Are young horses difficult to handle???

[snoopy20]

for the past 6 years i have only ever dealut and ridden horses and ponies between and 9-35 years. I loan at local yard in wales a very old but energetic horse and have been offered a new opportunity for a new horse to loan. I am worried about taking on a youngster of because I am not sure i have the abiltiy to deal with such a young horse yet because i dont think i am exsperienced enough??

Do you think i should have a go at loaning somthing new or keep to the pony i loan at the momment???

[BlueSky]

It all depends on the temperament. Some youngsters can be really level-headed and mature, and yet others are the complete opposite.

Last summer, I was asked to ride a 5 year old. I wasn't sure if I was experienced enough, but I rode her, and with help from my instructor, we got on fine. :) Of course, it did help that she hada lovely personality - she was so willing to please, but with a good dose of 'pony' cheekiness! :D

Do you feel that you want a challenge? By that I don't mean difficult exactly, but a bit of a change. Would you be able to ride this horse before you commit yourself, to find out how much training it's had? And, if you like this horse, but still feel a little unsure, perhaps you could have lessons on it for a while?

[Tootsie4U]

It depends on the horse, and it depends on you.

Some young'ns are so gentle and calm that they let you do anything to them and never protest. Others, like the one I have, protest to the smallest thing. This makes raising and training a young horse very trying.

You should evaluate the personality of the horse more thoroughly. Learn what makes him tick, what makes him upset - just watch him. If you feel that his "qwirks" are not something you are ready to deal with, then do yourself and the horse a favor, and pass the opportunity by.

But, if the horse presents himself in a way that you feel you could handle him, don't be afraid to try. Training a young horse is a HUGE learning experience, and a good one at that!

[snoopy20]

Thank you everyone i will give him ago n see how i get on and am tring him on Sunday wish me luck!!!

[Susan C]

Well, some would say no, your not experienced enough. I dont see it in that light.
Only you can know if this horse and you can work together, as that is what it is about, as I see it.

Horses allow us to do things, providing they see us in a respectful light.
We have to be in charge, with kind, but firm handling.
You have to be consistant, and simple in your demands. Very quick to reward.
But as the previous posts have said it depends on the horse.
I took on a youngster, as I felt time for my own mistakes not undoing others and trying to make good. But the experience of making good had given us experience in handling many differing situations.
Common sense comes into it.
I was told by a friend that she did not think I should be doing it! But is now well surprised and pleased at our results. But I dont think we would have bought a nutty youngster to work on, we found what we felt we could work with.

We have also had good support of other owners/friends, and good instructor. We have made errors, we just hope we have picked it up in time to make good our mistakes.

I do wish you luck with trying out Sunday. Stand back, take off the emotional hat, and think long and hard. If you feel this is the horse for you, that shouts at you, YES I am the one.
Try it, it is on loan, they must feel confident in you to give you the opportunity.

Then if it works out, dont be afraid to ask for help.It is a challenge but can be very rewarding.

[janet hakeney]

Snoopy....It's very difficult to advise you because you don't say much about the horse. You say you have six years experience youself....you should have picked up a whole bunch in that time even if you don't think you have. It's like asking the question....'can I cope with someone elses children?' It depends what they are like and how good your interpersonal skills are. No-one has experience of babies before they have their first one, Young horses are a bit the same.

[Sparkle]

I rode a semi-sane appendix quarter horse, 3-4 years old, with less experience. He was great, except for the occasional spaz, but that was occasional. It was a great learning experience and he was an awesome horse. If the horse has a temerment that suits you, go for it- age does'nt determine everything.

[snoopy20]

hi everyone

thanks for your support and addvice. I hope tomorrow all goes well and ill try my best and let you no how i get on!!!:D

[Heather]

Good advice everyone- you never can tell! I did a lectuer demo up North a few months ago, at a very nice riding centre. They had allotted me a 16.3hh 22 yr old ex show hunter to ride as they thought he woudl be ideal as a well schooled demo horse. I rode him briefly before the demo started- he was fine. I then did a talk at the beginning of the demo and he wasn't brought in for about half an hour.

When he came in, his eyes were like organ stops, as the school had only recently installed the gallery, and he had never seen an audience in it! He snorted, and passaged around the poor little working pupil who had been allotted the task of leading him in, and towed her round the school!! he looked so funny- the audience were in fits when they heard how old he was.

I took the reins and walked him round and got him calm enough to get on- he was OK except every time we turned to face the audience, up went ears like antennae, and he snorted and passaged again until we had turned away from them. He was really so funny.

The moral to this tale is that the next horse which came in, was only five years old- the school had thought about giving me her to ride as demo horse, but thought better of it due to her youth and inexperience. This mare ignored the audience and just got on with the job, never put a foot wrong!! Just shows, never judge a sauasge by it's skin, or even age!!

Heather

[Peace]

Well, I only have experience with one young horse, but I don't find him at all difficult to handle!:) I have less experience than you have, and I bought a three year old in October. I hasten to add that both I and my instructor had known him for about a year, as he was owned by another boarder at my lesson barn, so I knew he was very calm and steady before I bought him!

In some ways, he's actually easier to deal with than an older horse might be. His lack of experience means that he hasn't become resistant, nor does he have any "issues" to overcome. On the other hand, there are things he doesn't know yet, so I often find myself asking for help on how to teach him! And there are the "baby" behaviors to deal with - like thinking humans are chew toys:rolleyes:. But on the whole I find his "puppyishness" kind of cute.:)

Let us know what you think of this youngster - sometimes they can be a delight!

[snoopy20]

it was fantastic! she is a 4 year old bay welsh cob and was amazing although very green. Thge owner said they chose me in the 1st place was **** they said they were very impressed with my riding. and although she was strong, we got on well and am starting next monthg with her. I hope 4 the futre i will sucseed well and gain alot from this rare exsperience. I followed all ** advice and am pleased.

Thank u every1 for their support!!!

[Susan C]

Good Luck

You obviously like her. Look forward to hearing how it all goes along, remember learning is in peaks & troughs. You will have great times and not so great times, but you will learn yourself.

Take your time, and enjoy!

Pictures???

[snoopy20]

oh i love her!!

It is going to be hard but i am going 2 give it a go!!

Ill have pictures by next wensday ! hopefully??

[Peace]

Congratulations! I look forward to pictures also! I hope you both have lots of fun together!:)

[Monty]

It's funny you know, Snoopy, over the years, my horses have got progressively younger, starting out, barely being able to ride, with a twenty year old. I am now, six years later, about to embark on my first four year old. I've had nothing but encouragement from this site. But my horsey acquaintances at home here, think I'm stark raving bonkers!
Well pardon me for posing a threat to you lot (my acquaintances!) but this little poppet (14hh ??Welshie X) is actually very, very gentle, and possibly better behaved at four than most of your giants are at ten years plus. And the reason for that???
Well, I think it's partly that she's simply a very nice person, but also a jolly good dollop of having been handled nicely as a babe. She trusts me implicitly, and the scariest thing for me, is the thought of doing anything albeit inadvertently, to betray that trust.
At four, she's being loaded, and bathed absolutely perfectly.Clips without a murmur. Hasn't ever been shod yet, but has her feet trimmed every month. She will need to be shod when she gets here, and I don't anticipate any problems whatsoever.I have a very nice blacksmith, who is very patient with the old bods, so guess he'll be the same with the babies too.
The only thing she doesn't like, is puddles.Given the choice she goes round them,but if I insist, which sometimes I do, in order to avoid the middle of the road.....she just sort of cringes and says.........."Oooooh, alright then, if I must." but she does nothing to unseat me.
Even six months ago, I wouldn't have dreamt of this ever being possible. So, give yours a chance.Read up plenty on horse's anatomy, and what can be expected of them at any given age.And enjoy him. Be ready to admit, for the horse's sake, if you find yourself out of your depth, and just feel OK with your limitations.Easier said than done I know, but it will help to better prepare you, if you ever get the chance again.
Above all, have confidence.You probably know more than you think.Ask advice, from people, and be wary of people who try to thrust advice at you.If I'd listened to them......I would have broken my heart by now!! Go for it.......show us some piccies, and good luck!

[Peace]

this little poppet (14hh ??Welshie X) is actually very, very gentle, and possibly better behaved at four than most of your giants are at ten years plus.

Absolutely!:) Although I got plenty of encouragement from people around my barn (who knew Quanah was a nice guy), I was really worried at first about buying a three year old. Then I started looking around at how some older horses act, and realized age really is just a number!

I'm glad Amber (is that her name?) is working out so well for you, Monty!

[Squeak]

Hi - I'm new to this forum and I've just bought a gelding who is rising 4 (cob/thoroughbred cross) and I'm so excited - but worried that I haven't got enough experience for such a young horse. So glad to read some of the positive replies here.

I'll be riding him for the first time tomorrow since I bought him (I rode him twice prior to buying him and he went very nicely- I think he has been nicely backed and brought on) - hoping he won't be too frazzled by his new environment! The previous owner recommended I ride him out in company to start with, which seems very sensible. Trouble is I'm at a new yard and although the yard owners said there are loads of people to hack out with, I don't know any of them yet!

wish me luck!!