Suffolkgirl
New User
what are people thoughts on an 8yr old unbacked Irish draught thats apparently been driven, is it worth buying as a potential ridden horse?
unbacked 8yr old
- Thread starter Suffolkgirl
- Start date
Sleipnir
Well-Known Member
I would actually view it as a plus! An unbacked 8yo has had the opportunity to really mature, especially him being a large breed, so I would expect such a horse to be less likely to have any skeletal problems, such as kissing spines.
TPO
🤠🏴
As above but I'd just try to make sure it was genuinely unstarted. There is a chance someone could have tried previously and made a mess of it hence a seemingly unstarted 8yr old.
However if it is a genuine driving horse that would explain it
However if it is a genuine driving horse that would explain it
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
I would very much doubt that many sound 8 yos are genuinely unbacked. Unless you can get a full history to show that there is really nothing suspicious in its background, it would be safer to assume that it is lame and/or someone's tried previously to break it, and messed up.
TGM
Well-Known Member
Agree with the others, there is a danger the horse has actually been backed and proved to be unrideable/dangerous. If you actually know the horse well and it is genuinely unbroken then that is a different matter and definitely worth a punt.
scats
Well-Known Member
I’d be very surprised if someone hasn’t tried to back it somewhere along the line.
PSD
Well-Known Member
If it truly isn’t backed then that would be a huge bonus, especially for that kind of breed. But I’m sceptical, I always wonder why they’re not backed at such an age…
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
I'd be wary too unless you have a full history. Apparently been driven? Is there any details of what it has done there. I would happily consider an 8yo with full history but be suspicious without.
Melody Grey
Well-Known Member
Is it possible that it’s only ever been broken to drive? There might be a plausible explanation, like it was owned by a driving fanatic who had no intention of riding so never tried? If it drives well, I’d say that’s a good sign?
I know some people say that failed riding horses that can’t carry weight are used to drive, but I don’t buy that personally. Physical issues would still show up driven to some extent.
I’d want some more info- if it’s only 8, there can’t be that many previous owners one would hope!
ETA: just re- read and saw ‘apparently has been driven’.....I think I’d want to see that- might have been great or a nightmare?!
I know some people say that failed riding horses that can’t carry weight are used to drive, but I don’t buy that personally. Physical issues would still show up driven to some extent.
I’d want some more info- if it’s only 8, there can’t be that many previous owners one would hope!
ETA: just re- read and saw ‘apparently has been driven’.....I think I’d want to see that- might have been great or a nightmare?!
sport horse
Well-Known Member
It will be unbacked for a reason and probably not one I would wish to investigate.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
I wouldn't write the horse off but as above I'd try and do some proper sleuthing about whether it's been tried as a riding horse and failed.
If it has... I mean it depends on the vibes you get from the horse and how much of a project you're up for , and realistically the price and your ability to write that off if necessary.
I had one that had been tried and failed a few times, age 7 he was started again and became a nice but *very* quirky horse, never straightforward but had been worth the effort as a low £ horse.
If it has... I mean it depends on the vibes you get from the horse and how much of a project you're up for , and realistically the price and your ability to write that off if necessary.
I had one that had been tried and failed a few times, age 7 he was started again and became a nice but *very* quirky horse, never straightforward but had been worth the effort as a low £ horse.
millikins
Well-Known Member
They do exist but are few and far between. A relative of mine has an unbacked 7/8 year old, really nice type about 15.1hh chunky but with some class. I'd take that on but I know its history from a yearling and owner is a hoarder with too many horses but won't part with any. I wouldn't risk it though without being sure of background, I've bought 2 "unbroken" 5 year old geldings with unhappy results.
Hallo2012
Well-Known Member
im curently re backing and riding away an 8yo-he's been sat on and led around a bit but never really given the tools to go forward independantly.......................he's actually come on much quicker than anticipated but he definitely has a bit more of an idea about what he might want to do..............or not.
in the wrong hands i think he could become very nappy, i have to be crystal clear about pressure V release and praise to keep his work ethic on my side.
it wouldnt be a 100% no, but do some digging.
in the wrong hands i think he could become very nappy, i have to be crystal clear about pressure V release and praise to keep his work ethic on my side.
it wouldnt be a 100% no, but do some digging.
Antw23uk
Well-Known Member
For the right price and the right temperament i would take a punt but only after excessively digging down to understand and confirm he hadnt been started, ruined and then left for five years!
hock
Well-Known Member
I bought an unbacked mare who turned 8 the day she was delivered. She’s an absolute fruit cake and very high maintenance with very little noticeable reward. She’s bloody ace. She was genuine, a breeding mare that they never got in foal so no suspicious circumstances. We decided this year to breed from her and discovered a tumour on her ovary which has caused all her “personalities”.
The usual con to get rid of the tricky ones is to put them in foal and then sell them as a riding horse but in foal so you’ll have had it a year before you discover it’s a lunatic.
I do love a punt if I really like the horse. How cheap? Want to go half’s? ???
The usual con to get rid of the tricky ones is to put them in foal and then sell them as a riding horse but in foal so you’ll have had it a year before you discover it’s a lunatic.
I do love a punt if I really like the horse. How cheap? Want to go half’s? ???
HuskyFluff
Well-Known Member
If you're happy with the history you're given and there are no suspicious gaps then personally, I'd go for it. I'm currently starting a 9 yr old (know all her history) and she's fine - a bit less silly than she was at 3, and stronger and more mature.
Leandy
Well-Known Member
I'd only consider it if I truly, verifiably knew its full history and why it is not ridden. Also I would want the driving to have been a proper education by someone who knew what they were doing and for it to be working correctly when driven and not just lazily plodding about on no contact or ragged and hauled around. Ie, I would want to transfer the training it has already to its ridden work and not to have to start from scratch not only backing and riding it away but then having to unpick bad habits and way of going it may already have acquired. If it has already acquired an incorrect way of going, I'd rather start with a truly unstarted youngster. It does depend somewhat what you want the horse for though?
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
Yes there's driving and driving. Has it been trained to go nicely or ragged up the road flat out in a sulky?
spacefaer
Well-Known Member
If a mare, I'd say never - we've had a couple of late break mares and they weren't desirable rides.
I knew of a horse at a local dealers that was a known bolter. He was 5. They took his shoes off, left him in the field for as long as it took for the nail holes to grow out. Then he was sold as unbacked.
I'd need a lot of information before I contemplated an unbacked 8 yr old.
I knew of a horse at a local dealers that was a known bolter. He was 5. They took his shoes off, left him in the field for as long as it took for the nail holes to grow out. Then he was sold as unbacked.
I'd need a lot of information before I contemplated an unbacked 8 yr old.
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
I'd be more prepared to take a mare that had been breeding than a gelding. I bought a 12yo brood mare and she was great despite having had 6 foals.
phizz4
Well-Known Member
My mare was 7 when we bought her. She was backed for a week at 4 then turned away. We were given the full story of her and we believed her situation to be genuine. She is not as sophisticated as a younger horse might have been but she does exactly what I want her to do and is a gem. She hadn't been mishandled, she had a chance to mature fully physically and, touch wood, in the last 7 years she has not put a foot wrong or had any physical of mental issues. So, it can work, but that's just my experience.