Would this be absolutely mental if me?

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poiuytrewq

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As some may know I've had a disasterous few years horse wise and it never seems to get any better!
I lost my first horse 10 years ago after 20 completely vet and hassle free years! I'm paying the price for that ��
So currently have retired horse. Ridden horse (currently injured!) he's 17 and on loan with the safety net of his owners wanting him back to retire one day.
Daughters little horse, also 17 now. She's less interested so I'm really doing most of the work with him and two little ponies who act as companions when the above are separated for various reasons (such as retired lives out all winter, ridden ones don't.)
I've met and fallen for a yearling colt who I could possibly have. I've never really wanted a youngster because of the unknown factor but this chap has the most beautiful personality.
I'd say groundwork is something I'm good at, love long reining. Currently live on a working farm with lots of long circular long reining routes and a small woodchip turnout/could be school area.
I'm thinking by the time he needs regular work the other two will be 20 and both would make a good nanny on the roads etc. I figure finding someone to ride one should be fairly easy to nanny me out quietly. The loan one might even have gone home by then?
I've just taken on a very small extra job (cleaning) to help pay a vet bill so that would cover monthly insurance and foot trimming etc.
I think retired horse would make a great turnout nanny, he's playful but kind although he will tell something off if he gets annoyed.
Daughter will be going to uni next year making me a bit redundant so will have a bit more free time (might need something to occupy my brain aswell!)
So I've never wanted a baby, said I'm never having another horse, said I've got too many, said I can't cope with so many (but always do!).....
am I being completely mental? This is only a possibility, he might be looking for a home but if the owners can work out financial issues maybe not. I just want to make a decision in my head so I can say ask me first!
The more I think about it the more it all slots into place.
And damn he's cute! He's also nicely handled, confident and friendly.
 
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I don't think it's mental, I agree with claracanter - go for it :biggrin3:

You're not getting him because he's cheap. You like groundwork and you like his personality so you'll probably enjoy bringing him up.

It doesn't have to be a lifetime commitment either. If you change your mind later on, there's no shame in bringing up a youngster to be a safe, sane and well rounded individual with good manners and then selling it on. You wouldn't be letting him down if you did that, you'd be giving him the good start that so many don't get.

It's a real bonus to have your own nanny horse when the time comes. Not be reliant on other people having a good nanny horse, but also being happy to ride with you quietly and be the sort of person who doens't keep cancelling plans last minute too. It can be quite hard to find all that in one horse/rider combination.
 
Ask current owners to let you know anyway!

Your life will be your own and it's entirely up to you what you do with it. Presumably you'll also have more money day to day once daughter isn't there?

I always think it's better to regret something you did than regret something you didn't do.
 
Haven fallen in love with a foal who I then purchased as a yearling I can see where you are coming from

My only worry would be that if you have taken on a second job to pay an outstanding vets bill could you be taking on more than you could handle given the fact that another horse increases the chance of another vets bill
 
meleeka said:
Ask current owners to let you know anyway!

Your life will be your own and it's entirely up to you what you do with it. Presumably you'll also have more money day to day once daughter isn't there?

I always think it's better to regret something you did than regret something you didn't do.
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I doubt it given daughter will be at uni! The bank of mum and dad will be in full flow!

poiuytrewq - My only concern is whether he'd need more company his own age but if you think your retired horse (and presumably the ponies?) will be ok with him, your plan seems very well thought out. As S&S says it needn't be for life if, when it comes to riding, you feel you're not the best placed person for him (for no other reason than you're used to older horses) but your set up sounds good for training him.
 
I don't know much about it but I think it's strongly recommended on here that babies are turned out with babies, only skim read post by not sure two older geldings would be suitable companionship for a colt?
 
Michen said:
I don't know much about it but I think it's strongly recommended on here that babies are turned out with babies, only skim read post by not sure two older geldings would be suitable companionship for a colt?
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Not necessarily - it's nice for them to have other youngsters to play with, but an older horse who can teach them their horse manners (for want of a better way of putting it!) is probably more important in my opinion. Providing they have the company of another horse, youngsters are quite capable of making their own fun...
 
meleeka said:
Ask current owners to let you know anyway!

Your life will be your own and it's entirely up to you what you do with it. Presumably you'll also have more money day to day once daughter isn't there?

I always think it's better to regret something you did than regret something you didn't do.
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This ^^^ every day of the week

Sit down work out your finances and if that is what you would like to do go for it and enjoy yourself
 
I think it is mental. I understand the attraction, but its a crazy thing to do. Remember how stressed you were about money and the vet bill etc? I think you should use any spare you have to build up a buffer so that if it happens again you can cope.

Its all well and good saying its just trims and insurance, but it never is just that. I think you will be sailing too close to the wind.

And a yearling colt/gelding with 2 older horses probably isnt going to be a good mix. Having ran on a few babies colts and geldings play a lot! I'm not sure I'd want to inflict that on a middleaged horse.

When yours are read to retire, thats the time to look around for your next one. You will save yourself thousands buying a jut backed 4yr old compared to the cost of raising, and backing your own
 
Yes it is mental. You've posted many times about how everything is a struggle. Just think back to the winter and add another hard work one into the mix. You e said yourself your set up is a nightmare in the winter. From everything you've said, you need LESS not more on your plate.

Sorry I'm usually an enabler but I think you would be adding more stress and worry onto quite a big amount already. You don't seem to be great at parting with anything ;)
 
Very valid points against. Totally accept both.
I was incredibly stressed out over winter but I think it was more because I expected my daughter to be pulling her weight and doing it all alongside me. Now I've accepted the fact she's not and that's that it's actually better, I now just do it and spend my time with them. Hers is ridden most days by me and I'm even enjoying him! Yes he's a bit too strong and a bit too bouncy at times but it's quite good fun now I've got the knack of stopping him!
Money wise- the vets bill screwed me. However the horses are insured and I have cash in place easily for the excess. The problem was I hadn't realised due to age the horse was no longer covered for illness and they certainly hadn't made me aware.
This was totally my own fault and big lessons have been learnt! (Read and re read insurance small print!) they have decent policies now in place.

Company wise, I did wonder that. As I say ours are playful out in the field but they are all getting on.
He won't have any youngster friends where he is currently either though.
 
Yes it is mental, of course it is. But nice young horses can always be sold. And I find the best things in my life have always been the result of silly, childish, impractical decisions, so I'm biased and probably shouldn't advise :p
 
I wouldn't do it, if I were in your shoes. Having said that, I am happy to accept that I am 26 rising 60 and absolutely refused to buy myself another horse when mine retired young and unexpectedly until I had a better job that could easily pay for keep and vets bills etc even if something went wrong. It took two years but I think the stress of just barely being able to afford them would be too much for me.

Also think that seeing as you don't have a lack of horses to ride and work with, you would probably be better saving for now and waiting until the other ones are retired/go back and buying something that is 3 or 4 then.
 
All very sensible, and right.
I refused to give him attention this morning, I mucked him out and did the basics and no more.... he's too inquisitive though!
One thing I absolutely wouldn't be interested in is a 3/4 yr old I'd want to do the baby handling and all the ground work myself.

On the plus, the insurance company are going to review the whole claim. Fingers x'd
I've actually paid a big chunk it would be amazing to get some back!
 
Probably completely bonkers but I would do it in a heart beat I love bringing up babies have had all mine from foals and would have another in a heartbeat and I am over 60. Not sure about finanacing things but if that is in place then why not. You can always sell him later if he doesnt do what you need him to and he will be a well rounded individual for someone to take on. Youngster are very little work apart form the usual mucking out and minimal handling they are best kept out with lots of short handling sessions. They do find things to get into mischief with but largely speaking I have rarely had a vet bill from a baby bar vaccinations. Only nightmare I have ever had has been houdini tendencies from one but that was fixed with miles of mains electric fencing
 
SpottyMare said:
Not necessarily - it's nice for them to have other youngsters to play with, but an older horse who can teach them their horse manners (for want of a better way of putting it!) is probably more important in my opinion. Providing they have the company of another horse, youngsters are quite capable of making their own fun...
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I agree with this, my yearling has been turned out with a pony his age and is much happier now out with an older pony.
 
If you are riding your daughters horse, could you not return the one on loan? You would have less pressure with exercising them with only one to do and have more time when the young one needs bringing on?
 
its a no brainer you have fabulous facilities and like the yearling. Go for it you'll have a great time teaching him everything and he'll be a friend for life.
 
Hannahgb said:
If you are riding your daughters horse, could you not return the one on loan? You would have less pressure with exercising them with only one to do and have more time when the young one needs bringing on?
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The one on loan is a horse i have waited 8 years to have! I know that sounds extreme but a friend got him back then and we were at the same yard. I rode him for her when she went away for a week and loved him. We always joked about him coming to live with me and when she offered him to me last winter i was thrilled. He's a not a horse i will ever have again and really want to make the most of being lucky enough to have him for a few years.
 
Downton Dame said:
its a no brainer you have fabulous facilities and like the yearling. Go for it you'll have a great time teaching him everything and he'll be a friend for life.
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Ha, I've never thought of here as fabulous before! Grazing is a pita but thats because its split up and not big enough to put them all together. The little school area is small but safe and well enclosed to do bits (its actually for laminitic ponies!) too small to ride in but definitely usable. The hacking round here and private riding makes it brilliant.

He was gelded today. Nothing more has been mentioned since. This is a trainer saying i can have it if the owner doesn't pay some of his debt off quickly. I'm certainly not going to push it just now. The against points above are very valid!
He will be turned out at the current yard for a while- probably a year and start work at 2 :( However the possibility will always be there as even if he stays there for now who knows in a years time or 6 months time.
 
As things stand of course probably the ideal scenario will be he stays at his current yard- My work, gets turned away but i keep doing field visits, picking out feet and catching him etc but without the commitment or cost- with a view to maybe having him in the future.
 
I wouldn't taken on a youngster to be turned out with only older horses (we have had two, both ended up being sold on to more suitable homes with other youngstock), so this combined with your already on occasion too much on, yes it sounds mental. It's not a great market out there should you wish to sell on either.
 
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