Advise on possible first young horse...

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Squidge90

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I'm sorry in advance if this is a long one...

I have been offered the chance to bring on a young horse to eventually sell/loan out to someone else. However I have never done something like this before.

The horse is 4 years old and from what I've seen of it has never really been taught anything but to have someone sit on the back of it, and buck.

I have my own well mannered and schooled horse who I very much enjoy, but I would love to have something else to get my teeth into so to speak, and although I have never brought on a young horse I would like to think I have the basics to build apon (decent allround riding and competiting experience) and an experienced although busy person at my yard to lend a hand where need be.

What are people's opinions of situations like this? I plan on taking over pretty much everything for the horse (although costs are still covered by the owner - she's does not have the time or want to do this herself) is this a good idea or will it never work? The ideal is that when it is eventually sold (which there is no rush) I would take say a 10% cut. The horse is pretty much useless at the moment as it has that buck and no one to ride it to hopefully teach it that bucking is not acceptable (I have no idea as to wether its back/ saddle/ teeth have been checked)

I don't plan on taking the horse out competiting for a long while but just teaching it pretty much everything from the start again really. So from working nicely in the school, to lunging, to hacking out alone and in company and seeing where things go from there.

Any advice or opinions?
 
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Hmmmmm

I would be tempted not to get involved if the horse has become proficient at bucking the rider off. If it is just humping it could be worth taking a punt. If you do go ahead I would suggest you get a contract drawn up as you may find yourself providing backing/schooling livery for free.
 
eggs said:
Hmmmmm

I would be tempted not to get involved if the horse has become proficient at bucking the rider off. If it is just humping it could be worth taking a punt. If you do go ahead I would suggest you get a contract drawn up as you may find yourself providing backing/schooling livery for free.
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To be honest - I do think the horse has become a fairly "effective" bucker, but being only 4 I hope this is something that could be undone?
 
id expect more than 10% on sale if its green and slightly problematic now and if you're capable of turning it into into a useful, well educated all rounder a year or two from now.
 
My head tells me- can you afford to take time off your day job/do you get paid sick if if causes you severe damage??

If not, and you don't fancy getting smashed up- I wouldn't. Certainly not for someone else to profit!!
 
You've never backed a horse and you want to sort this one out that bucks? No, I really wouldn't if it's getting the rider off and you have no experience of actually backing anything.
 
Squidge90 said:
To be honest - I do think the horse has become a fairly "effective" bucker, but being only 4 I hope this is something that could be undone?
Click to expand...

In that case I would suggest that you employ someone who is used to sitting on youngsters - I've found that ex-jockeys are usually very good at not getting bucked off. It isn't that easy to sort out a confirmed bucker and you certainly don't want the horse to continue bucking off their rider. It would be worth checking his back and the fit of the saddle to ensure that isn't causing the bucking. I've backed 9 youngsters and none of them have bucked.
 
I would say that bringing on an unspoilt, straight forwards young horse can be challenging enough, let alone one that already has some issues. Perhaps the bucking will be easily remedied, but do you have someone on the ground to help you? Even with an easy youngster it helps to have a knowledgable pair of eyes watching and an experienced pair of hands ready to hold them or drive them forwards with you on them or whatever. Good luck if you go ahead with it :)
 
Thanks for the replies.

I would like to say the horse is actually backed (just in case there was any confusion)

It has definitely given me a lot of food for thought. Like I say, I do have an experienced person to lend a hand (though maybe not as readily available as needed)

I don't have tonnes of experience of dealing with young horses but guess I thought that maybe everyone has to start somewhere - but of course I wouldn't want to mess up this horse for the lady.

I guess I will leave it to the experienced.
 
Squidge90 said:
I'm sorry in advance if this is a long one...

I have been offered the chance to bring on a young horse to eventually sell/loan out to someone else. However I have never done something like this before.

The horse is 4 years old and from what I've seen of it has never really been taught anything but to have someone sit on the back of it, and buck.

I have my own well mannered and schooled horse who I very much enjoy, but I would love to have something else to get my teeth into so to speak, and although I have never brought on a young horse I would like to think I have the basics to build apon (decent allround riding and competiting experience) and an experienced although busy person at my yard to lend a hand where need be.

What are people's opinions of situations like this? I plan on taking over pretty much everything for the horse (although costs are still covered by the owner - she's does not have the time or want to do this herself) is this a good idea or will it never work? The ideal is that when it is eventually sold (which there is no rush) I would take say a 10% cut. The horse is pretty much useless at the moment as it has that buck and no one to ride it to hopefully teach it that bucking is not acceptable (I have no idea as to wether its back/ saddle/ teeth have been checked)

I don't plan on taking the horse out competiting for a long while but just teaching it pretty much everything from the start again really. So from working nicely in the school, to lunging, to hacking out alone and in company and seeing where things go from there.

Any advice or opinions?
Click to expand...

Squidge90 said:
Thanks for the replies.

I would like to say the horse is actually backed (just in case there was any confusion)

It has definitely given me a lot of food for thought. Like I say, I do have an experienced person to lend a hand (though maybe not as readily available as needed)

I don't have tonnes of experience of dealing with young horses but guess I thought that maybe everyone has to start somewhere - but of course I wouldn't want to mess up this horse for the lady.

I guess I will leave it to the experienced.
Click to expand...

Not everyone would start with an experienced bucker though... And for what 10 percent of what? If she sells him for 2k which frankly would be amazing at the moment, you would get two hundred quid for how many weeks work? There is a reason she ain't getting on his back and is getting someone else to do the dirty work... Or that's what I reckon. I would only take the horse on on the agreement that she pay you a weekly sum, but I still think you should steer clear of a part broke horse who is an established bucker who she may sell for peanuts and you would then get ten percent of peanuts, and that's if she sells him at all... As you've said he may then be loaned to some other mug who rides him on for a year so she can then sell him...

Not worth bothering
 
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