Youngster as a first Horse?

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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Has anyone ever bought a younger Horse as their first Horse? I went to view a 5YO the other day, as was on the yard next to mine so thought it wouldn't hurt to pop up and have a look. I rode her, walk trotted and cantered, Pony was responvie and lovely, despite having a few greeness issues, nothing nasty or naughty just can rush into canter occasionly. But she made me feel very safe :)

Heres the problem, I have delt with youngsters before my accident 2 years ago, Now I need a confidence giver, I walked down the lane with the Pony, across a very spooky bridge (my 15YO share Horse would not have done it) and Pony didn't batter an eyelid, had vans overtake, cars, bikes, kids kicking footballs against fences making a racket!, dogs rustling through the bushes and barking at her again didn't batter an eyelid!

Has anyone ever bought a confidence giving youngster before? or will it all turn bad?

I'm going to see Pony again and ride in the school again, if I like her I will hack her in company. I'm just not sure a youngster could be a confidence giver, Even though she made me feel very safe, I will be having lessons with her too If I did get her.
 
Its sounds like you have already made your mind up LB.
Some youngsters are quite level headed for their age I personally wouldnt be put off buying one she sounds pretty bombproof already.
Good luck I hope she is the pony of your dreams.
 
To be honest if your not confident I would say no, babies get their confidence from the rider, and i think with 99% of babies you need to have the balls to be able cling on and kick on if they decided to throw the toys out.

also one that hasnt done much or seen much of life, again your need the confidence to do its 1st everything, shows, fun rides, etc do you have the confidence to do thoose things knowing neddy may well find it all highley exciting?

prime example, my 5yr, was a gem most of the time she had been used for novices competed to county level hacked alone/incompany etc. stick the unconfident on her and she would bea gem but a few rides later she would start trying her luck. she was also prone to her bratt moments, the only way was to kick on and sit the leaping about.

sorry op id be thinking you needed something older that was an proven easy straight forward ride.
 
Don'y be put of and you will know if she is the one - which I think you do already. When I bought one of mine, I was actually going to look at one which was about 8 or 9 but as it was so far away I agreed to look at another at a dealers yard, the one I was interested there had been sold but they assured me that this other 4 year old was very similar. I am still very nervous and fractured my spine years ago so needed something safe.

Rode the 4 year old for 1 min and jumped off, swearing I'd never have another youngster again. They then offered me to have a look at another, he was the one that had been sold but actually it had fallen through, and was also 4, as soon as I met him in the stable I knew he was the one, i didn't even allow my friend to ride before me - normally I would get the people to show me then plonk friend on and only then if it was ok I would get on. Well I got on straight from the stable!! :)

Although he personally has had a lot of illness/injuries, he is the kindest animal I have ever met and also very loyal - he would never hurt me and always look after me. I still get the odd twinkle in his eye warning before he bounces about like Tigger but as soon as I say 'no' he is an angel again.

Good luck and lots of pics please!! What is her breeding and what has she done etc..
 
I just saw your post and it was relevant to what happened to me on Sunday. I rode two of my horses the first being my 21 year old who after behaving very well walking through stubble fields went a bit loopy when asked to trot (not even in direction of home) and leapt and plunged nearly the entire length of the field before I managed to stop her. It left me feeling a bit shakey as hasn't happened for years (she used to be a bit like that anyway). I then went and hacked out my rising 4 year old feeling a bit nervous but she behaved beautifully, no spooks nothing, she actually filled me with confidence. So I do think that youngsters can give you confidence as long as you go through every thing correctly with them. Plus you said you'll be having lessons which always helps!
 
I agree, with a youngster they seek confidence from you. Mine is rising 5 and brilliant 99% of the time but when he has issues when his inclination is to go the other way you have to be confident and help them understand that they aren't going to be attacked by gremlins!

If your not 100% sure then you've already made up your mind, I wish you luck in your hunt.
 
Some youngsters are naturally easy going, while some older horses will never be straightforward. Confidence is a funny thing, I've ridden horses that I click with and feel safe with even though they may have their moments, while other horses I never feel comfortable with, despite never actually doing anything much wrong.
Some horses are complete poppets on the ground but to ride, complete nightmares. I go with the horse that makes me feel I could cope with any little quirks because they look after their rider.

In answer to your question, yes, my first horse was a very green, 6 year old ex broodmare. We had some 'growing up' issues because of her inexperience but I always looked forward to riding her and lots of riding is what green horses need. She became my horse of a lifetime, wouldn't have missed out on that.

If you buy this horse, you'll have to educate and train,but equally, you won't be dealing so much with engrained problems caused by previous owners.
 
I think it totally depends on the horse - if it gives you confidence then that confidence transfers to the horse (if you catch my drift?). Some horse you naturally click with and many youngsters are very laid back - they don't have enough life experience to be scared or silly of things and if they are quite confident individuals then there's no reason why they would be any worse than say a 8 or 10 year old that has picked up bad habits from previous riders.

I got my horse when I was about 16 and he was a gangly 4 yo. He wasn't my first ever equine as I had had ponies since I was 10 but he was my first leap into horses and indeed the youngest one we'd ever had. The moment I rode him i felt safe and confident to be honest and i had tried others during our search who i just hadn't felt the same about. So, we bought him - I think I hacked him out on my own as well within the first week (I didn't see any reason why not to) and I also recall sending my mother out on him on her own on a hack too and just had no concerns at all and she's not maybe the best, most confident or balanced rider.

My horse is 20 now and I think he is worth his weight in gold and since having him I much prefer buying younger horse - if the ground work has been done well and they like people I find they are like a blank canvas and you can mould them to suit you.

You may experience the 'rebellious' stage at say aged 5 or 6 with some youngsters but if you know them well enough by that stage then it's a lot easier to deal with. Mine had no issues really - the odd 'argument' and he took some persuading to venture in to water on XC courses but that was about it.

If you feel you gel with this horse then I would say go for it!
 
Hi I have had a lot of youngsters and the first they will pick up on is a riders confidence in them you don't need to be the best rider in the world to have youngster especially if they are genuine but all youngsters will try it on at times and you need to have the trust in them to give them a kick forward and tell them to get on with it. It all depends on the individual horse don't shy away from a youngster just make sure that you trust him/her.
 
My lad was supposed to be 5 when I bought him..made me think before going to see him as he was my first bought and paid for horse. Turned out when he got home and my vet and dentist saw him he was barely 3!!! So any fears of a 'young' 5 year old were totally forgot and I just accepted I had a baby horse and handled him accordingly. He was given a year off and I had him rebacked when I felt he was physically able to cope. 7 years on and I have the perfect horse (for me) and am actually glad he was only 3 because it means I have more time ahead with him. :D

Now I wouldn't even consider buying another horse that was over 5 to be honest!
 
She sounds lovely.If you feel confident and want her then get her. You will learn to trust eachother.My horse was 3 and unbroken when I bought him and wasnt broken until he was 7 and hes now 9,still green and yes I am also a nervous rider but he is as good as gold.
Go ride her again and see how you feel after it.I think you have made up your mind shes the one for you!
 
I think its all a game of chance, and with youngsters you are likely to get more baby issues which might knock your confidence. It also depends on type, I would never buy a young blood horse again, because you increase the odds of it being a bit more "active" than you feel comfortable with. However a young cob would have a greater chance of being level headed.

Before anyone jumps on this, i know not all thoroughbreds are nutters, or cobs are saints. As I say, its all a game of balancing the odds in your favour.

I bought a 5 year old 17h Hw as my first. Newly backed, but he gave me all the confidence I needed to get through the tantrums.
 
Thanks for the replys

I did feel safe with her, the moment I got on I knew she would look after me. The week before I tried a 9YO but didn't feel safe with him at all, Wouldn't canter him and I was terrified to even trot. But got on the 5 YO and felt fine going into trot and felt safe enough to canter too.

My share Horse isn't really what you would call a confidence giver, She is very spooky, forward and bucks too but she gives me confidence so I can easily push her on when shes having one of her moments. Which I think I will be able to do with the Pony too. She has been to 2 shows with a nervous 12YO and jumped clear both times without getting silly.

I'm confident on the ground so would be doing lots of groundwork with her to get a good bond and de-spook, it's just riding I lack confidence sometimes, especially in open areas! but as I mentioned I would deffiently have lessons.

I just wasn't sure if I would be out of my depth a little, I used to ride alot of youngsters before the accident when I had the confidence to do anything. My experienced friend (owner of my share Horse) will also occasionly ride Pony too.
 
Lochpearl, I know exactly what you mean, my experienced friend was going to ride first, but I couldn't wait to get on so I went first.

Shes Appalosax Connie I think, her passport says cob but she doesn't look like she has any cob in her at all! She got given to her current owner as she was just in a field not doing anything, so current owner has been bringing her on.

She does a bit off everything, although doesn't have much expeirence in hacking in company. But will happily hack alone.
 
I bought a 4 year old as my first horse after swearing I wanted something with a bit more experience after having a literally rough ride with a loan 4yo. I bought him as he was the first horse I was comfortable riding and handling and it felt 'normal'. He's a changed boy and has a bit more energy and he has knocked my confidence a couple of times, but I get back on and keep going unlike the last youngster!

I'd say it was very dependant on their character and experience plus how you handle setbacks! It is true that you don't usually encounter any inherited problems and they are more of a blank canvas :) Good luck on your second ride, it'll help you decide.
 
Hi

I bought my first horse as a 4yo (coming up 8 now).

Really wasn't looking to buy one so young after 6 or so years off having children.....

I just wanted a happy hacker, with no pressure to compete at any particular level. Most importantly wanted something sane as have ridden a lot of `interesting' horses in my time ;)

I made clear to the lady who sold him to me that I wanted a sane happy hacker - she described him perfectly, saying he had `an old head on young shoulders', which indeed he does!

He never pulls, bucks, rears or bolts. I am happy to put novice riders on him. Some greenness out in traffic, but I love the fact that I have brought him on slowly, my way.

If you think this is the horse for you, go for it, and don't let the age put you off ;-)

Wish us luck - we're competing in our first hunter trials this weekend, yay:D
 
Hovis was 4 when i bought him.
On paper it was the biggest mistake of my life - a very green 4 year old + a nervous, novice rider should have = disaster. At least if you asked everyone around me.
4 years on (this coming November) and hes my baby boy.
He is a big strong opinionated beast but hes not got a bad bone in his body, has never hurt me and gives me more confidence than i thought possible.
We've had some major ups and downs but i've never regretted it once.
I tried so many older horses with so many issues that i was glad i bought a "clean slate" - every fault he's got is due to something i've done (or not done) and i love that!
 
I have replied to your PM but am also happy to say here that I would not touch with someone else's barge pole knowing where she came from in the first place if it is who i think it is.
 
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