Does Anyone Else Get Stick For Owning A Youngster?

legyield

legyield

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Or is it just me?
For various reasons I have youngsters. I have a TB x cob 2yo who I have owned since a foal and I will shortly be getting another baby as soon as weaned from mum.
The 2yo I bought more out of pity than anything but I don't regret for a second buying her. All being well the backing process will begin at the end of next year, but I'm in no rush. The new one has been bought to make a future competition horse all being well.
All my horsey friends just simply cannot grasp why I choose to own youngsters. I admit at times I DO miss riding but it's not the be all and end all for me. I have trailed up and down the country with these people, looking at horses for sale (ridden, obviously), going to competitions, playing photographer and generally being on hand to help whenever. Now my new one will be coming soon and I've asked for some help with the transport (box is sorted but could do with an extra set of hands) and I've received nothing but turned backs because I'm not buying a 16.2hh competition horse! This is now everyone has given up trying to talk me out of it...
Not only do I love working with a blank canvas, I find it a LOT easier (on time and money) keeping a baby and I wouldn't be able to afford to buy one ready made. I just find it so frustrating that people turn their noses up because I don't have a ridden horse! Most of the time I get told I don't actually own a horse, but a big dog/lawn mower!

Is it just me that gets stick for owning youngsters?
 
yes me :)

not long after i got my 2 year old i got a job working 50-60 hour a week as well as commuting - i was told" you wont have time for them etc"

i managed - i quit! and got a job closer to home...i still work full time, they live out and i handle her daily - but what more can i do - shes two!

when im riding i will have less time but were talking really 2 years away - who knows what i will be doing then?!

it wouldnt suit me atm to have a ridden horse anyhow :)
 
I wouldnt take any notice, water off a ducks back etc. Why would you let these peoples opinions bother you?

No, btw, never had any stick for having youngsters. And if I did Id be telling people to jog on.

Enjoy your youngsters x
 
I don't have a young youngster but an old youngster (4) and i get stick for that. Most people on the yard seem to have forgotten that i do acctually ride out but i just dont like going at 100mph! I also get a lot of "ah shame you can't do the 1m class next week/prelim/ODE" as Louis can't do it. Louis CAN do it i just don't want him to as he did faaaar to much as a 3y/o (hunted, jumped etc) and i want to give him a break and bring him back slowly and properly! He is my world beater, i'm sure of it!
They still tell me what to do and that i made a mistake buying a youngster.
 
If I had my own land I'd get a yearlong without quesriob. You get a lot more young horse for your money in most cases and can bring them on how you like. I can't afford to have one on livery - couldn't justify not being able to ride for the cost, which is the same whether you ride or not (and I do like to ride).

It's funny that people criticise those who buy a youngster, but probably those same people go out and buy a 2 yr old car because 'an older one has probably been thrashed'. A youngster is the equivalent blank slate as a 2 yr old car, and you don't find many people turning their nose up at buying a 2 yr old car!

I admire anyone with the dedication to bring a young horse (or puppy, or child I guess!) properly.
 
I'd not had my youngster that long, and used to cycle to the yard now and again so turned up quietly and there were people who didn't always know that I had turned up. I overheard a couple of people talking about me (and a few others) and saying "I don't know why she bought that - she's never had a youngster before - she'll never manage it"

Who cares? As long as I'm happy with my horses I don't care what anyone else thinks. I'm happy with my youngster and enjoying every minute with her.

And what the people don't know who were criticising is that although I've not owned a youngster before, I was the crash test dummy on several when I was younger (and more stupid!) and helping my instructor to break them in!!
 
Interesting to find out that I'm not the only one who's experienced this. I'm very lucky to have an extremely chilled out filly, and have bought another to match. I just find it's not feasible at the minute to keep a ridden horse and have had the best time just getting to know my youngster and her me, so when it comes to riding time we'll already know each other inside out and the bond is already there!
 
With youngsters you have the joy and pain of,
1st trailer ride
1st show
1st bath, cutting their baby tail when they get a bit older I am always teary
1st jab, tooth rasp, 1st time they start bullying someone else and are not at the bottem.
Looking in the field and seeing how they change week to week, will he make 15 hands or not? Today deffinately, tomorrow he may be under.
The list is endless. Then the satisfaction when you back them and they take their first walk down the road and then the even bigger satisfaction when you see their results in the H&H with someone else and you realise you helped make that happen.
What could be better?
 
honetpot said:
With youngsters you have the joy and pain of,
1st trailer ride
1st show
1st bath, cutting their baby tail when they get a bit older I am always teary
1st jab, tooth rasp, 1st time they start bullying someone else and are not at the bottem.
Looking in the field and seeing how they change week to week, will he make 15 hands or not? Today deffinately, tomorrow he may be under.
The list is endless. Then the satisfaction when you back them and they take their first walk down the road and then the even bigger satisfaction when you see their results in the H&H with someone else and you realise you helped make that happen.
What could be better?
Click to expand...

Ah, that's so sweet. I'm sitting here willing you not to sell them!
 
I'm waiting for my shetland weanlings to arrive....
All I've gotten is 'why are you getting them its just silly' or 'what on earth are you going to do with them'....

I know my reasons for buying what I've bought and to be honest, the only people that have questioned me are those with very expenive lame horses!!

I think envy plays a part, but also people just sticking their noses in!

Your life, your choice :)
 
Yep, its jealousy! I bought a 16 month old of good quality as I knew I would never afford ready made horse of that cailibre so i had to do it the long way round! And i have no regrets! Tell them to butt out!
 
I have 2 yearlings that are waiting to grow up and become a driving pair. I've had them nearly a year, and have loved every minute, but yes, many people have asked why I didn't get ones I could start now, or already broken, or one older so I could ride/drive straight away. Many answers - I have my ponies for life, and I wanted the opportunity to have them from as young as possible, to know them inside out, to know why they have all their little quirks, to know the reason for any worries they may develop. I wanted to be able to shape them from the start to become the best they can be, as far as I am able. And also because right now I can afford to keep them but not to buy carriages, harness, saddles etc, but in another 3-4yrs I will be in a position to buy all that. In the meantime I have so much fun watching them grow and play, and take them on little outings and teaching them to be good little yearlings! I am proud of my babies, and I couldn't care less what other people think I should have - I don't miss riding or driving (I miss my old girl) because for me, that is the icing on the cake of the relationship between me and my ponies, and not the sole reason I have ponies. Yes, there are days when I just cannot wait to get on my babies, but that day will come!! And I have many offers of others to ride or drive but just not really bothered.
 
I do, have riding horses mine, and my dad has pointers, but I do love bringing on youngsters I was just discussing it with a friend of mine.

There is nothing more satisfying than being involved in the whole process, we even buy scraggy young uns from sales and it is amazing what you can end up with.

The only downfall is when we have to sell some:(, I hate that bit but if you want to keep finding good homes for them, our herd always get's bigger the ones that have things wrong with them well we have to keep them, and the ones you can't sell, well what can I say.:o

We breed some even harder to let go of but we always find lovely homes, I think if you have really nice horses or ponies you can find good homes but when you have had them from youngsters it is hard to say goodbye.

Why anyone gives you grief for having them I do not know, it is nothing to do with them, and you can produce something you could never afford otherwise.
Sometimes this is the only way some people can afford a really quality horse, or be sure they will get a well raised youngster.
 
They don't stay unrideable youngsters forever, either. Those four years go in a flash. Cherish and appreciate them.

I have the opposite - lots of people telling me I'm doing well but a lot of self doubt ;) They're such precious cargo I worry about not doing the best for them.
 
I have found it safer to buy something untouched and back it myself than buy someone else's "nicely backed" (in their opinion) animal. Every time I have looked at youngsters I have been broncked with, yet nothing I have broken myself ever lifted its feet off the ground. At the end of the day I do not care what anyone thinks, just what I think.
 
I used to...and for daring to have a job whilst having a youngster....but then I moved yards and it's great everyone encourages us.... I'd certainly have a youngster again
 
I've had it off loads of people about having youngsters (I've had a few and helped afew people to) and particularly with my current one (who is now 4). Things were said like "why isnt she riding him yet" (he was only 3 at the time!), "she'll never manage him" (hes quite sensitive) "she should be doing this..." but hes turned out to probably be one of the nicest youngsters I've had, and pretty safe, because I have taken my time with him.

I enjoy bringing them on, teaching them new things and I find it very rewarding.

It's no-ones business what you do, as long as you are happy thats all that matters. I just ignore people now and keep myself to myself, people can say what they like behind my back, but if it hasnt come from the horses mouth (so to speak), then its not worth listening to!
 
I love having youngsters, always have & prefer them over ridden ponies.
I love getting them as foals, handling them, doing all the firsts with them, watching them come on, showing them, usually sell them when they are ready to go on and do the ridden job.
My 4yo which I have had since a weaned foal has done all the above but I have kept her and have had the pleasure of continuing her firsts under saddle, being shown under saddle, dressage & showjumping.
Off this weekend to pick up 2 new foals with a 3rd being collected in a week or so, cant wait tbh.
At least I have had them at home now, used to have them at livery and paid the same as someone who had big horses and could make the use of the school etc. Anyway they do it for me the babies, I find older horses boring lol though Im starting to feel im getting too old to be smacked off walls by unhandled youngsters lol
 
honetpot said:
With youngsters you have the joy and pain of,
1st trailer ride
1st show
1st bath, cutting their baby tail when they get a bit older I am always teary
1st jab, tooth rasp, 1st time they start bullying someone else and are not at the bottem.
Looking in the field and seeing how they change week to week, will he make 15 hands or not? Today deffinately, tomorrow he may be under.
The list is endless. Then the satisfaction when you back them and they take their first walk down the road and then the even bigger satisfaction when you see their results in the H&H with someone else and you realise you helped make that happen.
What could be better?
Click to expand...

this is so true :)


i taught my unhandled youngster to lead - she will now only lead from the "correct" side... luckily my older horse will fit in where ever - again thought she was just 4 when i got her and people said im an idiot for getting a youngster etc

i agreed for the first few months but so glad i stuck both of them out as the rewards are brilliant!

Im hiring a box in november and travelling them both together for the first time but ive ever faith they will be fine as they get on so well and ive worked bloody hard for them both :)


sod everyone else!
 
Whatever you do someone will tell you that you're an idiot. A couple of people here almost crowed with joy when I had a fall from my 4 year old and told me I was going to ruin her despite her being in full schooling livery and ridden by a professional daily. Yes it is expensive, but I will get the horse I want out of it.

I love groundwork as well - I'm lucky enough to have a round pen that I can play in. I always joke that after I've finished the basic skills I'm going to teach her to sit, beg and fetch. :)

Paula
 
I got a lot of stick when I got my then 3 yo and everyone waited to see if I would fall flat on my face (probably literally!).

I took no notice and nobody is laughing/critising now .... my horse is utterly gorgeous :D
 
I quite often doubted myself when I decided to buy a 5 month old completely unhandled filly that was still with her mom.

But it was the best decision I made - the work I've put in has been rewarded so much in how she has turned out.

We spent about 4 hourses on New Years Eve trying to catch her - she now comes to call (but will also come down the field as soon as she sees you), she wears a rug, has been out in traffic alone and in company, isn't bothered by cows, is fine with tractors/lorries/vans/bikes/cars/dogs, loads, has been to 2 shows, ties on the yard with and without company/a haynet, stays in overnight and during the day on her own/with company and in general is a very lovely little filly

I'm lucky that I also have 2 other horses that I can ride etc whilst she's growing up

This is her last week:

DSCF3798_zps857c94a6.jpg
 
Oh yes, and I get mounting disapproval with each follow-up question. Everyone says "ooh, a 3 year old - you're brave", then it's "hmm, a 3 year old warmblood - do you have a death wish?" And by the time I get round to the part where he's already 17hh and still has plenty of growing to do, it just tends to be pursed lips and tuts.

Never mind though. I figure either I'll have the last laugh, or he'll drop me on my head and I won't be around to hear anyone say I told you so. It's win-win.
 
It's not something I've ever experienced, although I don't know if that's because I've always had a horse to ride too. I suppose some people just don't get how you can choose to have a horse you can't do stuff with. And the horse world is full of people who'll criticize anything. And must admit some people buy youngsters when they shouldn't. Sometimes it can work, but 'green on green equals black & blue' is a very true saying.
 
I cringe when I see novices with them - is that understandable? And parents buying just broken 4 year-olds for their kids 'so they can grow up together'. Unless someone knows exactly what they are doing or has a huge amount of common sense and fast access to a proper horseman, it can well end in tears.

Some horses are born saints and can get through unscathed and unspoiled but the rest...

If you are savvy and know what you are doing, no problem.
 
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