Well, she sent me a pic of him showing at the MO state fair in 05, but who knows. I was interested because I have a soft spot for senior horses , but I really wanted to show on my own instead of under a barn. Unfortunatelly, I think I'll just say no to him. :(

[Silly Filly]

If the show wasn't USEF, or if he didn't place, the ASHA wouldn't have him listed in '05. They only started listing everything in the last few years to keep up with KSF qualifications.
Depending on the individual, being 20 may not be any different than 18. There are plenty of horses who keep showing on into their 20's and some much younger ones who can't keep it up. If you liked him when you thought he was 18 going on 19, it wouldn't hurt to give him a look knowing he's 19 going on 20.:)

[williedriver]

.
Depending on the individual, being 20 may not be any different than 18. There are plenty of horses who keep showing on into their 20's and some much younger ones who can't keep it up. If you liked him when you thought he was 18 going on 19, it wouldn't hurt to give him a look knowing he's 19 going on 20.:)

So true. My first horse was 20 when I bought him and we had 12 wonderful years together. My current horse is 22 and is going strong. In many cases soundness issues are going to have arisen much earlier than this, so if he is going well at 18, 19 or 20 -- he's worth a look. Many of them don't have any sense until they are 20 anyway....:001_rolleyes:

[D_BaldStockings]

Older horses are often great financial bargains when they are sound and well cared for. Just ask the people whose horses have passed at ages that were far too young.

No guarantees on living beings living the 'average span'.

Just be aware going in.


You won't find that breeding close up very often anymore, so enjoy it while you can.

[Shadeofgreen]

Is it possible that he was at WWU 7 or 8 years ago? There was a Champagne Fizz gelding there during my senior whose barn name was Goodnight, and that age would probably be right. I don't remember his registered name, and I'm picturing him as being liver chestnut, though, so maybe not the same guy.

[callmeblu]

Is it possible that he was at WWU 7 or 8 years ago? There was a Champagne Fizz gelding there during my senior whose barn name was Goodnight, and that age would probably be right. I don't remember his registered name, and I'm picturing him as being liver chestnut, though, so maybe not the same guy.

According to the ownership records on ASHA he was owned by WWU in the past.

[Rooty Tooty]

I showed my country pleasure gelding in his 20s, and he was as fit as anything else in the ring. We also had fun in the western division. After show ring retirement at 23, I had him as an AOT, and he taught me a ton. By that age, he was basically push button for everything -- longlining, driving, stretchies, hoods, anything I wanted to try on him. Bubba lived until 33. I heart old horses.

[mand_asbfan]

If this Fizz horse is like every other Fizz horse I've ever worked, he will snort and blow until the day he croaks. They do not quit! I leased a 17 yo Fizz gelding and he was like riding a 3 year old (or at least he thought he was three). It sounds like he is capable of doing what you would like - there is a little more maintenance with an older horse but a lot of times you can get an older horse at a lower price which offsets the maintenance. You may want to find a WWU alum/student to see what they remember about him - the students are always riding different horses so they are more likely to give you the real scoop about him rather than the person selling him.

[Shadeofgreen]

I asked a friend/fellow alum about him, and she says he's the same one who was at WWU when we were there. I never rode him, but my friend learned to gait on him and says he was fun and rock solid. This would have been in 02 or 03, probably, but she gives a glowing endorsement.

So there it is, the friend of a random stranger on an internet message board likes him, for whatever that's worth to you!

[LARMAR]

I love older horses! When ExodusFarm was kind enough to let me ride her older mare, Foolish, I rode every other day and she was so much fun! I even had to lunge her first for a while, and know she was very upper teens or 20 at the time. I took extra time cooling her off and she needed a bit more treats :tongue_smilie: but that was it. My current horses are 13 and 15 and that been there, done that experience is priceless. My vote is you give Goodnight a try! It's worth meeting and riding him before deciding.

[StilettosAndBoots]

I think I will. It would be nice to learn how to rack on something other than a lesson horse that could only pace. The owner said he's still gaited, and it seems as though he would still be a lot of fun for me.

[d1nonlyrocketpony]

FWIW -
as a professional I can tell you I've had a 3 y.o. I wanted to purchase flunk a vet check for unsoundness and major changes in the hock joint, and I've also had 17+ year olds to be shown pass a vet check with flying colors. You need to take everything into consideration before you choose him or give him the boot!

On the one hand he hasn't shown (at least at recognized shows) in quite some time. But on the other hand, he hasn't been attending a pile shows every year for the past 10 or so years, which may indicate he's not had a lot of stress on his joints like those that are getting up there in age and are still going hard. Find out his history while he's been MIA - he was at WWU and someone highly reccommended you give him a chance, maybe you should

Look at what you want to do with him - Country Pleasure I believe you stated - not too stressfull on the joints, assuming he isn't a ground pounder. If you were trying to win the open 5-G WGC you would get quite a few snickers, but CP or SP is not unreasonable to ask a horse that has been well kept, even with a bit of age on him.

Also look at his breeding - Champagne Fizz - a poster was correct, he should snort 'til the day he croaks.

Look at his legs and bone structure - is he fine as a deer or big and strong? The way he's built should tell you a lot, good strong bone structure should mean less leg problems.

Age, when you factor in some of the above things - should not make you run in the other direction - be cautious, but don't "chunk him" off the bat due to age.

[StilettosAndBoots]

The pics that I got show that he's got good solid bone. I'll have a vet check him out if I decide to purchase. And the goal really is to show for a couple of years and move on to the next step. Obviously I would plan on keeping him forever. I don't like selling an older horse because I'm always afraid of where they end up going. But he seems like what I am looking for.

[Rooty Tooty]

Yay, I'll be rooting for you! I hope he works out. The best thing about a horse that age is that the older he gets, the more perfect he'll become for your young children or grandchildren (depending on where you are in life). I'll never forget when my old horse stopped being my horse and started being my daughter's. His halter is now hanging from her bed. (Okay, have to stop typing because the tears are starting...)

[Shadeofgreen]

And the goal really is to show for a couple of years and move on to the next step. Obviously I would plan on keeping him forever. I don't like selling an older horse because I'm always afraid of where they end up going. But he seems like what I am looking for.
My horse was in his teens when I bought him and is now in his 20s. We still go to fun shows and county fairs, just as an excuse to get off the farm. People are always surprised when I tell them how old he is, but I think it's because people underestimate senior horses. If a horse has been treated well, trained soundly, and receives good veterinary care, 20 isn't old at all.

[dedicatedhorsemom]

Kind of how I'd like to think of myself in a few years:)

[Cynthia]

A few things -

Don't consider him unless you plan on keeping him forever. Re-selling could be VERY difficult, and re-selling to a good home even more so. As long as you're planning to keep him, then that's fine.

Make sure you get to see him and ride him, more than once if possible before making your decision.

Get a vet that YOU trust to do a very thorough examination and listen to him/her. I recommend paying special attention to the stifles, as those are often a problem on gaited horse in general, especially older ones.

Does he flat walk? With a gaited horse, even an older one, he might not. I know of several who absolutely refused to do so. :-) Training an older gaited horse to flat walk (especially at a show) can be a near impossibility if they don't want to. They just have soooo much go!

If the owners have any video of him at one of his more recent shows, that could be helpful for you too.

Older horses can be golden...they know sooo much and give so much! But make sure he's right for what you want before buying.

[horseluvr]

My daughter's first show horse was a 14.1 hand Morgan - she was 8 and he was 18. He had to reserve World Park championships under his belt. He was the best investment! We bought him off a video and shipped 3,000 miles. We had our vet give him a going over when he arrived. He said that this boy was in amazing shape and unbelievably clean legged for his miles in and out of the ring. Our trainer won a Morgan English Championship with him at the age of 22 - we retired him after that show, as my daughter's young SB was ready for her to step on to. The Morgan boy continued being ridden and was used in lessons until he was 32. He died in his sleep as the age of 34. These older horses are really invaluable!!

[Chardonnay]

I have always worked with the young ones, but I recently bought a teenager. She has been so great, she knows all the routines and nothing surprizes her. Horses that are well kept, as Im sure this guy is, will last a very long time. Later you could use him for kids or grandkids. I was a 4-H kid a LONG time ago and I didnt have a horse to use, a nice lady let me use her old show horse. That horse meant and still does mean a lot to me. Please give him a chance. Old horses are old and NOT broken, they give us as much as a young one does and you never know he may outlast you in the saddle!

[GottaDrive]

This may be a nice horse but he has no market value because of his age. I wouldn't pay much for him.

[StilettosAndBoots]

The price is right; $1500, and I'll probably have room to negotiate because of his age. The weather has been so bad here that I won't be able to go see him for another week or so. And then I'll have to wait on the vet to check him out.

[shelbyrose]

Age shouldn't matter at all unless you plan on reselling him. I still own my first horse and she's 29 now and still has as much spunk as ever(even though I never showed her and she's not as asb but she's a great example of a senior horse!). And then there's my gelding by Star Material who went lame at age 9 due to suspensory issues, I also own a new show horse by Attache's Thunderbolt who is also 9 years old who passed her vet check with flying colors. So it all depends on the individual horse and it's breeding, I mean I have two horses that are the exact same age and one is in perfect health and the other can never be show again.