Rider_Aimes
Member
How dare you - you don't even know anything about me. Very judgemental!
Does a young horse make a good first horse?
- Thread starter Nickyhorse89
- Start date
Nickyhorse89
Well-Known Member
Rider_Aimes
Member
Exactly Nicky 😀
Meowy Catkin
Meow!
Would you be willing to PM me the link to the ad of the youngster that you are interested in (may need to copy and paste it if it's a FB ad as I'm not on there)?
Barnacle
Well-Known Member
I have over 15 years riding horses and of course during that time I had to deal with some naughty/cheeky horses (including one that took a bite out of my arm). I would like to feel like I have enough experience to deal with a young horse if I have the right support around me.
I was originally looking at a horse 4yrs+ which I can ride straight away, this yearling just completely took me by surprise and made me question if I have the ability to bring her on. I understand by the comments that it's doable but will be hard. I have seen other horses that are already backed and riding away but my mind keeps on going back to the young filly.
I'M TORN!!!
Hm what do you classify as naughty/cheeky? I have to say that the original impression I got was that you were fairly capable and would be ok with a youngster but probably wouldn't be very happy with one. However, I don't think you ever explained how much experience you actually have. You've been riding a while... Have you been taking lessons or what? What sorts of horses have you ridden and in what context? How often do you currently spend time around horses and what do you do with them? I think the answers to these questions might help to figure out whether you'd be happy with a youngster.
SO1
Well-Known Member
How much do you enjoy riding as unless you have other horses to ride you won't be doing much for a long time if you buy a yearling so you will need to enjoy groundwork and understand not to get tempted to over do it when they are still young.
Secondly do you have a suitable yard to keep a youngster on, ideally they need company and other youngsters to play with. You also need someone on the yard who is willing to look after your youngster in an emergency for example should you get sick, or have an accident as not everyone is comfortable with handing youngsters.
Thirdly what are your finances like, youngsters grow out of saddles and rugs, you may want some lessons to get you going especially if you are having a break from riding whilst your horse matures enough to be ready to break.
Buying a horse just based on it having nice eyes is probably not a great idea whatever its age, horse buying is a hard enough task anyway without making a rash decision and buying something you were not originally looking for just because it has kind eyes.
I think with youngsters you need not only confidence and knowledge you need patience.
Secondly do you have a suitable yard to keep a youngster on, ideally they need company and other youngsters to play with. You also need someone on the yard who is willing to look after your youngster in an emergency for example should you get sick, or have an accident as not everyone is comfortable with handing youngsters.
Thirdly what are your finances like, youngsters grow out of saddles and rugs, you may want some lessons to get you going especially if you are having a break from riding whilst your horse matures enough to be ready to break.
Buying a horse just based on it having nice eyes is probably not a great idea whatever its age, horse buying is a hard enough task anyway without making a rash decision and buying something you were not originally looking for just because it has kind eyes.
I think with youngsters you need not only confidence and knowledge you need patience.
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Nickyhorse89
Well-Known Member
I know I said that the filly has nice eyes but I'm not that much of an inexperienced noob to buy a horse just based on that.
Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
I've had my boy since he was 2yr old. i've had numerous youngsters before him, from weanlings upwards. Its the most rewarding thing yo can do, to raise a baby properly. But dont underestimate how hard and how frustrating it can be at times! Mine is lovely and safe enough that as a disabled rider I got on him again for the first time in 4 months and took him out hacking, the first time he had left that yard, as he'd been turned away on grass livery. Hes now 5yr old, has been away for a months schooling and come back much better educated, and also far to big for his boots! In the last week he has been an absolute horror for the farrier, dentist and back lady. Not scared or worried, just not wanting to put up with this nonsense, past a perfunctory 5 min check.
We worked through it, because I know him so well, and I know its vital I make sure he behaves in the end, as part of his long term education. I also know how to manage young horses and have a lot of tools in my box, as well as good professionals helping me I still gave serious thought to giving him to the gypsies every day last week :lol:
We worked through it, because I know him so well, and I know its vital I make sure he behaves in the end, as part of his long term education. I also know how to manage young horses and have a lot of tools in my box, as well as good professionals helping me
I still gave serious thought to giving him to the gypsies every day last week :lol:
Tnavas
Well-Known Member
A very difficult question to answer as it depends on so much.
You are not a novice... But how experienced are you? How many years have you been riding, was it all at a riding school or have you been riding friends horses or leasing/sharing?
Some horses can be a doodle to break others not so and some that feed off the unsure actions of the rider, lose confidence and misbehave.
I've broken a good few myself and one I gave up on. Youngsters don't always turn out as good as hoped.
You would be far better off sticking to your original plan, save up and buy a nice 4yr old that has been well broken, ridden away and ready for schooling.
You are not a novice... But how experienced are you? How many years have you been riding, was it all at a riding school or have you been riding friends horses or leasing/sharing?
Some horses can be a doodle to break others not so and some that feed off the unsure actions of the rider, lose confidence and misbehave.
I've broken a good few myself and one I gave up on. Youngsters don't always turn out as good as hoped.
You would be far better off sticking to your original plan, save up and buy a nice 4yr old that has been well broken, ridden away and ready for schooling.
Exploding Chestnuts
Well-Known Member
Consider a five year old that is strong, mature, knows something and is ready to work, or a 10+ year old schoolmaster that knows more than you and you can do advanced things with, both with the guidance of a senior level instructor [BHSII]
The lass who helped me back my very quiet boy then went to a pro yard, she already had at least four years experience, paper qualifications, and was a lovely little rider, an above average rider, and was working in the yard full time as YM. When she came back [preggers!] she told me she had "learned to ride" at the pro yard", if I had suggested she had a lot to learn, before she went she would have been astounded, she knows now!
I would have thought that this thread would have fizzled out after all this time: a baby horse needs to be left to mature while OP needs to gain more experience on mature horses.
End of....
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thewonderhorse
Well-Known Member
In short id say definitely no