Advice for first horse—foal/yearling/young?

[Skata]

@Edre

I’ve seen your update indicating a likely change of mind on this, but I thought I would share my experience regardless.

I do not recommend buying a foal for anyone who only has a one-horse budget and who has specific “wants” in a horse (as an adult). There are just no real guarantees, and by the time you account for the money of the initial purchase, money that’s gone into upkeep, money that’s gone into training, the point at which you figure out the horse isn’t for you? You’re not likely to recoup lost costs. Additionally, if you’re like many amateur riders out there, your budget/situation is one that will only really allow for one horse at a time. By having a horse that ends up being unsuitable that you need to find a new home for, for most of us that means that we have to wait that much longer before we can really put our time, finances, and attention into finding the horse that is right for us.

This all sounds a bit negative, I know. I have done the foal purchase route. Frankly, while I value my experience, it’s a large part of why I do not really advise the standard amateur do it. I did a ton of research and set myself up for success with a really well respected program/breeder, knew bloodlines inside and out, really did deep research on the relatives, met the dam in person, saw the sire’s performance record and studied him at shows. Despite this, I still will not end up with the horse that I “want” on paper. Both parents are over 170cm, I will be lucky if mine ends up breaking 166 (and I am a tall rider, so height has always been something of a selection criteria for me). When I got her she was already well handled, and her pedigree is notorious for breeding animals that are exceptionally well tempered. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t still had extreme baby moments that I, as a first-time handler of youngstock with no education, had to struggle through with how to navigate.

And this is all factoring in that as a rider, I have a wide spectrum of horses I enjoy riding. I don’t mind snarky, I don’t mind quirky, I don’t mind eccentric, I don’t mind worried or marginally fearful or opinionated, super forward or a little more “eh, convince me”. If I had really purchased based on “wanting a forward thinking/energetic animal as an adult” I would be soundly disappointed with how laid back mine is now. (And vice versa is probably more common - wanting something a little more sensible/perhaps not so intensely forward or reactive, but ending up with just that.) Many amateur riders are not particularly diverse in regards to the type of ride they enjoy, or that they can really successfully navigate - and it’s compounded because, we have to remember, there is a wide gap between “greenbroke horse at 3 or 4 who has had all the basic education markers met but is just green” vs “a baby who has had no exposure or education because they’re a baby”. I rode greenbroke horses for years for my instructor and was very, very good at it. Very little of that skill set has come into play with bringing along a foal, other than being able to just hang cool and not overreact. It may come in handy when she’s doing more under saddle, but for actually having a foal? Not so applicable.

In general: If someone is set up to only be a one-horse owner, and they have a specific list of requirements of their horse, buying a foal is not something I’d really recommend. There’s no guarantees, and most of us are terrible at actually calling it when we have a horse that we need to move on because of lack of suitability… so we just end up prolonging the situation before we can really come into our own with a horse that is more suitable for us, and exactly what we want besides.

That was super thorough and helpful, thank you!! I definitely prefer hot, workaholic types to laidback, lazy ones, and there is no guarantee that that’s what I’d end up with. You’ve helped me realize that the things I want (height, temperament, potential) are things that I REALLY do actually want. Looks like I’ll be shopping for a young started horse in a couple of years then. It’s probably more fun when you can sit on them first anyways

[Skata]

@Equkelly

Starting babies is completely different than just riding green horses. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone unless you’ve worked extensively with a trainer that starts horses and have put the first rides on several horses. Lots of people think that because they’ve restarted OTTBs, or they can ride a super hot, super green 4 year old Dutch warmblood they should be able to start a horse themselves and maybe just get some pointers along the way. It’s not a good idea. You really need to know what you’re doing.

And even if you did want to do this and take on this project, I think you’re underestimating how time consuming it is. It’s not a matter of just throwing a horse out to pasture, waiting for them to grow up, and then poof, you get a riding horse. It takes work. You may not be riding but you’re going to have to spend time working with your baby on picking up feet, on ground work, tending to injuries, and so much more.

If you’re going to have a young horse, you need to take their upbringing seriously ESPECIALLY if you’re an amateur. You can’t throw them in a field for 2 years while you’re away because the horse you go back to might be way out of your ability level.

Also, taking a break from riding, and then starting a baby is really difficult physically. Its hard to go from not riding consistently to all of a sudden asking a baby horse to canter for the first time and just praying they don’t try to buck you off.

I bought a 2 year old warmblood and started her myself. Trust me, it’s hard work. The only reason I did it is because I like colt starting and working with babies and I have a lot of experience in that area. Even then, it was hard. And even though I didn’t ride her for the first year I had her, I didn’t spend any less time at the barn.

Good points, and good to know! I don’t have much baby experience, and I’m not naive enough to think I’d be fine on my own with some extra help. Believe me, I would’ve had experienced trainers do most of the “heavy lifting” with me being the extra pair of hands. I have no intention of throwing a baby out to pasture for years and expecting things to go great, nor do I intend to give any young horse in my care anything but the best chance at a good life, which includes things like groundwork, basics, daily handling, and a professional start under saddle. But this is all a moot point now, because I’ve decided against going forward with the idea.

[sing]

The difference between nursing school and other programs is the stress you put on yourself knowing that
if you don’t grasp the content you can injure or kill people. That stress can be exhausting. Also keep in mind
that as tough as nursing school is, the first year as a new nurse can be brutal. So maybe adjust your timeline
with that in mind.
Having said that, I think a yearling or two year old that you could place in the right hands would be a great
“other world” and/or incentive to get you through. As long as you can afford to lose all those funds, and then
some.

Good Luck Tiger!

[chestnutmarebeware]

Cautionary Baby Tale: I currently have a 20-y-o 14.1hh breeding stock APHA mare living the high life at a full-board barn along with her more suitable OTTB “sisters”. I bought her as a weanling (my fourth horse, though, not my first) from a great breeder. Mom was 16.1, dad was 15.2. I’m 5’8" with long legs. I assumed she’d reach at least 15.1 or so. She was from the stallion’s first crop of foals, so there was no data to know that he and his subsequent foals hit their full height at age 2 and never grew a millimeter after that. And that he’s super prepotent, so all the babies took after him.

As @soloudinhere mentioned, I was so attached to that rotten baby by the time I figured out that I’d never be able to ride her in any English competition due to her size and the way my legs dangle below her belly, that I was never able to bring myself to sell her. I’d try to ballpark what she’s cost me as a pet over these 20 years, but then I’d have to kill myself! :lol:

[AnastasiaBeaverhousen]

I think you’ve gotten some great advice.
I will also say that if you are not a pro or someone who will become a horse trainer, any money you put into a horse is going to be a loss.

A common link in this thread is that many people got horses that disappointed them for a variety of reasons. There are no guarantees and life is short.
You may very well get buy a horse that doesn’t work out.

You may have to sell it at a loss. But again, if you arent a pro it’s all a loss anyway.

if you want to get the foal fix, maybe someone will let you help work with young horses, or maybe you can find a horse from a rescue to foster with the full understanding that you wont get any money in return for it.

My story:

My OTTB broke a splint bone not long after I got her.
So while she was recovering I had her bred. I chose the stallion after some research

I was there when she foaled. I raised him and backed him myself. When the time came, I had a pro teach him what I couldn’t.

I decided while I waited for the foal to grow up I would go back to school and finish my degree. I also worked full time.

It didnt give me a lot of time for my horses but they weren’t hating me for it. I worked with him every chance I got and I wouldnt trade the experience for anything.

That said, I didnt have a specific goal in mind. I’m not shooting for the FEI and except for a couple of local schooling shows we never did much.

I still have him and I’ll never sell him .

And when he goes I’m not going to get another.

Finito

For ambitious AA,s importing seems to be the way to go if you want to move up the levels, although there are posters here who have taken non warm bloods up the levels and done very well.

Get finished with your education and finding a job.
horses will still be there when you are ready.

[BrokenArrow]

Coming from someone who’s husband has just finished his nursing degree, I would definitely say wait and save to buy something already going under saddle. While the theory is enough to tear your hair out, the practical components are extremely time consuming. Especially in the last year. Your first year of work is also going to be stressful, so don’t discount how little time you’ll have.

Get your horsey fix by riding once a week for stress relief. Then find the perfect riding partner who will put up with your whacky schedule without complaint.

[Libby2563]

I’m glad to hear you’re reconsidering because I think you will be so much happier if you buy something already going!

In case it helps further, I will share my story of my last two disappointments and one win. (Note that these were some of my most recent horse purchases, not my first.)

1. Bought a well-bred yearling from a reputable breeder known very well by my trainer. Researched dam and sire. Met youngster in person. Had him vetted. Spent plenty of money on his upkeep until he was 3, though I have my own farm so it wasn’t nearly as much as you’d spend boarding. I enjoyed bringing him up but kept it in the back of my mind that he might not work out for my purposes so he could eventually be for sale. As luck would have it, I learned when I started him under saddle that he was absolutely perfect and wonderful. He had always had a terrific brain but was also fun and comfortable to ride. Smart but not too smart! Just perfect.

Sadly he went lame at 4 and turned out to have DSLD, a genetic soft tissue disorder. I spent as much money trying to diagnose and treat him as I had paid for him as a yearling. Nothing worked, his comfort level declined, and I had to euthanize my perfect baby horse when he was 5 years old.

2. Decided after that that I wanted an adult horse with proven soundness in work. Bought an OTTB with a significant race record. Bought from a very reputable seller who comes highly recommended on here. Rode the horse two times before purchase and vetted him extensively. Horse turned out to have a very unpredictable and dangerous propensity to buck and rear. This was so demoralizing because I felt like I had done everything right TWICE and still ended up with two unrideable horses and many bills.

3. Bought a 10-year-old who was successfully competing at the level I want to show someday (Prelim eventing). This horse has been the absolutely perfect match for me. Was he more expensive than the green horses? Of course. But I am enjoying him here, now, today–not sometime in the future if all the stars align. To me that is priceless.

@AnastasiaBeaverhousen

A common link in this thread is that many people got horses that disappointed them for a variety of reasons. There are no guarantees and life is short.
You may very well get buy a horse that doesn’t work out.

Agree with this! Life is short. Buy the horse you know you can enjoy riding today.

[ozjb]

I had a slightly different experience. The plan was to breed our mare to a well researched stallion. Thank goodness, she never came into foal because, like someone said previously, I might not have been happy with a carbon copy! ”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹I really liked the stallion so when the breeder called me (I was standing in the middle of a xc course) to tell me she had something I might like, I was ready to listen. She sent me some photos and little videos of a very cute foal. Bought her on the spot! Yes, dumb move, but she is a gem. I left her at the breeders until she was weaned and then sent her to a local guy who foals mares down for clients and always has a few weanlings around. I do think they need to be part of group of babies so they learn good social skills. She hung out there with her new friends and she learned a few basic skills. Brought her home when she was a yearling and she hung out with the older horses and learned to be a good citizen. I am no expert, and had help as we taught her some new things, but not a lot. We got busy and left her to grow up, while basically asking her to come in and go out, be nice to the farrier, etc. Sent her off for kindergarten when she was three for a few weeks, brought her home and left her until she was rising 5 to start her with the same trainer.

We are taking things slow with no real time goals for her. She has been an absolute delight and I love that we know her history, have been able to make sure, as much as one can, that she has had positive experiences along the way. She is starting real lessons now and is fun! Very trainable, very confident.

I am very happy we took a chance with a baby.

[NotGrandPrixYet]

@Skata

Good point, I might actually feel better if I could sit on the horse first. Though I would give up all of the baby-raising time, which I am interested in experiencing. My “dream horse” plans are all far down the road; I wouldn’t expect such a thing out of a first horse with uncertain future plans.

I would wait and spend as much time as I could with a trainer who raises and trains babies. There are lots of things to consider…nutritional, training, herd integration, and physical issues that are a lot to learn, and where critical mistakes will have a lifetime effect. Learn from people with experience first. It’s a big responsibility. You want to end up with a solid, healthy, happy citizen.