We are thinking of getting a colt that is currently only 1 week old. One of my friends has mom and him and will sell him to me for the price of stud fee. I could bring them both here until he is ready to wean-at 3 months. The mom is a quarter horse that spent most of her life as a trail horse, she is very good tempered, but a little stubborn.

I have never had a horse before, so a couple of people have said that this would be a really bad idea.

My thought is that bringing him out now I could spend an hour a day or so just brushing, and teaching him to lead on halter. I thought that if we had him since such and early age he would bond with us. I know that it will be 2 years before he could even be ridden, thats ok.

My friend will also be available to help with questions and problems.

So now I am looking for advice. Should I do it, any hints on training-good books, or just how crazy am I ?

If I do bring them out, can I put up an electric tape to crossfence my sheep pasture, It would keep horses in, but sheep would be able to go back and forth. Or would they need to be separtated?

Thanks, Maybe I should start signing Tami at Noah's Ark?

-- Tami in WI (windridg@chorus.net), July 05, 2001

Answers

Tami, I know this sounds like a good deal, but really it isn't. With this scenario, the horse will end up spoiled at the least, with someone bound to get hurt. As Pat Parelli says, green (inexperienced) on green makes black and blue. I also don't like the 3 month old weaning; give him a full 6 months. He will be a more secure, reliable animal. If you are really determined to do this, I suggest that you get some training materials from Natural Horsemanship. The website is www.parelli.com I have had horses for 40 years, and my best advice is to save your money and BUY an older horse that has lots of experience. That older horse can teach you a lot, and you can ride it safely right away. You should be able to run your sheep with the horses. The mare may have enough "cow" in her to herd them a little, but should lose interest in a couple of days. You will have to put the horse minerals somewhere where the sheep can't get them, though. Otherwise, you can lose them to copper poisoning.

-- Judy C. Vaughan (whileaway3@cs.com), July 05, 2001.

Dear Tami,

I have to agree with Judy. On most points. This would not be a good situation for You or the horses since You're not experienced with horses. Although it could work out, there is too much potential for extremely serious or life threatening consequences.

You sound very concientious Tami, and like You truly care about animals. You deserve a GREAT experience with horses that have the experience to help teach You. There is nothing that compares with the moment when You connect with a horse and really communicate. Just like developing a relationship with a baby or child, it's never as intense and wonderful as the communication with a real soulmate. Please consider taking the time and effort to find Your equine 'soulmate'. You'll be much happier in the long run.

I've a degree in Equine Management and have lots of experience to offer if You ever need more advice or help. Please feel comfortable e-mailing anytime You need!

Randle

-- Randle Gay (rangay@hotmail.com), July 05, 2001.

I grew up around horses and learned to ride at the age of 4 yrs old. I'll never forget that day my dad put me on the back of my first pony and I rode a little bit and got dumped. i was soooo scared, crying and screaming my dad put me back on and said, "RIDE!" and I did. i am grateful now, but then at the age of 4 it was scary. My dad taught me a lot about horses and I eventually went on to show and barrel race. I had this one horse as a teenager, a Paint and he was the most perfect horse in the world. At least in my eyes. i never have been able to find a horse since like him, there is something to be said about the bond.

anyways.... after 17 years i decided to get a horse again. i got a colt, an Arabian. i figured I could handle it, but time has a way of letting you know just how old you get. I got him just after he was weaned, trained him to halter then eventually to ride, it was quite a chore and a labor of love but i did it. I was experienced and it still took a lot to accomplish the feat. He ended up getting gelded by the way as he was a bit high strung and too much for me to handle as a stud. The end result was very rewarding when I accomplished training him from the ground up. But it wasn't him that did me in with an injury, it was the quarter horse we got for my youngest son that did. he was fairly new and I made the fatal mistake of riding him, he was just a bucking and rearing like a rodeo horse. i went to bail off and ended up falling off wrong, instead of my side i somehow flipped and landed on my back right on my tailbone and fractured my butt. I am fine now, but I realized that time has a way of letting you know how old you are. So i say this to you because you are inexperienced. Have you ever rode before? you might want to get some lessons first. I personally have to agree with the advice so far, not a good idea, approach with caution.

You can establish the bond with the horse, however, it takes more, it takes knowledge of what to do, you and the horse have to be in rhythm so to speak. And the horse can tell if you are afraid or nervous and will react to that as well, sometimes it will make them nervous and they sort of get nervous and "antsy" so you must be comftorable and confident, which comes with experience. Injuries are no fun and can be serious. many good horses end up selling for meat because the person who got them thinks that they can train them and then they run into troubles and think the horse is wild, when in fact it may be the way the approach to working with the horse.

if you decide to do this you must be knowledgable and confident. And by all means have the right tack as well. You might want to consider having someone train the horse for you and work with you and the horse. Whatever you do you want to be successful and feel confident which in turn makes for a good marriage for both the horse and owner.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), July 06, 2001.

I've raised equine for many years, along with other livestock. Personally, I'd stay away from the so called 'experts,' videos and books. No two stockmen do things the same. The advice you'll get on the web will vary greatly. Your head will spin! -G- All critters are different, and what works for one person may not work for another. As an example, I'd be willing to bet that none of us on this thread feed alike.

One problem with first time equine owners is they don't know how to avoid the pitfalls; on the spot discipline has to be consistant. Folks often unknowingly train bad habits, which are very difficult to undo. What seems cute when they're a colt, could kill you when they're an adult.

You'd do much better with a livestock friend in your town who has common (horse?) sense and can give you hands-on help.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 06, 2001.

Thanks a lot for your answers. I knew I could get good answers from you all. I guess it seems to be in agreement that it would be a bad idea. I am stubborn, but not stupid-so we will pass on the colt. In the mean time I will finish reading all my horse books so someday we will be ready for a horse. He sure is cute thought. I will stick to my sheep for the time being, they are pretty cute too. Actually somewhere I read that kids ride sheep in rodeo......hmmmm saddle up the ewe for my 3 year old.

Tami in WI

-- Tami in WI (windridg@chorus.net), July 06, 2001.

I was raised with ponies and horses. If you really want this colt bond with it at your friends farm go over(with permission) every night or so and work with it get it used to you and you with it. This would be easier than changing your fencing and the expense of feeding the mom. I think nothing is greater than the trust that will develope between you and the colt. I advise you to go for it and be happy. If you really want to ride now maybe your friend who has the mom and colt would let you ride on their place sometimes. Linda in Indy

-- Linda in Indy (peacefulvalley3@yahoo.com), July 06, 2001.

go ahead, get the colt, but at 3-4 months when he is weaned. visit him as often as possible before then. at the same time, get an older, experienced horse that you can pick up inexpensively, say 350-750 dollars, maybe with a little arthritis, etc. ride that horse for the next 2 years while you are raising the colt, every horse needs a companion. plan to geld the colt and have some help from an experienced horseperson when training him to saddle. then keep the older horse as a pasture companion to the colt. good luck dianne

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), July 06, 2001.

Your getting a weanling Sounds like a great idea, but a puppy this critter ain't. Tami, do yourself a favor & get a good solid riding horse that will take care of you. What you will have at the end of 2 years is a spoiled 2 year old, not because you did anything wrong, but because you won't be able to anything else. Imagine a half ton spoiled teenager with an attitude from hell & you're gonna sit on top of this? If you're lucky, all you'd get would be tossed off. If not, it could get ugly, real quick. The worst thing in life to ride would be, to my mind, a green young spoiled horse that has no reason to have confidence in the rider, coz the rider's just as green. Loved the green + green = black&blue line & it's the truth. Even the $$$ you will spend waiting for this critter to grow up would be far better invested in a more likely prospect. I've had fabulous luck getting an older horse that "felt right" & they all took care of me & forgave my mistakes, which were several as I started out. Take care & have fun - horses are terrific!..........Kt.

-- K-K-K-Katie (yarnspinnerkt@hotmail.com), July 10, 2001.