FAQ:
What times do you have available to show horses? I do have help with the riding and showing of horses so we have appointment times during the week and limited weekends available.
What is your sales policy? I operate on a first come first serve basis to appropriate qualified homes. I do my absolute best not to pick favorites and honor the first come policy. Essentially what that means is that I do not hold horses. Horses are available until they are paid for in full. If vetting is actually set up (scheduled with day/time) we will hold for that vetting if within a five day time frame. We continue to show the horses until the vetting is complete and payment is made. There are many reasons that people may pass on a horse during a vetting and another customer may be perfectly happy with the results of the said vetting. It is also common that people back out of vettings or simply change their mind before a vetting which is why we do not take horses off the market. That does mean a horse may be sold to someone who buys the horse sight unseen before your appointment to come and see it. I will always let you know before you make a drive out to my farm if a horse is sold. I do my best to notify everyone right away that a horse is sold. I realize it can be frustrating to have a horse sold that you wanted to come and see but many of mine do sell to buyers who are comfortable with the buying sight unseen process. If you have any questions please let me know. I like to say that there are always more horses and if I sell one you are interested in then I will do my best to find you another one!
Vetting Policy:
Once we have agreed to move forward with a ppe it should be set up for within 5 business days.
The buyer has 2 business days at max to decide if they are proceeding with the sale after the conclusion of the ppe. A quicker response is greatly appreciated as horses often have a line.
A non refundable deposit of $200 once the ppe is scheduled will hold the horse for you through the vetting. This simply means I will not sell the horse outright or have a sooner ppe set by someone else while we are waiting for yours. The deposit will be applied to the price of the horse. This is a non refundable deposit, so in the event you decide not to proceed with the sale or ppe for any reason it will not be returned.
You can chose not to put down a deposit while waiting for the ppe however, that means someone else might decide to purchase the horse outright before your vetting.
What payment methods do you accept: I take paypal, venmo, cashiers check and wire. Personal checks on a limited basis and must clear before horses leave.
Do you have a list of vets in your area? I am in Delaware and they aren't as many vet practices as in larger areas but I do have a list of vets and you are welcome to have your own vet come if they are in the area where they can travel to me. All the vets do digital xrays. Most are very comfortable vetting for customers who can't be present for the vettings. They typically will do the flexions, lunging, etc and then call to discuss the results before proceeding to anything else.
Choptank Equine (MD) 1-410-429-7347
Unionville Equine (PA) 610-932-6800
Equine Veterinary Care (fairhill, MD) 410-392-6646
Do you ship or have a list of shippers? We do ship within a 3-4 hour range and can often do longer trips depending on the schedule. I have many shipping contacts and can also help you get shipping set up. I have many horses that ship long distances. I will hold the horses for a week at no cost while shipping is arranged but after that it is $25 a day until horse is picked up.
We have a 7 day pick up policy after your payment has been made. We have a very busy barn with limited space and are unable to hold horses past seven days. There is a $25 a day fee for anything that needs to stay past the 7 days post purchase.
References/graduate information : https://www.facebook.com/groups/2922626288055600 also my Benchmark Sport Horses facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/benchmarksporthorses
Listen to podcast with Major League Eventing discussing all things TB and Benchmark- https://www.buzzsprout.com/168580/1092173-bonus-ottb-101-with-jessica-redman
Listen to my podcast segments with OTTB on Tap here- https://rss.com/podcasts/ottbontap/
Gospel Graystone- 4yr 16.1 h gelding sired by Gospel Tiz Key (Tiznow) out of a Birdstone mare https://www.pedigreequery.com/gospel+graystone This lovely horse was bred, owned and trained by the same connections his entire career. He ran 12x retiring sound, no injuries and has no vices. He was just slow. He last raced a month ago but did ship from OK to KY and then KY to DE. He is getting a bit of time to put some weight on but he sure looks lovely! I can picture him filled out and he will be stunning.
He has just been so darn sweet to work around. I have had to give them quite a makeover so mane pulling, baths, clippers, etc. He is a love to work around! He has shipped like a pro. Has been great in turnout and in his stall. Seems very kind and willing.
I suspect this one is going to be super fancy mover. Right now he is under muscled and lack weight. They are still not feeling 100% from shipping and they had a bit of respiratory funk so that just takes it out of them. He really just looks so athletic and quite sporty. Can't wait to see what he is all about!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt-dzmhstvn3PSwPPiriGbHsIPdfH1SUQ
www.benchmarksporthorses.com for all details as they come.
Breed: TB gelding
Age: 2020
Height: 16.1h
Pedigree: Click Here
Price: $TBD subject to change
Link to lots of photos: Click Here
Gospel Banker- 5yr 16.3 h gelding sired by Wicked B. Havior (Unbridleds Song) out of an Action This Day mare https://www.pedigreequery.com/gospel+banker I quite like the breeding on this one! He is also bred, owned, trained, etc by the same connections his whole career. Lightly raced with 11 starts. Retired sound, no injuries and has no vices. I know this horse needs some weight/muscle but he is everything I look for in a horse. He is going to be a standout here soon enough.
I absolutely adore him. I have had to spend a ton of time doing his glow up and he is just the kindest horse. He will put his head right on your shoulder. He is super nice to work around in all the ways. Great to ship. Super to groom, bathe, clip, etc. Stands in the barn alone. Great in the cross ties. Good in his stall and turnout.
He looks like a totally different horse than the one who arrived here in a short time. I bet in a month he will be unrecognizable from the horse that walked off the trailer. Sometimes you just get the feeling one really will be super special and he gives me that gut feeling for sure. He lacks the muscle to truly show off but you catch glimpses of the movement that is in there. I love his canter. He appears to be quite uphill. I love all the pieces!
He has been absolutely foot perfect for his first ride especially with cold weather and being freshly clipped. He stands quietly to be tacked up. Good at the mounting block. Quietly walks around the ring. He really makes such a great shape in his body naturally with his uphill build. That walk and canter are so nice! I like his trot but I expect that we aren't evenly truly seeing half of the trot he will have as his body starts to muscle up. He has a great work ethic and is a horse that just aims to please. His brain has been exceptional.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt-dzmhstvn0UykFGzWVETnUyRwTtS6Zi
www.benchmarksporthorses.com will have details as we get them
Breed: TB gelding
Age: 2019
Height: 16.3h
Pedigree: Click Here
Price: $TBD subject to change
Link to lots of photos: Click Here
O T C Wiz- 4yr 16.1 h gelding sired by West Coast out of a Mr Greely mare https://www.pedigreequery.com/o+t+c+wiz Wiz raced 12x retiring sound with no injuries. He is on the thin side but is already picking up weight quickly after worming, feet done, teeth done and lots of calories. Sometimes life off the track just does wonders for these horses. I suspect he will look very different in a month.
I think Wiz is one of those horses that makes me say when he does a 4* we will look back and these pics/video and laugh. There are some horses that I just know are going to be really talented with all the pieces to go up the levels. I believe in him! I think that makes me sound a little bit crazy because when I edit his pics/video it isn't jumping out. I just see him go in person and I know what is in there. He has yet to piece anything together just yet. His legs sort of go everywhere and he is a bit distracted :) Wiz has been working in the ring and starting over some baby jumps. He has shown some really lovely work! He got to go out to the field on a super cold morning. I actually don't mind the video of him in the field because I think it shows the reality of what riding a bit of a fresh young horse looks like that is talented and athletic. He did nothing wrong but it wasn't quite relaxed. However, damn that horse is really something in the moments. His trot is just so uphill. I know his neck is skinny but the shape/balance/outline is lovely. The hind leg is WOW. The canter is so uphill and what a reach. It will eventually come together. He gets a bit stuck behind the leg at times and just distracted. The other horses running in the field right next to him weren't helping but hey this is all part of schooling horses!
He is a horse that is not afraid of any of the jumps but he just hasn't quite figured out forward to the jumps just yet. We have jumped him hand and off the lunge a bit which is helping him figure out his mechanics. Like I said there are moment of brilliance and then just hilarious moments of looking like a gawky teenager falling all over himself. Pretty par for the course at this stage of training. I suspect he is going to be really really incredible here soon enough. This horse has scope galore and he uses his back well. When he figures out how to combine the front and the back end at the same time watch out baby!
Wiz is super well mannered. Great about standing in the barn alone. Cross ties, clips, baths, good for the farrier, etc. He is excellent outside in turnout and in his stall. He has been a very intermittent cribber and we are treating him with ulcer meds. I would call it mild but I have seen him do it on occasion.
Video- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt-dzmhstvn3nWSvJrjs5sAc6EGD5NsN7
Info at www.benchmarksporthorses.com
Breed: TB gelding
Age: 2020
Height: 16.1h
Pedigree: Click Here
Price: $5500 subject to change
Link to lots of photos: Click Here
Scout is a 15.2 h 8yr Irish Cob gelding that was imported last year from Ireland. I have not had an Irish Cob before but he reminds me so much of my connemara cross. He is just the ultimate go have fun kind of horse that will do a bit of everything. I can tell you there is a fight over who gets to ride this horse all the time. He truly is just a horse that makes you smile. He has been with us for several months and he has just been absolutely perfect in every single way. I cannot say one bad thing about him...well maybe that he paws when he eats which annoys us a little bit but is also really quite cute so its hard to be mad about it.
Scout looks like this cute chunk but he is actually extremely sporty and athletic. This boy can move and he can really jump. He is not your weekend pleasure husband kind of horse which is why he did not work out in his last home. I think he just appreciates riders who can ride and balance on their own. He looks like a chunky slower type but he is a sports car underneath that chunk. We all truly believe this horse will not only compete to at least Prelim but he should be darn competitive. He is a very nice mover who is quite simple on the flat. He is light, soft, balanced and just makes the shape without needing to do a lot of work. He is still a little bit green with the right lead but we pretty much have that ironed out now. He is a forward thinking horse that you don't need to nag along but he isn't hot and he is not spooky. He just motors along nicely on his own if you support with leg.
In his videos from Ireland, he is just jumping all the things in the ring, out xc and more. He is probably a bit "greener" than he appears because you need to steer and keep your leg on but he is also what we find to be pretty point and shoot to the jumps. We have a lot of fillers and even when he peeks he goes as long as you keep your leg on and stay committed yourself (aka ride the horse). We have jumped him up to 3'6" here and he finds that all fairly easy. He is figuring out his lead changes but they are not confirmed.
He went out XC today and the horse is just a blast. We all remarked that darn we wish we had something like him to ride growing up and even now he is just that horse you can really take out and have fun with zero drama. Stands to be tacked, hacks around, stands in the middle of the field when friends go, happily leaves his friends, etc. He is in a rubber bit and he is just soft, adjustable and easy. Sure, sometimes he gets a funky distance but he is just so darn handy and athletic. He can stuff in a stride and just pop himself right over with handy footwork. He is the type that will jump the height of the jump required. If it doesn't require effort, he probably isn't giving much effort but he will snap himself right up over the bigger jumps. He is game as they come!
Now he has hunted but in no way is he an established hunt horse. Hunting takes time for horses to learn but I have zero doubt that this horse would hunt just fine. He has shown me zero indication otherwise.
Scout has the funniest personality. He is just a riot to be around. He will literally do ANYTHING for food. He is a treat hound. He is all about eating. He is an easy keeper. He is sound, barefoot and has no injuries or vices. He has been excellent in the barn, stall, turnout and everything in between. Ships like a pro. Clips, ties, baths and good to groom.
I honestly think eventing will be his jam but he would love to do the jumpers, dressage, pony club, etc. He is pretty much down for anything you want to do. He has excellent work ethic and I think he really loves to work and go on adventures. He is always happy and willing. We truly LOVE this horse and really enjoy having him in our barn. He is the type that I think anyone would just love to have. I can see him suiting a rider who had solid basics and plans on keeping a horse in a bit of a program. He isn't green but he has a bit more motor than most beginner riders want.
All his videos are here- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt-dzmhstvn16Xk1-C1_QYFN_ySyqknDL
Full details are at www.benchmarksporthorses.com he is in the lower 5 figure range.
Breed: Irish Cob gelding
Age: 2016
Height: 15.1h
Pedigree: unknown
Price: $18,000 subject to change
Link to lots of photos: Click Here
Some Detail- 10yr 16.2 h imported Irish bred sired by Getaway (Ger) out of an Oscar mare (IRE) https://www.pedigreequery.com/some+detail
Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt-dzmhstvn0w7X8XiQlhaow6WMJdVBPG
Breed: Tb gelding
Age: 2014
Height: 16.2h
Pedigree: Click Here
Price: $tBd subject to change
Link to lots of photos: Click Here
Copyright © 2023 Benchmark Sporthorses - All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.