I recently contacted Lazy Oaks to inquire about a trail horse. Josie was very transparent on the phone and explained their procedures clearly, which I appreciated. However, the program ultimately wasn't a fit for me.
The main concern was that, despite the horses being advertised as seasoned trail mounts, buyers are not allowed to ride them on the trail--or even observe them being ridden outside of a round pen--due to their stated insurance limitations. As someone with many years of riding experience, including training through Grand Prix dressage and purchasing horses through top professionals, I have never encountered a restriction like this when evaluating a horse represented as a trail horse.
I respect that every operation has its own policies, but for buyers specifically looking for a trail-safe horse, it's important to know that you will only be able to evaluate a horse inside a round pen. The program may work well for some, but it wasn't aligned with what I need to feel confident in a purchase. read more