Buying babies or buying made

[lolita1]

I think if all you want to do is ride then a weanling isn’t for you. I’ve had my girl from a foal and have really enjoyed all the different steps even the not so good days where she was trying new things out on me. It was fun watching her grow up, teaching her new things and there was even the day I realised she had it all worked out and was a “big girl”. Yes it costs money to give them the right start.

One reason I wanted a baby was because I have owned a number of horses that I bought at 4 and upwards who haven’t worked out due to various issues mostly soundness. With this in mind I now know her entire history from what she was fed, breeding back ground, training, maintenance, personality and injuries. To me knowing all of this gives me a huge advantage on what I will and won’t do with her. I believe I own a horse I probably couldn’t afford to buy now which is the benefit of getting them young IMHO.

[GGStables]

IMO soundness is all-important but a slippery thing. An adult horse can hurt himself permanently the very next day after you’ve purchased him. Who knows whether the foal will develop OCD or not? And so forth.

I believe it’s all about time and money available to you.

Question is: When do you want to ride? Now? Get an adult horse. Ta-da!
If you can wait years to ride, then the question becomes whether you have the finances and appropriate resources to do all the necessary support until the horse is going under saddle.

Either way, it’s nice to be shopping for a horse!:yes: