Looking at 2 free horses

[dragonmorgan]

The cost differences in these and already trained horses is something we are considering also. Horses around here are pretty cheap right now and we've been lookin at some of the ones that for sale to get an idea of what we might could get for a decent price. We still aren't 100 percent sure if we want these two but you are right and free is a hard thing to turn away lol.

 

[FlaRocky]

Hello,

I would pass on both of them. Remember green + green = Black and Blue+ broken. I do not sell young or green horses to green owners. What you really need is two sesoned horses to learn with. And if you can see if you can take lessons on horse care, feeding and grooming from the trainer you found. I have gaited horses and I have one bloodline that is very slow maturing both mental and physical. So she will be started under saddle this fall as a 5 year old. Her ground work is pretty good, she line drives and is starting to pull.

The two you are looking at need weight and hoof care. I would do a vet health check Before I would agree to take them. As two yo's they will need teeth floated and wolf teeth removed. BTW, where are you located?

What does training run in your area? A good gaited natural trainer will run around $500.00 a month per horse for a min of three months for a very basic foundation. That is not really getting them locked in gait. It take miles and miles of just riding in the working walk to help develop the natural gait.

Maye




Ride the Glide.....Got Gait.......I Do.......

 

[dragonmorgan]

We are not really worried about having any gait training done with them since they would be used as ranch horses and having a perfect gait won't really be of too much importance. I did not ask how much the trainer charged for breaking since it will be at least a year before we start looking into that. I mainly just made sure he gave riding lessons and would let me come out to his ranch and watch him work some horses. I still want to shop/ask around about a good horse breaker to make sure we get someone knowledgeable and respectable.

 

[sawfish99]

I am also going to jump on the band wagon of these are the wrong horses for you. As a new horse owner, young, green horses are much more likely to result in a bad or dangerous situation. A calm, safe, older pair of horses would be much better to start out and learn about horses.

 

[sawfish99]

Good luck with finding a Farrier who does Gaited horses. Could be common in your area or impossible to locate.
Walkers usually have a good size foot under them, so Farrier should NOT be cutting it really short or taking out all
the sole on the bottom. You need to protect your horses from folks that want to give them "short toes", because
that would make them lame. Don't allow any "corrective trimming" on these guys, unless they interfere with hinds
hitting the front legs. They are way past the time of "being fixable", so just have Farrier trim them level. They are
also rather narrow bodied now, but should widen up as they mature, which will straighten the front legs more.
Just part of being a young horse. Both sides of EACH hoof should be the same length, so coronet band is even all
the way around the leg. Uneven coronet band is a sign of uneven hoof walls. Should not need shoes for until next
year, and then only if you get worn down hooves from hard ground or rocks.

I agree with a lot that goodhors had to offer, however, I have a different perspective on the hooves.

I am a barefoot trimmer. Since these horses are young and presumably unshod at this point, if you get them (which I don't think you should), you have an excellent opportunity to properly condition the hooves WITHOUT ever nailing a shoe onto the hooves. The most common hoof problems in horses start with long toes and high heels. If you get them, or another horse, find a reputable barefoot specialist to work with. If you would rather spend an extra $700-1000 a year, call a farrier.

 

[Equusrider]

Horse quality hay and cow quality hay are very different. Horses need a good quality hay that is mold free and dust free. Cows can eat pretty much any hay but a horse eating moldy or dusty hay is just asking for colic which is the number one killer of horses. The big round bales I see being fed to cows is NOT a good idea for horses as it can harbor mold and salmonella which will kill a horse. I feed my tennessee walker a quality grass, hay alfalfa mix. The only thing I supplement with is a couple of pounds of a good quality pelleted feed. Mixed grains, corn and oats will cause a horse to way too much energy. You can get a pelleted feed that is formulated for growing young horses.

I agree that for first time horse owners and riders, getting a young unbroken horses is a bad idea but if you are determined make sure you get a trainer who works horses in a natural horsemanship way. I have seen too many young horses minds ruined by someone who doesnt know what they are doing and pushes way too fast to "break" a young horse. Tennessee walkers tend to have very level heads and if you can keep that level head, you will have one of the best trail mounts/partners you can get.

 

[suzeqf]

I agree with everyone they look young and skinny, If you've never owned a horse before I'd be very careful because young unbroke horses can be dangerous especially if they get spooked or nervous and if you are nervous they will sense it and will be nervous. If you get them just take your time and learn their signals and start with letting them come to you, and once you start halter training never ever pull on them it scares them and always talk in a calm voice and make slow movements.

 

[treeclimber233]

Also this trainer you are talking to--has he trained Tennessee Walking horses. You mention going to his ranch--that sounds like he has cattle and cutting horses (Quarter Horses). Teaching a Tennessee Walker to gait is very different than training a horse to walk, trot and canter.