A real dilemma, what to do...

Meredith said:
Sorry OP but I would factor in your age too ( which I have no idea of ) In a similar position to yours I would choose a made horse. This is because my advanced years mean - firstly, I no longer have time to wait for a youngster to mature and - secondly, for that horse to possibly be a "frog not a prince / princess". I hope you find your special horse.
Click to expand...

I thought this three years ago when I was searching for a been there, done that cob, 15hh, reasonable age(8 - 10, I thought). What did I end up with ??? A coloured yearling (now 4 and being educated), who is currently 16.1 hh, and built like a very elegant tank!! He is , however a lovely person and hasn,t a bad bone in him. It's being an adventure though. Oh yes - the age thing - I'm 64 and so is my expert friend who is helping!!!!
 
You need to be very honest with yourself about your ability and how much time you can give your horse. It's no good getting an unbacked three yr old if you don't have a very sticky bum and a good ability to keep a horse moving when they're having a teenage moment. Have you brought on horses before? Are you a very confident rider? Are you a 'good' rider? (I don't mean are you competing at Grand Prix level, I mean are you good at positively effecting a horses way of going.) Do you really have the time and patience to educate a youngster? Do you have the funds to get regular qualified help if you run into problems?
If you're answering yes to these questions, then go and look at the clydesdale. If you're not, then you need to run a mile. It's a lot of horse to handle if it goes wrong. I answer no to many of these questions so I know that a youngster wouldn't be suitable for me, there is no judgement on my part if someone can't bring on a youngster, all we can do is be honest with ourselves.
 
Nessa4 said:
I thought this three years ago when I was searching for a been there, done that cob, 15hh, reasonable age(8 - 10, I thought). What did I end up with ??? A coloured yearling (now 4 and being educated), who is currently 16.1 hh, and built like a very elegant tank!! He is , however a lovely person and hasn,t a bad bone in him. It's being an adventure though. Oh yes - the age thing - I'm 64 and so is my expert friend who is helping!!!!
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I beat you both by a bit .
 
Go see him anyway.... you can still walk away. Check out his disposition but don't compare him to your previous experiences of Clydies, they all have different personality. If he seems genuinely quite and placid, he may well take to being ridden easily. I've had my laid-back cob since he was a yearling and he is now 6 (and I am 52). We got through backing without incident, thankfully. They don't all go mental, some of them have a mature mindset and are very kind and accepting of what we ask of them.
 
I think you would be a bit mad too. Also issues with heavies (this goes for many cobs too)
Wide - have you regularly ridden something that wide- some people's hips really can't cope with it at all.
Hair/mites/mudfever - continual management and hardwork even if you do clip.
 
Dont do it, You've had a hell of a year and now is the right time to use head not heart

Maybe look for the adult more worldly wise version of this three year old?
 
God knows what height he'll end up. He'll cost a fortune to shoe and feed. Will he fit in a trailer?! How much do massive rugs and tack cost? Will he fit a box at your chosen yard?

He will, as mentioned, not mature til 7, so who knows what he'll be like. Are you happy to wait 4 years to do everything you want to do with him? Mine went from 5'6 rugs to 6'3 within a year and he was 5 when I got him. (And he broke his stable-twice-with bum scratches!!)
 
FfionWinnie said:
Seems like you've missed the other threads by this poster.
Click to expand...

Some people seem to have missed where OP says she is used to dealing with heavy horses. I do think that many posters are unused to dealing with such horses and are describing the pitfalls of much lighter youngsters. Of course, all horses are individuals, but IME Clydies are generally very sensible, straghtforward horses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top