Training A Four Year Old

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Should I buy an untrained four year old?

Training A Four Year Old

I have never owned a horse before and I may be buying a four year old gelding that has never been ridden but he is very gentle and friendly. A friend of mine said a four year old horse is to old to be broken. What is your opinion? I would not be the one breaking him I would be hiring someone to do it.
Answer:
It all depends upon the horse's nature (temperment), how much handling he has had, how much ground work has been done, whether or not he has ground manners. Yada, Yada, Yada. Providing that you are hiring a Professional, someone recommended by Equine Veterinarians, and Trade Professionals (such as Farriers, Coaches, etc.). Make sure in your selection that you are finding someone that KNOWS how to work with babies, (even though he's 4, in development he is a baby)and has recommendations from several people. In training a baby it is worth the expense in the long run to have someone train them who has just a bizzilion years experience, and positive recommendations from individuals owning horses from the breed, and discipline that he is, and that you want to pursue! Natural Horsemanship is wonderful for pursuing the basics, the commencement....getting him started under saddle, and again, someone that is highly recommended~! Once the colt is rideable though, you need someone that has worked extensively in bringing along babies into understanding basics on into the beginnings of some polish. Then he will be the horse that YOU can enjoy. I would ask a Professional such as a Veterinarian or Farrier that you know that you trust to look at the colt and determine the willingness & the receptiveness of his mind, and how much work/training/expense you will have to invest to have someone do the prepatory work for you. Quite often a horse left until an older age (which 4 is for training), he will have developed a resentment for any work simply due to the fact that in human years he is growing out of his teens, and not many teens would want to go to school when they haven't had to up to that age....... Hope this helps, Bye, Best, Mary.

   

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