Normally I'm able to talk myself out of these crazy ideas, but this one wont budge.
I have to opportunity to buy a TWH colt for the grande price of $1.00. The people don't want him and they'll end up taking him to the auction in the fall, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, there is no guarantee. If I do decide to take him, I can keep him at their farm for free and they wont charge for hay. In addition, when I finish school in February, if I have to move away to get a job, they will take care of him until I can accommodate moving him.
He's a yearling, so he wont be ridable for another 2-3 years. However, if I get enough work done this winter with him, then if I do have to move he can sit for most of the spring/summer until I get my ducks in a row and I will most likely be ready for him in the fall, which is when he's be ready for more serious work.
But, he's a TWH, a breed I have zero experience with, mostly their gaited-ness. If I stay where I am, then my jumping instructor can help with him as she specializes in Walkers. Even so, gaiting isn't conducive to H/J or dressage. I'm not even sure if he is gaited yet, though. I would like to get rid of his gait if he is, but he would be resale project so that would lower his value. Thankfully, TWH are said to be very even tempered and nice so he should be easy to start and ideally he'll be sold as a kids/ladies/lesson horse.
He does have a very nice personality, just shy. I was able to stand with him relaxed and scratching his withers yesterday. Conformationally, he seems balanced and promises to be a very smooth ride. Just a little wormy and underweight right now, and he has warts but no big deal, really.
I don't have to decide right away, but this is been constantly on my mind since the owner proposed it.
Ugg...
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Look at it like this. Is he going to help you get further along in your goals or hinder them? Yes its wonderful you do not want to see him go to auction, and I understand and respect that completely. I do. Please know that.. but at the same time..You have no experience with this breed, a gaited breed no less. To me personally, to give him good resale value he would need to be trained as his breed is normally trained i.e. a lot of professional training which means a lot of time, money and maybe frustration. People even that just want a nice gaited TWH to trail ride, want that "flash" of the gaits they have and all that I have seen. Good luck in whichever decision you make. That is how I would look at it though.
I'm leaning toward what's been said already. I have a feeling, even though they're offering him up for cheap and willing to pay for feed, that you're going to get hit with some hidden expenses. If its not a breed you're familiar with and he's still so young that you're going to have to put 3yrs into him before you can do anything... Well... Idk. Personally, I wouldn't. It's not financially sound in my opinion.
I wouldn't buy him either. Seems abit weird that they want to sell, yet are willing to absorb all costs of caring for him. They may aswell just keep him?
Also, if you're a hunter/jumper or dressage rider, a gaited horse is not productive to these disciplines.
I agree with Capall Manor LLC, Fox Crest Farms, and Bramble Wood Lodge. The offer sounds a bit fishy to me. Then again, it may because they care for the foal, and they want to be able to monitor his care and make sure he's being taken proper care of, even if he's not theirs. Or maybe they just don't want that "if" at an auction.
Still, I wouldn't buy him. You said that he is, "Just a little wormy and underweight right now, and he has warts but no big deal, really." Well, there could always be the possibility that his health problems are much worse than 'no big deal,' and like Fox Crest said, you could get hit with some hidden expenses. He's not in perfect health, and they're trying to sell him off very cheap... it does sound very iffy to me.
Go with what you think best, because you have statted above you will have help with him and thats the main thing you will need. If It wasn't for my boss I wouldn't be getting my new free horse. If your willing to take on something and throw yourself in the deep end and try something your not used to then all the best, go with your gut feeling. There nothing stopping you from selling him on if you feel its not working! :)
If you decide to take him, you do NOT want to try and "get rid" of his gait. Most gaited horses can w/t/c without affecting their gait, but you have to constantly keep them in their unnatural gait or they will fall right back into their gait. Plus, his gait (especially if it's smooth) will be his best selling point. I don't know where you live, but in many areas a trail safe gaited horse is always in demand.
Tennessee Walkers, on the whole, are a well tempered breed and aren't much different from training a trotting breed. The more socialized, the more willing to learn. Honestly, we don't do much different when starting a tennessee walker or a Morgan under saddle. Basics are the same (but with a gaited horse you don't teach the canter, just varying speeds in gait).
The reason he is free, yet they are willing to still pay for his feed and such, is that they just have so many horses there is no time. I am helping them out by riding a few of their other horses, and starting their clyde under saddle for them. So nothing fishy going on about his price, just genuine, nice people.
Maybe the better choice will be just to work with him and make him appealing and well mannered for the sale, and keep saving for my sport pony prospect.
Also not to offend anyone or stir trouble but why are the just giving him away? What's wrong with him that they aren't telling you? As foxie said , something is hidden. And the money you would be putting into him. Well it could be a wash. Never buy cause its cute or you feel sorry for it. It all sounds iffy to me. They could easily turn around and refuse to let you keep him there, let alone feed him.
There isn't anything wrong with him. The owners just don't like geldings. Apparently they are only good for five years, where as a mare can be bred and be forever useful! -.- (Sounds like here on PB! lol)
The owner's exact words were something along the lines of, "You can have him if you want, we wont get anything for him at auction." I'm not concerned in the least about these people pulling a fast one on me. They said I could even go out to the back pasture and pick any of the youngstock in there.
I went out to see him today(well, I went to get his pasture mate). He walked over to me for the first time. After my ride, he let me scratch his neck all over and his ears. I don't think he has ever had scratches like that before. He even let me string test him, 15.3hh. He sure isn't making this any easier. His personality is so perfect.
LM- When you say you don't training the canter, is that just for the show circuit? In my research it does seem like they have a harder time keeping a balanced canter.
(Don't worry about offending or upsetting me. You'd have to try very, very hard to do that)
Only good for five years? A good gelding is worth its weight in gold. If he was show calibur especially, as they are so much easier then mares as you have to get into the regumate and all that. Personally I find it fishy. They will just give him away, don't want anything to do with him.. Yet you can just keep him there and things? That alone personally, would be a no. Too many loose ends. I would if I were you, stick to your goals and not just get a horse to have it. Should be a reason to every purchase. Not just , and not saying your doing this but oh its cute, I think I want it. Its fluffy. Good luck in your choice.
I wouldn't deal with horses from people who think mares are only useful if they're having babies. There are lots of reasons why random mares should not be bred. This makes me questions their other thoughts, actions, and methods with their horses. It would be sketchy to take one of their rejects. Other people made excellent points. Personally, I'd say no. That's just my opinion.
Capall- In my area, NY USA horses are given away all the time with nothing wrong with them. Although geldings are worth their weight in gold they also can never be bred if they were to be a champion. So it would make their sire and dam look better but no real profit. If she knows the barn well I don't see why there is a problem. It is just up to her personal choice. I would take him and then just resell him if we didn't hit it off.. His value would be higher by then.. Horses with good temperaments are priceless.
I'm from north jersey. And from my experience, there is generally something wrong if its given away. Training wise. Breeding wise. Etc. Geldings although not breedable, can bring money by being leased out and winning prize money. Personally I find it a dead end proposition. It smells bad to me. They could easily pull a fast one on her. And mares as the other member mentioned are not just breeding machines. Especially when only titled, well bred and well lined horses should be bred. Not just anything with the right anatomy. These people to me sound like backyard breeders who are just looking to dump off something they did, but still stay involved like a virus almost. If it isn't going to further what you want in life.. Why do it? He needs someone who knows the breed and had those kind of goals, time and money to put into him.
Yes but you don't know what level of quality these mares are. She never said they were backyard breeders that breed anything. Don't be so quick to judge. Some people are good hearted. If she has known them awhile and deems them trustworthy they could just be genuine nice people wanting the best for a horse they don't need. I have gotten half a dozen nice horses this way and never regretted any of them.
Yah, apparently no one has bothered to let all the gelding who are competing and winning into their late teens that they are useless. Personally, I love geldings. The wner is an old cowboy type, I take what he says with a grain of salt. They just don't have the time or want to train him. The wife doesn't ride and the husband works away most of the time, so the horses they have need to be ones they find use in. They have so much money it doesn't mean anything to keep him if it means he is being worked with.
But I'm not being argumentative. I 100% agree about not buying because it's cute and fluffy. I am looking closely at him structurally, evaluating his mind and such. I am speaking to my coach about the versatility of walkers too.
Any just saying, they didn't breed him, they bought his mother in foal. They have the mother's papers, and I think the breeding certificate? Not sure on that one. Either way, he is out of registered parents.
I never said I was being quick to judge, its called an opinion. Anyone who deems geldings useless to me sounds like a fool to put it politely. Let alone claiming mares are good for one thing. Things add up. If she's into hunters or dressage. She would be correct to not waste her money time and energy on him. When your looking for a show horse, its different then looking for a pleasure horse or trail animal. I go to college for these things. I have more then a clue, and to me it sounds like a crooked deal. Why buy a mare in foal if you have no intention of keeping the foal til it at least can have some decent training? These are questions among other ones that need to be asked. Not hooray, I get a free horse. We all choose the life we lead. No one chooses it for us. On that note, I'm headed to bed.
Does his hind end confo look a little off to anyone else?I noticed his hocks today, he looks very cow hocked, and one of them seems to turn out much further than the other. Could it be a funny growth spurt? I'm skeptical and I'm not sure he'd stay sound with them one in work.
Those hocks are almost worse than my little rescue filly and hers almost touch... I'm not sure if that's a characteristic of gaited horses, but that looks REALLY bad to me. His hind legs over lap at the walk...
Looks like I'm saving for my sport pony afterall. I can't believe I didn't notice those hocks before. As awesome as his mind is, it's not worth it if he's only sound for a year or two.,