buying horse or foal?

[Luci07]

yes... but she had to wait for 3 or 4 years before she could start to back him... competing at 90 now he is 8.. That is a very long time to wait before you can go out and about AND what will you be riding in the interim?

Don't get hung up on having the perfect relationship with your horse if you get it as a foal. Thats rubbish!! you can have an equally rewarding relationship with an older horse. My 5 year old took, oh, about 1 day to work out he belonged to me and should focus his demands on me. My old mare was 13 when I bought her, now 22 and we have a lovely relationship. And seriously, I see a lot of babies being backed and brought on and without exception, you have absolutely NO idea of how they will react and if it will be straightforward or a real problem. I have seen a pretty feral horse come in who is now pretty much foot perfect with everyone (hes only 4) and taking life in his stride. First couple of weeks yard had to pretty much get 3 people and a lot of patience just to get in the box with him or turn him out. The laid back youngster, well handled, Mr Nice guy who should have been a breeze turned out to be sharp and quirky. I have 2 to ride and can honestly say babies do not make you look good at all. The old lady hardly needs me to tell her what to do and the baby needs a lot of work and my own riding is not progressing while bringing him along...

 

[Eliza2009]

With my personal experience of owning horses both options have there up's and downs.

Last year I bought a 1 year old Kwpn warmblood. My dream horse!!! A blank canvas. I have had youngsters before. (new forest at 7 months run through market after market to well handled foals both fillies and colts). But with the experience I has gained it never prepared me for my current filly.

She has pushed me to the edge on several occasions to the point I was nearly lost my nerve all together. I have had to loads od research and ask people i know with experience to give me ideas and back up my confidence in my abilities. Our bond isn't the greatest at the moment... she has a very up yours attitude. Prolly the 2year/teenage syndrome.

I love her to pieces and I have made the decision to carry this through. I am probably making the decision I will not be beaten. We hve great days and some really bad days. It is a rollercoaster emotionally. So you would have to be strong in your own emotions to be able to cope with anything that is thrown at you. I have probably been to soft with her and hae learnt the hard way. This is a huge problem when you have had them from a foal and you try to mother them instead of being a leader types.

Personally I would buy something you could ride now 5 years plus that has had some work down and get to know/experience what it is like to ride a horse you are bringing on. The teaching that is involved with balance, paces and being firm but fair, as you need to be a strong leader for a youngster or they will walk all over you.

Don't rule it out for the future getting a foal but in my opinion i would get a ridden away youngster.

 

[Vixen Van Debz]

From your first post OP I'm wondering: is it a foal specifically you want, or just an incredible bond with a horse (that you think owning from a foal will give you)? I think it's clear that you don't need the foal to have an amazing bond. If it was me, I wouldn't feel ready: I'd want to own my own adult horse, and when I'm confident not only in dealing with all their behaviours, and comfortable that as an owner I'd the relevant support and suitable yard/livery for a youngster, then I'd make that step. For me, there'd be too many things yet to learn from switching from loaning to ownership for me to confidently take on a foal.

You seem to be sensible and level headed though, researching things now, so I hope all works out well and enjoy your horse, no matter what age it is 80)

 

[ahashake3]

yes... but she had to wait for 3 or 4 years before she could start to back him... competing at 90 now he is 8.. That is a very long time to wait before you can go out and about AND what will you be riding in the interim?

Don't get hung up on having the perfect relationship with your horse if you get it as a foal. Thats rubbish!! you can have an equally rewarding relationship with an older horse. My 5 year old took, oh, about 1 day to work out he belonged to me and should focus his demands on me. My old mare was 13 when I bought her, now 22 and we have a lovely relationship. And seriously, I see a lot of babies being backed and brought on and without exception, you have absolutely NO idea of how they will react and if it will be straightforward or a real problem. I have seen a pretty feral horse come in who is now pretty much foot perfect with everyone (hes only 4) and taking life in his stride. First couple of weeks yard had to pretty much get 3 people and a lot of patience just to get in the box with him or turn him out. The laid back youngster, well handled, Mr Nice guy who should have been a breeze turned out to be sharp and quirky. I have 2 to ride and can honestly say babies do not make you look good at all. The old lady hardly needs me to tell her what to do and the baby needs a lot of work and my own riding is not progressing while bringing him along...

All true, I would just have to continue having lessons as I do at the moment, if I did decide to get a foal or youngster - and you never know what to expect. I realise you can get just a good relationship with a horse as a foal. I just have the feeling that you are likely to form a closer bond the younger you get them but I am by no means saying this is always the case. Every situation is different. I have had a lot of animals in my time and the younger I got them the stronger the bond. Obviously a horse is very different from animals you would keep as pets, but I have one animal a cat, that stands out from the rest. We adored each other, got her from the Cat Protection League when she was a kitten and the bond has been like none I have experienced with my other animals, she followed me EVERYWHERE slept on my bed, was so loving. Thats the kind of bond I want with the horse I buy, if it be foal youngster or horse

I adored the horse I had on loan, and without getting too much into the story I would have preferred a different outcome to the situation. But circumstances change, and I always had that "hes not really yours" in the back of my head. The bond was great, but I do feel I held back, trying not to get too attached although I did regardless .

I may only get one shot at this, which is why I am putting so much time, and thought into getting the decision right for me anjd the animal. It could be I am in the position to get a horse, then a foal when I am more experienced - or it might not work out that way. So I want to make sure the decision is 100 percent right! I totally get that if I did buy a foal, he may not turn out as I hoped, but I do think as long as I find the right animal and the bond is there, everything else comes second. I love jumping and say, if the foal / youngster turned out to hate it, you could deal with that easier if you "click" Also I see the appeal of getting something you can ride straight away and see if you "click" or not!

 

[ahashake3]

With my personal experience of owning horses both options have there up's and downs.

Last year I bought a 1 year old Kwpn warmblood. My dream horse!!! A blank canvas. I have had youngsters before. (new forest at 7 months run through market after market to well handled foals both fillies and colts). But with the experience I has gained it never prepared me for my current filly.

She has pushed me to the edge on several occasions to the point I was nearly lost my nerve all together. I have had to loads od research and ask people i know with experience to give me ideas and back up my confidence in my abilities. Our bond isn't the greatest at the moment... she has a very up yours attitude. Prolly the 2year/teenage syndrome.

I love her to pieces and I have made the decision to carry this through. I am probably making the decision I will not be beaten. We hve great days and some really bad days. It is a rollercoaster emotionally. So you would have to be strong in your own emotions to be able to cope with anything that is thrown at you. I have probably been to soft with her and hae learnt the hard way. This is a huge problem when you have had them from a foal and you try to mother them instead of being a leader types.

Personally I would buy something you could ride now 5 years plus that has had some work down and get to know/experience what it is like to ride a horse you are bringing on. The teaching that is involved with balance, paces and being firm but fair, as you need to be a strong leader for a youngster or they will walk all over you.

Don't rule it out for the future getting a foal but in my opinion i would get a ridden away youngster.

thanks for sharing your experience very helpful. The age thing is a big factor in making my decision - if I get an animal thats older I won't have it for as long so 5 sounds a good age I could see how I go with that , and take it from there!

 

[ahashake3]

From your first post OP I'm wondering: is it a foal specifically you want, or just an incredible bond with a horse (that you think owning from a foal will give you)? I think it's clear that you don't need the foal to have an amazing bond. If it was me, I wouldn't feel ready: I'd want to own my own adult horse, and when I'm confident not only in dealing with all their behaviours, and comfortable that as an owner I'd the relevant support and suitable yard/livery for a youngster, then I'd make that step. For me, there'd be too many things yet to learn from switching from loaning to ownership for me to confidently take on a foal.

You seem to be sensible and level headed though, researching things now, so I hope all works out well and enjoy your horse, no matter what age it is 80)

Hi Its not a foal specifically, the bond is what is most important and top of the (long) list of things to consider! Thanks for the advice it really helps, I am looking into Livery etc just now where I would keep a horse, and also looking into other options if I decide to go for the foal. I really have a lot to consider and glad I started now so I will have things clear in my head by the time I start looking to buy! Thanks for the well wishes, sure I will be posting on here when I finally get "him" whatever he may be!

 

[ahashake3]

also Eliza, I hope it all works out with your yearling

 

[Eliza2009]

also Eliza, I hope it all works out with your yearling

Thanks very much, we get closer everyday...like tonight i spend an hour getting her use to her new box with things being very touch and go....then i turned her out and she nearly squashed me against the gate because she wanted her hind quarters scratched...so had to stand on the gate to complete the task...

I am sure you will know your next best friend when you meet it.

 

[ahashake3]

Thanks very much, we get closer everyday...like tonight i spend an hour getting her use to her new box with things being very touch and go....then i turned her out and she nearly squashed me against the gate because she wanted her hind quarters scratched...so had to stand on the gate to complete the task...

I am sure you will know your next best friend when you meet it.

LOL , thank you. I am sure I will know when I meet the right one Really looking forward to horse shopping when the time comes!

 

[angelish]

thanks

you sound very sensible so the very best of luck in whatever you decide to go for weather it be foal or full grown ,i also hope you find the bond you are looking for as already said it is possible to create the same bond with an older horse too

when the time is right for you to buy don't rule out either ,have a good luck at both young and old horses and something might just surprise you

if you do go for younger i wouldn't touch an unbacked 3 of 4 yr old with a barge pole as my friend paid a fortune for a 4yr old that the previous owner couldn't back and its put me off ever since

 

[ahashake3]

thanks

you sound very sensible so the very best of luck in whatever you decide to go for weather it be foal or full grown ,i also hope you find the bond you are looking for as already said it is possible to create the same bond with an older horse too

when the time is right for you to buy don't rule out either ,have a good luck at both young and old horses and something might just surprise you

if you do go for younger i wouldn't touch an unbacked 3 of 4 yr old with a barge pole as my friend paid a fortune for a 4yr old that the previous owner couldn't back and its put me off ever since

thanks so much good advice there , will certainly be looking at both to get a better idea and taking a couple of horsey mates with me!