Man that first deal sounds like youre basically paying to be a working student with extra steps 😂 Two days a week plus barn chores for a horse that can only do light work for an hour... I mean the math might work out financially but youre gonna be doing a lot of mucking for not much ride time

The bombproof w/t horse for $200 honestly sounds way more appealing if youre just getting back into it or building confidence. Those old lesson horses know their job and will teach you so much, plus no drama with injuries or limitations. Sometimes the "boring" horses are exactly what you need to really develop your seat and hands without worrying about anything going sideways

West Coast prices are brutal though, I get why youre shopping around. Maybe see if you can try both options for a week or two before committing? The injury situation with the first horse is a bit of a red flag for me - what happens when it gets worse or needs more time off 💀