How experienced..?

PonyFeet10

PonyFeet10

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How experienced do you think somebody should be to buy a foal and bring it on, break it in when it's old enough?

A friend of mine can ride, however I wouldn't say she is confident.. If a horse starts to play up she won't stay on it, it really scares her.
She bought her first horse approx 6 or 7 years ago, he was a complete schoolmaster type horse, would do anything for any rider without question. He ended up being pts approx 4 years ago and after that she had a break for a couple of years.
Just over a year ago she decided it was time for a new horse (her 2nd) and goes and buys a wb mare. This mare ended up having to be sent off for schooling because friend couldn't cope with her (being a typical wb chestnut mare), however person reschooling her had no problems whatsoever!
Friend won't jump a course of jumps, won't hack out at all as she has quite big confidence issues.

Last year I bought a 2yo as a project to bring on and break in myself, and ever since I got him she's been talking about buying a foal to start from scratch with herself. So yesterday I get the phone call saying that she'd bought one! I can't help but think she's done it to do one better than me, by getting something younger?! This foal isn't weaned from it's dam yet (will be in next few months) is owned by gypsies and has had no handling whatsoever. It's not even worn a headcollar / foal slip. The first proper handling it will have is when it's weaned, and I can't help but think it's not going to work out..

Opinions please? Well done if you made it this far :)
 
Suppose it's more important how good she is at handling horses and if she has any experience with young stock?

Don't think her riding ability matters that much, she could always get someone else to break it in!
 
Starbucks said:
Suppose it's more important how good she is at handling horses and if she has any experience with young stock?

Don't think her riding ability matters that much, she could always get someone else to break it in!
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She's not got any experience with youngsters, let alone foals. She was scared of my 2yo when he was tied up but fidgeting a bit! Also she's saying she'll be breaking it in herself..
 
I wouldn't get tied up in too much of a knot about the fact that it hasn't been handled. There are plenty of experienced breeders who deliberately don't handle their youngsters at all until they are about 18 months old, one arguement they put forward is that until that age the skull bones have not fused and the potential for injury if a younster pulls firmly agains a headcollar is high.

As long as your friend is prepared to go on a steep learning curve there is no reason why she shouldn't have success with this youngster
 
I'm sorry, but from what you've said this is destined for trouble.

Agreed, your riding ability doesn't affect how you handle horses on the ground, BUT if a person cant cope with a WB (mare or not) so much that they're frightened enough to get off, what happens when they've a 2year old spinning and bucking at head height?

To deal successfully with a young horse, you need to hold your bottle.

If your friend has somebody to help with everyday handling, great, no worries.

If she's doing it herself, there's no way she's not going to get into trouble. Especially with a foal which has had no handling at all.
 
Thanks guys, mixed opinions and reasons why but that's what I was looking for, reasons why it wouldn't work out and reasons why it would. Obviously as I can relate those to the person in question as I know her very well :)

Cadfael&Coffee said:
Good luck with your young'un btw- it sounds like you're getting on just fine :-)
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Ah yes he is doing very well, he had no manners whatsoever when I bought him but now is as good as gold (apart from being a fidget!!)

I've just sort of looked at it from how my boy was - all down to his ex owner being scared of him.. To how this would work out with my friend as she suffers with confidence anyway. Her first horse was a real gent, on the gound and ridden! I'm not sure she has thought about it properly, you know what I mean..?
 
PonyFeet10 said:
Thanks guys, mixed opinions and reasons why but that's what I was looking for, reasons why it wouldn't work out and reasons why it would. Obviously as I can relate those to the person in question as I know her very well :)



Ah yes he is doing very well, he had no manners whatsoever when I bought him but now is as good as gold (apart from being a fidget!!)

I've just sort of looked at it from how my boy was - all down to his ex owner being scared of him.. To how this would work out with my friend as she suffers with confidence anyway. Her first horse was a real gent, on the gound and ridden! I'm not sure she has thought about it properly, you know what I mean..?
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Yes - it does sound a little bit foolish, but people will buy what they want and I guess you'll just have to try and help her along a bit (if you a nice enough to do that!).

I do wonder why some people have horses at all!
 
A lot will depend on the foal. I don't agree with too much at a very young age, don't show youngsters etc but they will be handled to the point where they walk in hand, stand for farrier / wormer etc. I am a believer in letting foals be foals. This is a personal opinion - I do not slate anyone else for showing their babies. The last foal I bought has been successfully shown quite a bit - he will now chill for the next 2 years lol

If she is very lucky with what she buys then it might be ok. Law of averages says maybe not..
 
Of course I'll advise her as much as possible to help her through it, although she lives about a 3 hour drive from me so I don't see her very much anymore!! Thanks for your replies, it's been very interesting to read your different views on it :D
 
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