Thinking of buying a 4 year old

[Moanranger]

I have been horseless for more than 2 years now. I share my daughters ID - he is lovely but enormous, & I would be happier with a middleweight 15h 1” to 15h 3”. I have recently decided to look to buy one for myself, but due to COVID it seems like not much on the market. Wouldn’t you know it, something turned up today, 30 min away, that looks like it might fit the bill.
He is a cob, so feathers, etc, which I am not used to (have had sports horses mainly) but nice type, relatively refined. He ‘s 15h now, so should not get too big, but may grow/fill out a bit. Lovely mover.
Downsides: he has only been driven, so I would need to leave him with seller (well-known & locally respected) to back/produce. Second issue: it will be tight financially, I was hoping to start looking seriously next year. However, the last horse I bought took six months of searching, so I know how difficult it can be to find the right horse. Feeling like if he is right, I should just go for it.will be viewing tomorrow
Any thoughts appreciated.

Hmm well I serially buy unsuitable horses but I'd be cautious. Have you got experience bringing on young horses? What do you want do with him mainly - hacking/dressage/jumping?

For me 4 is quite a dangerous age especially for big strong cobby types - they may be grown to their adult height at that age but they haven't really filled out to full strength so what can happen is that they seem super calm and quiet at 4 but what you are actually getting is that are just a bit babyish and weak. When they hit full maturity at 5-7 they can suddenly discover their strength and have horrible fits of the Kevins and need really experienced, consistent handling to stop them getting out of hand. I've known more than one competent but not over-confident/experienced amateur that just wants a nice quiet hack be talked into buying a just broken 4 year old cob on the promise that it's a total saint, bombproof, put your granny on type, it's fine for the first few months and they then end up in real trouble with a big rude bargy/nappy animal they're scared to ride within the year, I think people can forget that a cobby/draft type youngster is still a baby and needs educating just as much as a warmblood or sports horse. But if you have brought on youngsters before and are confident and experienced then that shouldn't be a problem.

I do have to admit to being a bit prejudiced against cobs that are broken to drive first then sold off to be ridden, do you know/can you find out why he didn't make the grade as a driving horse as that was clearly the job he was intended for? If it was due to being spooky/unreliable on the roads then I wouldn't be overkeen to try and sort that out from on board! I know you say the seller has a good reputation but can you be sure he hasn't been overfaced or rushed and badly started, just setting you up for problems down the line?

Also if money is tight, does that mean you are limited in how many weeks you can keep him at the breaking/schooling yard, and in how much professional help and lessons you can have afterwards?

Got to admit that overall the more sensible thing has got to be to try and find something older and more experienced that is already doing the job you want him/her to do rather than punting on an unproven youngster, but I do understand that on a limited budget that can lead to having to make a lot of compromises and if you are the sort of person that enjoys the challenge of bringing a youngster on the lure of a potentially really nice baby or project can be strong - hence my collection of unsuitable horses! I guess you just need to go into it with eyes wide open and prepared to go slow and bring in help where you need it?

Maxelly, you raise some good points. My current shared horse is a 16h3” RID, weighs around 600+ kg. When he wants to do something else, there is no chance. He was brought on from 3, and I have a strong preference for a youngster, as I have had the best outcome with current horse.We bought him direct from Ireland, had him produced for around 5 mo. I would do similar with this.
I have ridden cobs, and I know they are not saints eg not bombproof. My view is even if he is bolshy, there is less of him! For what I need, a stocky horse that is not to tall, I am probably looking at a cob type. I do like IDs & ISH, but they are, nowadays, mighty big ( didn’t used to be ID breed standard says 16h, but you would be hard pressed to find one that size nowadays)
In my view, horses that are a bit older are much harder to find, eg 5-8 years range.And often broken!
I would prefer backed, so that I can get on him & see what he feels like,
I may discuss with dealer her return policy, so if I did decide to take him & it didn’t work out, I could exchange.
I have budgeted for 3 mo training livery.

Until lockdown I was reschooling a mare that was broken to harness to be ridden, they are not for the faint hearted and while she was very sweet, she is ferociously strong and rushes awfully in the trot!

If you are looking for a compact, stocky sort I would get in touch with Gerty Tynan. She often has several lovely 14.3/15hh alrounder types that are very reasonable, and she is very honest.

I wouldn't bother simply because his mouth has probably been ruined by the driving.

You should also consider the extra costs that come with a youngster. You'd need livery at a yard with facilities to ride all year round. Extra lessons, access to a horsebox to teach the youngster to load and also to take frequent trips to other venues, etc.

Queen I have bought from Gerty in the past. ATM she is not showing much on her web-site. The advantage of the one I am looking at is it is right down the road (drawing a veil over my experience of driving 5 hrs to see a horse with stringhalt ) and she is a producer. I am looking this afternoon, and am taking into account it’s history. Thanks, will report back.

Boo Oh, I know all about youngsters. Our 16h3”:ID was bought at 3. I am factoring in at least 2months of training livery in my budget! And I always keep my horses at livery, with facilities, knowledgable yard owner, etc

Had you thought about buying an Arabian? They take quite a long time to physically mature. They are not all the lunatics they're made out to be. Mine is, but I don't mind because I know when the chips are down, he will look after me. Check out breeding lines. The ones with Crabbet/Old English are generally steadier that some of the other versions. I'm ready for people who have links with other types of the breed to beg to differ!

Well, dear reader, I bought him! ( Subject to vetting, of course) He was bred to drive, but never did, which was evident by his complete unfamiliarity with long lining & gobby mouthing of bit. The seller’s partner v experienced backer, so they will keep & produce for me. He is bum high, but even if he grows a bit too big, I can easily sell him on. A project for sure.

Congrats! Hope you have a lot of fun with him. Do post some updates/pictures!

A horse-sized hole in my heart has now been filled!

Wonderful, congratulations!

Well done! I'm so pleased for you. I'm sure you will have lots of fun with him. He's a nice looking chap. I love his colour!

Just to update my purchase of the four year old: I have had him 7 weeks now at the dealer/producers yard. He was backed quite easily & I have been hacking him & a bit of schooling & lunging. I keep it really short, as he is a baby, really & he needs to gain strength & balance. He is very one-sided ( I suspect he may have been lunged only on one rein at the breeders) and he wants to lead with his right shoulder on both reins! So that will be my project for awhile, to work on straightness. We leave next week to a nice little yard on a farm. No regrets, I am very pleased with him.

He's a lucky youngster to be allowed to mature without being razzed round the countryside and in and out of dressage/show-jumping/ hireling yards. I'm sure he will benefit from you sensible and experienced management. Continue to enjoy him!

What a beautiful horse ! I am not a rider but I do love those cobby types with their fringed legs, there was one I knew as a child, kept in my Grandparents’ field, who would let me lie on his back , and I have loved them ever since.
He really is absolutely gorgeous OP. Congratulations!

I took him out for my first solo hack today, and he was perfect. No spooking nor napping, kept a steady pace, & no rushing back to the yard. I think he is not fussed whether he is alone or in company. So nice to know I can take him out for a leisurely ride with no drama.

His colouring is stunning, he sounds as though he has a good personality too.

I saw the title of this in the active threads list without looking at what category it was in and thought how bizarre wanting to buy a 4 year old

Your horse is beautiful, enjoy!

Leonie That did make me laugh! There is a whole vocabulary in the horse world, we are always saying 4YO, 3YO & everyone knows what you mean. Some of my favourites are”out the front door” falling off the horse front on, “ out the side door”, you get the drift. Also “nappy” has a completely different meaning to Equestrian’s.

Just a word of caution. 4yo cobs are often little angels. Then about 5 or so they hit the Kevin stage. Been there, got that t shirt. And the bruises. Make sure you have lessons with a good instructor used to youngsters when you hit that stage.

Oh I know about he terrible 5s. Not limited to cobs. I hunted our ID thru these. Basics important.

At least you haven't been fooled 😁. I think cobs can be particularly deceptive as they can be virtually traffic proof from day 1 - when I tried mine I rode him by myself through a city suburb with lorries and buses and it was as if they weren't there and first hack out we had a bin lorry reverse towards us complete with beeper.

Be happy that you don't have a teleporting 26 yr old 16hh Arabian with an advanced sense of humour!

Burmama2

Glad you know about the terrible 5’s! I’ve brought on a lot of youngsters and they’re often angelic at 4, little shits at 5 and start the process of becoming lovely again by 6.
I strongly believe that it’s essential to pick your battles but to really hold the key boundaries firm throughout the 5 year old horrors, even if it means stacking the odds in your favour, eg using a bridle or chifney for leading if barging is one of your red lines (it’s one of mine ). If you manage that you’ll be rewarded with a lifetime of lovely manners. Good luck; he looks lovely.