A little backstory info. I’m 65. My boy is 19. We are both in reasonable shape for our ages. I’ve been showing (western) him for 16 years so I know what he is and what he is not. Most of our consistent success was in the past. I will NEVER sell him.
But. I don’t want to quit when he retires so I’ve started to look around for a new ride/project. I figured a nice young horse now would be ready in a year or so. A 2/3 yo-a year or two with the trainer would work out nicely.
But, I found a really really nice YEARLING! Yikes! Am I nuts to consider such a youngster? It would be several years before I could ride him and, as we know with youngsters, he could be tempermentaly unsuitable for a late sixties old woman!
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I wouldn’t say nuts, but a more practical approach might be to add up how much it actually will cost to produce him to the age you will be able to really do stuff and then think about if it’s worth it. If you have to pay $10k in purchase price and $5k a year in board and $10k in training to get him broke and started showing by a pro than he will be a pricy 5 year old without any guarantee he will be what you want (and not kill himself somehow in the 4 years in between).
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I’ll be an enabler. 
At the same age as you, I bought a barely started 3-year-old and the whole first year with him went by so quickly. He was very easy to bring along and now… here we are, placing well and sometimes even winning classes. So I understand the reasoning to get a young, started horse and put it in training.
However, if you’ve found the yearling of your dreams, it’s worth seriously considering. With a fancy yearling, there is a lot you can do and enjoy. Not sure where he/she is in development, but there are longe line classes and in-hand trail classes at all levels of shows. You can also do halter, even if just for the experience.
And while re-selling and making a profit is often a laughable proposition with horses, if you chose wisely, and if the yearling matures nicely and if it has training and if you need to sell because it’s just not for you… well, that’s an option.
Time goes by so quickly in life. Barring any unforeseen health issues related to growing older, which none of us can control, why not be optimistic and look forward to what is yet in store for you and your life with horses?
(Just so you know, there’s a yearling at my barn I’ve been considering for myself, for all the reasons I posted above. Because I need two horses. Like a hole in my graying head.) 
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Its an individual choice with many unique factors but, no you are not crazy.
However, this yearling may not be ready for you until you are almost 70 and we cannot know what physical limitations may crop up as we age. BTDT.
Are we talking QH or APHA here? If so, a large number of young horses around 3ish are usually out there, if they were not Futurity prospects and will out of Junior(horse age division) before they get enough show experience and points to qualify for anything ? Theres kind of a sweet spot there to pick up something started but not show ready.
As a senior rider, so very much is dependent on the horses willingness, tolerance and kindness to keep you safe. A year or two with a trainer can help with some of that but not the basic nature of the horse that regular training reveals
With a Yearling, you will be looking at least a year ahead to even begin to know how accepting of serious training it will be and how much of a willing partner it will be. Plus, in any breed or type, some soundness questions can arise with serious work that only show up when put in regular work.
You really don’t have time to waste a couple of years developing one that ends up not working out.
I’d go with a lightly started 2yo or a 3yo with a few more miles. Enough to really evaluate what you are getting temperment and soundness wise.
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My head says keep looking and get a 2/3 yo. My heart says this is your last chance for a young horse and he’s really really nice. His full sister is already in our barn. She’s 2. She’s nice but he’s even nicer. She’s Pretty quiet, good to work with. Reputable breeder who says he’s been easy to work with. We have another unrelated 3 yo from the same breeder. Nice, quiet, good minded. Price wise it’s a toss up. The 2 yos I’ve seen so far are about equal to his price plus a year of board.
And any horse can maim or kill itself at any time…
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Everyone above has given great advice. If he’s THAT nice and you really like him, you could buy him. If you determine you really are nuts some time after the purchase, you could always sell him😀.
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only slightly but purchase the horse you want and figure out the ‘pairing’ / training requirements as he matures - keeping in mind if it is not a good fit, you need a Plan B to make sure he finds his ‘correct’ next home.
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Debbie Downer here.
I think it would be wise to imagine a worst case scenario. What if your current horse stays sound? At age 68-69, would you be able to keep two horses in work? If the baby becomes unsound, could you take the financial hit of losing your investment in this horse? Etc.
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I’d go for it. Personally I’d much rather have a yearling with less handling than a started 2 year old. Less to fix that way
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Yeahbutt a yearling at 65 years looking at 3 years to get it finished will present more challenges.
Always thought I would ride into my 70s. Made it to about 68 before my lower back issues took all the fun out of it. Otherwise still healthy and pretty active.
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I think it’s great to have a young horse before your older one is retired. You can pony a baby horse and he could learn a lot that way before he even gets saddled.
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I think you’re nuts. You’re 65. Buy a horse that is broke and doing what you want to do. Take your time looking.
I wound up buying a ready-to-go pony in February. The horse I leased prior to that loves being a show horse, but he’s just not very good at it. I was willing to buy something that was a little rank or green, but this one fell in our laps. It’s great having one that just needs miles and doesn’t randomly try and commit suicide. I’m a lot younger than you are.
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I’m 2 months away from 66 and I sure wouldn’t buy a yearling. Heck, I wouldn’t even buy a 2 or 3 year old. I still ride a lot and show once/month during show season, but I have noticed over the last year or two that my reaction time is getting slower and my balance is not quite as good as it once was. And lets not even get into what’s going on as I get older with the bad hip, the bad knee, and the bad shoulder, souvenirs of falls back in my younger days.
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Follow your gut.
A yearling isn’t for riding, of course, but there are so many other things to do with them. Things that will improve your horsemanship and your understanding of and partnership with the youngster. Not bad things.
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I mean, I got a 2 year old and now 5 years on she’s finally becoming a productive member of society. Next time I’ll try to find an unbacked 3 yo or lightly started 4yo and I’m 20 years younger than you.
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62 here. I can fully understand where you are coming from.
Is your intention to break and train this baby yourself? If so, I think you are nuts.
Or are you thinking of handing it over to a trusted trainer for the next three or four years to make you the horse of your dreams? If so, I’d probably start with not a yearling.
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I realize that lots of people do things that are nuts with horses that work out well. You may be one of them!
But I do think your heart is overriding your head. A yearling is a risk even for someone with resources and time and money to burn on training and the possibility the horse will be different than expected. Also, your main mount seems to be a very solid citizen you have a great relationship with–even a very young horse with a great brain who is easily broke and trained (all big ifs) will be a big change.
You didn’t say how many horses you’ve been riding besides your personal horse. Honestly, especially if you’re only used to riding your one guy, I’d shell out for a BDDT trained horse, once he’s truly ready to retire. If you’re used to riding younger horses, I still think an older horse with the basics programmed in him would be a better option, but then I’d be less inclined to say “you’re nuts.” Still, I know a number of very capable horsewomen who were older who bought young mounts who later regretted it–not because they got hurt, but just because it was more trouble than they had energy for.
I have younger friends who have bought foals, and I know people who do casual breeding, and I admit I think they’re a bit nuts too, but I’m a cautious person by nature who likes a better sense of what she’s getting.
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Buy the horse that makes your heart sing! Then work out the details.
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Just had this conversation with a friend yesterday. She just turned 60 and is still doing youngsters and problem horses. Me, no. I’ve done babies, I’m in my mid 50’s, things hurt, the ground is harder now, I have zero interest in doing it again. I think about this a lot, my mare is 12, so not old, but I’ve had a lot of physical issues with her, so I am not sure how long she’ll actually last. By the time I’m ready to look again, ain’t no way I’m waiting out another youngster!
Now that said, if money’s not a problem and you have a really good trainer that you trust and that is going to be around for the long haul, then maybe it would work out okay.
Will say the breed/type OP is looking at is a better prospect in temperament and maturity rate as a yearling for OP then some others. Plus she knows the actual colt, its breeder, a sibling and her trainer, who shes been with for sometime, will be handling it.
I get it. Still think 2 or 3 is a better choice for a 65 year old wanting to replace a pushing 20, long time partner within the next few years,
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