Why are people obsessed with owning a youngster

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Smoky 2022

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I was talking to a livery the other day. I won’t go into details because I don’t know if she uses this forum. she has basically said she is retiring her 20 year old horse that is doing low level dressage that is completely fine Heath wise and is capable of doing what she wants. he is apparently to old she wants a younger horse. She is buying a 3 year old horse . I generally think she only doing this because there is a bit of jealousy because someone on the yard breed there mare and has a lovely foal this year. So what’s the obsession with Owing a youngster.
 
Smoky 2022 said:
I was talking to a livery the other day. I won’t go into details because I don’t know if she uses this forum. she has basically said she is retiring her 20 year old horse that is doing low level dressage that is completely fine Heath wise and is capable of doing what she wants. he is apparently to old she wants a younger horse. She is buying a 3 year old horse . I generally think she only doing this because there is a bit of jealousy because someone on the yard breed there mare and has a lovely foal this year. So what’s the obsession with Owing a youngster.
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Slightly weird question ....maybe she just wanted a young horse to bring on and eventually replace her old one ?
 
I hope my boy will still be happily being ridden at that age , his dad bahamian bounty died at 26 and grandad sadlers wells died at 30, both natural causes.

I might however look for a younger horse that I can ride every day if BB wasnt up to it. You never know what the future holds, he might want to be semi retired ☺️ Maybe thats what this girl wants for her one? She might feel she would push him too hard ☺️
 
I mean I don't think it's an obsession.

Some people want a "blank canvas" in the hope of less issues.

Some people are experienced and want to try producing their own horse

Some people enjoy the process of starting and bringing on horses

Some people can't afford ready made and generally unstarted horses are cheaper. It is often cheaper to buy a 3yr old and pay a pro to start it than it is to buy a started 4yr old.

Yes some people buy them for the "wrong" reasons and without a suitable set up, support, knowledge, experience or funds but the same could be said of any horse. Also "wrong" is subjective
 
I bought a 4yo this time. he was cheaper.

I am enjoying bringing him on and the fact that he has no hang ups (touch wood).

I don't know why it would worry you? Training one up ready to replace a 20 year old sounds sensible. Hopefully the older one will be sound enough to act as an escort. Maybe she has felt he isn't enjoying himself as he used to?
 
If you have the expertise, and are prepared to put in the work over the many years it will take, then getting a youngster can be a good way of getting a quality horse that would be out of your price range if already 'made'. (Of course you may find that the horse has other ideas about what they like doing ?)
Having an older horse is extremely useful to nanny the young one and show them the ropes.
 
I bought a weanling as i wanted something unspoiled. Years of riding/schooling/owning horses others had broken or fluffed up in one way or another made me want to have a clean slate to mould my own way.

Also I have always gotten great satisfaction out of youngsters, so got my own when I knew Kia’s time was almost up. Made his passing hurt a tiny bit less knowing I had such a small young life to take care of.
 
Depends. Seems a bit strange if she can only run one riding horse, so cost wise needs to retire the older one to pasture to get the youngster.

I’m not really a believer in fully retiring older horses that can still enjoy ridden work. I think like older people regular exercise keeps them mobile.

It really depends if her riding ambitions are met by older horse or not? And the quality of retirement planned.

There are “old” and “young” 20 year olds IMO.

You might not have full picture? Older horse might be on bute? Have a degenerative arthritis, not enjoy working Etc.
 
I prefer buying young horses. My most recent is “older” for me at 6. If I didn’t know her already and particularly adore this horse, I wouldn’t have bought her. I would usually be looking for a 2yo.

My reasons are that I love teaching the very early phase, the backing, ground manners, interacting with traffic, being good with farriers and vets, behaving around dogs etc. I like teaching them to hack, and the basics in the school. The lightbulb moment is so rewarding.

I’m not too fixated in riding actually, so I don’t mind the wait. Once they are established with the basics, I far prefer to hire a pro or find a trusted rider to bring on and school up than do it myself. I enjoy hacking and but I school for them, not for me.
 
Almost sounds like you’re talking about a friend but possibly not. She’s retiring her 28yo she’s owned since a 1yo and is looking for a young horse to bring on and put her own stamp on, like she did with her old boy.

I don’t think there is a obsession with owning young horses at all.. but she has the ability to bring on a youngster so why not? She could never afford a 8yo doing a bit of everything (talking 15K plus at the moment!)
 
I don't see anything strange in it at all. I have a 20 year old in full work, but I also have a 5 year old who I am producing to firstly take the strain off the older horse and then replace him when he retires. When the present youngster gets to about 15 I will probably buy another baby. This is how I have worked it for the last 40 years.
 
I'm not sure what your problem is? Seems a sensible enough plan, her older horse may go on for years but the chances are that he will need to slow down a bit soon. Buying a youngster now means she can buy for less money than an established horse but also doesn't have to miss out on riding/competing as she can get the younger on going while the older one is still going and the older one can act as a nanny.

It is what I will probably do, I bought my horse as an already backed youngster and would potentially do the same again but I suspect that I would get more for my money and be more likely to get the right result buying unbroken and getting help starting it. Hopefully my mare will stay fit and sound until finances allow me to keep two!
 
I enjoy bringing on babies.

Nobody else has messed them up (mostly, though I did buy a very rude foal once who'd been cuddled and messed about with. So that all needed undoing.)

They are cheaper.

In the case of my latest, she's a rare breed and ready-made don't exist. Nobody sells them on. Ever. I bought her from an old boy proper breeder for £1200 as a 3yo (pre Covid obviously!) and she carries some sought after, very traditional bloodlines. She's now a 7yo going nicely, a little green perhaps but would be worth many, many times what I paid for her. It's irrelevant as she's with me for life but I enjoy the process.

What I dislike is people with no experience of youngsters buying one and sticking it on a yard with inadequate turnout and company. But that's a different issue.
 
I bought a youngster although I didn't really want one but it is turning out well.She has a very good laid back temperament and I can afford the right sort of help which, for me, is absolutely crucial.Instructor says its better to get a youngster then you don't get other peoples screw ups.My old boy, while a wonderful confidence giver was quite screwed up when I got him which was a shame.
 
i trustfully want a youngster i bought a 9 year old in 2018 and i can see her slowing down at 13 . she has getting to laid back i feel like i wont have much saddle time with her. in saying this people can be very nasty to people riding older horse.
 
It’s all I can ever afford, and is less likely to be broken (physically or psychologically) before I even get on. Given the current prices, I will have to buy my next riding horse at weaning.

Some people want to do it because they think it shows they are a good rider, but most genuinely like young horses.
 
maya2008 said:
It’s all I can ever afford, and is less likely to be broken (physically or psychologically) before I even get on. Given the current prices, I will have to buy my next riding horse at weaning.

Some people want to do it because they think it shows they are a good rider, but most genuinely like young horses.
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my thoughts exactly! I love the challenge and a bit of feist lol
 
My last two have been youngsters. I got one at four, and the other as a BOGOF. I’d never have bought a foal, as I didn’t think I had the skills to do such a young horse justice. Turns out I was wrong. It’s been the most rewarding experience of my life, and I’d happily do it all over again. She’s been shaped into exactly the horse I wanted, and I couldn’t be more proud of how she’s turned out. Maybe this livery is hankering after the same kind of experience.
 
My daughter bought a yearling 5 years ago, we'd had older horses and the heartbreak of later years and I think she just wanted to have something with no physical issues or other hang ups to enjoy many happy years with, and perhaps something a bit more quality than she could have afforded if buying the finished article. That's what she got, it's been absolutely delightful watching him grow into a lovely handsome horse. She enjoyed the groundwork, backed him herself and rode him away at 4, sent him to a pro when he was 5, never put a hoof wrong. We all thought they'd have many years together, alas, it's looking unlikely as now, age 6 he has been diagnosed with trigeminal mediated headshaking, it's not allergies, it's not environmental, it's not photosensitivity, it's nerve pain, in his face and it's present pretty much all the time. He went from a horse happy in his work to unrideable in a scarily short space of time. So far, the treatments have made no difference, but perhaps they will... so nothing is guaranteed I guess, but I get why people are drawn to youngsters.
 
I just bought a 2 year old as I needed a companion for my horse who is 16 with several medical issues. He is rideable at the moment but I don't think we have many years left. I didn't want another ridden horse as I dont have time to ride 2 and I didn't want an older horse because I don't want to end up with two retired field ornaments if I can help it. I'm hoping my 2 year old will eventually take over from my older boy when he needs to slow down.

I'm really sorry to hear about your youngster @skint1
 
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