I know a Code Blue, and he’s a LOVELY horse.
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Congrats. My friend has two now two year olds that she acquired as weanlings and she’s in her 60’s. One is her future trail horse and one is her for her husband. She looked around for some older (6-10 yo) horses and wasn’t liking what she saw in terms of temperment and especially training. She picked up the one yearling on a bit of a whim - liked him in the field, found out the kids mess with him all the time so he’s pretty chill and when she met him, she liked his attitude. The second came from a rescue where there were a lot of videos of him doing ground training.
We started her current horse, as he is a homebred, and I started my mare (along with a number of others) so we are pretty good with that. She’s been working with “the boys” on a lot of ground work and they will likely be as unflappable as her current horse.
She enjoys groundwork and has a horse she can currently ride so she’s set for a few years. We are going to start them under saddle next Spring but she already has had some of her grandkids “ride” them (they have a parent place them on the horse’s back and hold onto kid and horse stands there for a few minutes).
I prefer getting horses that don’t have previous training, it means they don’t have bad habits…other than the ones I give them.
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As long as you are prepared to send to a trainer to make it your horse and you understand that it’s difficult to predict if a horse is going to be your cup of tea at the end of its training (hot Vs lazy etc)
I say, life is short - buy the horse.
I have a customer in a similar boat. She bought herself a very nice show mare with me after her previous trainer said “how long are you really going to be doing this? Do you need a show horse?”
And she took an embryo out of her this spring.
The verdict is out on whether she will keep the resulting foal or sell but she is on a grand adventure and is absolutely loving it.
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Too late. 
The horse is already home!
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He looks like an old soul! I was hesitant, but he’s a very nicely put together horse and seems very chill for one who has done so much traveling.
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Update: he’s been home a week and is settling in well. He has a nice paddock companion. We started using the grooming stall yesterday (mot tied as yet), has had a short session in the round pen where he discovered chickens (their pen is next door), was amazed by a horse wearing a flysheet and mask, had a checkup by the farrier and is okay with fly spray-mostly. We gave him the barn name “Champ” based on a song by my favorite front man, Freddie M!
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Glad he’s settling in so well. He sure is handsome!!
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Amen to that!!!
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That’ll teach me to read through the entire thread. 
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Another update! I have to share… Today we worked on crossties in the grooming stall and then a very short start session on lunging (just walking). Both went well and we will be practicing both going forward. No, I don’t intend lots and lots of lunging. We just want him to get the idea. Even getting him to walk was work:joy:. He’s not a big believer in exerting himself:joy:
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He’s been here since the 27th of June. He’s doing great! We worked in the round pen today. He thought that was great fun but eventually settled down and trotted both ways nicely. We do grooming every day I’m there, including starting clipping. He’s starting to get shiny!
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Great update ~ thanks for sharing your handsome boy ! So glad you followed your dream ~
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Champ and I have been working on leading and grooming. He’s doing very well! Since he will be doing halter and showmanship eventually, we are working on his stops, backs and turns. Especially, whoa means stand still and don’t move! That’s a tough one for a little guy.
I started jogging in hand last week. I had a head shake at first but one reprimand and he hasn’t done it again. We’ve also been walking the trail poles. He’s pretty careful.
And today he had his first wash! He wasn’t too sure about the whole hose thing at first but because it was 90 degrees at 11:30 he decided that was okay with him!!
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DH has decided he would like to show him at halter next year. Since I have a policy of NOT teaching family, here is the non-horsey DH taking a lesson with the yearling. Champ is a very good boy!
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I love this!!! Oh please keep the updates coming, especially if y’all make it to a show next year!
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Beautiful!!! Blazing Hot is one of my favorite lines. Love the refinement that comes thru. He looks like he’ll be a contender for sure!
A friend of mine shows Halter, and it’s so fun to hear her talk about the art of presenting the horse. I’m just happy when my horse doesn’t look camped in some way! Kuddos to him for taking the time to learn!
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Ahh cannot wait to see husband all togged up and showing on the line, What a fun thing for a gentleman.
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It’s going to be so much fun following along with you on this!
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It’s a difficult mindset to shuck, because that formula worked (well) in their youth.
Age creeps up on you.
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It does, but the plan going forward is for him to stay in training. I have no intention of riding him before he’s three. If he doesn’t work out for me, he’ll be getting a new zip code. In the meantime, I plan on enjoying working with him for halter and showmanship
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