Purchasing a horse is a significant investment, and understanding the true cost of training versus buying a “finished” horse is crucial for any equestrian. While professional training services can seem expensive at $850 per month, this cost often pales in comparison to acquiring a truly solid, quiet, and sound horse, especially when looking at horses under $10,000. Many individuals new to horse shopping find themselves in a challenging position, facing horses that are not as gentle, finished, or sound as advertised, or worse, those with chronic issues that may never be resolved. For those seeking a reliable roping horse, investing $10,000 or more is often a realistic expectation.
For the average horse buyer, the process can be intimidating. While professional horse trainers have evaluated thousands of horses, many individuals have only seen a handful, making it difficult to assess a horse’s true potential and condition. It’s important to recognize that even with young horses, many problems, if they arise, may never be fully corrected without the guidance of an experienced horseman. Issues such as running off, excessive circling, or problems with the alley or box can put a buyer at an unnecessary disadvantage. Correcting these problems independently can be exceedingly difficult, particularly if one doesn’t ride or rope daily.
The Pitfalls of Training a Young Horse
The process of training a young horse, especially when done incorrectly, carries significant risks and can lead to lifelong issues. Young horses are highly impressionable. If trained improperly, they can develop deep-seated problems, such as a complex about the box, the rope, or the entire roping process, which are incredibly challenging to rectify. Furthermore, young or green horses can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous if approached without the proper understanding. They may not consistently make good decisions, a tendency exacerbated if they aren’t ridden daily. Much like teenagers, unsupervised young horses can see their decision-making skills deteriorate rapidly. There are numerous ways to get injured when working with young horses, and far fewer ways to do it correctly. Their size and power mean they can inflict harm easily, sometimes unintentionally. Inexperienced handlers are often inadvertently setting themselves up for a serious incident. For this reason, it is often recommended to consider horses that are slightly older, perhaps 7 or 8 years old, rather than those still in the throes of immaturity.
The Solution: Professional Horse Training
This leads to a compelling argument: often, the most sensible option is to have a horse professionally trained to your specifications. When undertaken by a skilled trainer, this approach can effectively address the aforementioned challenges, resulting in a horse you can rely on for many years. Firstly, a trainer can assist in locating a suitable horse, helping you avoid the many “duds” on the market. They can also protect you from unscrupulous sellers and coordinate pre-purchase veterinary examinations, ensuring your new equine partner begins its career on the right foot. Even a quick video or photo of a horse’s papers can be invaluable for a trainer’s assessment.
Secondly, a professional trainer can help prevent fundamental issues from developing in a horse. They are motivated not only by your well-being but also by their own desire to avoid riding problematic animals. With years of experience, it is far more enjoyable to ride a kind, well-started young horse than one plagued by issues. While a skilled trainer can rectify many problems, they can almost always achieve superior results when starting with a clean slate rather than trying to fix existing ones.
As previously mentioned, the best outcome is typically achieved when a horse is started correctly from the outset, rather than needing extensive corrective training. This is where the expertise of your trainer becomes invaluable. If you desire a truly high-quality horse, the most effective strategy is often to purchase a promising young horse and entrust it to a reputable trainer for several months. This allows them to shape the horse according to your preferences. The result is a horse that is free from ingrained problems, safe to handle, and tailored specifically to your individual needs and skill level.
Understanding the Financial Investment
You might be thinking that this sounds ideal but financially out of reach. However, let’s examine the numbers to illustrate how professional training can be a financially sound decision. Typically, you can acquire a quality young colt for under $6,500, and this is a generous estimate. Many clients have successfully purchased suitable colts for around $4,500. Adding four months of professional training at $850 per month amounts to $3,400. This brings the total investment to $9,900. If you were able to purchase a horse for $4,500, this budget could even accommodate an additional two months of training, resulting in a total cost of $7,900, comfortably remaining under the $10,000 mark.
A Horse Tailored for You
Opting for the professional training route provides you with the horse of your dreams, one that you know has been correctly trained without any prior negative experiences. You avoid the direct challenges of breaking and riding a potentially difficult young horse, and you haven’t incurred the expenses of feeding and housing it for those initial training months. Crucially, if your trainer is attentive to your needs—and it’s always advisable to discuss with your trainer how you envision the horse feeling upon its return—the horse will be trained specifically for you, rather than conforming to a generic pattern. Therefore, if you are interested in building the ideal horse rather than relying on chance, consider reaching out. We actively train and work with horses seven days a week, constantly striving to enhance their capabilities.
AJ Fuchs is a professional roping horse trainer and PRCA competitor based in Stephenville, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, AJ specializes in team roping horses and overall horsemanship. You can connect with him on Facebook at AJ Performances Horses or visit his website at ajfuchs.com.
