youngster to bring on

[dinky]

How much would it cost to bring a 3yr old who has already been bitted and lightly backed? Very laid back indeed just a query for a friend thanks .

[varkie]

How long is a piece of string? Depends on height, breed etc. If you can specify a height & breed, a guess would be easier to make!

[poppyandbea]

some you need to bring on slowly other you can break in 6 weeks from scratch it all depends on the horses temperment a flighty or nervour horse pony will take longer than an very layed back one.
if he has been bitted and lightly backed
has he been lunged and longreined to get use to the tack and voice aids
also is he use to saddle etc as if he is very laied back you could prob have him walking and trotting on his own with rider in 3 weeks but you have to take it 1 step at a time the pony will let you know when hes happy and ready to start the next stage etc

[dinky]

well hes a gypsy cob very laid back indeed been bitted and lightly backed in school led out in traffic and nothing bothers him. Not worried by dogs machinery or children used to the tack being on him. Friend hasnt done much luingeing or long lineing with him . Would it be better to be sent away and taught properly all 3 paces ? Hes more of a pet around the yard at the minute .This thread is just out of interest of a friend who was asking my advice thanks.

[varkie]

Ah, you're asking how much it would cost to bring this horse along. Sorry, reading your original thread, I thought you meant how much would it cost to buy a horse who could do this.

I'm afraid I'm still not going to be very helpful! It depends so much on the individual horse. Some take to it like ducks to water, and you would swear they have been doing it all their lives - others need a little longer time, and things to be taken more slowly. The fastest you could do it would be 6 weeks, but other horses may take longer. One word of caution - if this is a gypsy cob, they can often be very late to mature, and at 3 years old can struggle with it all a bit - mentally & physically.

[Carole]

A decent prof. yard will cost in region of £120 per week though if he is nativey and can live out (and they have this facility) then they may reduce that drastically.
If he is stabled then it takes as much work to do a smaller good doer as to do a biggy, so costs don't alter greatly but again feed costs may be minimal. Plus the argument for YO is that if the space is filled by said horse it cannot be used to maximise full revenue so therefore they charge the same regardless.
Only thing I would say is go to several yards that are recommended and watch them work some horses (more than once) and judge standards/compatibility to your horse.
You will need to allow a minimum of 4 weeks realistically but the longer there the more educated he should return.
Also get his rider to have lessons on him there before he comes home.
And remember don't let anyone pressure you into doing more with him than he can take at 3.