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2 yr old Shire Gelding!! :D

7K views 69 replies 22 participants last post by  azarni 
#1 ·
I found this guy!

Castanet Classifieds - 2007 Stunning Purebred Black Shire Gelding

OMG! he is perfect! Except for the fact that he is not broke, but the owners said he is bombproof, and very easy to train. Shires are supposed to be the most quiet draft horses out there.

He is gorgoeus colouring and conformation.. I have always wanted a BLACK shire!! eeek!

He is in the town right next to me.

I have an aunt who has been around horses her entire life, who does a bit of horse training, and she can help me out with training.

What do you think!? :D
 
#55 ·
I am in 100% agreement with smrobs. I believe you are over your heard with a horse like this - even with an aunt that does some training.
 
#56 ·
He looks like a really nice horse and is built beautifully but I have to agree with M2G on this one. Regardless of how "bombproof" they say he is, IMHO, that is not a suitable horse for a first time horse owner. I have been riding all my life but I was 14 before I ever set foot on a horse that was less than dead broke. The first one that I rode was a green mare that my Dad had started and she just needed some miles. I remained under his strict scrutiny during that whole time. I didn't train my first horse by myself until I was 15 and even then, I made some big mistakes that could have really gotten me or him hurt. And that was dealing with a 15hh 900 pound QH. I rode my first green draft horse this year (and I am 25). I can attest that there is a huge difference between a green standard sized horse and a green draft horse (and the guy you're looking at hasn't even been backed yet). Some horses don't start having bucking problems until weeks or even months into training and a guy that size could tear a person in two if he really decided to throw a fit. I just don't want to see you get hurt and, no offense, but it kinda concerns me that someone with no prior training experience is considering taking in a VERY large, VERY unbroke horse as a first horse.

I know how it feels to be so star-struck by such a gorgeous horse that you absolutely have to have him but if I may give some unsolicited advice: Take a step back and really look at him. He is only 2; are you REALLY willing to wait another 2-3 years before you can start really training him? Then, on top of that, possibly another 1-2 years before he is considered broke? By that time, you will be 17-18 years old and it will be time to move away from home. What are your plans going to be with him after that? I remember how it was to be a teenager and if you are really prepared to give up 3 years of riding completely, then you have more willpower than I did at your age.

Just consider; is it possible that you will buy him now and 8 months down the road, when the new wears off, will you want something that you can ride?

Believe me, I am not trying to be a downer, but just trying to help you look at this from all angles before making a final decision.
I understand your concern. I will have to disagree with your statement that he isn't a suitable horse for a first time owner.. as some young horses act like their 15. I knew one at a barn, that I groomed, and led around, I thought he was at least 20yrs old, just a small pony, but it turns out he was 2.5 yrs old.
The trainer rode him, he was awesome, so quiet and calm, then the beginner owner rode him, and he acted like a beginners horse.
So, this cant all be judged on age, as APHAMOMMA said.

Actually, he was born in 2007, so he is almost 3. So, only wait about 1 yr to ride him.
I dont mind not being able to ride him for awhile.. also, I wont be moving away from home at 18 o_O..... I probably wont move out until in my early 20's.
And, when I do move, I will take him with me.

I dont think it will wear off down the road, as I can still do lots of training with him on the ground. Also, my friend has a horse I can ride once in awhile, and we can go down the road together, I will walk my guy, and she will ride hers.

I think its best to check him out, and go from there :)
The owner thing that concerns me is how much he eats a year...
 
#59 ·
Actually, he was born in 2007, so he is almost 3. So, only wait about 1 yr to ride him.
I have to disagree with you on this. It is my understanding that drafts mature much later than light horses. There is an 8-year-old draft gelding at my barn who is in training, and right now he is at the maturity level of a much younger horse.
Unless you have a lot of experience in training horses, I wouldn't take on a two-year-old until you've gotten more mileage. I believe you said that you've been riding for 3 years? If I'm wrong, just correct me LOL :). Anyway, IMO 3 years is NOT long enough for someone to have gotten enough experience to train a young horse. I'm helping my instructor train a mare, and if I didn't have her around me for the entire time that I was riding, I'm sure that the mare would have learned an uncountable number of bad habits. What I'm trying to say is that I don't think that a 2-year-old draft is the best choice for a 13-year-old's first horse. Drafts are much, much bigger and, as someone else said, they could really hurt you if they wanted to.
The gelding at my barn is working on leading right now. He will nearly drag my trainer back to the barn just trotting. If he bolted? I'm sure that it would be a disaster.
All I'm trying to say is, I think that even though this horse looks like a great, calm horse, I think that you should look for a slightly older horse with more mileage.
But if you really want to, go see this horse and see how it goes. It can't hurt just to look :). And I wouldn't get on the horse to ride when you see him, unless one of his owners rides first. It's one of the most important rules in my book, seeing the horse ridden first by the seller. (veery important in my opinion!!!!!)
Maybe if you are seriously considering buying him, ask the owners if you can have a trial? Then you can see if he's really an appropriate horse for you and if you two click. Just remember not to over-estimate your skills. I know you have your aunt to help you train him, but she's not going to be there ALL the time. What if one night he acts up, and you don't know how to control the situation? I know this is stereotypical about young horses, but it's more likely (IMO) for a young horse to act up than an older horse. Again, not always true and no horse is TRULY bomb-proof, but just something to think about.
If you read this whole thing, you get cookies LOL.
 
#58 ·
I say, go see him and base your opinion on that :)
I love Drafts ! just love love love them.
Lol, i rode a nice Belgian and he was hardly ridden, he was a dream for me.
He is gorgous, but you have to be ready for a bit of a workout with him, everyone has there days and there will be days where HE DOESNT want to cooperate.

:) keep us updated, and remember the people here are just concerned for your welfare, after all when training a horse, its your safety above all that matters !

But i personally say you should give it a shot !
 
#61 ·
Horseluver50, just because the horse has a good attitude does not make it right for a newbie to take on his training. In horses, there is no such thing as "learning together" - someone has to be the expert, the trainer. That is why it takes years for someone to have the ability to understand what the horse is doing and why before he even thinks about it himself. You can't react to the horse, you need to be ahead of him - that comes from experience. You don't get that experience out of trial and error, you get it by learning under a qualified trainer and you do it before you ever get a horse to train.

I'm sure there are many member out there who have done it your way and feel that they did it successfully but I can promise you that it is so far the exception that it shouldn't be considered. Don't let ego get in the way of the proper way to do things. That is the very reason why the majority of horses out there have problems - many of them dangerous. It was improper training and a Draft is not a horse to lose control of.
 
#62 ·
Although Shires are stunningly beautiful, they are also quite large; making them SOMETIMES harder to handle especially for your first horse. Simply put- a two year old is not appropriate for any first time horse owner. I would pass on this one. Perhaps she has an older one?
 
#63 ·
My filly was born in 2007 as well but she still won't be three until April, that's a long time.

I also agree that he might be to much horse. I was green on a green horse and it worked out good but I also had alot of very experienced people around me to help out on a daily basis.
 
#64 ·
Here's make advice, and its coming from a 38 year old that has done what you are thinking of doing. I got a 3 yr old "Junior" Belgian 18.2 hds, it started when I wanted to get him home. He wouldn't fit in any of the trailers I had access to, so I had to pay someone 100.00 to bring him home (8 miles) he had no training, except the previous owner did a wonderful job of desensetizing him to touch and ropes. He's been a dream horse he's very willing and trys, and wouldn't give him up for anything. But would I do it again, NO. I would look for something that was trained, because if your like me you can't ride him 6 days week you have other things in your life, (school, boys, friends) and if your friends are really into horses than they probably have something that can take out and ride, you won't for a couple of years. It takes alot of time and sometimes you just want to ride and not train.
 
#66 ·
Hey everyone..

Just thought Id update you and let you know..
I have decided no on this guy.

I figure, even if he is extremely easy to train, I will have to wait at least 2 yrs before I can ride him more than 10mins.

By the time he is fully broke, I would be around 18-20 yrs old and that is just too long away..

I am now only looking for a broke horse, can be a bit green, but mostly broke.

I will wait till I move out, to get into untrained shires :)
Thanks again everyone <3
 
#67 ·
you made a great decision. sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and you are thinking logically about finding the perfect horse for you.

good luck in your search and keep us updated with future prospects!
 
#69 ·
thanks guys :)
Yes, I realized that with a broke horse, I can still teach them groundwork, different disiplines.. but they wont do anything to but me in harms way, and I can still do ground work, but when Im tired of it, hop on and ride, i wouldnt be able to do that with an unbroke horse...
I fund this guy:
Thoroughbred Horse For Sale, British Columbia (Canada), Pritchard

He sounds like a dream. mostly english, has had western saddle a few times, he was great.
Jumps, cross country, dressage. A dream to catch, walks right up to you, even if he sees halter. loves attention.
Great with farrier, sleeps through the whole thing, can toss the rope over his neck and he will just stand there.
Been ridden bareback all the time.. does almost everything bareback.
Very smooth, great for novice riders. Has high withers, but is not uncomfortable, if he does become uncomfortable, she puts a saddle pad on underneath.
They are sending me tons of pictures tonight :) I cant wait!!
 
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