We are fairly new to owning horses and only have been able to because of good friends who have helped us learn and found us fantastic deals on our horses. We can't afford what most people are asking.
Truman came to us last spring as a semi-rescue. Our friends were in Florida on business and found him in Alabama. He was skinny but big, flashy, with a sound mind and only 10 years old. He seemed to have been loved as he doesn't have a mean bone in his body but the owners could not afford to keep him so he was headed to auction in PA. Our friends called in a favor from the owner of the auction so they held him out of the auction for us and we got him for a good price (almost nothing). It didn't take long for him to get over his shipping fever during quarantine and he is now healthy and happy and not skinny anymore. He's a fast mover, won't be a western horse, his walk is faster than Missy's canter.
Missy is 15 and has done many shows as a registered quarter horse. She is a doll, very loving and calm horse. Her owner kind of dumped her because she just wanted a new horse so we got her for a good price too. She is healthy as, well as a horse, she just had a fickle owner who wasn't particularly loyal to her horses.
Little April is a 6 year old mini pony. She was free (of course there is no such thing as a free animal), just looking for a home after her companion died. She can be a punk at times (ponies) but overall she is sweet and smart. I had to put up the electric fence for her because she kept escaping.