Confidence Givers

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margaretb

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Whilst looking through various websites for horses for sale, I see some horses and ponies are described as "confidence givers", "suitable for novices", "ideal first horse" when they are only quite young themselves - rising five, 6years. As someone looking for such a horse/pony, can the younger ones be trusted to do as described? I thought I would be better off with one a little older (and wiser?)
 
it all depends on the horse, but I know people who have brought young horses who have been just that and more. personally I rode a 17hh rising 5 year old when i was young and very nervous, and she was foot perfect for me all the time.
I am currently doing a little work with a rising four year old new forest pony. who until he was 3 was a wild colt in a field.
he is the quietest, most mannerly ride I could ask for.
so in short, yes I think so!
 
for a first horse i would usually say you need older however my friend has one she bought as a first horse unbacked at 18months. To back it she put a saddle and bridle on and jumped on it.... its now 5 and hasnt put her on the floor once, shes jumping it round 2ft3/6 classes and doing a bit of dressage!! They quite literally learnt together and she has had no help other than lessons and as i said was a complete novice. Horses like that are really rare though so i would say buy older though
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I've just bought my first horse, an 5 year old irish X gelding.
I have to say it has always been suggested that i go for an older horse but i have ronnie now and he is pretty genuine.

I got his old owner to sign i contract that i wrote up with all his advertising details and stuff she has said to me about him and she was more than happy to sign it for me so maybe you could ask them if they are willing to do that?

I think it depends on the horse, he's been handled beautifully so far so as long as i continue that and be firm with him if he tries it on then i don't see why it won't work
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Certain breeds like cobs etc are known for being quite level headed - that isn't true for every one though but typically cobs are calmer than TB's etc so take breeding into consideration
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Good luck to you x

EDIT: If you want me to pm you my contract so you can apply it to whatever horse you choose i'm more than happy to so let me know
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I have recently got my first horse and he is 4. When I was looking I almost didn't go to see him as I was looking at 5 and up, but a friend made me and he has been brill! BUT although he is my first horse, I have shared and loaned, had years of lessons, I have him in full livery with experienced staff, I have lessons with him and I have loads of friends with years of experience and I'm not afraid to ask when I need help.

The people I bought him off bred him and are local and I'm still in touch with them. I have also spoken to several friends who know of them and know that they are a trustworthy family and so I know that what they said about him could be trusted.

I know he's been brought along correctly and kindly and has no "issues". His owner is an instructor so he's been taught correctly too.

I bought a youngster fully aware that there may be issues with him potentially when the seasons change, when he experiences new situations and just generally as he grow up (like my kids really!) But I decided that I would prefer something unspoilt to something older that may potentially have irreversible issues due to poor handling from a previous owner. (I do not have the experience to sort out a "problem" horse, but I do have the experience to know when I need help before something becomes a "problem!)

Being advertised as a "novice" horse can be misleading......dodgy sellers (not just dealers) may have a horse that they would never be able to sell to and "experienced" person as issues would be picked up, but it may be possible to pull to wool over a "novice's" eyes!!!

Obviously there are genuine horses out there, just take an experienced friend and don't feel pressurised to buy! and ask lots of questions!
 
It depends on the horse, I bought a just turned five horse after having lessons at a riding school for just under a year and she was always safe, sensibile and really looked after me. I did however know the horse before I bought her so I really did know what i was buying. It really does depend on the horse but my dvice would be to go for something a bit older.
 
I bought my first horse a year ago. He was just 4 and recently backed.
I had been out of riding for 8 years so wasn't looking for a youngster at all.
Although I ended up with him by default I wouldn't change him for the world. His temperament is to die for and any other 'problems' we can work through. (coming back into work after injury).
I found the opposite to be true in my case that the older horses had 'issues' that are far harder to work through sometimes as they are ingrained in them.
Ultimately, go with your instincts. If anything worries you walk away. (I should take my own advice)
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Good luck with whatever you decide though.
 
My horse( he is my first) was 5 when we got in and described as just that. He was nothing like one, rushy, wouldnt canter very strong etc. But I fell in love with him! I was a nervous rider so i know no now I shouldnt have bought him, after 3 years, one broken arm and ALOT of training and lessons he's now a wee star (with still the occasional grumps) but i love him and tbh i feel like he's my own as its all my work thats made him progress
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But it prob all does depend on the horse.
 
I agree it depends on the horse, my girl has been good since we bought her as a broken in 2 yr old from gypsies at auction.
Also another mare we purchased was even more of a saint and she was only 4yrs when we bought her, she was fantastic and perfect for a novice.
In fact I think sometimes age can make them worry more about hacking as they experience things along the way which scare them a little if that makes sense
 
I feel it does depend on breed. I have a 5 year old who so far has made me gain in confidence so much over the last 2 months, far more than any other horse in the last 4-5 years. He's been good as gold and hopefully will help me more and we can learn together.
I do have experience of having horses that weren't for novices as described whilst being older, but also of older safe horses and young horses that were definately not for unconfident people (like myself). I take everything with a pince of salt now and wouldn't always class young horses as "not suitable for novices", as some are like my pony!
 
The pony i bought for my younger daughter was with the brief "confidence giver" as we'd got it totallyn wrong with the previous pony.

Our Confidence Giver turned out to be a very green 7 year old mare who had had the previous year and a bit off on maternity leave. She has been everything I could have wished for. Offered to us in response to a wanted ad I put up in which I stressed all I really wanted was the confidence giver, age breed looks completely immaterial.

I think its down to the character of the horse/pony.
 
My horse is most of the time a real confidence giver. He's only four but is such a good boy 90% of the time, and a real tryer... I know that as he grows older he will be one of those horses that just takes everything in his stride and is anybodies ride...
However, he does have his moments! Silly things might upset him like if he doesn't understand what you're asking, or if you get unbalanced and it affects his balance... but this is all down to his youth and inexperience. I think there are no guarantees with a youngster, if you're lucky they'll be great, but you just can't be as sure as if you're buying something with known history.
 
I agree with everyone else depends on the horse. But surely if you do get a younger horse who has had a good start in life, they are less likely to have developed baggage or vices!
 
I had a 5yo TBx when I was 14, he was SUPER safe having been brought up at a riding school, it CAN happen but be careful what you buy - there are too masny novice riders out there with babies they are scared of!!
 
I too ended up with a youngster by default. Vardi was 3.5 when I bought him and recently backed. He has always been one very very cool headed dude who allows nothing to phase him.

He is now 4.5 and to be honest I worried more about our first outside ride (the experienced older mare had a hissy fit about a bus stop so the baby horse calmly led her past it!) , first trot etc etc etc than he did.

I think it really does depend on the charecter of the horse and I am lucky enough to have a cool headed one who deals wtih stuff without blowing it out of proportion.

As I have said before I had my accident on a 10 year old untrustworthy horse with issues. My Baby horse has never put a hoof wrong.
 
I believe horses that are of the ''confidence giving'' nature are generally born than made although obviously the experiences they go through in life undoubtedly have some effect on them. We bought a rising 6 year old cob 5 years ago for my sister, he was and is to this day absolutely rock steady and you can throw him into any situation and can be very confident that he'll get on with the job safely. I dare say he was like this as a 3 year old as he hadn't done a lot/ seen much of the world when we got him he's just got a very laid back, ''will do'' attitude. In contrast i've got a 21 year old whom i've owned 11 years and have done absolutely everything with. He was awesome in his day and despite being very experienced and wise old boy, there is no way i would put a nervous rider on him. He's absolutely full of himself and seems to be getting cheekier with age!!
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