Worth the wait?

[Nakita]

As said in my previous post I'm going to view a foal at the weekend; she will be one on June the 25th so is just a baby! If I liked her and decided to buy her there is a possbility I may have to sell my current 14yr old mare. She isn't a one person horse - as long as you feed her she couldn't care less so I would ensure I found her a lovely home where someone could plod around on her and fuss her.
I'm not sure if it would be a decision I'd regret though ...
If I sold my mare I would obviously have to wait about 3 years before I could start to back the filly, in the mean time I could go for lessons, ride friends horses etc. In my head it seems like a great idea and worth the wait to get that bond and trust I just don't have with my current mare. Was wondering if anyone else has had any similar experiences?

 

[Kub]

Not sure if this is helpful or not but...

I bought my boy in May last year. He's my first horse and he was 18 months. Admittedly, I did a bit more following my heart rather than my head with him, but I think it's turning out well. Now, becuase he's still very young and a very late foal, I won't be backing him until next summer, and I am quite jealous of reading the things people get up to on here with their little beasties as I can't do that yet, but on the flip side, it's given me time to work on my riding (make sure I'm good enough to be riding a horse that's learning) and really get a good ground work base and relationship.

Luckily, there is a horse at my yard that I can ride, which is great, but I'm still longing for that time when I can ride my own boy. I sometimes think longing about going out and doing this and that, and do have to remind myself that he's still a baby and my other yardies horses are older and more experienced, but I have got big plans for my boy and I'm just so looking forward to experiencing so much with him.

If you're happy taking a break as such from the riding side of things (I find I can't ride as much as I like as I still have Harry to do things with) then go for it. I know I'm really quite happy that I'm taking it slowly with my boy, and the fact is, we've bot got years ahead of us to do everything, so waiting a little longer whilst he matures really isn't much to ask

 

[Rosie2407]

Hi!

I bought my horse when she was just a few months old. I had her mum on loan for about 6 years and the owner decided to take one last foal from her before she retired so when the time came I decided it was a good opportunity and I bought the foal.

I've got to say - I really didn't miss the riding one bit. I was far too busy up to my elbows in all the other stuff you have to do with a foal to even worry about that!
It has been both one of the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done in my life and worth every single bit of blood, sweat and tears that I put into it. It makes me so proud to see her doing her stuff now (she's 9) and know that I did all that by myself. TBH she's naturally really super good natured so she made it fairly easy for me.

I did have many days where I came home thinking 'what on earth have I got myself into here' but the good days and the bond we have now far outweigh those days.

If anything (gob forbid!) ever happened to Rosie I would not go out and buy another 9 year old, I would without a doubt start with a foal again every time.

I might be biased, but I'd say go for it!!

xxx