If you were looking to buy a 3 year old would you rather...

rubyrumba

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It had started to be broken or that it had not started anything at all? I'm not sure that if i start work with her and then decide to sell her that it may look dodgy!
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
 
I'd rather have it completely backed or had nothing done with it apart from the basics.

If I was looking at something now that was just 3 or rising 3, I'd like it to have done nothing.
 
Same as above, good groundwork and manners. Bonus if it has been to a couple of shows to see what it's all about etc. I would rather back the horse myself/professionally than buy one that is in the middle of being backed :)
 
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She has done everything imaginable apart from starting to be backed. Been to busy shows outdoors and in, with cheering crowds etc. Been in lorries and trailers, i have tried to do everything i can think of that i can with her. She'll stay in the stable alone, turnout alone,i have tried to cover every angle and she is an extremely well adjusted, grown up 3 year old!
So I shouldn't even start long-reining? She's been bitted for in hand shows, had a roller on and i've always messed around with ropes around her body/legs just so she thinks its normal.
 
either totally unstarted or able to try the horse in w/t/c and hack out.

anything half done and advertised for sale would get my alarm bells going and make me think a problem had been encountered.
 
groundwork but unbacked...

im not good enough to do it myself so id send it away

i have my unspoilt 4 year old who has the basics and now working on her more :)
 
Same as the above, I am of the pessismistic sort, and would first of all wonder why the backing process wasnt finished, then how much work would I have to un-do before doing it myself if the horse was half backed! :o

I would either want totally unhandled or halter trained, picks up feet, leads, ties up etc.
 
I would want a 3yo to be well handled or backed and riding quietly.

I would not be interested in a 3yo being advertised as 'lightly backed' or 'backed last summer and turned away due to lack of time' and especially not 'lightly backed, sold from field':eek:

Unfortunately one cannot always rely on the accuracy of some ads.
 
If it was three last summer, and is now rising four, I'd prefer it to be backed. If its going to be three this year, then I'd prefer it unbroken.

It doesn't really bother me either way. I like the fact that you've been to shows and done all that you can with her. That would be a plus factor. Long reining and lungeing would be good too.
 
unbacked, no question. I dont even mind unhandled, but I wouldnt want 'started but not finished' as Id wonder why and what went wrong
 
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