Buying next horse? Dilemma!

[Ali27]

So I’ve got a bit of a dilemma! I’ve got the most amazing 14.2 Irish mare that we’ve had for 13 years now! She is very whizzy and quirky but she’s my absolute pony of a lifetime! She loves jumping but I’m conscious that at the age of 19, she needs to take it a bit easier. I’ve never over jumped her anyway but I used to quite happily pop her over a 1m x country jump but now I’m now keeping her at 80 with the odd 90 as want to keep her going for as long as possible. I also have a little companion pony who can’t be ridden so both will be with me for the rest of their lives.
We’ve recently bought nearly 5 acres and built stables on there and both ponies are currently out 24/7 as so dry. I’m starting to wonder about getting a third to take over from my 14.2 mare to take the pressure off her although she is still super happy in her work.
I’m debating about whether to get a 2/3 year old to let mature in field and do groundwork with and back when it’s 4 or to get a 4 year old that’s already lightly backed? Or I wait for a couple more years as ridden pony still going strong? I would want a slightly bigger version of my mare so around 15/15.2Aghhh! What to do?

 

[AmyMay]

YCBM is selling Joe. Just sayin….

 

[Jenko109]

YCBM is selling Joe. Just sayin….

This. Sounds like the horse YCBM is selling would be perfect...plus you sound like a perfect home.

 

[Ali27]

This is my super star pony who is just perfect ?

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Yep I was gonna say Joe….

 

[Polos Mum]

Horses are crazy prices at the moment still. As you have space and time for a youngster - that's a great option. £2-4k now as a 2 y/o will be £8-10k in 2 years time when lightly broken

 

[YorkshireLady]

defo message about Joe....

 

[Ali27]

Horses are crazy prices at the moment still. As you have space and time for a youngster - that's a great option. £2-4k now as a 2 y/o will be £8-10k in 2 years time when lightly broken

Yep, that’s kind of what I’m thinking I haven’t got crazy money to spend on a horse and also the idea of a 2/3 year old and doing all the groundwork to get a well mannered horse really appeals to me. Then I have a brilliant instructor who would help with the backing process. Just been looking at prices of 4 year olds and they are so much money!

 

[Ali27]

defo message about Joe....

Joe does sound perfect but unfortunately I’m not sure I have the budget for him at present?

 

[Polos Mum]

It's great fun
I bought this scrawny looking yearling colt and second photo is his first dressage - I'd never be able to afford to buy him as he is today

 

[Ali27]

It's great fun
I bought this scrawny looking yearling colt and second photo is his first dressage - I'd never be able to afford to buy him as he is today

Oh wow! He is lovely and looks like you have done a brilliant job with him

 

[Roxylola]

Joe does sound perfect but unfortunately I’m not sure I have the budget for him at present?

I think home (and maybe the capacity to be a bit patient) is a lot more significant than budget for Joe

 

[Jellymoon]

I’d got for a 2/3 yr old as I like doing all the groundwork and backing myself.

 

[TGM]

Buying a two year old can really get you good value for money as they can look really rubbish at that age! Four year olds are more expensive, especially if they have been backed and can be see/tried under saddle. Unbacked four year olds can be a gamble as sometimes they are not really unbacked, just backed and had problems, so owner decides it is better to say they are 'unbacked'!

We went down the two year old route, we bought this scrawny boy, and my daughter backed and brought him on herself:



And he grew into this:

 

[CMcC]

When my perfect pony, 13.2 Irish pony of unknown breeding, probably Connie X, got to 18 I decided to buy her successor. Bought a 6 month old Connie. Then decided she needed a youngster to keep her company so bought a 2 year old Welsh C.
Welshie was supposed to be sold on at 4/5. He is now 9 and still here and worthy replacement to perfect pony. The Connie is 7 and due to a strange couple of years is effectively being re-started.
When the Welsh was backed and starting to do a bit of everything Perfect Pony decided at 21 he could take over and let me know she wished to retire.
Thoroughly recommend buying a youngster.

 

[Ali27]

Buying a two year old can really get you good value for money as they can look really rubbish at that age! Four year olds are more expensive, especially if they have been backed and can be see/tried under saddle. Unbacked four year olds can be a gamble as sometimes they are not really unbacked, just backed and had problems, so owner decides it is better to say they are 'unbacked'!

We went down the two year old route, we bought this scrawny boy, and my daughter backed and brought him on herself:

View attachment 86327

And he grew into this:

View attachment 86328

View attachment 86330

Wow! What a difference! Looks like you have done a fab job ?

 

[Ali27]

When my perfect pony, 13.2 Irish pony of unknown breeding, probably Connie X, got to 18 I decided to buy her successor. Bought a 6 month old Connie. Then decided she needed a youngster to keep her company so bought a 2 year old Welsh C.
Welshie was supposed to be sold on at 4/5. He is now 9 and still here and worthy replacement to perfect pony. The Connie is 7 and due to a strange couple of years is effectively being re-started.
When the Welsh was backed and starting to do a bit of everything Perfect Pony decided at 21 he could take over and let me know she wished to retire.
Thoroughly recommend buying a youngster.

Aww, how lovely ending up with two youngsters! Haha! I can’t get two though as my husband would kill me ??

 

[Ali27]

Thank you everyone for all the advice! Looks like I will be looking for a 2/3 year old in the future? Ideally would prefer a filly as I do prefer mares! So if anyone hears of anything nice then please let me know if possible ?