Where to buy a foal from?

Question

After its old enough to ride, how break.I'd rather not, so where to go to break a horse?

Answer 1

You won't be able to buy a foal- a foal is considered a equine that is still getting it's main nutrition supply from it's dam. When that equine has been moved from their dam and is eating feed and hay as it's only source of nutrition it is then called a weanling.

You can buy a weanling or any equine older from looking on the Internet, to going to equine events and hearing about one directly from someone, newspapers, and even looking up local ranches and barns in your area.

I prefer getting my horses as weanlings or yearlings and creating a trusting bond with them at a young age- I've found it easier to train or break when I've had an established relationship with them. I do start horses for a living at whatever age(if in reason) the owner asks. Try looking on the Internet, asking friend with equines, and going to local barns that train and interview trainers.

The most important thing I can tell you is to really interview them and ask them to review step by step procedures to their colt starting techniques. Also see if they won't allow you to sit and watch while they break another horse- this way you can evaluate if they practice safe and humane acts while starting a horse. I've found that over my many years there are some trainers that will whip, hit, kick, basically beat a horse into submission to get them to do what they want. I've also had many people bring me their equines right after coming from training with even more troubles than before.
Remember you are the employer and trainers are employees hoping that you hire them- so the cheaper trainer may not always be the most qualified the same as the most expensive. Just find a trainer that you and your equine will get along with and be prepared to shell out some cash.

I had to add this after seeing the comments above- I'm from Texas and we call training a horse many different things- including breaking, we also say colt starting and backing.....I mean if the term "breaking" has gone out of style than I guess a lot of people need to quit saying other terms like a horse being "finished" or being "green broke"... just because one person Say's it one way doesn't mean it's any more wrong than the next. And I've been training horses for over 40 years.

Answer 2

I agree...it is hard to break a horse. I show my gelding in western events and halter and showmanship. I board him year round with my professional trainer. I am an adult rider, with experience, but breaking babies is hard work. Consult a trainer in your area. Look on yahoo for: horse trainers in ____(your town and state).


I am not trying to be rude, but if you are so educated that you have to be "politically correct." Why are you sitting at your computer, instead of studying in some dorm at Harvard or Yale. The term "breaking" a horse is universal. I am not trying to be arrogant or anything, but I board year round with a professional trainer and show my horse. You can call it saddle training, that is fine. I call it stupid for someone to say that "anyone can train their horse." If that were the case, we'd all be riding at Congress and the World show with no problems. If you ask me, stupid is getting on a horse when you are not sure what to do. Find a trainer. It is okay to disagree with people. But if you don't own horses, don't comment. Anyone who actually owns horses knows that training an animal is not a text book science. I am sorry to go off, but some of you people make me ill.

Answer 3

To be politically correct, almost no one "breaks" their horses anymore. A correctly trained, experienced horse person shouldn't have problems training your horse. A good place to try would be a local university with an equestrian program. That's where I am now. Our program allows students to accept outside training projects and also accepts training projects for a class that teaches students how to start untrained horses. All of this is of course done under the supervision of our program director, but perhaps other programs allow students to do similar things. Usually the cost to have this done is fairly minimal or non-existent except for the price of board. Also, some stables in your area might also offer training services, but these might be significantly more expensive. Be certain that whoever you send your horse to actually has had classical training themselves, otherwise there will be a lot of holes in your horses training later on.

Answer 4

First thing,,you all that answered the question must not have read it ! The question was from someone that admitted they knew little about horses and wanted sincere answers. Ok so they used the term " BREAKING" not "TRAINING", watch out that might offend us that know how to "TAME" a horse. I have been around horses all my life and know you neither break or train them, you first need to tame them before you can try anything. If you have your horses trust and confidence they will work alot better for you. A foal is used to describe a baby horse or pony that can either be a filly or colt up to 6 months of age. A weanling is a filly or a colt up to 1yr, then you go to a yearling to describe a filly or colt up to 2yrs old. So please if you are not taming your own horse and you have to send it to a TRAINER then please go get some more time under your belt before giving advise. From someone who actually does their own taming.

Answer 5

Never say "break". I say that I "saddle train horses" and other people "break" their horses. And look in your local phone book their should some boarding facilities that offer training or places that are training facilities.