2 Questions about Horse-Buying Terminology

First:
When someone is selling a horse as "green broke," to me that means they can be ridden, but only have gas/brakes/steering, and are unpredictable because they don't have the miles to have established good habits.
When I'm reading sale ads (not on here, but on other sites), "green broke" sounds a lot more like "bucking horse" - can't be ridden, horrid manners, and has maybe been saddled once - aka dangerous.

What do you expect a "green" horse to be capable of?
Is there a difference between disciplines on what "green" means?

Second:
Not really a terminology question as much as the first, but anyway...
I see all kinds of older horses (15+, 20+, 25+) listed and the ads have the same phrase in common -
"Horse is xx years old, but he acts like a 5 year old!!!1!"

Is that just code for hyper?
Like a dog that "needs room to run?"

Thanks!

Welcome!

First: Many, but not all, people a horse considered to be green broke when it goes forward, turns, and stops, all fairly reliably. Probably not well, nor gracefully, and sometimes not even happily. Some people will try to pass off a bucker/rearer/(insert other problem here) as green broke and claim it's just a lack of training.

Second: Probably means the horse is high-strung and/or is bad mannered.

It's like real estate ads..."cozy" means small, vintage means old, etc.

I expect green broke to mean the same as you do. I see a lot of ads where they state plainly that the horse has been saddled and ridden a few times, but I see a lot of what you're talking about as well.

I think the whole age thing is their way of trying to explain that yes the horse is a bit older, but by no means a pasture puff. IE, still able to be ridden on a regular basis. Not creaky and arthritic.

You'd think that, but as they say "your mileage may vary". Heh, I've seen ads in which the owners have waved a saddle blanket in the horse's general direction and called them "green broke"

To me green broke refers to a horse that has the basics and does them all reasonably well, but has no further refined training, nor experience. I don't think it implies bucking etc in any way. Ideally each honest seller will also reveal whether the horse has any vices on further discussion, and this terminology should not imply these vices. Unfortunately, many sellers are not honest. Its always best to approach sale horses as an unknown quantity and treat them cautiously regardless of their sales ad.

As far as old horse - well I think many sellers are trying to sell their horse, and as their age is a huge disqualifying factor for most buyers they are trying to downplay the effects.

I say my 20yr old thinks he is 5. Like someone said, not because he is hyper or has bad manners. But because he is not a deadhead, he is still able to acept hard work, and he's not creaky and arthritic.
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I have trained horses for a long time and what I call green broke is a horse who can walk, trot, lope under saddle with only 60 days or less of training! That is green broke, others use it as a good way of saying their horse is completely unpredictable!

I call my horse "very, very green." I don't say "green broke" because he's not. I suppose I should say, "he's been backed a few times" but "very green" comes out easier.

As far as the second question, it could mean that they're unruly but is more likely the seller trying to make their horse more marketable by stating that the horse doesn't seem old at all and (supposedly) has a lot of years left to live.

To me green broke means you can saddle the horse and get on. It will go and turn. It may buck and do other things. My mare is green broke. She has been ridden for over 6 months now and traveled a few hundred trail miles with double those in arena work. She will buck, rear, bolt and what ever else she thinks about. It is rare now but it may still occur. She usually has brakes now. To me green broke is the next step above halter broke.

As for the second, to me that means they are trying to justify over charging for an animal that could drop dead any day.

Thanks for all of the great responses!
I think I understand both a lot better.
I particularly like the 60-days or less guideline on "green broke." That's a very clear definition.
Thanks!