Youngsters vs Older Horses....which do you prefer?

R

RCP Equestrian

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 January 2013
Messages
465
Location
Surrey
Visit site
As title really!

Just interested to see what people prefer, whether its to produce a horse from scratch or to buy older more "ready made" ones.

I think it all depends on what you're looking to get from a horse at the time but I'm bored so thought I'd ask a question. No right or wrong answer, just pondering and a bit of fun :p

Fire away! :D:D
 
From now only I'm only going to get a youngster. I bought my WB as a 17 yo and he came with a whole host of problems from previous owners. My next horse purchase is going to be a Hanoverian colt so I can do everything myself :)
 
I am starting to think either very young so I can mold them or really quite old so we can just have a nice chilled out time! Mine is almost 6 and obviously love her (she's got less teenage and stroppy since I've had her but who knows if we're in for another run of that!) I do wish I had had her since a youngster but I wouldn't have been confident or experienced enough at the time. One day!
 
After having bought a youngster a few years ago and had many tears I would probably say an older experienced horse, however on the flip side every achievement that me and my mare have makes me feel so proud I could burst! I prob wouldn't buy a youngster again, there's a lot of hardwork, dedication and patience needed and many low points!

Regardless of young or old one thing I would never do again is buy a mare!
 
Youngsters. I've discovered in recent years that I personally get more of a sense of achievement and more joy from producing youngsters than riding an older horse and competing at the higher level that I used to.
 
ive always had youngsters until i had my back surgery and now the only way im allowed to continue to ride is to have an older schoolmaster (OH doesnt realise hes anything but an old crock that potters about the lanes lol) :D
 
It would depend what i wanted to do.
If i was new or inexperienced in a certain dicipline, id want older and experienced, in an area i felt secure and experienced it'd be lovely to have a youngster to bring on.
Ive had both and enjoyed both tbh
 
I agree with the sense of achievement with a youngster, however I am responsible for producing her so all good or bad points with her ground and ridden work is down to me, it is so easy to spoil a really good horse, I sometimes think my mare could progress so much more without me and that in a way I'm holding her back from releasing her full potential.
 
i have one of each, a 26 year old and a 3yr old (in June).

My old boy came to me rising 6, so quite young and we have done a lot over the years, he's taught me loads, and i consider that at 26 years old i can't have done too bad a job, I then bought an 8yr old, who sadly is no longer with us, who taught me a lot more. I am working with my 3yr old now, and sometimes i wish she was older, but im really enjoying the highs and lows of having a yougster, i just hope i can do her justice.

so i suppose i would have to say younger.
 
I have got a 10 year old who I bought last year and a 3 year old I'm about to back.
I love the 10 year olds consistency and reliability but hate the fact he has been badly beaten in the past and is a bit neurotic about a lot of things from the ground. We (me and him) have to deal with all his baggage. Ridden though he is a saint, tack up and go and do whatever.
I bred the 3 year old and I love watching him learn new things and grow and develop. He is my special boy! Anything, good or bad about him is all down to me.
 
I have two, one at either end of the spectrum and as you say it certainly depends what your looking for. My oldie is fab for hacking and her grumpy old woman personality, but the youngster is proving to be a fab leaning curve for me, im really enjoying watching his cogs turn and figuring out what im asking of him. Im also enjoying researching and leaning new training techniques myself :)
 
Clodagh said:
I bred the 3 year old and I love watching him learn new things and grow and develop. He is my special boy! Anything, good or bad about him is all down to me.
Click to expand...

Its fab isnt it ! I bought my youngster by accident after looking for somthing to hunt i was just viewing 'problem horse' after 'problem horse' so decided to do all the hard work myself and buy a baby. I honestly love seeing him learn and grow!
 
Nice to read all your replies. Think everyone will have had both at some stage!

I don't prefer one more than the other but I always seem to end up with a youngster! :p

My first loan pony was 5yrs just backed when I was 10 (bit of a disaster!)
Second pony was his sister, a 7yr old, again not done anything. Had her 3yrs and did local shows.
First horse was a 5yr old TB ex racer when I was 14. Had years of fun on her and then decided I wanted something to learn on.
Second horse a 9yr old WB gelding, been there done it up to 1.30 level, very sharp and had been to some awful people before I got him and he wasnt the same. Tried to fix him but my confidence went further down hill than it already was after 3 months.
Third horse and current horse, a 5yr old WB gelding, had jumped BN/Disc but very green. Have now produced him up to 1.20m

Think I'm just destined to have youngsters :D but I do love that sense of acheivement when winning or moving up a level as I know I've done it all myself :)
 
I would be more inclined to go for an older horse as I am a novice myself and would prefer something that knows its job and could help me out and give me confidence.
 
I'm not that bothered about riding anymore, so an oldie who isn't fussed if it is ridden or not is more my cup of tea :)

I quite like the old retiree's, if I'm ever in a position to have heaps of time and land I would like to offer retirement livery.

If I was riding I would prefer a youngster.
 
I have a youngster currently, but sometimes think it would be nice to have an older one I could just jump on and ride away. I think one of each sounds a good idea;)
 
I have a 19 year old and a 6 year old - the 6 year old (not backed yet) is much nicer and easier than the 19 year old!
 
I too have one of each! My now retired 24 year old WB I got as a 12 year old and is my horse of a lifetime! He was so push button! Amazing horse and I'm sure I'll never have the pleasure of sitting on anything in his league ever again :-(
And I've an Irish youngster - challenging, fun, rewarding...I could go on forever!
So yes, if in doubt get one of each! :-)
 
I have the most amazing 24yr old who I have had since he was 14, he is my horse of a lifetime. He is still in work and I love to tack him up and just go, sometimes I think he can read my mind when we're out hacking, he still jumps 3ft and we do a little schooling. My husband is currently learning to ride on him too! I absolutely love that horse.

I also have a very green 9yr old WB gelding who I am sure has the potential to be a fab horse but is a little nappy right now so he is a bit of a project.

I also have a 7yr ex-racer who has had basic retraining at the rehoming centre but we're starting from scratch with him so another project. A lovely horse with a very sweet nature.

So one oldie but goldie and two youngish horses, when things don't seem so rosy with the projects my very special old boy is there to remind me what I'm aiming for and that it will be worth all the hard work in the end.
 
7 +

I think youngsters should be left to pros and that's why there so many ruined horses out there.

I learnt the hard way. Bought a 4 year old , to big to scopey horse and the s*** hit the fan

I've put it right using pros help but its cost me thousands and we still not out the woods yet
 
Couldn't care less as long as it had brains and looked good!

Yes, that shallow.

:D
 
Depends. I would love a welsh a youngster to bring on (not ride) because though I love my boy to death he came with a whole host of behaviour and physical issues. He is a very quirky, tricky character and I adore him, but I would love in the future to have a clean slate. Having said that, I have 12 yr old Connemara and he is just fantastic. Reliable with manners to burn, because I know his whole history and he has been treated very well but also by people who don't tolerate bad behaviour. I am very lucky to have him.
 
When I was younger I bred, broke and produced for a living and loved it. Now that I am old I find I don't want to do all the "firsts" any more (first ride; first clip; first trailering; first show, etc.) so all of mine now are teenagers (well, one's 11), know their jobs inside out and are utterly reliable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top