Would you buy a young horse if you were a novice or nervous rider?

I would class myself as quite experienced. I have ridden for over 20 years and owned for about 18 of those. I have ridden all sorts from just backed to advanced dressage horses. However about 5 years ago I had a riding accident that knocked my confidence and only recently have I begun to get more confident. 18 months ago I bought a 2 year old warmoblood. I backed her myself under the guidance of an instructor and some very experienced friends.
Basically what I am trying to say is that young horses and novices probably don't go but young horses and experienecd nervous riders under the right instruction can work as it can be a real confidence boost although I think the answer is if you are nervous to know when its beyond you and you need to call upon someone else to help you out......
 
I am not a novice rider but am nervous and last year I bought a 5 year who had been backed for about a year. He is a delight and has been a doddle to ride compared to the older horses I have ridden previously mainly I think because he has not had the chance to learn bad habits

He is a 14H NF and I am an adult so I think that does help he is small and whilst I am small too I am not overhorsed in size. I nervous I don't push myself too far until I am ready and I don't have huge ambitions so no rush. Pony is very understanding and brave and I get more confidence from him every day, he has done the occasional buck but as he is small I don't feel scared. He hacks out alone and in company and is fantastic in traffic. He is a very confident pony and looks after me and has done from the start. We are now working on jumping and did our first filler a wall and he jumped it first time.

I think if you find the right horse then yes a nervous rider can have a youngster - but I would not recommend a youngster for a novice rider as they may not be able to teach the youngster for example how to jump or go in an outline or work in a balanced way, additionally if you yourself are learning then it is easier to do so on a well schooled horse, for example I would not want to learn how to jump on a horse that had never really jumped before. A lot of patience is required with a youngster as well so if child has ambitions to compete or do alot of PC it might be easier with a horse that can show him the ropes.
 
No matter how bombproof the horse is, it is still a young horse, and will question you, and once it know it can do it once it will do it again.
For a nervous or novice rider i would never by a young or inexperience horse. Leave it for the people that know what they are doing.
 
On the whole, I don't think a novice rider with a young horse is ideal. A young horse needs experience and competence to educate it and give it confidence.
Even if the horse is quiet and bombproof it still needs education.
I suppose you could say that if the person and horse had a lot of instruction to educate horse and rider this might work. But this would require a lot of input.
A nervous rider might be OK with a quiet unflappable horse as long as the rider has experience.
 
When you say novice I presume someone that can ride and used to handleing horses in general...depends on how novice but if they have the support of experianced friends who can they can count on for help,support at a drop of hat and with a good RI and the person is willing to learn, put a lot of hard work in...blood, sweat and tears then yes.

Otherwise..a big fat no
grin.gif
 
I have had my present pony for 7 years. She was 1 when I got her. I was a novice rider, but not nervous, until my old horse (a rescue) going nicely for two years, took a bad turn and nearly broke my back. If it wasn't for my pony I would not be riding now. I backed her and we are now getting placed in dressage every time we are out. Needless to say I did have a very good instructor, and she has turned out to be a true friend as well, and I doubt we would be such a good combination without her advice and patience. My pony has taught me a lot about myself, and we both have a lot of fun together. So if you are looking for a horse to journey with and you have good reliable experienced help...go for it, and the younger the better, the rewards are so much more than just rosettes!
grin.gif
PS...pick a breed that is known for being more sensible. BTW I consider myself a novice rider even though I have been riding for 30 years, across the world, from SJ's to reace horses (although I didn't know it at the time) and played polo for a season, and continued to help on the yard for another 8 years.
 
I'm not a novice rider but I am nervous, tho my nerves are down to a right nasty slamming accident, and although I didn't buy my youngster I did take her knowing full well she needs re-backing and riding on, and we'll do it, I've of course also got my gorgeous cob who happily goes at the pace I want (which admittedly at the mo is snail but hey ho! LOL).

would I recommend it for nervous types...nope - I do the sign of the cross before leaning over her (LOL), but then again I don't want her stood in a field looking extremely pretty - which yes SHE manages really well but she wasn't bred for that so she isn't going to be doing that LOL, IMO they need a job to keep active minds going (spesh these welshies lol) and grow bored and problematic when they don't get ridden, many put it down to them being immature but I've found it's the opposite, it's that active brain not having something to focus on....and if a novice rider can give them something to focus on then it's fully possible they can get a great partnership going yes
laugh.gif
 
how young is young? my neddy is 7 and I have recently found out he was only backed at 5 so is a bit babyish. I have been riding since I was 13 (am 34 now) and can be a bit nervous - had a nutty TB for two years that taught me a lot but also dented my confidence a lot.

I am just taking things slowly and try to take control of situations cos I know that my horse needs me to be the leader. He is anxious but he does listen and wants to learn so I have my finger crossed for many happy years together. I am also lucky to have my instructor on my yard who helps me out whenever I need it.
 
I think it totally depends on the horse and the support network.

I'm a relative novice (but not at all nervous), and bought a just-turned-4 TB ex-racer (recipe for disaster surely?) but I knew the moment I got on him he was "the one". I hadn't enjoyed riding any horse in years as much as I did him. And a year later we're doing really well. OK, I have my novicey moments (like if something isn't working, I don't have very much different experiences to draw on to try a different solution). But Ronnie is just brilliant so I've been very lucky.

He's had his teenage tantrums earlier this year but has only frightened me twice, and only put me in A&E once - touch wood.

I'm at a great yard with loads of people to help me and support me, had weekly/fortnightly lessons until injury problems this year have stopped that largely.

I don't think it's good for one's mental state though. I'm utterly paranoid about ruining him. Totally and utterly paranoid.
 
Half pass that was exactly what I was trying to say about nervous riders, they can be excellent riders as long as they are not overfaced and know their limits. They aren't necessarily a bag of nerves all the time.

OH can give confidence and lead by example on a horse that is within his comfort zone, but he would refuse to sit on something that would make him too nervous. TBH this probably makes him a much more effective rider overall than some of the crash test dummy types who jump on anything just to give it a go whether they can do it justice or not.

Reading the OP again 12 is very young to be taking on a 5yo ISH, it isn't just the age but the size and type too. I think people often move kids up to horses too early and over horse them and it can really take away the fun for them. Boys especially need to be able to have some fun and tear about if they feel like it. If he's big for his age why not get him a larger native or a cob that takes up his leg and can carry his weight but that he can have some fun with and learn some lessons from before putting him on a real adults horse.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top