neck reining

Is my 15 y/o mare to old to learn to neck rien? And totally off subject. I've been looking at ponies for my kids and I totally get the 2-3 grand price tags, but how do you purchase a 15-20k horse. Do you get a loan, use a credit card? I'm just curious how the average income family buys a performance horse of any kind with those price tags.

Horses are never to old to learn stuff. My horse was 15 when he learned how to neck rein. He had an english background when I bought him and he has only done western with me since then (its been another five or so years). He now is an awesome rail show horse, took me about two years to get that nice slow jog and canter on him. He also learned how to do forehand turns and haunch turns in just a couple of months!

As for the money, all the people that I know that have boughten a big price tag horse had the money up front and paid half when they brought the horse home, and the other half later on once when the settling in was offical. We all know that the price of the horse is nothing compaired for the careing that is after. I think they did it that way without pulling any loans to be sure they can still care for the horse later on haha. I think that's the smartest way of doing it since you arn't dealing with your money so to say.

I don't think 15 is too old to teach to neckrein, let me know if you need ideas on how to go about it - I made a vid a couple weeks ago to show another forum member what I meant when I told her how I taught mine! I should still have it somewhere...

With the purchase price, we've only ever taken cash up front. Took one post dated cheque as a final payment and all was fine...but not many sellers accept cheques, especially after the horse has gone to the new owner's place. It really depends on the seller but we've always just taken cash up front, then again, the most expensive horse we sold was $2500!

No one is too old to learn anything, jus might take longer or a different approach. Who knows maybe she might pick up new training fast.

She also may already know it, but you being a novice horse owner don't know how to do it yet. No offense intended, I have just been following your threads and know that your new to horses and all... so she may know it and just need to be brushed up on it.
However, she isn't too old to learn if she doesn't already know it somewhere in her background.

Horses have only ever been sold for cash or check in my experience, when paid by check usually the horse can't leave the property until the check has cleared. My family has bought a few 5-digit price tagged horses, and sold some too. It's really more of a show thing though, price doesn't always reflect how well trained they are or anything. Bloodlines and show performance go into the price a lot. So, for a family pony I am SURE, in this economy especially, you will find something between 1k - 5k easily... horses cost a lot to maintain, so people are trying to get rid of them faster right now.

Also, random but, I'm happy you're getting another horsey eventually- Molly is probably a little lonely :)

She will never be too old to learn new things. My horse, Stoeka, is 25 years old, and she never knew anything about turn on the forehand or lateral work. But I have successfully taught her, and now she does it like an old pro.

I'd say give it a try, but first you must learn all the odds and ends about neck reining. It's no use trying to teach a horse to do something you have no clue how to do yourself. ; )

Good luck.

I am really glad to hear that. I have found a female trianer and am waiting for her to return my call. I'll defiantly be talking to her about my goals and becuase the consenses is that yes, she can learn new things I will defiently make sure the trainer and I are on the same page. Her web sight says she'll do both on sight lessons with your horse and sessions with hers. I think that it would probably be good to do some of both. Especially since I'm wanting to start from the ground up.

As for my second question. I live in a Oklahoma and my local community hosts the International Finals Youth Rodeo for those who run in that circle. Of course, you always see more rodeo preformance horses up for sale that time of year (July). I worked at the Rodeo one year and I saw those of all income brackets and then you see the prices of some of these "proven winners". I'm just like how do you pay for those?" (I never aksed out load). I can't imagine walking into a bank and asking for a loan on a horse.