Buying a youngster...

[ImmyS]

I have recently bought a house and done it up and all I can say is don’t underestimate how much money you need to do it up. I wouldn’t have wanted to take on a new horse in the middle of that (mine is a super cheap to keep native pony) but obviously don’t know your financial position/how much doing up your house needs. Just something to bear in mind as I did not appreciate quite how much money we would be spending! But then ours was a proper gut and do up job.

Also doing up a house takes up so much time and energy! Having a full time job, sorting the pony and then having DIY to do at home almost finished me off. My pony doesn’t need exercising every day so that took one pressure off. Plus we did most of the house work over summer so there was less time pressure re the horse.

Sorry all sounds a bit negative, just sharing my experience! I personally would want to wait and dedicate 100% of my energy on a youngster rather than stretch myself too thin.

Hellooo thanks for your input. Fortunately the house we are moving into doesn’t need any major work and other half is a builder which is helpful in saving the pennies! We just want to redecorate and make it our own. Definitely thinking forward to lovely long summer days and would love to be spending more time with horses again!

 

[Nudibranch]

All depends what you want. It's not cheaper. It's not easier. But it is rewarding. After losing the last youngster I'd backed and brought on myself as a 7yo I swore I'd never get another. Then found the breed I wanted just don't come up for sale as ready backed and brought on adults -people hang on to them. So I bought a 3yo and now have a lovely rising 6yo, who is just what I wanted.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I thoroughly recommend it, particularly if you already know that you really enjoy the handling and producing bit of horse ownership.
The downsides are that in the long run it is probably more expensive than buying an older horse and is definitely more effort. There is also always a fair chance that it won't be the type of horse you ideally want once it has matured, so not the best idea for someone who has a really fixed idea of what they want to do with the horse when grown, but if you're happy to either get what you get or to sell on once produced...

The upsides are that it is great ?. I love youngsters so I'm not the best person to talk you out of it. I've owned my current 3 from youngsters, they are all very different adults now and have presented different sets of challenges along the way, but I adore them all. Dabs was pretty tricky, he could be quite melodramatic about a lot of things when younger and it took a lot of work to install reliable manners. Arty was mainly a physical challenge because she suffered with her stomach when younger. She was always a joy to ride but has a typical tb posture and way of going and has taken some work to develop that before progressing her. Pebbles was feral, but once not feral anymore she has always been easy...been here before that one has. Has a bit of a nap in her though, so am always mindful to keep on top of that.

Have lost all my pictures recently so can't share, sorry.

I agree with this, I love youngsters. My next one I want a 3 year old or just sat on 4 year old.

Is you have a good support network around you and you enjoy the handling and basics then go for it.

My sister has has her 5 year old from 18 months and back him herself with the TRT Method. He lives out and as she dives for a living in the winter only gets ridden at weekends.

Just look at the personality and then conformation and go from there.

 

[TheHairyOne]

I would do it again in a heart beat but no room at the inn! This is mine and my sisters small herd, and all but the big grey had no education at all.



He was the 7 year old ready to go horse. He looses his mind out and about. Good job we love him cause he is pretty useless and a bit broken (kissing spine, dodgy hock, dodgy front feet!).

The small black hairy is the childs pony. Got free as a 3 year old. He is now rising 6 and wonderful.

The huge black horse was bought as a 2 year old. He is over a hand bigger than he was supposed to make, has a bit of a TB brain sometimes (so not my cup of tea to ride), but has the gentlest soul you could imagine.

The mostly white hairy was purchased as a feral 4 year old. He does everything with a smile on his face. Other than teaching him to lead (thats a big tank of a horse!!) he has been super easy.

The coloured is the one I ride the most these days, bought as a 2 year old 10 years ago! He didnt make the height, is only just 16hh and we were hoping for at least 16.2, but is a bit wider than we thought we were getting too so worked out ok.

The little bay was bought at 6, only done a bit of driving education. Cheeky little thing, but so much fun!

We arent great riders, we made what we wanted to buy but failed to find, lovely all rounders. Rewarding, hugely. Educational, yep. Wouldnt have done this without great support. Perfect, totally not! None of them will realise their 'full potential' with us. They arent perfectly schooled, we are all still learning. However, I'd put anyone on any of them for a wander around in the arena or field. My boy jumped around a meter course with me, then trotted over x poles with my friend 10 mins later.

However, it is horses for courses. My lad was supposed to be my sisters. Hes not sparky enough for her. The mostly white hairy was supposed to be to sell on when he was bought (3 years ago!) and he is so wonderful he isnt going anywhere. The big black one was supposed to be an eventer, but is very, very hit and miss showjumping. Due to having many they have all found a purpose and we love them all! But had I bought the black one to be my 16.2hh showjumper either Id have to change my desires or sell...never can be sure what you are going to get!

 

[ImmyS]

All depends what you want. It's not cheaper. It's not easier. But it is rewarding. After losing the last youngster I'd backed and brought on myself as a 7yo I swore I'd never get another. Then found the breed I wanted just don't come up for sale as ready backed and brought on adults -people hang on to them. So I bought a 3yo and now have a lovely rising 6yo, who is just what I wanted.

Thank you, I would love to do it for the experience and reward and hopefully end up with a nice riding horse but also open minded to sell if we weren’t the right match. I’ve also found the type I would like doesn’t crop up often

 

[brighteyes]

£8K doesn’t go very far at the moment. I saw a pretty and sensible Cob x something finer that was green and overbent in the school, had never competed (even UA Intro Dressage) and had been on hound exercise once who had been on the market for £9.5K the other day!

Horse prices are just mad...

 

[Northern]

I bought my first unbroken youngster about 6 months ago. She's a somewhat fancily bred WB who will be three in February.
I've found she fits super well with my routine at the moment, in that she doesn't need to do much at all.
Over the last few months I have pulled her out of the paddock a few times a week to go for walks, mouth her, teach her to long rein etc.
Everything has been quite casual and low stress, she's taken to it much better than I expected.
Last week I sat on her for the first time and did a grand total of 3 circles in walk either way.
She'll be lightly ridden away now, I would like her learn to hack lightly and will continue to long rein her out a few times a week over the next few months.
The rest of the time she has sat in the paddock, untouched, being a horse. She lives out 24/7 with my TB and Haflinger mares and it works really well for me.
This has suited her particularly well, because she came from a property where she was the only horse for months beforehand.
The entire process has been very rewarding with fewer hurdles than I expected. Doesn't mean there aren't more to come, but I have experience with green horses and good help to call on if needed.

I think if you want something to do regular groundwork with, I would go with an older unbroken horse. Perhaps late 3 year old etc. You can do as much or as little as you like with them, easy to back and ride away while continuing the education on the ground. Or you can wait to break until you have the time. Honestly, any younger and they should be spending their time out as much as possible and feral around other horses.

I think in your shoes I would be really picky about the horse, not just buy any youngster just for the "experience". You do end up putting a lot of money, time and physical/emotional effort into them to get the end result. My mare I bought because of her temperament, not her breeding. She could have been any old cross, but she needed to have a good mind and one that I could work with.
I am secretly plotting to get a young Haflinger to back at some point, clearly the bug has bitten me Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[SpotsandBays]

Best decision I made. My little one is as sweet as pie and that is so rewarding to me as he was unhandled when I brought him home at 9 months old. (Hes 2.5 now). It’s so lovely to see them grow and change! However I have to agree with the above, whilst they are cheaper to buy, essentially you’ll be paying the same price in the long run covering feed, vet bills etc. But i love it!

 

[TGM]

I missed the bit where you said you wanted pics!

2yo (ad pic)



3yo:







Eventing:





And a couple of the hairier moments:

 

[Dave's Mam]

Dave's been my pride & joy, but it's been a long & occasionally rocky road.
I am very lucky to have some good help, especially my instructor, who started him off for me (I was involved every day & did the first sitting on etc).
We still have a way to go, but I love the bones of him. Yes, if I had been sensible, I would have saved up & got a made pony, but then I would have missed out on a lot of life lessons.

The day he arrived. 3 & a bit years old.

First sit on. Stupid grin alert.

Mini XC at Somerford.

Pole clinic this summer, looking like an utter tank.

& sitting on his ass, just because.

 

[splashgirl45]

that last pic looks quite frightening,TGM, were you both ok?

 

[lannerch]

I bought a 2yo a year and a half ago direct from stud , I had admired her from birth but it took me the couple of years to realise I could buy her . The first year I had her until she was 3 , I had her on youngstock livery out 24 hours , and left her to be a horse, as others have said this is a boring period as they really do not need much handling.

When she was 3 I moved her to my local livery where she is out during the day and in at night , so handled a lot more . Late summer , she was lightly backed , walk trot and canter , and hacking out , as soon as she had done all this left for another break until the spring .

what I will say is you have to have a lot of patience, there are long periods where you are doing next to nothing , but it is also very rewarding. My youngster has been quite high maintenance to , she has damaged herself in the field once or twice , damaged countless rugs and has had a veterinary scare which happily with time had rectified itself , but it all costs money . View attachment 62156View attachment 62156I’m

 

[lannerch]

Sorry not sure why some pictures have posted twice but the first is when she arrived as a 2yo, the last late summer the first time I sat on her

 

[windand rain]

Would never buy anything older than 2 ever again have been breeding or buying weanlings for decades I buy professional help when needed got sick to death of being disappointed in other peoples mistakes and badly done horses and ponies
4 days
age 6

age 13 as a mum

24th birthday

Hazels foal aged 8
could fill an album with pictures of Hazel. Ash, Rowan, Jingo. Pearl and Kitten all bought as babies all are doing a good job now Jingo is the fly in the ointment as he is the only boy and an absolute horror so will never have another male either he is a great driving pony and an even better companion to my ponies but otherwise is a useless aggressive git

only person he would allow to ride him

 

[ImmyS]

Loving all these pictures of beautiful horses. I do have my eye sort of a coming 2 year old direct from a breeder. If still available when I’m ready to look seriously then maybe fate!

 

[TGM]

that last pic looks quite frightening,TGM, were you both ok?

It was my daughter riding him! Luckily the horse was totally OK, but daughter had a swollen ankle for a couple of weeks but X ray showed nothing broken.

 

[Northern]

Pictures!

Coming off the truck when she arrived, poor thing was trembling from top to toe.



Out with her pet TB (or more aptly put, TB who is teaching her to respect her elders!).



First sit last week

 

[ahml100]

Just adding another perspective from a personal point of view.

I bought a lovely TB x IDSH as a yearling who should have matured around the 16.1hh mark.

With the hope of a lovely chilled temperament to put up with a true amateur.

Well, last time I measured him this summer as a 3 year old he was hitting the 16.3hh mark. Plus, temperament wise he definitely more competition horse than amateur horse.

So, what I am trying to say is that the horse you buy as a yearling may not be the horse you need when it reaches ridden age. Therefore, you may find yourself in the difficult decision of having to sell.

Saying that, I love my boy and am desperately trying to improve to ride him well!

 

[lannerch]

Just looked at my post and the first photo of my mare has not posted at all, all the ones shown are her as a 3yo , so here is her as a 2yo when I bought her

 

[ImmyS]

Just looked at my post and the first photo of my mare has not posted at all, all the ones shown are her as a 3yo , so here is her as a 2yo when I bought her

She is lovely and grown into a lovely horse!!