Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mirrabook-Rafter 5 Warmbloods on November 26, 2008 at 4:45pm

Hi Barb:
This is a good topic to start out our new group. These are very valid questions with not always the most straight forward of answers.
To address the first part of your question … 'types of qualities that one should be focusing on when purchasing a young, unstarted horse' … I will list some points important to me, though first off I will ask you some questions:
1. Have you decided what you want this prospect to do. Is this to be a dressage horse, jumper, eventer …. ???
2. At what level do you want to compete, if competition is your goal?
Answering those questions will give you a starting point as to which breeders to talk to and which bloodlines might suit your needs ... keeping in mind that some stallions are considered specialists and others dual purpose where they are indexed equally for both dressage and jumpers. Likewise for the talents of the mare and her bloodlines. Each of the disciplines have very specific traits they look for in the type of horse suitable for that sport.

The second part of your question: ‘At what age do personality traits such a dominance, willingness stubbornness begin to emerge and how do breeders make those assessments?’
Many of these traits can be predicted early knowing the parents, the bloodlines, the half or full siblings and if common traits have been identified in those family lines? Breeders with established mare lines know their horses well and what traits to expect with what families and can tell you if this yougster is typical or different. If there are sufficient numbers of that bloodline to observe, you have a much higher chance that the youngster you are looking at will carry many of those same traits … positive or negative.
How much handling these babies get is also important to know. Foals that are stabled at night and turned out during the day present very differently than those raised out with handling only for necessary events - halter training, farrier, worming, etc., yet both can become equally enjoyed riding horses. Here, knowledge of the traits of the bloodlines is more valuable as is a good working relationship with the breeder and/or raiser.
Personally, I would rather work with youngsters that have had minimal handling than those who have had significant handling, unless that has been done by professional horsemen! I have observed too many youngsters who have been alllowed to write their own rules growing up, who may not be the most cooperative or willing riding partner when that time comes. Too much handling is not necessarily a good thing! You need to observe the person handling the youngster as much as the youngster itself.
Fortunately, one of the advantages of looking at horses from professional breeders, is that they know their horses well and what traits to expect with what families.
Regardless, there is no guaranteed formula and ultimately the sysetmetic ground and riding training of a horse with the right conformation and talent for the job will determine the success of the outcome.

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on November 26, 2008 at 8:57pm

Thanks for this great reply! Do you also do imprint training? How does that work?

Permalink Reply by Mirrabook-Rafter 5 Warmbloods on November 26, 2008 at 10:12pm

We do not do imprint training. We have too many foals to do something that can't be done properly, and it is too easy a concept to do badly. In the grand scheme, I'm not sure that I see any difference when babies hit age 3 and it comes to starting them.

Permalink Reply by Expressway Farms on December 29, 2008 at 11:12am

Hi Barb,
I have to some what agree with Marilyn, it's important to know your stallions and your mare lines. All so if you're an amateur owner or looking at competing with the pro's. I've found over the years it's much more satisfying to sell a young horse to an amateur rider than a pro, their expectations and accomplishments are very different. With our youngsters they are out 24/7 all year round and they learn at an early age what the pecking order is. Some are dominant as long as the mare is close by, while others hang back. We have noticed most of the changes occuring once we wean our foals and then reintroduce them back into the heard the following spring.
I have done the imprinting on all our foals over the last 20+ yrs. and have to say a good portion of our foal have done well over the years with their basic acceptance of handling them (our horses run on 15-72 acs. depending on the time of year so when it comes to farrier work or vet work it's been done out there). As for the unbroke horse and getting it started that depends on the individual horse itself and how ready it is to accept the next stage in it's life.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Paulson on February 5, 2009 at 10:45am

I have been amazed seeing relatively unhandled PMU 3 year olds react favourably to good handling in their new homes so I concur that good handling is more important to the confidence and trust levels of a youngster. Further to that I find a confident, even outgoing and bold youngster with good nerves is much easier to work with, and I find a correlation that well presented with jumping , they take to it with the same attitude. I personbally find that a complete joy compared to a timid horse.