Market for 3 year olds?

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Welshie Squisher

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Is there a market for 3 year olds?

I bought one recently, unbacked as was rising 3, also have another I've had since 9 months old.

I'm not certain the new one is right for my daughter and I, well more where I'm concerned. I'm also finding the additional horse a pressure.

Not sure what to do really. I know it will get easier, having 2 3 year olds it's been a lot of work getting them both going, but both are now backed and we had planned to bring them on a bit between now and the end of the month, then give them a substantial break.

I'm considering selling the new one once we have him going well under saddle, but I'd question if there is much of a market for 3 year olds in the current climate.

What do you guys think?

He's a nice sort both physically and nature wish, 15.2hh and still growing, TB/cob cross.

I'll post a pic shortly :)
 
Welshie Squisher said:
http://s465.photobucket.com/albums/rr13/missyme10/?action=view&current=Angus-20120303-00724.jpg

My daughter wants to keep him, but she has her coloured cob, yes she could keep him but being young she can only ride under supervision and this puts pressure on me time wise with 2 others.

Maybe I'm just getting old, don't know how I used to cope when I had 4 :(
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I would sell him. Your daughter already has a suitable horse. Don't make a rod for your own back. You could end up really resenting the work the horses need,
 
Yes kippen64, that's the case, I'm not enjoying having 3, it was so much easier with just the 2. It's a shame, he's a lovely lad, and he would be a fab horse for the future but I am basically tired all the time :(
My daughter doesn't help, she doesn't pull her weight as much as she should :(

Haha Spyda, he's nice heh? I know why I bought him, but just didn't expect to feel knackered all the time :(
 
I have 4 and also feel knackered all the time, have a grandaughter who doesn't pull her weight unless it's the riding bit lol. I tried to sell my rising 4 year old New Forest cross recently, backed and hacking out nicely... very quiet and never put a foot wrong with us and for a really cheap price with tack. She came back after a fortnight as they seem to be expecting a schoolmistress for the price. They said she wasn't schooled enough :confused:
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Haha Spyda, he's nice heh? I know why I bought him, but just didn't expect to feel knackered all the time :(
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Yep, having two youngsters to bring on well must be a handful and a drain on time. I can well imagine. I've enough trouble working with the one 4 year old I've got. My son is nagging for a pony but I just know it'll be me who'll end up doing all the donkey work. I know how that works already... with the rat, guinea pig and gold fish :rolleyes:

shelly19 said:
I have 4 and also feel knackered all the time, have a grandaughter who doesn't pull her weight unless it's the riding bit lol. I tried to sell my rising 4 year old New Forest cross recently, backed and hacking out nicely... very quiet and never put a foot wrong with us and for a really cheap price with tack. She came back after a fortnight as they seem to be expecting a schoolmistress for the price. They said she wasn't schooled enough :confused:
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OMG! Time wasters or what. Good for you having pony back. Hope you find a deserving home soon. She sounds a gem in the making. Hard to find.
 
Spyda said:
Yep, having two youngsters to bring on well must be a handful and a drain on time. I can well imagine. I've enough trouble working with the one 4 year old I've got. My son is nagging for a pony but I just know it'll be me who'll end up doing all the donkey work. I know how that works already... with the rat, guinea pig and gold fish :rolleyes:



OMG! Time wasters or what. Good for you having pony back. Hope you find a deserving home soon. She sounds a gem in the making. Hard to find.
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Thanks, I felt I was entirely honest in the advert, I've had her for just over a year and she is the most lovable laid back mare. Rescued her just over a year ago so my mission has always been to find her a good home.... but would always take her back. Think people need who buy 3 year olds need to realise that they are babies and need bringing on and if they want a schoolmistress they should pay for one. Rant over lol
 
shelly19 said:
Thanks, I felt I was entirely honest in the advert, I've had her for just over a year and she is the most lovable laid back mare. Rescued her just over a year ago so my mission has always been to find her a good home.... but would always take her back. Think people need who buy 3 year olds need to realise that they are babies and need bringing on and if they want a schoolmistress they should pay for one. Rant over lol
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But who in the right mind buys a 3 year old pony and expects a ready-made horse!?? :mad: Even the bravest and most patient youngster is still just that, a youngster who needs continued education. Beggars belief sometimes.
 
I think people expect way too much these days, experienced and 3 or 4 just don't go together. I would only sell to an experienced home, somone not only capable of bringing a youngster on, but one also understanding of their need to learn steadily with time off to reflect and mature.

Well I think I will continue with the training till the end of the month and see then. My daughter is hell bent on keeping him, I posted the other day regarding size and if it was feasible and figured if she's fine she can keep him, but I'm home again knackered so I really need to think about this.
If I have to return to 2, I'd rather do it soon, before my daughter becomes too attached to him :)
 
Well the other is also just turning 3, my 13.3hh section D I've had since 9 months old. I only bought the new one because she wasn't big enough and needs to grow and will be given all the time in the world. We've just backed her and my daughter is gonna ride her this summer to bring on, but she's not really big enough or strong enough for an adult yet, and I'd not loan to a kid with being only 3. I'd never sell, she's my baby :)

The other is my daughters 14.3hh cob, if we sold him we'd be left with 2 3 year olds which is risky :(

So I don't see that either of the other 2 can go, it's gonna have to be the new one if any :(
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Well the other is also just turning 3, my 13.3hh section D I've had since 9 months old. I only bought the new one because she wasn't big enough and needs to grow and will be given all the time in the world. We've just backed her and my daughter is gonna ride her this summer to bring on, but she's not really big enough or strong enough for an adult yet, and I'd not loan to a kid with being only 3. I'd never sell, she's my baby :)

The other is my daughters 14.3hh cob, if we sold him we'd be left with 2 3 year olds which is risky :(

So I don't see that either of the other 2 can go, it's gonna have to be the new one if any :(
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I think that in your heart that you know the answer to the problem already. If you need to sell him, then that's what you need to do.
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Yes kippen64, that's the case, I'm not enjoying having 3, it was so much easier with just the 2. It's a shame, he's a lovely lad, and he would be a fab horse for the future but I am basically tired all the time :(
My daughter doesn't help, she doesn't pull her weight as much as she should :(

Haha Spyda, he's nice heh? I know why I bought him, but just didn't expect to feel knackered all the time :(
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Well I'm afraid if that was me I would sell your daughter's horse then - children should be made to appreciate what they have and care for their horse or not have at all.

Sorry, I know this is very harsh but I think you are by the sounds of things, run ragged and maybe letting your daughter get away with too much fun and not enough hard work? :)
 
Spot on Moomin1, I think it's the constant battling to get her to pull her weight that tires me the most.

I've cancelled her going to a show this Sunday due to her attitude.
She is brilliant when it comes to riding, she's a good wee rider but that's about the extent of her efforts.
Her grooming is pitiful, as is cleaning up :(

She has been told rather bluntly that there is no way we are keeping 3 if all the work is left to me. I hardly get chance to ride as there isn't enough time, this partly isn't anyone's fault, it's the backing and bringing on process, I have to assist and supervise. But more effort would help!! :(
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Spot on Moomin1, I think it's the constant battling to get her to pull her weight that tires me the most.

I've cancelled her going to a show this Sunday due to her attitude.
She is brilliant when it comes to riding, she's a good wee rider but that's about the extent of her efforts.
Her grooming is pitiful, as is cleaning up :(

She has been told rather bluntly that there is no way we are keeping 3 if all the work is left to me. I hardly get chance to ride as there isn't enough time, this partly isn't anyone's fault, it's the backing and bringing on process, I have to assist and supervise. But more effort would help!! :(
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Honestly, WS, you need to put yourself first here for a change. I would be inclined to keep going as you are with your daughter - cancel her shows, stop her riding until she learns to do her fair share. If she doesn't buck her ideas up within a month then seriously, sell her horse, keep yours, and let your daughter go to a riding school or part share with someone else.
 
Welshie Squisher said:
She has been told rather bluntly that there is no way we are keeping 3 if all the work is left to me. I hardly get chance to ride as there isn't enough time, this partly isn't anyone's fault, it's the backing and bringing on process, I have to assist and supervise. But more effort would help!! :(
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Continuing with the blunt theme... :D

Your daughter neither needs or deserves (she is a youngster not an earning adult), two horses when one is perfectly adequate for her needs...

You, however, do need some time off during the rotational jobs of mum, groom, stable manager, and all the usual family household stuff... You have your own horse yet no time to throw yourself on board one of them and reap the benefits of being a horse owner... I understand your 'baby' might be a tad too young yet but you could always pop on daughter's pony for a chill out if you wanted/had time to...

I have a few rugrats myself so understand the other issue too... I think, without shoving my nose in where it's not wanted, you might need to take a slightly firmer line with your daughter too... Yes, she's young and we're parents so naturally do everything we can for them... But within reason - the real world won't just provide her with anything she wants with no effort on her behalf... We are more than 'just parents'... Do whatever you need to make time for yourself too... :)
 
Are you making the job harder for yourself than it needs to be though? Ok, so i don't have kids and between me, my sister and my mum we have 5 horses to look after. 2 of these are stabled at night in the winter so the winter can be blooming hard work and, as bith my sister and I work full time it feels your just a slave to the horses a lot of the time as we only get to ride at weekends in winter.

However, once spring comes the horses are all out and life is a lot easier when the days are longer. Do you do a similar thing or is it a year round thing of mucking out, feeding and riding? If so and not just a case of end-of-winter-blues then maybe you could revise how you keep the horses so as to make your life easier. Also, do you NEED to back both horses so soon if only just 3? Do you need to put that pressure on yourself?

Why did you buy the new 3 yo to start with? There must have been some reasons and, if the other one does not make the height you need are you then going to have to buy another? It is likely your daughter will grow out of the 14.2hh eventually (either size wise, ability or both) or even may grow out of horses altogether so then the sensible thing would be to sell the 14.2hh which would leave you your "baby" to keep and a big enough horses to ride? Maybe leave the new 3 yo for a while, don't back him yet (or leave the smaller one and back that later).

Kids will be kids and I am pretty sure yours will not be much different to others but I would maybe have the conversation with her - ask her if she wants to keep riding and, if so she needs to pull her weight. To be honest though, the reason she doesn't pull her weight may well be because you have always done it for her! You need to set her straight - either that or you stop giving her pocket money/ask her to contribute towards the horses keep (depending how old she is) if she expects you to look after them all! :)

She can't have everything!
 
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