Buying a green horse?

[Moonstone.horseshoes]

Hi, I am looking at buying and training up a 3 yo cob mare. Good all round personality. Going well in mènage more forward going out hacking.

I have only been riding a year though, I have packed an awful lot in that year though I must admit. I have been given lessons up to med size jumping. Had two loans (one a green horse who liked to buck bolt and bite at any given chance.) Although this was not my fault he had had a bad start in life and had trust issues.

I feel very confident and have been thrown off. Sat to bucks and rears none of which have fased me. I do have a healthy respect though and understand the dangers.

I am 15 now and all my family has horses who could help me out.

What are people's thoughts on this? Is it a good/bad idea? I have had mixed answers so far x

 

[YorksG]

I think you need to ask yourself the question anyone thinking of buying and bringing on a youngster should ask themselves, do you have the skill and subtlety to teach a young horse it's job, in such away that in the future it would be a good responsive ride for someone other than you. Unless you can be sure you will never sell on, you must be able to answer honestly that you have the skill to teach the horse. Tbh I doubt that with only riding for a year that you have that ability. It is good that you are a brave rider, but that is not enough IMO

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

As above, plus, a three year old cob is something that needs another two years of light or no work as they are not mature mentally or physically.

 

[Cortez]

No. Not a good idea at all. Words to live by - Old riders for young horses: young riders for old horses............at least ONE of the partners should know what they are doing, and no one at 15 knows what they are doing despite the fact that they think they do.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

No. Not a good idea at all. Words to live by - Old riders for young horses: young riders for old horses............at least ONE of the partners should know what they are doing, and no one at 15 knows what they are doing despite the fact that they think they do.

There are few young people who could train such a cob, in as much as they have been riding for 10 years and have a trainer and have lots of other horses to ride, but this young cob needs to be allowed to mature, not to be ridden every day by a novice. If you have several horses to ride, and a good instructor and are happy to leave the cob for few months at a time it would be OK, otherwise forget it.

 

[Starbuck]

Wise words from the posters and worth heeding. Cobs, like all natives mature slowly and need to be brought on slowly and sensitively in order to have a well educated, physically and mentally balanced mount at the end.

Why not go for an older horse, maybe 9 or 10 and have a whole lot of fun on something that has already experienced some good training.

 

[Leo Walker]

You maybe could, with a nice natured easy going sort of horse, but honestly, why would you want to? Mine is an easy laid back character, but its only now hes 5yr old that hes actually been asked to do anything that comes close to work. Hes just been away for professional schooling, mainly to get some weight off him while I moved house, but the difference in him now a pro has worked him for a month is jaw dropping!

I have years and years of experience including backing and schooling etc, but I also am disabled now, so while I knew how, I physically couldnt manage it to the degree I should have. You dont have that. Unless your prepared to spend a lot of time watching your new pony out in the field growing and maturing in, and another huge chunk of time watching while other people bring it on then dont bother.

Cobs are 10 a penny, so look for a nice 8yr old plus and then crack on and enjoy it

 

[stacey_lou]

I must say I agree, unless you have years of riding different horses with different problems and quirks dont do it,

I have had a couple of horses over the year and seen many others because someone thought they knew what they were doing when they trained it but they didnt not really.

I recommend finding that horse that can teach you and maybe in 6-10 years youll be a in a position to take on that project horse