[horsedolls]

AND know nothing.


There is this young girl at the barn. Lets say her name is Kristen. Kristen fell in a love with a school horse named Chewy. She felt that they had a connection and that she was the only one that could really ride him therefore decided
"I must buy him."


Of course her parents were a little iffy about buying her a horse but eventually decided, "they horse is cheap. What ever, a horse is a horse and this one is good enough."


Let me say a few things about Chewy. He is NOT SOUND. Vet said so and also said that since he isnt sound he can never shower, or leave the barn. He kicks at other horses, bites, rears, takes off, conformation is so terrible it messes up his moving majorly to the point he becomes lame often. . .

Why would you want to buy your child a horse like this???

Can anybody relate to a similiar situation? Did you do anything about it?


ps. Please dont go on about how I should not care about what their choice is and blah blah blah because I can care because 'kristen' is a good friend of mine.

[HUS_WP_lovr]

I know some people that had some poor quality horses when they were younger. when their daughter got into horses. Boom off they went. They have bought their kid tons of horses. All that are way to hard for her. The only good one they have ever gotten went lame and now they have two pregnant.

[Xiphias]

That's sad, that the parents don't care enough to even know what they are doing....so down the road, the horse is not going to be ridable, and will probably end up at an auction......we all know what happens to them....you are right to worry about your friend and the horse too...Cathy

[phoenix]

On the bright side some one is (or should) love and care for the horse. The down side is the parents probably don't understand the financial issues with soundness and conformation issues. It may save you money to start, but it will probably cost you more in the long haul. Not to mention it won't be an easy horse to sell. I really hope that the parents did the responsible thing and got some advice from the girls trainer before purchasing chewy. Usually parents are mature enough, and just competent enough to have some understanding of what they need to learn etc. Sometimes however thats not the case and it can be bad for both the child, the horse and the parents.

[3WishesDun]

Well... had my non-horsey parents not bought me my first horse at the age of eight.... I am not sure I'd know as much or have owned/loved horses for the majority of my 38 years.

Sure, it can become a trainwreck.... but it's not a given..... in every situation. That one decision by my parents shaped my entire life, and made me who I am. I know it sounds a touch dramatic, but it's absolutely true. And I thank the heavens they did.

[Horsefeathers3]

Well I was sort of like that when I got my first horse when I was 14. My dad knows nothing about horses and my mom grew up with horses, but she didn't really know too much. My first horse was a rescued PMU filly that was 8 months old. Looking back I probably wouldn't have done it again, but I am glad that my parents trusted me when I told them that I could work with her. She has been the best horse I've ever owned, and probably will ever own.

However if I was a parent I don't think I'd buy my kid a green, lame, or unsafe horse.

[Horsefeathers3]

Originally Posted by 3WishesDun

That one decision by my parents shaped my entire life, and made me who I am.

I agree 3WD, I had the same lifechanging experience, and I have become a much better horse person since I was given the chance to grow and learn with a green horse.

[3WishesDun]

And I just re-read your first post again..... sigh.... that horse does sound like a trainwreck.... hopefully, somehow, it won't be.... but... yeah...

[Haas Horse Farm]

Is there another horse you know of that would really be the PERFECT horse for this girl? Maybe you could suggest you know where there is another horse that really needs someone to love it as the current owner does not have the time, etc for it... in other words she really NEEDS to RESCUE this other horse... get my drift...

I have dealt with non horsey parents who turned down a horse of mine because he was "too broke"... I did not know there was such a thing when we are talking an 11 year old girl and her first show horse. What a mess. They bought a gelding over the hill from me that was seven and had not been rode since he was 2 and was a potential 1D horse... granted mine was more of a 3 or 4 D horse but heck she had not barrel raced at a show yet. Mine would also jump and could be ridden double etc. Would go anywhere you pointed him. This gelding they bought was $200 less... but did not have the training or the mind... the girl was afraid to ride him... THE vet told the parents that when they had the horse vetted. The vet is how I found out what happen as he called me wanting to know if there was anything I could do as this other gelding would hurt the girl.

Long story short he was a pasture pet for 6 or 8 months .... until the finally found someone willing to ride him. Her instructor at the barn refused to ride him. I would not ride him another friend that trains barrel horses would not ride him. etc. That person put 30 days on him and sold him at auction... not sure what she has finally found for a horse.

[Amber.Molly]

My mom bought me a random horse when I was 12 and she was a little nutty - didn't have much breaks, liked to rear a little, stuff like that. I took lessons and such on her for the first year, and from there we just putzed around. I had her till she was 22. I believe that the reason I ride how I do today is because I learned a lot from her. As long as the situation is controlled I dont see it as an issue. Just an opinion tho..