Hi everyone, i am new here and i have a question i would like your input!
ok soo heres my situation i am a teenaged girl getting ready to buy a horse... i am interested in studying horse behaviour and i want to train my own horse.. i am currently looking at 2 horses one is a stallion 2 years old(would be castrated if i chose him) the other is a mare 3.4 years old they are both appaloosas!
i am looking for a potencial western/ trail horse!
i will post pics of both!
so my question is, are mares really that moody? which horse has better somformation according to the pictures? and how long does it take a stallion to ajust to being a gelding( start acting like one?)
i really like the mare and have ridden both genders before i seem to perfer a mare because i think they have a little more spunk than geldings but i have heard that gelding are more playfull!
please reply soon thanks :lol:
There's a term I remember well, "proud cut". I know for sure in dogs, and remember talk of this (though I have not personally experienced it) that if left a stallion past a certain age, they never lose the stallion attitude.
I've been around horses on and off my entire life. I can ride really well, I know enough to be safe with horses but I also know that not even I am ready to take on a new horse to break or train.
Mares aren't bad, but yeah they come into season and any animal in season is harder to work with because their mind is NOT on the job at hand... she'd rather be finding a guy, just mother nature at work. So you work around it and just know. They can be just fine. But it depends on the horse.
Also, you are "looking into" horse behavior. I trained dogs for years and years. I assure you all the reading I ever had was not nearly where I learned anything. It was good to have a base idea of how does operate behaviorally, but when you factor in breed type, genetics and factors we don't get to control - it's not what you think. You take a pit-bull who is genetically sound, has a good temperament and I would take that dog over a lab who's genetic background has aggressiveness in the line. Because you can't "fix" genetic problems without REALLY knowing what the heck you are doing. I mean REALLY top notch training work.
I couldn't even tell you how to temperament test a horse, i can do it with dogs but temperament is a mixture of breeding, socialization, genetics and good 'ol personality.
I think it might be a good idea to find a ranch and volunteer to work there and work along side a trainer, get the experience and knowledge under your belt. After you've got some experience, then look into this idea of yours.
Because if it doesn't go well you may find yourself with a 5 year old untrained horse with bad habits and no way to sell it.
Is there more info that might make a difference here? Do you have someone with you who knows how to train and will be working with you? Will you be boarding the horse somewhere that you can learn with a professional? That would make difference. But just by yourself as a learning experience I can't imagine that would be the best way to start.
If I was you I would avoid both horses. I would avoid the stallion like the plague. I don't know what your riding experience is and you may be an outstanding horse person. That being said, in my opinion most teens would do well with a steady eddy horse between the ages of 13 and 17. Most beginner riders would do well with a steady eddy horse between the ages of 15 and 20. A horse that has some miles on it. You are new to horses and you don't need to get hurt. You want your first horse to be FUN. You can learn a lot about horse behavior by working with a horse that has some training and "life experience". You can learn a lot from a green horse but most of that is what a poorly trained green horse thinks it can get away with. If you really want to learn about horse behavior you are better off observing horses in a pasture and with their people. You can do that with a steady eddy. It does not sound like you need a 3 year old. A green horse is a really great way to get hurt. If you are not experience and not working with a trainer I would recommend taking a pass on both.
Great advice has been given to you by previous posters. Trust me, and others with the experience: the first horse you own should be FUN. The kind you can learn on, and learn from. when I was learning, I spent all my free time at the barn as a teenager. I'd watch lessons, offer to help set up jumps, groom horses, and soak it all in.
The best thing you can do for yourself at your age is to find a good, knowledgeable trainer, and work for them. If its a good trainer, you should be able to work your butt off for them and in exchange, be trained. You want to learn the right way, rather then jumping in head first. Posted via Mobile Device
I 100% agree with the previous posters. You can still study horse behavior and practice training techniques with a well broke and older horse. I would not consider either horse as a first time buy.
Absolutly!!! agree with everyone! please listen to them for your safety, they gave you some really really sound advice, please read them again.Non of us are trying to keep you from what you want to do, but help you to get there safely with time and training and safety YOU WILL!
The general knowledge you lack of both mares and stallions in your first post cause me to believe that you don't have any experience, or much at all, to be training your own horse.
Against popular belief, you can not learn how to train a horse through videos and books. You must first learn about the horse's mentality, which takes years to even repotely understand, and years of propper instruction with your butt in the saddle.
Sorry sweetie, don't mean to be harsh, but you couldn't run fast enough to give me either of those horses. Do you have someone knowledgeable you can get to help you look for the right horse? That would help.
How long have you been riding for? What level do you ride at. Have you worked under an experienced trainer before? Do you have a trainer that is going to be working with you to help train your future horse? Training a horse can be very rewarding and fun, it is also hard and challenging work. Even for those of us who have experience breaking a horse to ride are often stumped, thrown and hurt. I just dislocated my shoulder and bruised half my body riding a green horse. Even with horses that are very broke things just happen. It's not always this magical experience. Books are an excellent tool along side an experienced horse person.
Confirmation wise, neither of them look great from what I can see in the pictures. However I would need to see a picture of them standing on level ground square and face straight not facing or turning from the camera. Close enough to get all of them in frame and not any further then that. Then a picture of their back end and front again with them standing square.
I want to tell you we are saying to be careful out of concern for you and the horses welfare. I think most of us have seen what can happen when people try to 'train' their own horse without the experience to do so. I am stealing a quote from this very bad movie I just watched. 'Green on Green = Black and Blue.'
From personal experience having a gelding who was 4 before he was gelded, and was allowed to breed, I would avoid the stallion. Mine is 12 and even though he will not mount my mares, he's stallion in his head all day! He's ridable but very bossy and pushy and headstrong. We have major issues that require patience and strong leadership. Posted via Mobile Device
At this point? You need more exposure to horses I think.
Getting a horse is an expensive proposition at the best of times.
And getting into horses without a mentor if you aren't experienced? The worst thing you can do. As is not listening to someone that is trying to steer you in the right direction.
Case in point? 45 year old friend of mine bought 2 mares. Told her bad idea, as seller was methhead years ago, and still "don't look quite right" out of his eyes.
She bought them anyway, be 2 years this Dec. In those 2 years? They have not been ridden but maybe 30 times AND those were bareback in halter, because??? They've never been trained hardly. And never been bitted, and know nothing.
Although the 5 year old? Knows very well how to kick, strike, cowkick, bite and rear AND charge at them. And these were supposed to be "kid's horses" too. And forgot to mention she bucks. HARD.
She only gave 350 for the two fools. Will never get that. And has fed/watered/boarded them too. She wouldn't listen to reason, thought she could "love them into being good" and she and they will pay the price.
Get someone to work with you for a while, and then get a trained, sensible horse, gelding is best.
Wouldn't touch that stallion with ten foot pole, don't like his head, and pictures aren't good of mare either.
If you must get a horse, maybe you can lease one for a while, or half lease... If a trainer near you will let you rent one of their horses to ride and care for a few days of the week. Maybe they could work with you on starting a young one with guidance if you have some riding skills.... You would have time to learn about taking care of them and training them without being on your own. Find out what to feed them. What's good in a farrier. Btw, You are always training a horse, with everything you do with them, maybe not starting from scratch, but it's always training even when they are older.
It is time to geld the colt. He is no more likely to be proud cut at this age or any other age. Just get a vet that knows how to geld a horse.
I totally agree with the other posters about not getting an untrained horse. You would be way better off with a mature, well trained animal. My first horse was untrained, and she almost killed me on more than one occasion. She eventually became a nice horse because I had a trainer help me with her. I do not recommend that anybody without experience buy an untrained horse. With all the nice horses that are looking for homes, you should be able to get a well trained horse for a reasonable price.
I wouldn't get either horse. If this is your first horse but you REALLY want to train him/her, then get a horse that is between the ages of 7-12 years old and at least knows basic flat work. Get a trainer and work from there. I highly recommend you stay away from stallions. If you say that you like mares best, get a mare. Hope this helps!
OK I don't like EITHER of these horses for what you want to do... however I don't agree that you shouldn't work towards your goals now. Do you have a trainer? I haven't read if you do or not. Or a barn that you ride at or work with? If not get to know someone. Have them help you find a good colt or filly and have them HELP you work through it. I had horses growing up but my first horse after a 20 year hiatus was a 4 year old gelding that was not started under saddle at all. Never had one on his back. I want to learn to train. I started him under saddle and took him as far as I felt comfortable without screwing him up and sent him to a formal trainer. Thankfully she has taught me a lot about it and my next one will hopefully be able to go a little farther. Find help... don't just grab the first horse that comes your way. Make it worth your time and energy.
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