May becoming a horse owner.

Oldcountryboy · #1 04/07/12, 10:49 PM

A first time horse owner too!

About 3/4 of a mile up the road is a pasture with a pretty paint horse. Not sure how old it is but I think they've had it about 5 to 7 years. We occasionally walk by the pasture for exercise and if the horse is nearby my duaghters always pet it and feed it green grass.

It's quit shy and needs a lot of grooming and shawed. It's not taken care of very well. Well yesterday I ran into the people who own it and asked what they would take for it. The woman thought for a second and said "Hmmm, hundred dollars". The man said "Naw, we'll just let you have it so we don't have to mess with it anymore". So I might be getting a free horse or a very cheap one at least.

Although I'm from the country, I've never owned a horse before. I use to ride one often that belonged to my Uncle who lived next door when I was growing up. But I've never taken care of one, so I might be asking for help from you all. And it's been probably 30 years since I've even been on a horse.

Also, the horse has never been broke to ride. So I will have to have it trainned too. That'll probably cost some money!

I haven't told my daughters about it yet. They've been wanting me to buy it for quit some time. They will be surprized when they find out about it.

So help me out all you can, I'll be full of questions as time goes by!

Irish Pixie · #2 04/08/12, 06:50 AM

Yup, training is expensive a decent trainer will charge at least $500 a month (including board) and it takes an absolute minimum of 90 days to just get a horse started on the basics.

I suggest you take the money you would have put into training and buy an older well trained trail horse that's been there, done that. I'm not trying to rain on your parade but I've seen the scenario you're describing for 30+ years and it rarely works out well.

dkrabec · #3 04/08/12, 07:21 AM

Been training and had horses most of my life have to agree with Irish Pixie. While your intentions are good, you don't want to risk your or your children's safety.

Cliff · #4 04/08/12, 07:35 AM

Do you have someone you know that knows horses and can go look at it? If it is shy/spooky it could be dangerous for your children to be around. Horses are so big it is very easy for them to hurt you without meaning to. Even if it's safe on the ground, green horses, even when started under saddle by someone else, are not reliable.

I know you and your kids have a sort of emotional attachment to this horse but I also think you would be better off finding a calm older broke horse to start out with since you guys know nothing about horses. You will have a lot more fun with a horse like that. You'd be able to relax a little and not worry so much about someone getting hurt.

Also really not trying to be a downer, but I know I am

sorry.

Maybe you will get the horse trained and it will work out fine, what do I know. But you need to be willing to spend the money to do that for the safety of your children and yourself. A free horse can turn out to be very costly in more ways than one.

Pearl B · #5 04/08/12, 07:40 AM

That's how I got a hip injury that laid me up.

Not having good riding skills, getting a nag horse,that looked pretty, and not spending enough on a good trainer.

I wont do that again.

Good luck!

beccachow · #6 04/08/12, 08:42 AM

Do you have a pasture set up? You'll need at least a lean-to, pretty easy to build.

Horses don't like being alone. Wonder if you could find an older, been there-done that type horse to keep her company.

You will be better off to send her to a trainer for sure, or fnd one who will work with her at your house and teach YOU guys, too. Don't forget to have a vet and a farrier lined up.

Find out what she is eating now, if they have her on a grain you will need to use the same thing but I would wean her off if she is on grain, she most likely doesn't need it with the grass growing like mad.

Get in the pasture with her, make sure she is OK with having her feet handled, being groomed, etc. Make a point out of touching her ears and face. If she is so skittish she doesn't like her head handled, you will be in a world of hurt trying to train her.

It can be done, but you must make sure she has a good heart under those pretty looks. How old do they think she is? Older horses become set in their ways and will be harder to train. The good news is, you guys are not strangers to her.

Work horse · #7 04/08/12, 11:00 AM

If you are thinking about buying a horse, please do not buy this horse. Things will not go well. Start by taking some lessons at a reputable stable (lessons that include basic horse care & management!) and then have a knowledgeable person help you buy an appropriate horse that you and your daughter can enjoy.

As an aside, most horse owners do not appreciate when people pet & feed their horses over the fence. Please don't do that unless you have express permission. It's like going into someone's yard to play with their dog.

DamnearaFarm · #8 04/08/12, 12:01 PM

I ditto almost everything else said on the thread.

If you're wanting a pasture puff that your daughters can either feed and pet through the fence or under your close supervision then by all means, get the horse.

If you're wanting a horse y'all can ride, SAFELY, then look elsewhere.

And yeah, not cool on feeding someone else's horse through the fence without permission. You could accidentally give the horse something he wasn't supposed to have and make him ill or, God forbid, your daughters could be bitten or otherwise injured.
Although these people sound like they wouldn't care either way, responsible owners would.

Rogo · #9 04/08/12, 03:45 PM

I often see in these forums that a horse doesn't do well alone....that it needs a buddy. Perhaps if it's a pasture ornament (which isn't fair for ANY equine), but I've had single mounts who have roamed the acreage and done just fine. Of course, they had a job 'cause I rode/ride them a lot.

If I knew you, knew you and your daughter's personalities, I could better answer your questions. Sometimes things like this work out well, sometimes they don't.

The horse has been neglected, not used. I'd bet it would take more time than usual to earn his trust. It's not going to happen over-night. Once you earn their trust, they'll do just about anything for you.

Eventually, you're gonna need 2 horses so you and daughter can ride together. Just a thought here....why not get a 'been there, done that' mount for you to learn to ride on and get the freebee mount as a project. Perhaps an equine friend who knows what s/he's doing can help you and daughter. You can take your time gaining freebee's trust and he can watch what the experienced horse is doing. You never know, but freebee just might turn into a great trail horse.

Oldcountryboy · #10 04/08/12, 09:54 PM

Yep I've taken all the warnings in consideration long before I even mentioned it here on board. And I know it might be kind of tricky. Rogo has got some good information and I have thought about having my daughters feed and groom the horse for a long while before I get it trainned. If it doesn't work out then maybe we might at least get a colt out of her.

I do have a cuz who trains horses so he might give me a big discount, especially if I keep it bordered up and he comes over to do the trainning. He might bring a horse of his own to train it with. I don't know just what all his technique is but I have seen him have two horses tied up together side by side as one of his trainning methods. I can also remember seeing horses with sacks of feed riding on top of saddles when he's saddle breaking them.

Also to mention, the horse has been all along for the last 2 or 3 years in the pasture/wooded land. I hunt on the property and several times while walking back to my vehicle the horse will come up to me. He'll get real close but he wont let me pet him. He'll follow me all the way back out of the woods up till I cross the fence.

The people did have 2 more horses, making 3 altogether, but said 2 of the horses crossed the back fence on the other side of their property and started running with horses in another pasture and he just let the owner of that place have the 2 other horses.

So my guess is the people bought the horses and soon tired of them very quick and just basically quit taking care of them. Except for dumping feed out to them cause the horse looks healthy other then needing some major grooming done. Needs it's hoof's trimmed very bad.

DamnearaFarm · #11 04/09/12, 06:31 AM

Trying to bite my tongue here.......and failing. Miserably.

WHY would you want to 'get a colt' out of this horse? Is there ANYTHING outstanding about her? Fantastic movement, great conformation, wonderful bloodlines, points or wins of any kind under her saddle? Oh wait... she's not broke to ride, not handled, not registered and will require a lot of money and time to become anything other than a four legged lawn mower.

If you think taking on this mare is going to be costly then you have no idea what it's going to be when you get her in foal and get a baby on the ground. Add in TWO sets of training fees, more feed for the mare, more vetting for the mare, stud fees.... a few years feeding and training this foal before you can even step foot in the saddle!

ANYONE breeding a horse needs to think long and hard about their reasons for doing so and should responsibly intend to own and care for the resulting foal for the rest of it's 20-30 year long life. The horse market is in the toilet and in some places, well broke registered horses are being given away. Now imagine the market for a young mutt horse with no skills?

You seem to be a nice guy who tries his darnedest to make his girls happy but you, sir, really have no business getting this horse.

Irish Pixie · #12 04/09/12, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RamblinRoseRanc

Trying to bite my tongue here.......and failing. Miserably.

WHY would you want to 'get a colt' out of this horse? Is there ANYTHING outstanding about her? Fantastic movement, great conformation, wonderful bloodlines, points or wins of any kind under her saddle? Oh wait... she's not broke to ride, not handled, not registered and will require a lot of money and time to become anything other than a four legged lawn mower.

If you think taking on this mare is going to be costly then you have no idea what it's going to be when you get her in foal and get a baby on the ground. Add in TWO sets of training fees, more feed for the mare, more vetting for the mare, stud fees.... a few years feeding and training this foal before you can even step foot in the saddle!

ANYONE breeding a horse needs to think long and hard about their reasons for doing so and should responsibly intend to own and care for the resulting foal for the rest of it's 20-30 year long life. The horse market is in the toilet and in some places, well broke registered horses are being given away. Now imagine the market for a young mutt horse with no skills?

You seem to be a nice guy who tries his darnedest to make his girls happy but you, sir, really have no business getting this horse.

Excellent post, RRR!

wolffeathers · #13 04/09/12, 08:55 AM

Personally, I think you need to slow down just a bit.

You've gone from "never owning a horse before" to "train her, haven't told the girls yet" to "at least get a colt out of her". Please, please, please slow down and listen. The horse market is crap. Even registered horses are being given away, most of the time grade untrained horses like the one you are looking at are practically worthless, except for those buying for meat. Any offspring produced out of this mare will probably not be worth anything but the low low price of meat. It's the stark cruel reality of where the horse market is right now.

Everyone here is trying to tell you that this mare WILL cost much, much MORE than buying a horse that already suits your needs. Training a horse doesn't always go as planned, some horses never come around and many horses never reach the stage where it would be safe for children.

Personally, if this horse won't even approach people, I wouldn't want my kids anywhere near it, nevertheless on it. It's fearful, knows no manners and has apparently been neglected for a long time. It is not a dog, you won't feed it and all of a sudden become a pack mate. It is a prey animal that will watch warily as you bring it food and if anything startles or spooks it, it will not hesitate to run you or your children over.

Horses are dangerous. Untrained, unsocialized horses are accidents waiting to happen, do you and your children have health insurance?

Please, please, please start out with an older been there done it horse. For your kids safety.

If your cousin is a horse trainer maybe he can cut you a deal on a good horse, instead of a deal on training a horse that may never suit your needs. Buy you an older gelding and learn to be a horse owner, before trying to be a horse trainer and breeder.

Cliff · #14 04/09/12, 09:09 AM

You are still not comprehending how dangerous this situation is for your children. And you too btw since you know absolutely nothing about horses.

Do you understand anything at all about horse body language or herd behavior and hierarchy? It sounds like you are dead set to plunge into this potential disaster no matter what, so you need to start learning. It's not enough to send the horse to someone else for training. You and your kids have a lot of learning to do before you understand how to safely handle an ungentled untrained horse. That horse can kill you without meaning to! A timid horse is an easily panicked horse. You need to know what every twitch, wiggle, glance, change of ear orientation and shift of weight means. And then know what to do about it. There is so much you need to know to be safe with this horse. You don't even know what you don't know, if that makes sense. If you aren't willing to take the time and effort for yourself and children to learn, then you are being irresponsible. How will you feel if one of your kids is disabled or killed by a spooky horse that people who know what the heck they are talking about told you not to fool with? Who will take care of your family if you are the one disabled or killed?

And you, who know nothing at all about horses, want a foal?? Future slaughter horse in the making if you don't learn what you are doing and quick.

Time to get busy

Wouldn't it be so much easier to learn on a safe horse?

Irish Pixie · #15 04/09/12, 09:26 AM

I have 40+ years of horse experience, hands on in all aspects of the horse industry and this morning my 19 year old been there, done that TB mare spooked into me as I was turning her out and I whacked my head hard into the gate post. I'm OK (saw stars tho and neck is killing me) but anything can happen even with a well trained horse and I've owned her for over 12 years.

Do you really want your children around a horse you can't even put your hands on?

Cliff · #16 04/09/12, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldcountryboy

I have thought about having my daughters feed and groom the horse for a long while before I get it trainned.

This statement alone shows how very little you know about how much danger you are planning to put your children in.

Do not fall into the trap of ascribing human feelings/motivations to horses. "The nice horse would never hurt my kids, she's really not mean at all." Horses are prey animals. They panic easily and run when frightened. When the flight instinct kicks in their brain disengages. She doesn't have to be mean to hurt/kill someone. Picture 1500 pounds of scared horse trying to get away when the slightest little thing that you might not even notice freaks her out.

And you plan to put your non-horse savy kids on the ground close to her? Underfoot to be stomped in a panic or trampled because they are between her and getting away??

TroutRiver · #17 04/09/12, 11:04 AM

I'm a little confused... you talk about "getting a colt" out of this horse... but you also refer to the horse as "him"... are we talking about a mare? gelding? STALLION??

I agree with just about everything that has been said here. Last year, in fact, I saw a situation play out just like this. I was the trainer. An acquaintance hired me to train 3 horses that he had bought for his wife and daughters. They had been allowed to roam free on his fenced in property (probably about 40 acres of pasture and woods) and basically fended for themselves. They had very little handling. They weren't afraid of people, but they were completely untrained. Just like you described, they would walk up to you without fear, but they did not like being touched, especially around their faces

I have been riding and working with horses for about 20 years, and it took me a few days just to get halters on these horses. I was eventually able to back all 3, but none of them were ever "trained" to the point where you could put a beginner on them, because the family ran out of money to keep paying me to come out several times a week to work with them.

Untrained horses really need to be handled and worked by an experienced trainer every day if possible, at least 3-4 times a week if you want to see any results. 5-6 days a week is better. But if you aren't the experienced trainer, hiring someone else to do that gets expensive, fast. This is why we recommend that inexperienced people do not work with inexperienced horses... the only way that it makes financial sense to train an unhandled horse, is if you are the trainer and you don't have to pay someone else to do it. No offense, but you stated yourself that you do not have the experience to train this horse.

If you want this horse to be a pet and pasture ornament, then go for it, but realize that you are taking a big risk, one of your daughters could get kicked or injured VERY easily. This horse is not used to being around people and it will spook easily. Ask yourself, seriously, if it is worth the risk.

If you want to be able to ride this horse and really work with it, PLEASE consider buying an older, more experienced horse. You will end up paying more than $1000 in training fees alone just to get this horse ridable (probably a lot more). For $1000, you could get a well trained, gentle, kid-safe, healthy horse with the way the market is right now. Don't let the initial "free" price tag sway you, because let me assure you, this horse will NOT be free in the end.

We are not trying to rain on your parade, just trying to save you a huge expense and potential heartbreak, because we have all seen this scenario played out time and time again, and it always ends badly.

offthegrid · #18 04/09/12, 11:08 AM

I agree with the above....it's really true. Horses are big and therefore can be very dangerous. And while intelligent, their instinct often takes over and causes them to flee, so there is always an unpredictable nature - even with safe, older, trained horses. And moreso for those that are not trained and trusting of their owners.

I was grooming with my daughters last week and it was windy so we were using a shedding blade outside to help keep the hair out of the barn. My horses are all trained and as "kid-safe" as horses can be. My boarder was overseeding a portion of the pasture and the empty seed bag blew away (about 5 feet). All three horses saw it, spun and galloped away from us -- think 3000+ lbs at high speed. Thankfully no one got hurt, but even regularly handled, safe horses can be extremely dangerous.

I can appreciate your wanting to give this horse a better life. If you plan to go ahead with this horse, get a good trainer involved now. It might end up to be better/cheaper/safer and more satisfying for a trainer to rehome this project horse with someone else and help you find a different one for yourself and your kids.

Pearl B · #19 04/09/12, 11:24 AM

You sound like a nice guy with good intentions that is about to get you and your children hurt, physically and financially.

I hope you have a way of making income while you are laid up from the injury's you can incur from interacting with this beast.

You wait till that thing gets sick on you and the girls are screaming, but daddy we have to save it, and it is a worthless nag.

I wish you the best, and hope you really think this through, and or have some one experienced that you can rely on to help you-seriously.

I didnt mean this to be rude or condescending, Ive been there done that, got the broken heart and the injurys to show for it.

wr · #20 04/09/12, 12:22 PM

Let's try and keep this conversation helpful and respectful. While we may not agree with some of the discussion, being rude or condescending is not going to change anybody's mind.