4 year old horse = 4 years experience rider?

[NuttyMare]

if the horse was kept with experienced horse people at hand? would it work?

[canadianbeaver]

It completely depends on the horse and the experience of the rider.

[Calsanjo]

Often not, as a 4 year old horse needs to learn, and a rider with only 4 years' experience is still learning themselves.

Tthere are always exceptions to the rule of course, and it can work brilliantly, but isn't ideal!

[Tor&Warrior]

It definetley can work! And even more so if the horse is kept at a yard where you have experienced people at hand. I had only been riding two years when I bought my first horse. I worked a a couple of riding school first. I was an ok rider but definetley not wonderful. My position left alot to be desired and I wasn't very confident. My first pony was a 5year old un-broken welsh who I bought of gypsies because I felt sorry for him! Not ideal:rolleyes: But with alot of work we turned out fine! Had no real major problems and he's now a afilliated SJing pony with his new mum and I only sold him because I out grew him. My second horse was only 3 and I only bought him a couple of months after my first pony. He was from a racing yard sold as "Unrideable at present and a problem" and we also has no problems what so ever and he's now a whipper in horse for a hunt in Somerset. My next three horses were 5, 3 and 6 and then Vin who was 6month when I got him totally unhandled and only just weaned and Flyte is just 7 and very green as all he's ever done is Hunt & XC. And even now I've only been riding 5 1/2 years. Length of time is not a deciding factor is ability to own a young horse. And I didn't have help around me as my only available livery was DIY. I personally think it has nothing to do with my ability as a rider you just have to be willing to give 100% and not expect anything and realise you'll have to wait longer for the good bits, competing, jumping bigger etc. I can't see why if your 100% happy riding this horse and are willing to put in the time and work envolved why it wouldn't work just fine. Theres never a guarantee with any horse and rider combination whether the horse is 4 or 15 or the riders been riding 4 years or 20.

[Stella2]

I agree with Canadian. I've been riding just over two years. I had a 5 year old who was too much for me and when I looked for another horse recently, I really didn't want another youngster as they are still learning about life and from time to time something will really upset them and they need their rider to be a 'calm confidence giver'. I couldn't do this because I was a wreck after my my 5 year old. He had a tendancy to run off off with me, I had a nasty accident and when coming back to riding, I was very nervious for a while and I wouldn't dream of taking on a four year old in those circumstances.

However, a good friend has a laid back, sensible 4 year old. She rode as a child, but has only been back to riding for around 3 years. Her youngster is laid back, but he can still light up quickly and get upset if something new worries him. She is capable of keeping calm and riding forwards during these episodes and he settles quickly, but on some rides if he has been upset by something, he can remain spooky throughout the whole ride. He is not dangerious at all, he just gets jumpy and takes a short canter and she does really well with him. I myself wouldn't want to do that now, but I fully expect to be capable of riding a 4 year old of his temperment in a couple of years time. I'm unlikely to need to though I hope, as I am besotted with my 6 year old mare and I don't see us parting company, but I'd say if its a sensible 4 year old and you have lots of experienced help if you need advice and are prepared to take regular lessons - go for it and enjoy :)

[NuttyMare]

thankyou very much for all your constructive criticism and comments guys, there is a 4 year old Pintalusa at our yard who i've got my eye on. Don't know why though, since we don't exactly have tons of cash!

[Jay.o]

I am jsut curious as to what a Pintalusa is? From the name I am guessing its a Paint horse crossed with an appy? I am sure I am wrong, but hey :rolleyes: :D

Edit: spelling

[Stella2]

I wondered too !

[notpoodle]

hm, i wouldnt get a 4 year old horse unless they were experienced people nearby who could help. i've been riding for 10+ years altogether .... but i'm not very good (definitely NOT a natural!) and would be hopelessly lost with a young horse of my own ...

julia
x

[shandy84]

"SHANTELLA 16.0 HANDS 4YEAR OLD PINTALUSA MARE VERY STRIKING, GOOD PACES READY TO GO ON IN ANY SPHERE £3,500"

Nutty Mare I know the yard and to be honest with the knowledge I have I would not buy this mare as a first horse for you. Firstly the ad says nothing of her schooling etc and it is very possible she will need to much work for you, nevermind she is a fortune.

Also they have been known to "exaggerate" the truth in their ads if you gt my meaning. You would be better off with a slightly less green horse as a first horse, i have only just got my first green horse 15 years after riding at the same place you ride at and I still didn't know enough to start with

P.s. this is her pic for you Jay.O

[katiee]

It depends on the horse and rider - there are some amazingly laid back, mature 4 year old horses with a real 'been there, done that already got the t-shirt' attitude and there are some natural horsemen/women with a lot of talent that may have only been riding a short time.

With a young horse though, I'd say that patience and the abiltity to take advice and keep on learning is more important than riding ability!

[Stella2]

I wouldn't get a 4 year old as a first horse if you have only ridden riding school horses previously.

[NuttyMare]

thankyou stella2, shandy84, jay.o, notpoodle and katiee for taking the time to comment and advise.

shandy84 - i know what you mean about the exaggerating. For example - Bilbo's advert.

"BILBO 15.3 HANDS, 8 YEAR OLD GELDING VERY LAID BACK RIDE, FANTASTIC HACK ALONE OR IN COMPANY LOVES TO JUMP EASY TO DO £3.000 "

very laid back? more like stops at every moment possible due to lazy devil syndrome :p

[JaniceH]

Hi Nuttymare
Hope you're ok :D Just one thing I would say, after my sons riding lesson this afternoon, Chantella was in the adult riding lesson and one of the members of staff was riding her. Lets just say that Chantella wasnt behaving very well :rolleyes:

[Tor&Warrior]

What I put in my post does only stand if you can 100% manage the horse in all situations prior to buying it. I'd read some of your posts about her and she seemed a sweety and you seemed to manage her very well but it seems she has a devlish side!;) That can be the only thing with babies and if you were looking to buy a baby I'd say you would need to try it alot more times in alot more situations than an older horse. They tend to be little saints one day and you'd feel safe putting your granma on them, yet the next they grow horns and pointy tails and forget all they've ever been taught in the way of handling and find great amusement in seeing how many times they can deposit you on the floor in half and hour. She is beautiful but personally for her age & experience and especially as she can be naughty she is a hell of alot of money. Would never pay that fora 4 year old with no experience competing etc how ever well behaved it was.

[NuttyMare]

thankyou for the feedback.

[shandy84]

I would like to tell you about my morning.

As you have proabably read Shandy my PBA filly has been on the whole an angel, however, today we found her devilish side and it was very very horrible.

Where I can normally hack her out and have no problems, she kept trying to bolt, spooking all over the place, when we got to the road she went spinning and leg yielding down the road (thank God tha i went late morning when drivers are a little more prepared to wait) she just was being a real madame, I am very experienced and she was managing to pull up trumps on me much to my annoyance, we managed to finish the ride wll but what I'm trying to point out even the best in the school can be an absolute nightmare out of it. Shandy is only 14.2 and was giving me a run for my mpney had I been riding a 16hh horse doing the same thing I would have been off or taken for a long bolt over the countryside.

The area of the stables is not ideal for bringing on a young horse - trust me, drivers can be real plonkers

If you want something that young I would get a 14.2hh I remember you height and that will be plenty big enough even then they will still play up you may just be able to keep a hold of the bad manners rather than the horse win which a big horse would

[OlavS]

When I had been riding for 11 months I had been just ended a brief period of part sharing of a horse that tried to bite, was napping, spooky and clumsy. In fact I preferred looking at him through a metal fence than be in his box, and he drained my confidence!

So I figured that when the day came that I was to look for a horse to buy I would look almost exclusively at the personality. And I was persuaded by Chapsi to fly to Portugal to see this four year old mare at her new yard. She knew of the troubles I had had and really felt this horse would suit me.

And although nearly everyone at my yard told me not to even consider such a young horse I went. And I met the most incredibly cuddly, kind and confidence giving horse. Not only that, she moved really well and looked stunning! (Not that I'm biased or anything :rolleyes: :D)

However, I will have her trained professionally until aged 6. There are many reasons why, but one is certainly that she isn't fully matured, and her balance and strength are not fully developed. So if I were riding her we could end up very one sided. And training wise we would probably get stuck from very early on...a case of the deaf leading the blind. :rolleyes: Or green+green = blue ;)

To me there's no point in buying a flash looking horse or one that jumps the moon if he makes your life misery by misbehaving, biting, kicking, napping etc. If the personality is exactly what you're looking for then there's every chance you can make it work, but if not then I'd look elsewhere. Don't forget, even though you might have experienced people at hand, you probably can't rely on others to help you catch and tack up the horse every time, so make sure that you are comfortable with the horse on your own.

You'll know when you've found the right one. It's not the horse you *can* buy, it's the one you *can't pass up*...or maybe I was just incredibly lucky :o

[Tootsie4U]

How about only 6 months riding - bought a 3 year old late gelder with a dominant personality? Ground work, backing, riding all done by yours truly.

Don't tell me it doesnt work! :D

Dedication, Understanding, Open Mindness, and humble-ness are all part of the recipe for success. Fact is, the horses already know how to do it. We have to teach them how to do it *with us*. Understand that, along with the natural mechanics of the species, and you'll do just fine.

[chev]

It can work really well. I know one man local to us who bought a coloured colt because he felt sorry for it. He'd never been near a horse in his life until then. He bought a book on breaking published in the 1960s and picked the brains of anyone prepared to listen. He ended up with a fantastic ride and drive gelding - and has since brought on a feral Welsh filly given to him because the man who owned her couldn't do anything with her (said owner had kept horse for thirty odd years).

Or it can be a disaster. Another friend, had lessons for a year or so, bought a five year old green gelding. Combination of novice rider and green horse resulted in said gelding spending two years in a field doing nothing while rider tried to recover lost confidence enough to ride anything. She sold him for a third of what she paid for him and has gone back to lessons.

It really depends on how much support you have, the kind of person you are, and the kind of person the horse is.

By the time I bought my first horse I'd been working at a yard for some years where part of what I did was breaking and schooling. When I left, I continued that work for several people. My first horse was an old, bombproof cob - who caused me more problems and was more of a challenge than most of the youngsters I'd worked with. My next horse was a weanling, who was the easiest, most pliable horse you could wish for.

If you and a horse click then give it a go. Good luck! :)

[Lgd]

If it is the right combination of horse and rider it can work, but that is more usually an exception.

Apart from that I would not pay £3500 for a 4yo that has done nothing and sounds as though it has behavioural issues already. Would also add that they can be worse at 5yo when they hit the 'stroppy teenager' syndrome aka 'The Kevins'

As a vague price guide - I paid £1200 for a 15.2hh (she's now almost 15.3hh) green 4yo Russian WB cross mare who could WTC and jump sensibly and do a Prelim dressage test (albeit a bit wobbly at times).

For £3500 you should be able to buy a nice riding club type horse 6 - 10yrs, that has seen it, done it, and got the T-shirt.

[PridesAngel03]

Originally posted by shandy84
"SHANTELLA 16.0 HANDS 4YEAR OLD PINTALUSA MARE VERY STRIKING, GOOD PACES READY TO GO ON IN ANY SPHERE £3,500"



Don't know if you care about Registry, but Pintaloosa are illegal in the Pinto Registry. In other words, you're not supposed to cross Apps with Paints. Just thought you should know. Doesn't mean she won't be a nice horse, just wrongly bred.

[PridesAngel03]

Originally posted by Lgd


For £3500 you should be able to buy a nice riding club type horse 6 - 10yrs, that has seen it, done it, and got the T-shirt. [/B]

Got the t-shirt, outgrew it, and got another one!

;)

[RachelEvent]

For £3500 you should be able to buy a nice riding club type horse 6 - 10yrs, that has seen it, done it, and got the T-shirt.

Oh how I wish that was the case! I don't know, perhaps it's the difference between the south and the north, but certainly in gloucestershire and the surrounding counties you are doing VERY well if you managed to find one to fit that description :rolleyes: I do still think though that £3500 for a green four year old is decidedly overpriced. Just as a comparison, I paid £3000 for my horse as a 6 year old. He had hunted two seasons in Ireland, completed a few prelim dressage tests, cross country schooled and been to several unaffiliated showjumping competitions with double clears. He was hacking out alone and in company totally safely. 101% Box/Shoe/Catch/Clip and in the heaviest of traffic. Conformation not great, but incredible jump and great attitude. He was still pretty green, had not yet learnt to accept the leg, did not bend and only knew how to steeplechase and stand off fences. I am constantly being told what a bargain I found, so there will be something like this, out there for you.

I know it gets said a lot, but I am a real fan of an older horse, especially for a first one. If you began to look for horses around 15 years old, they should have another five years of very active life in them, and with good care will go on for longer. You can get a very experienced horse who knows their job, yet still has plenty to give, and you can have fun which is what we all want from our horses at the end of the day!

She's a beautiful mare, there is no doubt about that, but please sit down and really think about it.. 4 yrs experience plus a four year old horse can work, but in more cases, to be brutally honest, it doesn't.

4yrs experience on a rider's part can mean a lot of different things also - as great as riding schools are, there tends to be a huge leap between any riding school pony and your own. I helped break in young ponies at my riding school before I got my own, and it was still a HUGE learning curve... good luck :)

Rachel xx

[shandy84]

The place you ride if you would keep her there is extremely busy and i know on occasions liveries have asked for help from the grooms but this has not been allowed. in addition, the people at the yard (a couple are brill but a couple :cough cough: could do with reading some basic horse knowledge books

P.S not referring to anyone that is a member here

I do not agree with the way they back their horses so you may find that this is why she is playing up already. Also bear in mind the other costs such as stabling but also new tack as she will grow out of it yearly same with rugs etc youngsters can be expensive

[JaniceH]

What have you decided to do then Nuttymare, you must be so excited? Have your parents finally said that you can have your own horse for yourself and your sister now? Having a horse at RRC livery is great from the facilities point of view and having help and your instructor there, but Ione thing I found out, by having Liberty there, is that after 4o'clock during the week both the indoor and outdoor arena had people having lessons in them more or less all the time, so the only other option would be hacking. Would you be confident enough on her to take her out on your own? She is beautiful though.

[Lgd]

Originally posted by RachelEvent
Oh how I wish that was the case! I don't know, perhaps it's the difference between the south and the north, but certainly in gloucestershire and the surrounding counties you are doing VERY well if you managed to find one to fit that description :rolleyes:

Move 'Oop North Rachel - MUCH cheaper up here for a nice nag

[Tor&Warrior]

Don't know if you care about Registry, but Pintaloosa are illegal in the Pinto Registry

When I was registering Vin I heard something like this from the appaloosa society. I didn't go into it in great depth as it didn't effect him as he's only part bred so only his Dad breeding counts but as his mum was Pieblad they said there would of been problems registering had she been registered or something like that and they told me to just say she was unregistered and that I knew nothing about her so I didn't cause my self problems, an under no circumstances to say that she was Piebald!:eek:

When buying a horse one of the most important things to me is that it cheap as possible! I'd never pay more than £2500. I paided £2000 for Flyte incl tack & rugs and he'd hunted two season in Ireland, done all Pony Club, and schooled around a number of Pre-Novice XC courses in Gloucestershire. He's so easy in every single way his only tiny little faults being he's very spooky out hacking and although doesn't do it often can bronc for britain! And although he hadn't schooled for a while before I got him had been profesionally backed & schooled as a 3/4year old. And he's only just gone 7. And that was in Gloucester which can be ridiculously expensive! His owners were just desperate to get rid of him (belonged to daughter who'd found boys a year earlier, left him in a field then parents decided to get divorced so needed to sell him quick as both refushed to pay for his keep etc) Before I found him I had given up hope of finding anything and if you compare what I looked at she is priced about right! So its VERY important to keep looking! I have to get a horse cheap or I feel ripped off!

Are you definetley getting a horse then? Very exciting! I would think your area would be pretty expensive too! I wouldn't restrict yourself by setting an age bracat. Just try anything and vereything that you like the sound of cause you'll know when you find the right one!

[NuttyMare]

Originally posted by JaniceH
What have you decided to do then Nuttymare, you must be so excited? Have your parents finally said that you can have your own horse for yourself and your sister now? Having a horse at RRC livery is great from the facilities point of view and having help and your instructor there, but Ione thing I found out, by having Liberty there, is that after 4o'clock during the week both the indoor and outdoor arena had people having lessons in them more or less all the time, so the only other option would be hacking. Would you be confident enough on her to take her out on your own? She is beautiful though.


you have a horse now? (a little O/T i know)

[NuttyMare]

Originally posted by shandy84
The place you ride if you would keep her there is extremely busy and i know on occasions liveries have asked for help from the grooms but this has not been allowed. in addition, the people at the yard (a couple are brill but a couple :cough cough: could do with reading some basic horse knowledge books

P.S not referring to anyone that is a member here

I do not agree with the way they back their horses so you may find that this is why she is playing up already. Also bear in mind the other costs such as stabling but also new tack as she will grow out of it yearly same with rugs etc youngsters can be expensive

thanks for your help shandy84. out of interest, how do they back horses there?

[shandy84]

They just have a different method to the one i use

[JaniceH]

Nuttymare - I'll pm you about Liberty.

[NuttyMare]

shandy84 and JaniceH - i have replied to your PMs :)