Need Some Opinions...

[Deleted]

Well, after a long and hard search, it seems like Rich and I might just possibly have found another horse. Cheap, too. The only problem is he's a yearling. He's not gelded yet, but I'm going to ask the seller to do that before we bring him home. My mare's old, but you never know what can happen (and she's a very loose woman!).

Way back when I was thinking of having her bred, I fully intended on raising and training the foal myself, rather than have him/her sent out for training. So I read up on all the tips and tricks, most of which are just common sense, in my opinion. The problem is that even though I feel I have all the knowledge I need, I have not a whit of actual experience doing this.

My younger sister has bought several weanlings and started them and not had any problems. I talked to her for an hour on the phone last night and her advice was to go for it. The most obvious benefit of course being that he would be trained for us, rather than someone else. I agree, that would be a plus, but I'm just wondering if this will be biting off more than I can chew.

When summer comes around, I'm going to be busy with the garden, but that won't take all day, so I could easily set aside a period of time every day to work with him. I'm really torn about this. Rich would rather get an older horse who's already trained to saddle, but I've got this streak in me that loves a challenge. (However, I would NOT love being laid up with broken bones, so I'm going to be extremely careful if we do this.)

So if any of you have raised and trained a foal before, can you tell me what's going to happen that ISN'T in the books? I figure if he's got a good personality, it should be pretty much smooth sailing, but like I said, I've never done this before, and it's the things you don't expect to happen that always do.

~Lannie

[Deleted]

Did I just read this correctly? What's not in the books? LOL Just about anything and everything.... However, you have some horse experience so you should be fine. Like you said, common sense. If I were you, I probably would send him out for his first ride to someone you trust. Simply because it would be safer that way and probably easier for the foal. Everything else I would do myself....sacking, saddle, bits, walkers, everything. Just take a deep breath and jump girl... Trust your instincts and go for it.

[Kathy]

Since I know nothing about horses, I'll just wish you good luck!

I think a new horse might do wonders for your spirits-I know you love to pamper those big loving critters!! ;D

[Deleted]

You're right, Kathy.

Cricket, there IS no one I trust. I will be the one to ride first. But I'm not gonna just jump up there! There will be lots of stirrup-stepping and leaning over (ready to jump off at a moment's notice), and hand waving and clapping and such. And I won't do it unless Rich is firmly holding his head. That should work. When he's used to my weight across his back, I'll just slip a leg over one time and see what happens. Like I said, if his personality is good, he shouldn't fuss too much. Kathy's right - I love to pamper my equine friends, so I'm sure he'll be completely comfortable with me when the time comes. If not, I hope I land on something soft!

We seem to have a big storm blowing in with 4 - 9 inches of white stuff predicted, so I guess we're not going to Rapid tomorrow. Maybe Monday if the weather clears. I wouldn't worry so much, but South Dakota has this nasty habit of closing the freeways during snowstorms, and if we can't get back home, who's going to take care of all the other animals? So best to stay home and be safe.

~Lannie

[Deleted]

You're gonna break him (man, I hate that term) while someone is holding his head?? REALLY BAD IDEA!!! You both could end up hurt seriously. I did that ONCE and it almost killed me. Never again. In fact, I rarely constrain a horse while I'm training at all. If they feel the need to flee, they can but they don't. I've started hundreds of horses and the only one that ended badly was the one that someone was holding...my first. They ended up shooting the horse cause it went crazy after that. I will live with that for the rest of my life....

Yes, there's tons of work to do before anyone gets on him. I meant jump as in...go ahead and get him. Not really jump on him. He's WAY too young anyway. As long as he's not arab, you've got a year of sacking and saddling first. If he's arab, then you have 2.5 yrs before anyone should get on him. Get on them too early and you break down hock, pasturns, spine, kidneys, and their minds.

If you are going to do it and it 's something you've never done before...then talk to as many people as you can. Go work in some stables where they start horses. Read as much as you can. You can't buy experience but you can be as prepared as possible...which is what it sounds like you are doing.

Whiile you are still sacking out, lean over him and stuff everyday. Put feed bags full of sand on him. No more than about 25# at first then go up to about 70# or so. NO MORE. You don't want to stress tendons, just get him accustomed to the "boogey man" being up there. Work him in long lines if you know how. If you don't, then don't. It's not as easy as it looks.

You'll do fine....

[Deleted]

OK, Cricket, no head-holding. Come to think of it, that's the only time I got hurt on our other horse (the one that just died), right after we got him. I had my husband (ex-hubby now) holding him while I got on and sat (the horse was barely greenbroke), then had him start leading Raj while I was sitting up there. Something spooked him and he reared, and Cameron tried to pull him back down (he doesn't have a lot of common sense anyway), so Raj pulled harder and went over sideways. His mane was very long and my face was in it so I didn't see we were going down till I hit the ground, with him on top of me. Luckily, neither one of us got really hurt, just shaken up badly. I got right back on and he sheepishly carried me back to the barn. He was more shook up than I was, I think. I felt like I'd been in a train wreck the next day, though. I think every stinkin' muscle in my body was pulled.

I know not to ride him until he's at least 2 (and I seriously think we should wait until he's closer to 3). Both of us are tall and right now I weigh a little over 160, so that's not a light weight for a young horse. Rich weighs more than I do, but he won't be the first one riding him, just because he's got a bad back and knees in the first place, and there's no use courting trouble with having him be injured worse. I'm still all in working order, so I can better recover if I hit the ground.

My plan was to work with him all this summer, getting him used to being handled (feet, mouth, ears, etc.), then start with the long line (I do know how to do that, but not the ground-reins). The empty feed sack idea is a good one. I'll use that, too. I have an old bareback pad that's just foam with a fabric cover (you remember those?) that has an infinitely adjustable cinch, so I thought of putting that on him, lightly cinched at first, and leading him around, so he gets used to something around his belly while paying attention to who's on the other end of the leadrope. Then I thought I'd try the trick of putting a snaffle bridle on him and turning him out for a day or so at a time to get him used to the bit in his mouth (sans reins, of course!). I did that with Raj because he was so green he kept trying to spit the bit out and wouldn't pay attention to me at all. After I left him out in the pasture with the bridle on for a day, he discovered he could eat around the bit and it didn't bother him so much after that.

Then through the winter, as time allows, more handling and longe-line work, then maybe sometime the summer after, I can start thinking about getting on him. You know, I don't even know what breed he is. It really doesn't matter to me, but I assume he's probably a Quarterhorse. Most of the horses around here are. They're all ranch horses.

Gosh, I'm going on and on. I know what I NEED to do, I just have to do it now. If we even get this boy, but I think I'd like to. It would be nice to have a bit younger animal for a change!

And I still have most of my training books, so I guess I'll be brushing up on all that over the winter. I think it's all in my head, but I know I haven't remembered everything! LOL!

~Lannie

[bergere]

Lannie,

Sorry I posted so late.

I have raised many foals. Unless you can deal with 2 years of basically raising a baby.........
They are a lot of work, take a lot of time. You have to make sure they are always on their best behavior around people.

One of my fillys...lets just say if she was a full sized horse she would of been put down.
At almost 4 years old now, she is doing well, but it was a lot of work to make sure she would not harm people.
I still have to be careful with who is allowed around her.
Makes me wonder how my Sweet Maggie could have one with a temperament like her???

A young colt/gelding is going to want to play and play rough like all boys do.
Your old girl will most likely not like having to deal with this.
Another thing you have to take into account is even some geldings will mount and breed your mare. Doing all the things a breeding stallion would do, though she would not get in foal.
Having a young gelding do this could very well hurt your mare.
Have seen it happen many times.

I have all mares on the place and I find it better for all to stick with all mares,, or all geldings.

Lannie I think you would be better off with at least a filly. Older Filly would be better,, say one that is ready to start now if that is what you want to do.

Having been around horses all my life, and knowing how much work young horses are... I always try to stear folks into the direction of an older horse. Think you would be more happy in the long run.

[Deleted]

Good points, Bergere, but there are no "people" to worry about. It's just Rich and me here. And as far as him trying to breed her, it will be her trying to breed him, trust me. She does it every time she's around a new gelding. She absolutely does NOT get along with other mares. Maybe that's not normal behavior, but that's how she is. When I've had her boarded with other horses in the past, if another mare was in the "herd" they both ended up getting hurt.

Plus, and this is just my own personal opinion, from my own personal experiences, I would never have another mare. They're too silly, too unpredictable, and way too much trouble. If I'd known that back when I first looked at Aiesha, I probably would have passed on her, but I got her anyway, and I've had to learn to live with it. I've been around a lot of other mares, including one who literally tried to kill me, and I've pretty much been soured on them. But that's just me. My sister's also had lots of horses, and she likes mares as well as geldings. They're individuals, just like people.

The rough play might be a problem, and I would have worried about it a year ago, but since I've gotten Aiesha on a different diet and a regimen of probiotics and antifungals, she's a new horse. She's as active and frisky as she was when I first got her. She's not easy to ride anymore, because she wants to leap about and be silly. So I have to be extra careful on her now.

I don't mean to make light of your concern, but I honestly think she might be the instigator of rough play when a new horse is introduced. Now that she's more "lively", it would be disastrous to bring in another mare.

I'd much prefer an older, already trained gelding, and we're still trying to find one of those, but our finances are limited, so if all we can get is the yearling, we're seriously considering going that route. I have the time to spare, just not the money for a "better" horse. And have no doubt, if I think there's even a smidgen of bad in that horse, he won't be coming home with us. I'm willing to deal with training a young, good tempered horse, but I'm not willing to deal with a bad-tempered one. Not in the least.

~Lannie

[bergere]

Oh Goodness Lannie,,, is no problem.
I just hope you did not mind my ideas.

Sounds like your mare is rather like Dyfra. I have her on Mag/B-1 and calming Herbs. It takes the edge off and makes her easier to ride.
I do not know if it will work with your mare or not???

Ah,, she is that kind of mare. ;D Sounds like a colt/gelding would be best for both of you.

Maggie is my hussy,,but such a sweet heart. Her being soo good makes up for it.
My Jenny will show, but no one pays any attention to her and she gives up.

The other mares,,don't show season. Their temperament doesn't change at all. Could be the breeds they are? Or I got really lucky?

I used to have nothing but Geldings,, but things changed and over time I ended up with mares. Wasn't really looking for mares, it just happened.
Used to not want any thing to do with mares as I used to work and trained at different stables for years and wasn't impressed with a mares attitude.
But these girls here have changed my mind. At least with some mares.

I hear you about funds. The Wind storm has caused so much damage to my shed's roof, most of my horse money is going to that. Don't know if I will have enough to continue my horse shopping,,at least for awhile.
Sigh ~ ~

Prices of good horses over here are un real. Though I know some parts of the country it is easy to pick up a good gelding for not too much.
Well, good luck with your colt/gelding to be. Hope to see pictures when you bring him home. ;D

[Deleted]

Not to worry, Bergere, that's why I asked for opinions. It's just that we live in an unpopulated area, and I know a lot of people worry about their horses around "other" people, but here there are none. Well, one "neighbor" does come to visit once in a while but she has 19 horses herself and knows what they're about, so I never worry about her.

Now, regarding our trip yesterday, it was a total waste of time and gas. We drove 150 miles one way, only to find out that woman LIED to me on the phone. Not only was this horse not a yearling (if he was more than 8 months old, I'll eat my hat), but he was wilder than a freshly-caught mustang.

I was quite shocked when I saw how small he was, and said to the lady that I thought he'd be much bigger at a year or more old (I had figured that he was slightly over a year, thinking he had been born summer before last). Found out he was born late LAST summer, so he won't be a year old until late this summer. I would have called him a weanling. Seems that it's not only the Jockey Club that counts the first January 1st as their first birthday, but the APHA does it too. Maybe all of them do now, I don't know.

So he was very little, but the worst part was how wild he was. We were never able to get closer to him than about 15 feet, and his owner couldn't catch him. There were 6 or 7 other youngsters in the paddock with him, and they were all running like there were wolves on their tail. We got them herded into the barn finally, to see if we could get a little closer to the one we were trying to look at, and one of the larger fillies went right through the barn wall in an explosion of planks, timbers and nails. Yes, she just made a new door. Maybe you don't believe me, and I wouldn't have believed it myself, if I hadn't been standing right there and seen it. Of course, the rest piled out after her and they were stampeding again. We helped the lady pick up all the planks and splinters and get them out of the paddock, then she managed to get them all into a smaller pen on the other side of the paddock, and shooed the rest out one at a time till the little boy was the only one left. BIG MISTAKE. He ripped around that pen, banging into the steel gate each time he passed it, then tried to climb out. He almost made it, too. It was a 7-foot slat board fence and he had his front feet over the top. He fell back down, then started digging with both front feet under the gate (just like a dog), and tried to get out underneath. I finally told the lady that we'd better let him out before he hurt or killed himself.

I would have expected better behavior from a wild rabbit. I don't think he's ever been handled, although she said he has. I don't believe it. So we decided that he would not be coming home with us. (Duh!) I would have loved to have his daddy, though. He was a huge big, laid back guy (he's gelded now) that was at least 17.5 hands. His withers were at the top of my head (I'm 5'10") and I couldn't see over his back without standing on tiptoe. I kept looking down to see if I was standing in a hole! LOL! He was such a lover, kept licking our hands and nosing us for attention. He's the kind of guy we want, but unfortunately, he's also that woman's favorite horse, so she wasn't parting with him.

So now we're back to square one. I think ANY youngster (younger than about 2 or 3) will be out of the question because of all the barbed wire around here. Even if for some insane reason we would have bought that crazy horse, he would have been dead within 24 hours here I'm sure. He'd try to jump or climb the wire and that would be the end of him. So we're back to looking for an older gelding. Sigh... I just don't know where to find one. They seem to be in pretty short supply around here.

~Lannie

[bergere]

Lannie,
Am sorry that did not work out.
You are right.. I just don't understand people. Why would you have that many horses and not be able to handle them? Thats just not smart.
And I have seen horses blow through gates, walls what ever, when they are scared. Just glad they were never any of my horses!!

Even my silly mare will come up to you for hugs and itches...and follow you all over the place.

Have went to see more than my share of so called Beginners horses this last year.
Wish some of the sellers wouldn't waste my time when their animals are more rank than the Silly mare I have now.
Scary thought that!

Am always searching around. PM me what state you are in, what breeds you would like and what your budget is. If I run across something that might be what you are looking for I would let you know. ;D

Added: smacks forehead.. like Da Bergere...
I see what state you are in Lannie!

[Deleted]

We doan need no stinkin' PMs! LOL!

I'm in NW South Dakota, breed doesn't matter, and we can't afford more than $500.00. This horse will be for Rich (he hasn't learned Aiesha's quirks well enough to be comfortable riding her), so it needs to be big enough that he doesn't look goofy riding him. Raj was 15.3 hands and that was big enough. I don't think he'd enjoy riding anything less than about 15.2, though. Those little 14 handers are just too small for him (he's a tall guy). That 17.2 gelding yesterday would have been so cool! I still wish she would have been willing to part with him!

Anyway, all we want is a decent horse that Rich can ride when we feel like going out riding. It's no fun for me to ride all by myself. And also for when we help out on cattle drives. He can even be older, like late teens or early twenties, as long as he's healthy and sound. Sheesh, everybody else around here is old, so it doesn't matter to us!

I've thought of looking around online, but not a lot of people around here even have computers, much less internet. And I doubt they would think of using the internet to sell their animals. Mostly livestock is sold at "sales" every so often. Like an auction, but the price is firm. The problem with that is that you don't have a chance to ride a prospective horse, you just have to look at him in the sale ring and either buy or not buy. I'd want to ride him first.

I appreciate your offer, and I know it's a huge longshot, but if you DO hear of something, let me know.

Thanks, sweetie!

~Lannie

[bergere]

Lannie,

Check this out. The prices are all over the place for your state,, but it is a start. Just cut and past the whole thing.

Well,,, the first one is smaller. Have to remember I am fairly tall and ride a 12.3 hand Icey. So height to me isn't a big thing. If they are stout, have a good barrel to take up a lot of ones leg,, a smaller one would work. ;O)
If they are a smidge over what you can pay, just ask if they will take a little less.

www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=705697

www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=746540

www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=746272


Then....
agdirect.com/scripts/horssrch.exe

and ..
webpony.equine.com/Horses/ad_details.aspx?search_id=8d3e9674-a626-46b9-aad5-dcb9fdafdf3a&lid=185419&p=2

more..
www.equinehits.com/horses_for_sale_SD

www.horsetopia.com/horses-for-sale-south-dakota.htm

[Deleted]

Wow, Bergere! OK, call me a liar! LOL! I just never thought internet would be a big tool out here!

One of those sites has a couple of mares listed (sigh...), but they're right here in Faith, so I'm going to see if we can maybe introduce one of them to Aiesha and see how it goes. Both of them are in foal, though, so I don't know what we'll do about the baby. (Maybe handle it and get it used to people? Yowza, what a concept! LOL!)

Thanks for those links - I'll be checking them regularly!

~Lannie

[bergere]

Lannie,
You are not a lier!! Goodness.
Have to remember I love to do research and have been searching for a longggg time.

If it doesn't snow here this weekend... I hope to go see a little Peruvian Paso mare this Sunday.

Well,, let us know when you find something!!