Youngster vs ridden horse?

[Sara1210]

Hi everyone,

I’m new here and looking to learn lots.

I have started riding lessons and am now doing my research in to getting my first horse. I am no where near ready to take that step just yet, but I am trying to find out as much as possible.

So for a first horse is it possible with time and care to train them to become the perfect riding partner or am I better off to get a horse that’s already trained and ready to ride?

Some people say you cannot beat that bond from a horse you train from a youngster but I’m worried my lack of knowledge and experience I may do something wrong and ruin its training.

Also I live in Thetford, Norfolk. Can anyone recommend grazing land or liveries?

 

[AmyMay]

For your first horse I would strongly advice a ‘been there and done it all’ type.

 

[milliepops]

For your first horse I would strongly advice a ‘been there and done it all’ type.

^^ this.

 

[splashgirl45]

it would be a big mistake to get a youngster as your first horse. you need something that is experienced and can show you the ropes...a first horse is a huge commitment and many people feel overwhelmed by the responsibility, why not try and find a share horse so you have to do the jobs and look after the horse on certain days, that will ease you in gently so you can get an idea of how much there is to do. good luck, if you get a horse wave goodbye to any extra money you think you may have, it will all go on the horse!!!!!

 

[JFTDWS]

but I’m worried my lack of knowledge and experience I may do something wrong and ruin its training.

You will. With almost 100% certainty. Even experienced and talented horse people screw up youngsters sometimes. It would be utter lunacy to take on an unbroken horse as your first. Find something established and kind, and appreciate your opportunity really learn from that horse and enjoy your ownership experience.

 

[Sara1210]

How would you find a share horse?

If I was to get one of my own or even if I shared. Is there a specific breed that’s is calmer and less likely to be flighty or is all that down to training?

 

[JFTDWS]

Facebook local horse groups or preloved are good for shares. Just be open and honest with any owner with your level of experience - they'll likely tell you if their horse is going to be suitable for a first timer. There's no breed which will necessarily be best - there are stereotypes which exist for a reason, but you have to take each horse an individual.

 

[Sara1210]

What about age? Do I need to aim for something of a certain age? What age would it no longer be classed as a youngster?

 

[Sara1210]

Is it true that cobs are more plodders? I won’t be looking for something for hunting or jumping. Just something I can take for a hack through the woods.

 

[splashgirl45]

no not all cobs are plodders, it is the same with every breed there are naturally quiet ones and nutty ones...for a first horse i would think something of 12 or over would be best. dont discount an older horse if you feel safe both on the ground and on top, my friend bought a 16 year old for her first horse and she rode her till she was 27, this horse gave her so much confidence she was ready for a livelier one as her next horse..

 

[windand rain]

Is it true that cobs are more plodders? I won’t be looking for something for hunting or jumping. Just something I can take for a hack through the woods.

No cobs like any other sort come in all shapes and sizes with all ways of going forward strong ploddy frustrating
What you need is one that is easy to get going and easy to stop so light and easy to ride. Youngsters would be a definate no, Specific breeds are a no too the best is to look for any shape size or temperament that you enjoy riding it is individual that fits you and your ability that you need to find. You will need a good budget and a fair income as buying is the cheap bit

 

[DabDab]

I'd say older (teenage) too - something that's been around the block a bit and has seen all the sights and sounds of the world and will appreciate a life of relaxed hacking

 

[Leo Walker]

How are you going to train this horse when you know nothing yourself? In order to train anyone or anything you need to have experience of doing something first.

Don't do it. It's so depressing to watch new owners miserable and fed up with the wrong horse when they could be having an amazing time on the right horse

 

[Maesto's Girl]

Overhorsing yourself, whatever your ability, is a miserable experience and you need the pockets of a banker and the patience of a saint to get through it! My mare was MUCH greener than I expected when I bought her, and an opinionated little so and so...she was 8. We have nearly been together three years and I can safely say the middle one was awful! Tears, falls, more tears, talk of quitting....and I started riding at 4, but had a break. Thankfully, I did have the knowledge to fall back on and have spent a lot on training with her and now we are having the most amazing time together. The bond is unbreakable and, whilst she still isn't perfect, she isn't walking all over me.

For your first horse, you want to enjoy them so go for something that has a proven background that matches what you want to do with it. There's no particular breed/gender/colour etc that is better, nor any that you should avoid. Even retrained TB's can be safer than a cob.

 

[Sara1210]

We have nearly been together three years and I can safely say the middle one was awful!

What the first year together went smoother than the second 😳

 

[Maesto's Girl]

Yep...the first year was exciting! Then when we settled in and started training that's when the "fun" started

 

[Sara1210]

See the only reason I entertained getting a youngster was because I wanted to grow with the horse and build my confidence with it while it’s young... desensitise it to all I could imagine, teach it to lift it feet let me groom etc etc then when the time is right in a few years time I would be confident because I’m doing my riding lessons now so that would give me plenty of time for me to learn then I could slowly back it but the horse would know and trust me so it would be easier to back than a strange adult horse unless I got an absolute bombproof horse from the word go. Am I living in cloud cuckoo land? 🙈

 

[Leo Walker]

Am I living in cloud cuckoo land? 🙈

yes

 

[windand rain]

A young horse cannot teach you or give you confidence it is the other way round they are flight animals they need you to build their confidence and teach them that life is not all scares and trouble. You have to be super confident and keep your pulse rate low. Be able to be totally unafraid but aware of the dangers You need something that knows these things already and can teach you to ride and handle a horse without terrrifying you

 

[joosie]

Am I living in cloud cuckoo land? 🙈

yes

Absolutely, yes. A disaster waiting to happen, and not fair on you OR the horse.
Get something that knows its job and is already proven in what you want to do.

 

[SamBean]

Definite go for something with experience who can 'teach' and help you. Even if more experienced rider having your first horse has so many unknowns. For example, my daughter thought when I had mine she would be able to hack out and have fun on them as a novice but has learned she needs way more time and experience first, if she had them herself they would have ruined each other. I've had them a year now and they are still learning a lot themselves.

Good on you for being honest and asking the questions, people on here are lovely and will give good and sound advice.

 

[Leo Walker]

go to the top of the thread and read all the replies again.

This mythical youngster may love and trust you. That wont stop it having a meltdown over something it doesnt understand and you cant explain. I've had horses for more than 30yrs including 10yrs working with them including breaking and schooling. Mine is a 5yr old, nearly 6 now and shes the easiest horse I have ever owned and I've had a few. There are still times when she really pushes me and in the wrong hands would become a nightmare. Its only the years of experience that allow me to know how to deal with a young horse. Sometimes even all the experience in the world doesnt help and some people just dont get on with or enjoy young horses

Lovely bombproof, polite middle aged horses are made that way when someone experienced takes on a youngster and pours huge amounts of time and money into them.

Theres a young girl on my yard who has gone out and bought a 2yr old pony. Beautiful horse, intelligent and quick to learn, but easy going and I find him an absolute pleasure. Shes frightened of him now as he continually bites and kicks her and she cant get him to do anything. He double barreled her dad the other day and they were lucky no one was hurt. I suspect he wont be around for much longer as hes made horse owning very unpleasant for her.

This same situation is repeated on livery yards up and down the country day in, day out, because people have this fantasy of getting a youngster and them loving each other and having a magical bond where they would do anything for each other. It NEVER happens like that!

 

[Sara1210]

Thank you all for your replies. It isn’t falling on deaf ears. I am taking all this in.

You have to be super confident and keep your pulse rate low.

I try and bluff being confident but I can’t stop my heart racing if I am worried 🙈 would this not be the same with a well adjusted adult horse? If I worry, they will know I’m worried?

 

[be positive]

Thank you all for your replies. It isn’t falling on deaf ears. I am taking all this in.



I try and bluff being confident but I can’t stop my heart racing if I am worried 🙈 would this not be the same with a well adjusted adult horse? If I worry, they will know I’m worried?

They may know you are worried but if they are well trained, experienced and confident you should have no reason to worry in the first place because you know the horse has seen it all before, a youngster will not be trained, have experience or confidence and a novice handler is not going to be equipped to give them any when they really need it, however lovely the idea of having a young horse seems the reality is far different and it is why so many end up being passed from pillar to post.

Get some miles on the clock in the RS and think about buying a horse when you are more confident, we all bluff at times but if you are worried riding at the RS you are a long way from ready to get your own, don't be tempted to go out and buy a cheap, cute youngster, save your money to buy a horse you can ride when you are ready for one.

 

[Sasana Skye]

Echo above. I was 13 when I was looking for my first own horse. I was looking for a 8-12 yo been there done that quiet type for my first, ended up falling in love with an unbacked 4yo Irish Sports Horse with a lot of blood. I backed her and brought her on myself. It worked out perfect for me, but then I really was confident (thought I was invincible) and had ridden quite complex competition horses in other spheres, I worked on a competition yard where I kept her for a brief period and got lessons before moving her to a riding school where I also started working. We did learn together, and I did make mistakes but she turned out OK.
But it's not something I would recommend to anyone, and I probably wouldn't have done it if I knew what I knew now. No reason why you can't teach a more experienced horse a few things too, learning isn't just for the youngsters

 

[Surbie]

I have a teenage cob. Someone has taken time to teach him paces, manners and boundaries but there is plenty left to learn together. He is sharp, forward, intelligent, generous and kind. He is not that brave and he spooks. However he doesn't buck, rear, kick, bite or bolt, he likes kids and dogs and he's amazing in traffic of all kinds, so for me he is pretty much perfect.

He's my first horse and I have learned so much from him in just over a year - and I now better appreciate how much I have to learn. I have him on loan and his owner plus the yard managers of both yards I've been on have been fantastic support. I couldn't conceive of buying a youngster at my low level of knowledge or without considerable support. I would almost certainly muck the poor horse up.

As others have said, I'd look for a share first so you have support while you learn. Private horses are often worlds apart from riding school horses.

 

[Sara1210]

As others have said, I'd look for a share first so you have support while you learn. Private horses are often worlds apart from riding school horses.

I have looked for share/loans but they are hard to come across especially when specific horses require a certain person.

What do you mean by private horses are worlds apart from riding school horses? In a good way or a bad way? I was thinking an ex riding school horse would be my best option if I was going for an older horse. Am I wrong?

Your cob is gorgeous by the way 😍

 

[splashgirl45]

ex riding school horses can be difficult as they have often only been used to hacking out with company so if you want to hack alone you may have problems.. i still think you sound like you are not experienced enough to buy your own yet. put some ads in local saddlery and feed merchants, or contact local riding clubs to see if you can find a share and try that for a while to get some experience..

 

[Ambers Echo]

Riding school horses are very used to being ridden by lots of different people and by less experienced people so they are very good at tuning out 'noise' from the rider that they understand is not a signal or cue for them. For example they will ignore legs that flap in trot or someone tipping forward or gripping with their legs - all things that a privately owned horse may think is a cue to go faster. They also listen to the instructor and learn the routines of the lesson so they do the right things even if the rider is not being clear. They follow the track or the horse in front so they don't really need steering. A privately owned horse needs to be given very clear instructions. You need to steer, make clear transition aids, balance well and be still and stable in your body and limbs so they can understand your aids. Also they may be far more responsive and sharper off the aids which you need to get used to.

 

[AmyMay]

I bought an ex-riding school horse several years ago. She turned into a cracking little horse, but napped like hell when I first got her. Hard, hard work.