Currently in the market. In my area, and even surrounding states the pickings are scarce. I am being super specific and picky about what I am looking for, within the price range that I am asking (It is reasonable). I guess it's a little bit of a vent too because I have traveled a bit looking at horses, driving to towns that are hours away, thinking I may have found THE one only to find out later that the owner was not being honest with me about problems they have been having, or the horse being injured and not telling me when I was there despite having multiple opportunities. Truthfully I am a bit rusty on buying so I just look at it as a learning experience, and move forward. 

But I originally moved from Oklahoma and I do have friends there, and barrel horses are everywhere! My husband is more than willing to fly me somewhere to go take a week to look at horses, but I just have never done that before and I am a little unsure of how productive it would be, or if it would just be a waste of time and money. I will not buy sight unseen, it just has never worked out for me in the past. So I am wondering if anyone has ever done that? Was it worth the trip? Am I crazy for even thinking about that? 

It can really make it worth it if you could line up several horses to try and look at in the same trip.. If your in OK, your close to TX and other hot beds for horses. Word of mouth seems to work best for me. I get tired of looking, so I put out there what I want and let people tell me what they have, 

Since you lived in Oklahoma you need to come back for a visit.  You will find something.  You know it. I usually tell people to bring their own saddle though.  That is key to feeling comfortable trying horses.

When I ever I have had anyone look from a distance they are normally coming in for a few days and have several lined up to look at. I think it is well worth your time. If you have the time and can do it. Get appointments set and book the trip. Horse shopping would be a really fun vacation. :)

When I was looking I traveled from South Texas to Oklahoma to look at horses for a weekend. I set up multiple horses to look at. It was fun and I am glad I did it. Two horses I had vetted didn’t pass so I didn’t buy any but the experience was great. Next I lined up several horses in Northeast Texas to look at for a different weekend. I like doing it that way, seems like it helps to have horses to compare and think about in the evenings at the hotel. 

I've done this a few times in the past. I live in AL and would go to TX for several days to try horses. I know some people are leery of brokers, but my most successful trips were when I was working with a broker. We would stay at her place in our horse trailer and she would typically have 10+ horses for me to try in my price range. We'd vet the one I liked most and bring it home all in one trip.

I would pick a list of horse of horses I wanted to look at that fit my parameters. If they’re horses that are competing I would do a background check and would want to know their placing at the last 5 jp they went to. If the horse only has a history from a year or so ago, I wouldn’t go look. I would also ask my friends in the state if the person selling them was reputable. If the person that owns the horse I don’t care how good he looks I wouldn’t go look at him. Give yourself plenty of time to travel and try them. If you find one ask one of your OK friends to recommend a vet to do he PPE. These things should help you have a successful trip.

Just be sure to set up a list of horses to try on the trip -- I've flown to look/try horses.  Some trips were productive.  Some were disappointing.  It's horses.... :)

Line up several horses to try and do your research before you go and have a vet lined up Incase you like one of them. I traveled a long distance to try a horse that was advertised as a true kids horse. I spoke on the phone several times to the owner. The horse was a mental case and acted like a green two year old , bolting away and had zero handle! Wasted a lot of time and money, but thank God I didn’t purchase without trying!

Thank you, everyone, for your feedback. So I contacted a very reputable trainer that I worked with there, she said that she would ask around and get horses lined up for me to see them. I'm looking at the end of April only because I'm wrapping up Grad school and I have less than FIVE weeks left!! Super stoked! I just don't want to apply any extra pressure. 

So for those that have traveled, how many days did you put towards looking at horses? Right now I'm thinking like a 4-5 day visit, a friend of mine already said I could stay with her. Would 4-5 days be a good amount of time? For those who flew, how did you take your saddle? It is a treeless so I'm not sure if I can put it in my bag. I totally agree in feeling comfortable, I really like my saddle and it really holds me in. 

Thanks again!

I have traveled to many states and try horses. Sadly 80% of the time the horse is not as advertised. Good luck. Word of mouth of a horse for sale is probably the best.

Allowing at least 4 full days to ride horses would be reasonable IMO. I never took my saddle -- just my boots, spurs and helmet. If trying multiple horses, I kept notes about each in a small notebook so I could recall each horse -- what was good, what was not good, etc.  AND I took either my trusted/experienced long-time horsey friend or my trainer with me.  Their eyes / opinions were VERY helpful.

I think that is a good amount of time. 1-2 days to get a first ride on everything you want to try. 1-2 days to find a jackpot near you to either go watch the horse be ran or to go enter yourself, whichever you/trainer prefers. Plus a day for a PPE. 

My dad was always with me and I really appreciated that he videoed every ride and all of the advice that the trainer/owner gave me. After riding so many it would be difficult to remember everything she said for each horse. I wanted to go back and re-watch after I narrowed it down to 1-2 favorites.

If you areset on taking your saddle, just ship it to your friend a few days ahead. 

That will be the easiest.  It will cost the same to ship as it will to fly it.

So I took your guy's advise! I am headed to Oklahoma at the end of the month for one week to look at horses. I'll be staying with friends and shipping my saddle before hand, and I am a little nervous about it because I've never traveled this far to look at horses! I really hope it goes well, thank you all for your input!

If i fly, i try and use Southwest...i can throw my saddle in a saddle bag and check it with my bags...no extra charge (unless you have more than two bags) with Southwest.

Just a thought here. Why would you tske your own saddle if the saddle might not fit the horses your most interested in? I would hate for you to buy a horse that fit your saddle and not a horse that you liked most. Hope that helps! If you buy a new horse, you more than likely will have to find a saddle thats the correct fit for them. Horses are so different build wise. I would rather ask the seller what saddle they ride in, get all the measurements etc. But thats just me! 

Flitastic,

I have a 15" Bob Marshall Treeless, so I dont think fitting a horse will be an issue. The reason why I am taking it I have been to look at other horses without it and they had 13" or 14" and I just feel more comfortable riding in mine. Also once I buy a horse I will probably go back to a tree's but my last gelding was a hard fit  Which is why i got the treeless to start with.