Would you buy a rising 4yo for a child? RANT sorry

H

HorseMad20

Active Member
Joined
8 December 2010
Messages
34
Visit site
Well i wouldnt...


At my yard there is a mother and daughter who haven't had the best track record when it comes to picking horses...

at first they got the daughter a 4yo pony who turned out to be too green, then a little devil of a welsh A who was also a nightmare and child lost her confidence.

Then the mother bought and ex racer who was a nightmare in all respects (was obviously sedated on viewing as apparently was perfect on viewing) sold him on again(god knows how) and bought a 3yo who is actually really sweet and lovely.

Then the daughter got another SecA a 10yo this time (i was thinking oh good something sensible) well apparently not the little girl fell of it so many times its unreal it wouldnt jump wouldnt really do anything. Girl lost her confidence even more.

And now they gone a bought her (a 10yo girl who isnt the tallest) a rising 4yo welsh D who she cant even lead to the field (not seen her ride it yet)

Is it just me who thinks this is a recipe for disaster??? (the mum isnt particularly knowledgeable) for me its upsetting to watch because the child is getting less and less confident and is getting her heart broken when she has to sell each pony its a wonder she hasnt given up yet.


Gah rant over! sorry guys :D
 
Of course I would.....especially if I wasn't particularly fond of my child! :p


Some people never learn really, sounds like they are hell bent on having a serious accident.
 
I wouldn't generally advise it, but one of the most sensible ponies I have ever known was a 4yo. He was an absolute saint to handle/ride, perfect to learn on.

On the other hand I have known some terrible "of age" ponies, real nightmares that even experienced adults would think twice about riding, still sold to children though, horsey people are terrible sometimes :(
 
Im in the camp where a good horse is a good horse no matter what age (within reason) so not neccesarily a bad thing.

But this team sound like right numptys, with the blind leading the blind.
 
Well he has only been at the yard a few weeks but he doesnt seem right for a child who is scared of leading him to the field.....might just be me..

Oh well not going to get involved, i did offer my help ( i know of lot of people with good PC ponys who need good homes for them) but it was declined.

like you said booboos some people dont learn
 
Yes I would.

Have done in the past, do now, and will do so in the future.

NOT a D though, but if we are talking small ponies here, shetlands, welshies, even the bog standard coloured ones that make 13-14h then sure (no offence to coloured pony owners, but there are thousands of quiet, nice ordinary ones out there that make cracking everyday ponies)
 
My friend hasn't long done this... A 16hh just turned 4yr old well bred sports horse for her 11yr old daughter! It is costing them a fortune in lessons.
 
Booboos said:
Of course I would.....especially if I wasn't particularly fond of my child! :p


Some people never learn really, sounds like they are hell bent on having a serious accident.
Click to expand...

Hahaha!

I think it depends on both the child and the pony. My 3yo son rides a 5yo Shettie that is like an angel so I think each pony/child combination should be considered individually.

Sound like this parent is a numpty though and if I were the YO I would have major concerns about them. I would not like the thought of a child being out-horsed and being put in harms way on my property. Accident waiting to happen.

But lets give them time. Maybe they will prove us wrong. Does the young girl have lessons?
 
We did, luckily it worked out fantastically well. Our daughter was 10, the pony a newly broken just turned 4, rather quirky. But they were made for eachother, in the 4 yrs we had her she was placed in nearly every comp she did, represented Cornwall at BSJA and was winning at Fox when we sold her. (Shes the blue roan in my sig). Mind you we also had a young welsh D who was an utter pig, so there is no way i would buy a young D for a child.(But thats just my opinion)
 
jrp204 said:
We did, luckily it worked out fantastically well. Our daughter was 10, the pony a newly broken just turned 4, rather quirky. But they were made for eachother, in the 4 yrs we had her she was placed in nearly every comp she did, represented Cornwall at BSJA and was winning at Fox when we sold her. (Shes the blue roan in my sig).
Click to expand...

That is a lovely Blue Roan, I think I saw her as a youngster if it's the same one. Well bred I think?
 
I don't think it's such a bad thing, but possibly not in this situation! At the age of 11 I was bought a 6 yr old who was very uneducated. He'd been passed from pillar to post as many people were scared of him and was going to the meat man if he wasn't sold within a week. I was a fairly nervous rider at the time, but I had loads of lessons on him and he was the best pony I've ever had. Even if he ran off with me on the first day! I think it's all down to circumstances. There's not many kids I'd suggest have a green pony, but some do okay. With the right support, anythings possible :)
Let's hope nothing awful comes of this situation though. Perhaps they'll learn their lesson soon and not get anything unsuitable. Or perhaps they'll get a good trainer and learn how to handle this one :)
 
Personaly no but my wee sister was only 11 when we bought our 4yr ex racer. It was all we could afford at the time and she fell off lots!! I used to work at a RS and there was this wee kid, must have been about 10. He could ride well so his mum thought he needed a pony which would "teach" him more. She asked YO if her son could ride this little 12.2 (crazy pony) he said yes and then rang me to lunge the pony. I went out to lunge it, mum and son came and watched whilst the little bugger took off and dragged me up the arena hanging onto the end of the lunge line :eek: Bull of a pony!! I said to the women that she was crazy to put her son on this pony as it would through him off and might scare him. She said oh sure he can try :eek: So little midget boy got on, pony bolted round and round and round the arena .... 5 mins later pony still going. So pony eventually stops with boy saying can i get off please, I went to take hold of the reins so boy could get off and it took off again :rolleyes: It was a very nervous little chap so after a few attempts I finally got pony and boy who somehow managed to stay on clampered off scared out of his wits!! The mother said oh sure we can try him tomorrow again :eek: Well the mother got on the next day and the pony reared and bucked her off, needless to say that tought her a lesson or two as she hasnt asked for her son to ride said mad pony since lol I felt like saying "I told ya so" hehe
 
Last edited:
I think it depends vastly on the pony. My daughter's first pony was a rising 4yr old sec A and he has been the best pony imaginable and has given her loads of confidence and fun over the years. He has been on loan to another family for 2 years now teaching their young children the ropes.
 
Definitely depends on the pony, but as somebody else said, I'd be a lot less inclined to risk it with a Sec D - they take so long to mature anyway. Plus I can't do a thing with the only one I ever come into contact with, and I'm supposed to know what I'm doing :D

Recently aquired a 4 year old who'd previously been sold as quiet, suitable hack for a older lady. For 4 (coming up 5) he IS very chilled and quiet to ride, very trainable and willing, very green but you can see why the seller had felt it was a quiet suitable type. On the ground though he's such an untrained bolshy baby he'd flatten an inexperienced person before they had the chance to get on and have the quiet ride!
 
Depends on the child not the pony. Obviously these people arent experienced enough so no but I would have done for my friend's girls who could ride anything.
 
It would depend on both pony and jockey, and the amount of help they had available to them.

Sounds like she has just over horsed said child buying it a Sec D- not really the ponies fault.
 
lexiedhb said:
It would depend on both pony and jockey, and the amount of help they had available to them.

Sounds like she has just over horsed said child buying it a Sec D- not really the ponies fault.
Click to expand...

I know im not blaming the pony he is very sweet really just in need of a few manners and schooling.

Its the mother, and the people who sold him to them....you dont sell a baby Sec D to a child and fairly unhorsey mother.
Poor child seems scared to death though and has been through a lot. Little trouper though gets back on every time and hasnt given up

all im saying is they are lucky that the YM is VERY helpful with everyone
 
Waterborn said:
That is a lovely Blue Roan, I think I saw her as a youngster if it's the same one. Well bred I think?
Click to expand...

She is Trevoulter Silver Arrow, out of Gorsfraith Brenin out of a PBQH, the black in my sig is her full brother Trevoulter Silver Replica. We sold the roan 2 yrs ago and now the black is up for sale. May have to go back to the stud for another!
 
Depends on who is buying I suppose.

Personally I wouldnt but thats because I wouldnt know what I was doing with a youngster.

Also depends on horse, in our family we had a youngster who was a dope on a rope all through being backed etc we sat my 2 year old on her during her backing.Bought alongside a colt and was a pain to back and was a pain always! Two different pony personalities.

But other family members knew what they were doing and dedicated an awful lot of time educating and working with these ponies.

I wouldnt have a clue! I wouldnt have a youngster for myself as I just know how much time was spent daily on these youngsters getting it right and giving them a good start.
 
I HAVE
I bought a unbroken 4 yr old for my sons first pony, had a fab temp so I broke him myself and 9 yrs later iv still got him. Best pony I ever bought.
Half the time it's NOT the ponies but the owners who make them what they are.
 
I haven't read any of the replies but surely it depends on the individual horse and experience of the people who own the horse?

I bought my children a rising 4 year old when they we're 4 and 6. I broke it in myself and it was the safest, kindest pony ever. They learnt so much on her. It was the best thing we ever did.
 
I sold my 4 yo sec A gelding to a family with a young child. I broke him, got him used to traffic etc, and a very small amount of jumping. The child has brought him on all herself and now has won many jumping championships through her hard work!! He was an absolute poppet of a pony so I guess it really depends on the pony and the knowledge of the buyer.
 
Yes - all the ponies I have bought for my kids have been unbroken 2 or 3 year olds. Mainly because I am too cheap to pay $$$$$ for horses and I have enough horse knowledge to back them with my kids. The best ones we have had are shetlands and New forest types. We had one section A but found him too gassy for the the children to ride.
It sounds like the people you know need some help choosing then managing/riding said pony. Point them in the direction of a decent pony club instructor.
 
Depends entirely on the child and the pony. My first 'horse' was a rising 3yo 14.3 welsh D. I was 11 when my parents bought him. I still have him (he's now 20) and he has been the most wonderful partner over the years. Bit highly strung but not a bad bone in his body. BUT when i got him i already had some experience of youngsters and was coming off my massivly outgrown monster of a welsh b ;)

The partnership you describe does not sound like a good one though. A handler/rider with no confidence is a recipe for disaster with a youngster, regardless of whether its a child or an adult.
 
Why not - so long as you are experienced enough. I bought a 2yo welsh a for a 4yo - he is now 3 and she is now 5. He has never put a hoof wrong with her on his back and they continue to go from strength to strength.

I backed him as an old 2 yo and we have taken it very gently and slowly - my daughter sits on him nearly every evening whether it be in the stable for 5 mins as I tell her to wriggle like a worm as much as she can during the winter months and once the evenings were lighter he rides him either round the paddock (1/4 acre) a couple of times or in the school for 10 mins nearly every night. Always on the leadrein obviously but little and often is the best way.

However, there is a 13.2 20yo in the field that even I would not ride as it is a complete lunatic!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top