Do you buy a green horse and teach to jump or buy one that con do it already?

[k8_doran]

Hello, I have done a post similar to this but didnt get many replies so thought I would re post.

Do you buy a horse that jumps and done it all already or buy a green horse and teach it yourself? I have always wanted to go to shows and compete in jumping / xc. I got one when I was 14 took him to a show and he went crazy...i didnt go again. Being much more experienced I MAY buy a horse, at the end of the year if the owner wants to sell (as some of you may know and I recognise mistakes with boots, not my fault..really, lol).


http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o113/goof_photos/1165154254_l.jpg

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o113/goof_photos/1165150015_l.jpg



This one I've been riding for three years, he is green, done a little jumping not much bit unsure of show jumps but had big jump (a couple refusals!). We havent done any jumping for a while as recently moved yards and was a bit unsettled for a bit. Out hacking he jumped logs anything (not done xc or never been to show but hopefully do it soon). I dont know what to do, I may be getting a horse, but do I buy the lush boy i have the bond with already or a horse that can already do it all?


http://www.newrider.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=103460

Link of pics of the boy! I think I already know what I would do but just wondered your opinion!

[jenren!!]

Well can you see yourself jumping this horse at shows in future? Can you see yourself going far? If you can, go with what potential you have. Personally even though you are more experienced the more experienced horses will teach you the most, and having this experience will help you train other horses in the future. For me, as i can be quite a nervous rider i would rather buy a horse more experienced which will give me confidence, or a greener horse which is very safe as i do have the experience to teach greener horses but just not the confidence.

Make your decision based on yourself. What do you feel you can manage? What do you feel you'd rather do, take a horse to competitions after a while knowing you have trained that horse yourself, yet have gone through perhaps lots of stress and confusion during training, or go to the competitions on a horse which knows its stuff and you can just get to it, without having to risk training bad habits etc. As we are only on here in text it is better for you to look at yourself and look at exactly what you want to put yourself through, and what you want to achieve. The horse you have got is certainly stunning, dont make the mistake i made and overhorse yourself, that is why im more nervous than i ever was.

Good luck!

Jen x

[k8_doran]

Hello, We (me and the horse) have done jumping with the help of the owner, she is very knowledgable. We started about two summers ago but not done too much of it at the mo. We have jumped about 2ft 3 he has a massive jump! I know its not all about the height but I have quite a good understanding of him and he was (in Oct/Nov last year) jumping mini courses in the field of 5 or 6 jumps, so perhaps he is a bit better at jumping than I am making out but still a lot to learn, it is not like I would be teaching him from scratch. I dont feel unconfident on him, I am not at all worried by him (i have had worse) i feel he does have potential he was doing well seeing as he hadnt have done a lot of jumping. I think he can go far maybe not to them top show jumping shows. I really want to try him at xc too as i think he would excel at that (although no too fond on the old water!)

[jenren!!]

Well then what are you waiting for? It sounds like you have alot of learning to do together, so have fun and go out and do what you want to do!

Jen xx

[k8_doran]

I think we can do it, it will take a lot of time and effort, will start him back into jumping asap before (and if) i buy him, i should get him going again. thank you