Would it be possible to sell Sig once you're over here? You could loan him out initially and then see how you're getting on over here. That way all your options are still open and you can decide as you go along.
If Sig were to stay in the states on either a lease/loan or to be sold, it would be done through my old friend and current trainer. She is well connected and could facilitate a loan or sale on my behalf if that's the final decision. I had him in full training livery with her for the 15 or so months I was living in Japan 2018-2019. She knows him like her own, and I would trust her as my agent if I was in the UK.
FWIW, if I were to decide to bring him, I would not ship him over when I moved. I would get settled in the UK first, visit some yards to confirm which one he would live at, and then we'd start the quarantine/import process. So he would be a month or two behind me depending how far I got with the yard search before I left the US. He might ship home a month or so early as well and go live with my friend in KY for however long while I get settled into the next stateside assignment. It's such a blessing to have my friend and her farm to act as our "home base" as we navigate this crazy world of military moves and horses! I know I can always send him to her and she'll keep him safe and sound for me.
Well, for that sort of money I would loan or sell in the USA, not buy in the UK but spend the money on quality training and horse riding holidays here and in Europe. Go on riding trips in France, Spain, Italy, dressage or jumping lessons, and still have change!
This is certainly the most financially sound suggestion so far and it's definitely tempting! I do intend to do some travel (Scotland and Ireland I am coming for you!!!), and my unit at Lakenheath offers very reasonably priced trips to the continent as well and I want to take advantage of those too as able. I would definitely do a lot more traveling/memory making without paying livery on a horse every month. But my whole life is being around horses, and that's how I stay centered, and not being at the yard regularly would slowly kill me. So this is another tough decision and what kind of experiences/memories I want to make.
Honestly, I am a HUGE SOFTIE and overly sentimental/romantic. The thought of hacking out in the UK countryside is a dream of mine too, and I'm weirdly and poetically attached to the idea of doing that on Sig and writing a very interesting chapter in our story. Did I tell you all I was a writer too? LOL
Welcome!
I'll wade in with everyone else and say... loan/sell in the US depending on how much you think you will still like your horse when someone else has 'personailised' him for 2+ years - I wouldn't want to return to one that I'd started in my mould but had then gone on to someone else to finish shaping, however brilliant they were. I'd be miffed if I spent a fortune bringing him over for him to promptly do what horses do best, and go lame for the next 10 months...
I agree it could take some time to find a proper 1.20 gem over here, though not impossible and you could potentially be lucky and stumble straight onto one. You might equally be lucky and come across someone looking for a decent rider for theirs through University/pregnancy etc. You never know.
You'd stand a better chance of buying quickly if you set out to find Mr Right Now as it were, a nice horse you could have fun with whatever its talents turned out to to be. A safe and pleasant 'ordinary' horse will sell well and easily in this country when you move back even if it's not one you fancy shipping to the US. In the past I have 'done' one a year as a project, had massive fun, and not been badly out of pocket, but that's not buying stunning talented well bred warmbloods to go up the levels on... (My horse of a lifetime was from a racing yard, and an unbroken 7yo TB I 'did' was one of the most talented I've ever produced, so TBs are good in my book!)
More really good points. So I'm extremely picky about how my horses go and how they're brought along, and getting one back after someone rides it totally differently is so frustrating to me. Sig goes as correctly as a polo-bred TB doing dressage can go, and I'm enjoying all the new buttons I'm installing on him. He's getting to that point where I think it, and he does it. Now I love my fellow Americans (ok...not after last week), but not many people who ride in our show hunter/show jumper world do much with flatwork. Very high likelihood if he were loaned out to a typical adult amateur hunter rider or a good junior rider that he'd do most of his flatting on his forehand and not connected. Fixing that after two years would be annoying at best.
I agree if he were to stay in the US on loan or sold, then a part share or a loan in the UK would work great. But my goal in the case of Sig being sold would be to come home with a higher level jumper, so a purchase would be my end goal in the UK anyway.
LOL..... Who do you think told her as the first piece of advice....
"Join the Horse & Hound Forum. Introduce yourself and explain the advice you need and why"
I swear by you all. Made my biggest life challenges seem like a cake walk. And
@SibeliusMB is a fabulous person. I'm totally jealous but if she's in the UK and if COVID ever lets me travel again.... free housing and voila UK HORSEY ROAD TRIP!!!
BTW Cudo and Chad and all their fur say hi!!! They're muddy but enjoying their holiday.
Em
I am SO EXCITED! UK horsey adventures await!!! You need to come because NONE of my American counterparts at work are going to understand any of this obsession.
Thank you again for the suggestion to come here because this might be the best horse forum, ever? Fight me, COTH!!
If you've read this novel of a reply, please give yourself permission to treat yourself to something sweet. Thank you all again for your sincerity, time, and opinions.
I know the financially sound decision is to leave Sig home, loan or just take some periodic lessons. The next option that makes the most sense financially is to sell Sig, buy that 1.20 prospect, and import it with me when I return. I am extremely excited about the possibility of finding that unicorn in the UK, and enjoying a high quality horse that I could never, never afford in the US. The option that makes absolutely the least sense financially is taking Sig with me. I'd likely be spending more in round trip cost than he is actually worth. And that cost is not easy for me; it's a crazy amount of money, but it can be done with some big ticket items I have to sell before I leave anyway. I could get his round trip completely paid for )$$ for return trip would obviously be put aside while I was in the UK) prior to me even leaving the US. Is that money "better" spent on one of the other options, absolutely.
But I keep coming back to the emotional side of this too, and it's hard to describe how hard my job can be sometimes.
This piece I wrote might help provide some insight into what having my horse with me really means (this was about Sig's predecessor, Soon, who I sadly lost only a few weeks after that was written). Right now I'm not focused on competing (if we show, YAY!...if not, also YAY!) and get all my enjoyment and fulfillment from training my young horse and spending time with him at the farm or off on hacks with my horsey family. I've had an extremely difficult last couple of years personally and professionally, and this last assignment has been particularly challenging. Sig has been my one constant and my rock through it all. While green, he's been very consistent in his progress, and has 100% always put a smile on my face. We know each other so very well. I can't put a price on that. I know another horse could absolutely step into that role like Sig did. But if anyone is wondering why I'm even debating this (exporting a US TB versus buying in UK), that's why.
