Those who have had youngsters.

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cobgirlie

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Did they grow up to be the horse you wanted?

I got LC as a 3 year old so pretty much knew what size and shape he was going to be (round..and round), obviously the fact he is clinically insane and the maddest cob I've ever met was a suprise but by the time he was backed I trusted him enough to enjoy the ride!!!

BC I got at 2, again by that stage I knew he was a big boy...and is still growing now at 4 (17hh this weekend...omg...he's huge!!) but his temperment is as sane as LC's is insane so big and quiet I can do.

So my point is I'm looking to buy a proper baby this time, I want something 6 months oldish so I can do all the ground work myself and when he's ready to be backed LC will hopefully be nearing retirement (or I'll have bribed someone to ride him for me) and BC will be going very nicely as a sensible well behaved boy who anyone can get on. BUT my worry is what happens if the new one turns out be not what I like? I've been so lucky with my boys that they both, while very different, suit me perfectly and compliment each other so very much. I'm not the sort to buy and sell so if a youngster becomes part of my family come what may it will stay part of it, so I need to make sure it's done right.

So stories please of those who've bought very young and what your experiences of it have been ..please. :D
 
Big question!
If you are going to buy a foal "for keeps" my first step would be to find out as much as possible about the parentage. It isnt a watertight predictor of the foals character, but will give you an idea. Find out about other foals that are siblings as well.
Above all of course look at the foal especially for character. The more of an impulse buy, the more of a lottery it becomes (as with older horse buying of course). A lot can be taught by good handling, but obviousely if you prefer laid back character for example you wont be drawn to the little firecracker whizzing round the field with his tail in the air.
 
I would ask to see the dam and the sire, if not possible get as much information about them as possible, it will not give you a sure fire guarantee of their temperment but should be a guideline.
Also see if there are any other youngstock fom the same dame and sire.
Any work you do with the foal, will help shape their temperment when older, e.g. the amount of handling, and stuff they are introduced to as a youngster
 
No-one can ever say for certain how their foals are going to turn out as adults but you can get a pretty good idea even in those first 6 months as to what their temperaments are and how lively or quiet they are. Obviously life teaches them and they learn how to cope and deal with new experiences. You can watch their reactions to certain situations and can gauge how sensible a personality they have. When I sell my weanlings I do have a pretty good idea of what types of horses they will turn out to be, providing their new owners treat them like horses and don't indulge in trying to turn them into some sort of cuddly toy. Check out their bloodlines, even if you decide to buy a colt which will be destined to be gelded. The bloodlines can give you a very good idea of the type of horse you will end up with. Not always a given, but often is.

My advice would be this, go to a reputable breeder and spend time with the foals. You will catch a glimpse of their personalities and you will be able to see some of what their potential could be. Have fun in your search. :)
 
there is an expression I think (or so someone told me) 'three weeks, three months three years' Basically they change so much that really its only at the foal, before growth spurt, and mostly grown stages which you can really see what you are getting. Eg my 10 month old is now bum high and downhill - will she be at 3 years old - who knows!
 
Very difficult. My filly as a foal definately took after her mother, I used to say the only thing she got from her dad was her colour & markings. As she has grown (now 3), she is more like her dad temperament wise than her mum, even bodily she is much more her dad. I reckon that how she is now is about how she will stay, which luckily for me is very nice indeed!

The 2 sporthorse youngsters have their mums lovely straightforward, calm nature. They've always had it & not changed a bit, maybe just to get more chilled.

It is very difficult to predict, maybe if you go to a reputable breeder who knows how their lines tend to develop?
 
The foals that I have known from birth to fully grown working adults have remained pretty similar in the main with a few exceptions.

One little filly was a right little madam, straight from the womb. She still is now as a 6 year old. Another came out and just seemed wise beyond her years, a really lovely foal to have round. She is still like that now, really lovely, sweet mare and a pleasure to have around.
One filly I remember was quite a pain. Very shy, almost aloof, wasn't interested in people at all. Certainly wasn't friendly. I last saw her as a yearling and then again as a 5yr old. Completely different horse it seemed. Very sweet, affectionate and a really nice looking, well put together horse. Definitely a case of ugly duckling into a swan.

I think you do get an indication of what they are going to be like when they grow up with most, not all babies.
 
Iceni was meant to make 16.2 according to breeder, but as her parents were 15.3 and 16hh I was skeptical(sp). She is now rising 5 and only 15.2 (and maybe a half) but I think she'll make 15.3. She was very slow to develop and I'm only 5ft so no big deal.

Daddy is dressage horse so I knew flatwork would be ok, was a bit of a gamble on the jumping, I saw her jump a puddle at 8 months old when I went to see her and hoped she'd take to it when she grew up!! She also bit me when I went to see her and was a real bargain so I knew she had temperement issues, wasn't prepared to have to get her out of her stable to tie a hay net up, or for feeding her in a bucket attached to the door as the only safe way to do it, but we managed!!

Now she is all big and brave I can go in with dinner, though not change rugs while she eats yet. I can take her away from her dinner if I notice an undone strap or something, rectify it then put her back with food. I am carefull with her, never make her jump while I am behind her and respect her privacy with feed as far as is practical. But she has far exceeded my expectations in that she has not bitten or kicked anyone for about 3 years, partly we are careful when she is peeved but partly she doesn't feel the need to and knows it is not acceptable.

She bucked me off out hacking in the autumn and while I haven't taken her out in the bad weather I have ridden her in the school in all sorts of weather, jumped her etc and she has never repeated this trick, even when startled or over excited. She carried me home with a bad concussion apparently, even past a train! I only remember bits of it but am told I refused to swap with anyone incase she ran away and got hurt!

The mean little foal I brought home would have learnt that bucking gets me off and done it all the time, grown up Icey learnt that when she bucks mommy falls off, and is very careful with me now.
 
I got my boy as a two year old colt, could tell from his overall character, demeanor, look in his eye, manners to die for etc he was going to be an absolute darlin so I had full intention of keeping him as a stallion.
God I was proved wrong, absolutely wrong. Was a nightmare to back, due to being cold backed. Eventually "got there", got going and he's turned out to be a right decent horse. Got him gelded as he was too bolshy to keep as a stallion after a few incidents at the yard.
He was bought as a project to bring on then sell for profit, but I can't bring myself to put him on the market, he's such an honest horse with a lot of heart.
 
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