Viewing an unbroken youngster

[welshcobmad]

Hi,

More of a check I havent missed anything more than anything else! Possibly off to view a youngster over Christmas, only 18 months old so wont be seeing him on the lunge, loose jumped etc so just wanted to check what I should be looking for & that I've covered everything.

- Catch from field
- Look at general conformation
- Feel all over for lumps, bumps etc maybe give him a brush
- Pick up feet (should be ok as had feet trimmed fine)
- General attitude & manners leading, tying up etc
- If theres a road nearby maybe walk a distance from it to see general reaction to traffic (doesnt totally freak out & happy having a look)
- See him walked & trotted up

Is there anything else I'm missing? Got to look past the winter fluff! haha

 

[crabbymare]

If he is a colt make sure he has both testicles down or if a gelding make sure there is nothing obviously there. you would want to see him loose to see how he moves and how balanced he is cantering and on corners and there is no reason why at that age you could not have 1 or 2 single poles on the floor to see what his attitude is to them and what he does with his feet over them if you are looking to do some jumping later on

 

[dianchi]

I would be looking at when caught in- is he already wearing a headcollar? Is it easy to put on and take off a headcollar!
Def check feet- just cos they have been trimmed doesnt mean it was easy!

i would also want to see them loose in a school so that you can see their paces free.

Most importantly assess their general attitude towards you, are they interested? Bolshy? Shy and scared?

I would also be looking into how they have been managed so far- youngstock herd? kept with older horses? Has he been stabled at all and what is his reaction.

Also has it ever been loaded how would you be getting him home to you?

Good luck youngsters are brilliant fun!

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

I would like to see him loose in the school and over a fence

 

[Maesfen]

Don't assume that at his age he will tie up as many breeders don't make a habit of teaching it to youngsters so do ask before you do so; it might have to be something you teach if/when you buy.
Also be prepared for owner to not want him taken down the road, I certainly know I wouldn't allow it at all; there is too much potential for danger/damage there and they are trying to sell a hopefully unblemished youngster, they'll want it to stay that way until it leaves them.

It depends totally on their facilities as to what you can ask for and also to a certain extent to how well handled he is; something that's never left the herd before shouldn't be asked to go in a badly fenced school where there is a chance he might try to jump out to get to his mates for instance; if it was like that then I'd be happy to watch it move out in the field with them by it being moved about; you have a better idea about the natural paces and balance then too. Play it all by ear but first and foremost, for me, conformation and movement is key; that has to be right for the age and your future hopes and then temperament has to be good; not necessarily polite but not shy or nasty either.

Have fun.

 

[PandorasJar]

^ as maesfen has said.

I wouldn't expect road walking or much else. I'd look for basics. Catching (dianchis headcollar point is good) turning out again and I always like to see re-caught, feet picked up, lead, general attitude around people and herd. If from breeder nice to see dam and sire if possible (i really appreciatedmeeting

 

[PandorasJar]

Mines sire and temperament was great though not something I'd be unhappy about not doing)
Play by ear but anything in advert I'd want shown to me.
Also if hard fed at all I'd like to see.

 

[welshcobmad]

Thank you all! Loads of bits to remember & take into consideration there, very helpful! Will look out for a heacollar on in the field & also being re-caught as thats the little bits that would slip my mind, he's been gelded but will definately have a look lol! Think personality & attitude definately counts for alot with me, interested/nosy/inquisitive ideally, the rest I can work on as long as it has the right mind Dont think theres a school available but can always see him moving in the field & will ask if theres a pole or two available.

Decided after a disasterous purchase & then a trial that didnt work out this year that I'll go back to scratch & get a youngster again to bring how I want. Seems the only horse I 100% trust is my boy who I've had since a foal & I'd love to do it again Will let you know how I get on!

 

[AmyMay]

Again, as maesfen said.

I certainly wouldn't let you take it off down the road (and I don't know of any youngsters that would see traffic at that age).

Remember, a headcollar may not mean much (many leave them on).

And take someone with you who knows what to look for.

 

[PandorasJar]

I certainly wouldn't let you take it off down the road (and I don't know of any youngsters that would see traffic at that age).

I know of several down my way... all with rope wrapped round head far too many times and dragged down by one huge guy.

 

[Maesfen]

Like AM says, many leave headcollars (hopefully leather ones) on in the field, I certainly do when they're coming in each day as it's far easier to just grab hold when they come in at night altogether so take that with a pinch of salt that it automatically means difficult to catch.

BTW if you took my foal's headcollar off in the field only to want to put it on again straight away then he'd be pretty pee'd off with you, it doesn't mean he's difficult to catch at all but he'd think I was totally stupid and he'd probably walk around a bit - must admit, I've never tried doing that TBH!

 

[AmyMay]

I know of several down my way... all with rope wrapped round head far too many times and dragged down by one huge guy.

 

[welshcobmad]

Definately wont be doing/asking about that then! I vaguely remember when viewing my boy she walked him to the bottom of the drive as there was a road across a river from there & he wasnt bothered & just had a nosey, must just be what she did. Definate no go then!

My boy was also in a headcollar in his stable when I viewed him but as you've said Amy May it was just what the owner of the stud did & nothing in it. As far as catchings concerned aslong as it wasnt a take off when you approach type sure it could be worked on

 

[JanetGeorge]

I certainly wouldn't let you take it off down the road (and I don't know of any youngsters that would see traffic at that age).

All my yearlings are 'traffic' proof. As 'proof', today I went down to see them and found they'd all busted through the electric fence and were therefore only separated from my 2 year olds (10 in each group) by a line of electric fence.

So got farmer whose land they're on to come and help me and we rounded them up and pushed them through the gate into their proper field with my 4x4 and his quad bike. Except it didn't quite work like that as they saw NO reason to run from either and as they are on loads of grass, they weren't particularly interested in the haylage I'd brought them! We revved engines, blasted horns - who cares! Farmer runs quad bikes (with clients on them) through the youngsters' fields and on Saturday had to rescue a terrified German guy who was surrounded by large yearlings trying to pull bits off his quad bike!

This is because my mares and foals are fed from a tractor every day from the time foals are first turned out. Mum runs TO the noisy tractor - so foals follow. Tractors bring FOOD - so they're nice. I only have small compact tractors but when the youngsters are backed and meet huge contractors' tractors on the road, they still don't care. BIG tractors mean MORE food!

 

[PandorasJar]

Ours are all fed off tractors and pickups regularly go through fields. However one who's no longer with us, who would happily try to get inside digger cabs and had to be removed from fields when harrowing as would try to get on top, was still a nightmare on roads. Because of course the addition of a white line was far scarier than any vehicle... :/

 

[wyrdsister]

I certainly wouldn't let you take it off down the road (and I don't know of any youngsters that would see traffic at that age).

Both of mine had seen traffic by that age - but both came from yards on working farms and were in fields near to busy roads and/or train tracks. Some will, some won't have seen traffic. It's worth asking if they have!

 

[AmyMay]

All my yearlings are 'traffic' proof. As 'proof', today I went down to see them and found they'd all busted through the electric fence and were therefore only separated from my 2 year olds (10 in each group) by a line of electric fence.

So got farmer whose land they're on to come and help me and we rounded them up and pushed them through the gate into their proper field with my 4x4 and his quad bike. Except it didn't quite work like that as they saw NO reason to run from either and as they are on loads of grass, they weren't particularly interested in the haylage I'd brought them! We revved engines, blasted horns - who cares! Farmer runs quad bikes (with clients on them) through the youngsters' fields and on Saturday had to rescue a terrified German guy who was surrounded by large yearlings trying to pull bits off his quad bike!

This is because my mares and foals are fed from a tractor every day from the time foals are first turned out. Mum runs TO the noisy tractor - so foals follow. Tractors bring FOOD - so they're nice. I only have small compact tractors but when the youngsters are backed and meet huge contractors' tractors on the road, they still don't care. BIG tractors mean MORE food!

Sorry, to be clear - traffic in my mind = going down the road to look at cars, and possibly walk on roads.

All the youngsters I've been involved with, yes, have seen tractors, 4x4's and quads...

 

[welshcobmad]

I wasnt saying I wanted to walk it right up to or down an actual road lol very max just halfway down a driveway with cars in the distance just so it can see/hear them possibly, but wont be doing that now. Tbh just seeing your average farm machinery would be enough

 

[Christsam]

Sorry, to be clear - traffic in my mind = going down the road to look at cars, and possibly walk on roads.

All the youngsters I've been involved with, yes, have seen tractors, 4x4's and quads...

^^^This. My boy had not seen "traffic" at his old yard but the YO would go in the field with the quad and trailer and he would nose around it and go and have a look but when i took him out to the car park to "meet" my car he completely freaked! Again, at this new yard he seens tractors and cars going past as his stable in right by the owners house and he seen vehicles going past when he is in the arena and they cut the reeds in his field with a tractor whilst he was out but when he meets cars on the road it is a different story. For him what he sees in the yard is okay as it is his home and he feels safe, outside he is still getting used to it all.

 

[Kallibear]

Depending on what type of place you're getting it from you may well be expecting FAR too much!

Some places will have a half made horse who's good to handle, leads and catches, picks up feet, ties up etc etc. You might even get the facilities to see it move in the school.

And others will point out 'the brown one' from a distance and tell you they can herd it into the trailer for you and drop it off tomorrow. Many breeders and most dealers don't do any handling with their youngstock. I've been to see many youngsters over the last few years and only 2 were handled.

Id want to look at conformation and movement loose in the field, and want it to be curious and interested in me ( and preferably brave) but otherwise anything more is a bonus.

I've found the handled babies make far nicer horses that the moddlycoddled 'well handled' ones.

You're going to have to teach it everything it knows anyways so should be fine with teaching it to tie up/feet/lead etc. It'll be a nice bonus having it already done ( hopefully well!) but if the prospect doesn't appeal then a baby maybe isn't the right horse for you.

 

[welshcobmad]

Depending on what type of place you're getting it from you may well be expecting FAR too much!

Some places will have a half made horse who's good to handle, leads and catches, picks up feet, ties up etc etc. You might even get the facilities to see it move in the school.

And others will point out 'the brown one' from a distance and tell you they can herd it into the trailer for you and drop it off tomorrow. Many breeders and most dealers don't do any handling with their youngstock. I've been to see many youngsters over the last few years and only 2 were handled.

Id want to look at conformation and movement loose in the field, and want it to be curious and interested in me ( and preferably brave) but otherwise anything more is a bonus.

I've found the handled babies make far nicer horses that the moddlycoddled 'well handled' ones.

You're going to have to teach it everything it knows anyways so should be fine with teaching it to tie up/feet/lead etc. It'll be a nice bonus having it already done ( hopefully well!) but if the prospect doesn't appeal then a baby maybe isn't the right horse for you.

He's been in his current home since a foal so suspect he's had better handling than the average youngster at a stud, the list I made is more about me just finding out what he does & doesnt know already, none of the things I've mentioned bother me in terms of teaching it myself as I've had my current boy since a yearling & went from scratch picking feet up, rugging etc with him, all helped in terms of us getting to know each other too All he knew when I got him was to have his headcollar on & then run riot pulling in whichever direction he fancied coming to & from the field

 

[ISHmad]

Good luck with the viewing!

 

[noodle_]

mine was in a field - i looked at her and said yes... lol.


shes pretty bombproof....she lived next to a motorway for 2 months and now lives next to a railway line (trains go past and beep etc every 10 mins)....

she dosent flinch

she loves tractors and thinks they are there to play with


however - i taught her to tie up/lead/do feet etc.... learning curve for us both!

 

[LadyLuck1977]

Mine was in a stable ,led out and trot up, looked nice was nosy and seemed interested in people. Thanks will take her subject to vetting. Anything she didn't know we could do together which we have and it made the whole backing process so much easier as she trusts me.

 

[starbar]

Loose schooled and free jumped??! It's 18 months old!

I would want to see it move, fine to let it loose in a school but no need for poles just yet me thinks!

I would want an 18 month old to lead and tie up without fuss, pick it's feet up and be unbothered about wearing a rug.

If it leads nicely and is well handled, I don't think there is anything wrong with seeing its reaction to traffic in a safe environment