what shall i dooooo??

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rowy

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Ok so we moved into a house with land about a month ago. I have 2 horses currently, a 3 year old who is currently turned away till early next year, and a 17 year old tb mare.
basically my 3 year old has potential to be a great dressage horse and i was going to start him next year with young horse classes etc. unfortunately my mare basically goes crazy even when my 3 year old is just out of view, behind a bush etc. my 3 year old is pretty good when i go away with my mare and just winnies a little.
So I have just had a gap year and saved up quite a bit, 1/3 of which i was going to spend on new bridle and dresage saddle for my 3 year old next year.
So that leaves me money i could spend on another horse.....

before i moved i was thinking of getting a project to bring on and sell..... then i thought i would prefere to concentrate on my 3 year old until i finish uni in 3-4 years and then possibly get a dressage bred youngster to bring on.

so i have 3/ possibly 4 options do i:

1. buy a 1-2 year old 14 hh pony to leave for a couple of years and then back and sell and use he profit to buy a dressage youngster after uni, meanwhile keeping my mare company while im at shows? this youngster would have to have pretty good paces so i could do dressage with it too and be under £1000.

2. buy a 2 year old mare with nice paces and breeding for under £1000. put it in foal when it is 3 to a dressage stallion. wean the foal and then back it and bring it on in dressage and then sell it and keep the foal as my dressage prospect?

3. Buy the dressage prospect now at about £1500-£2000. have not much money left to use for rowan (this may change as i possibly have a job now i can keep when im at uni as well) and then back it when i finish uni and bring on.

4. buy a cheap shetland.


I will be living at home while at university, my course is in equine sports science. i would send away to lovely lady i know for the backing and then bring on in my summer hols (4 months).

sorry about the waffle but i have no idea what will be best.

i have found the perfect dressage youngster who i love but she is £1800 so i really dont know....
 
oooh... toughie! I like the idea of options one or two, depends on your experience of breeding IMO. plus, option 2 would actually mean you'd have 4 at one point wouldn't it? which could be expensive while you're at uni!
 
It wouldn't be too expensive as we live at home so only cost of food if any/ hay etc.
it would be kept out 1st winter as we only have 2 stables atm (getting some proper built next year prob) so only costs really would be injections and teeth etc.

The only thing is is the breeding quite expensive, my parents might help me out a bit with that though and then i could pay them back when i sell the mare :)

are you allowe dto put links on cos i could put one on of the dressage youngster and see what you think :)
 
The only thing with a shetland is she is kinda afraid of them but i recon she could just get used to it!
I thought about possibly rehoming one as a companion/ or else a rescue but the thing with rescue is if it is a really long process and getting checked out maybe complicated?
 
rowy said:
I thought about possibly rehoming one as a companion/ or else a rescue but the thing with rescue is if it is a really long process and getting checked out maybe complicated?
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While going to a rescue charity is very worthy, it can be longwinded and honestly people are giving ponies and horses away at the moment, you wouldn't have nay trouble finding one
 
I would save your money on the saddle for the 3yr old for a while too, it would be gutting and expensive to buy something nice to find the horse has changed shape 6 months later. I would go for the shetland option.
 
A couple of points to note-

1. If you get a companion pony, it would probably be easier to get something that has similar grazing requirements to your mare. That is unless she would be happy for it to be in a little electric fencing paddock or something.

2. Breeding is expensive. I've just bred my first foal and my vets fees in the foals first week were £600 and that was just for a few minor complications. It could quite easily have been double that if the foal had needed a plasma transfusion. Plus scanning etc on top of that. Also, a foal at home on it's own isn't ideal. They really are much better off with friends their own age to play with otherwise they concentrate all their efforts on you and mum! Also much better for weaning etc.

Hope you manage to come to a decision! x
 
Lol this has made it more difficult now! I dont have anyone where I live now with a shetland.
Dancer is a poor doer tb and I don't want another tb as it would have to stay out all winter. That's another problem with a shetland is lami worries.
Thanks for the breeding tip, that is why I would prefere to buy a foalie but well bred dressage ones are so expensive!
The one I found is palomino fully to make 16hh x with few spot knapstrupp so may spot out and lovely temperament. She has the most beautiful floating paces with good hind action. I have just fallen in love with her but dont know if I want to spend 1800.
Another option is that I live 5 mins from a house auction place but there are loads of disadvantages with that to.
 
Lol this has made it more difficult now! I dont have anyone where I live now with a shetland.
Dancer is a poor doer tb and I don't want another tb as it would have to stay out all winter. That's another problem with a shetland is lami worries.
Thanks for the breeding tip, that is why I would prefere to buy a foalie but well bred dressage ones are so expensive!
The one I found is palomino fully to make 16hh x with few spot knapstrupp so may spot out and lovely temperament. She has the most beautiful floating paces with good hind action. I have just fallen in love with her but dont know if I want to spend 1800.
Another option is that I live 5 mins from a house auction place but there are loads of disadvantages with that to.
 
rowy said:
The one I found is palomino fully to make 16hh x with few spot knapstrupp so may spot out and lovely temperament. She has the most beautiful floating paces with good hind action. I have just fallen in love with her but dont know if I want to spend 1800.
QUOTE]

Offer them £1500, times are hard ;-) She sounds lovely, you know you want to...
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lindsayH said:
rowy said:
The one I found is palomino fully to make 16hh x with few spot knapstrupp so may spot out and lovely temperament. She has the most beautiful floating paces with good hind action. I have just fallen in love with her but dont know if I want to spend 1800.
Click to expand...

Offer them £1500, times are hard ;-) She sounds lovely, you know you want to...
Click to expand...

Ditto :) :)
 
She is so beautiful.she's not officially for sale but I emailed cos they had her up before and said they would let her go to a comp Home. Are links allowed?
She's on the halona sport horse stud.her dads Alba her name is halona akiko. Palomino sabino. Does any one know what sabino is?
 
I think shetland is a good idea BUT if your mare needs good grass due to age- this may be a problem if you get a typical shetland that lives on fresh air- as then you may have to seperate them into different paddocks- however if your mare is a good doer too then it may be a good option!
 
Option 4 ...or advertise for a companion r take one from the Blue Cross or similar places. The other options all sound brilliant on paper ...but with horses we all know it never happens as you wish it too and on top of everything you will have Uni, exams and all that and don't need an extra hassle or pressure. Take the easier route ... you are still young and have plenty of time to do all the other things you want to do ! above all have fun, concentrate on Uni and use your horses as a stress release ........you'll need it ! Good Luck
 
oh no they've put her up for sale for m,ore than before!
here is her advert :
HM027G91H on horsemart.]

i'll take it as a sign if she sells before i can make a proper decision then she isn't for me :(
 
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