Advice required - taking on a yearling

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Baldybear

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Afternoon,

Wonder if anyone can help. I have involvement with horses for over 20 years, had my own pony for 17 years, saldy lost him on NYE, but when I bought him he was a 8 year old, already trained etc. Learnt all I had to know from riding school and through experience. I would count myself as being experienced.

But not at all on bringing on a yearling, training and breaking in. Have some experience of breaking in but not a lot. I have knowledgeable friends around and the yard I would move to has good knowledge so the question below wouldnt just be me on my own.

I have been offered a yearling, she has headcollar on, will be brushed on body and lead around, but that basically is it. She is very sweet in nature, just my sort, not too fiesty, quite laid back.

So the question to ask is it hard to take on this yearling and start from scratch? I would be doing/learning everything myself. It would be a huge challenge for me but something I am really keen to take on.

This pony would be for life so not training just to be sold on. Not into anything massive, just happy hacking, odd ridden/in hand show, maybe wee bit of jumping but nothing really competitive, just as a fun pony really.
 
For a yearling it sounds as though she has had a sensible start - with the leading/brushing etc. Go for it! The only thing is, it will be a long time before you get to the happy hacking stage, so as long as you are happy to wait all those years, why not?
 
I have 2 youngsters. They are now 2 year olds, bought as weanlings. They are so rewarding. It is all very slow and will be a couple of years til I back them but its just so very rewarding watching them bond with you teaching them everything. If you have time and patience and dedication then go for it.
 
vickyb said:
For a yearling it sounds as though she has had a sensible start - with the leading/brushing etc. Go for it! The only thing is, it will be a long time before you get to the happy hacking stage, so as long as you are happy to wait all those years, why not?
Click to expand...

^^^This. :)
 
Horsesforever1 said:
They are so rewarding. It is all very slow and will be a couple of years til I back them but its just so very rewarding watching them bond with you teaching them everything. If you have time and patience and dedication then go for it.
Click to expand...

^^^This^^^

People really put pressure on themselves when it comes to babies/youngsters.

They take time, patience and it's just basic common sense. What you put in to a youngster you usually get out

I bought a yearling 3 yeas ago. He was my first baby horse and it's been up and down with good and bad days but the rewards can be amazing and you get a real sense of achievement when your hard work pays off. You get to be there for all their firsts like loosing teeth, picking up feet, standing for a farrier, walking on a road, having rugs on etc etc and the best thing is you know the life your horse has had from day one.

Read loads of books about bringing on youngsters, get advice off your friends and have fun...go for it.
 
For a yearling, that's all I'd want to be able to with it personally. Other than that, it would just be general handling and repetition of that. So for this year, that job's already been done really. Nice genuine babies aren't that hard, everyone starts somewhere and you can tell what things work and what things don't just by learning both yourself and working out what works best - joy of horses, each one will be different! :) I say go for it. It's a year of just quiet handling, nothing more really :)

I don't over handle my lad and he's the most quietest horse on the yard. I drag him out to do 'stuff' with him once every now and then, other than that, he's just left to be a baby. They never forget and nothing bad has ever happened to him yet to give him a bad experience. Some don't need constant handling to keep them quiet...some that just worsens them if they're overhandled. Play it by ear and learn what ticks as you go :)
 
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I took on a 7 month old foal as company for my horse when my sis moved away with her horses. I had previously no experience with babies! She is now rising 4 and was backed last summer. I have been very very lucky to have the help of a friend who is an intelligent horsemanship RA and she has given me pointers and helped sort problems along the way. My mare has definitely not been easy, I won't lie! She is very spirited shall we say and there have been many times when I have thought what have I done, but I love her to bits and although prone to minor explosions she took to having a rider like a dream thanks to all the groundwork I did with her. I would not be afraid to take on a baby so long as you have help at hand should you need it. It has definitely been one of the most rewarding things I have done (and continues to be!) good luck!
 
If I had my time again, Id buy something just backed.
I love my little mare but I worry so much about am I doing the right thing, whats our next step etc.
She was bought as a companion but she loves getting out so a ridden pony she shall be - if I can push myself to do this with her.

I have experienced people on yard to help me but the trick is when we're there at same time and when people have time to help me.

It sounds like she's fab, and good luck if you do get her x
 
7 years ago I was asking the same question of myself. I had horses for 35 years but never a baby. Long story short, I bought Stinky home when he was 15 months and invested in lessons every few weeks with an instructor who was very experienced with youngsters to make sure I didn't screw up.

It would have been cheaper to go out and buy one at 4/5 backed and basic training done.

However, I learnt so much, had a huge amount of fun and the day I sat on him knowing I was the first to do was is my best ever riding experience.

Stinky is now rising 8, doing very well and I am so pleased I decided to go for it.

Stinky being a gypsy cob was very easy to do, and an ideal first youngster, though he is probably also my last youngster as he is with me for life.
 
I got mine as an eight month old and not had a baby before. It's been an emotional and financial roller coaster but I wouldn't change it for the world. I was first to sit on her and hack her out and like a previous poster said, that was the best, most rewarding riding experience I have ever had. Mine also is feisty and beautiful. Tomorrow she goes to boarding school for schooling on and part of me is gutted that I can't do it. However after a ditching and given the fact that I am a primary school head with Ofsted looming I am taking the sensible option.
Go for it! And enjoy.....
:)
 
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