Question about 2 year old Haflinger mare?

Question

Okay, here is the story.

I would consider myself an advanced beginner as far as riding, with a ton of book knowledge, and plenty of hands on experience, having owned 2 horses for 2 years. I had an old quarter horse mare that passed away after a very harsh winter. 

I have been looking for another horse for 2 months now. I found a 2 year old haflinger mare, that is halter broke, very sweet, good w/ farrier, and is well behaved. however, she is not broke. 

Would it be possible, if i devote the time for me to train her? and perhaps start working on riding next year? I am involved with the local rescue, and have a lot of very horse savvy friends, that would help me learn. Do you think it would be wise? This mare will end up at a horse sale, which is in a very prominent meat buyer area, and i don't want that to happen to her. She is only $200, so even if I have to pay a trainer, which runs about $600 around here. Do you think it would be wise? I have another horse, which is currently with my goats, and regardless, I would like to get her a companion. 

Thank you!

? · Accepted Answer

If you can afford it and there are no other issues go ahead and rescue her!!
Haflinger horses are wonderful!!  My aunt lives in Austria and you see these horses all over.
She will also be company for your other horse.  Depending on her history she should be ok with the goats.  In Austria I saw these horses with cows, sheep, goats and anything else that needed to share a pasture!!
Of course you have to devote time to train her!!  You can start with the ground work and then send her off to the trainer when she's ready to ride if you need to!I
Good Luck!!

? · Answer

If you have a place to keep her, for $200 I don't think you could go far wrong by taking her. She's already socialized and has been handled, and Halfingers generally have pretty calm easy going temperaments. I think she would be an excellent choice for your first horse to train yourself, since you have knowledgable horses savvy friends to help guide and advise you.
As for meat buyers, are you in the USA? It is my understanding slaughter or purchase of horses for slaughter was made illegal in recent years. In any case, if sent to a sale, even meat price would likely be more than $200.

DazzleMe(Charlie) · Answer

I say go for it as long as she has no problems and you know what your getting yourself into.

I love my haflinger he Is so sweet and I think it's great you want to save her haflingers are very popular with horse meat buyers because they are small so more of them fit on the trailer and they are stocky so they still get a lot of meat off of them.

Good luck I hope everything works out for you

Anna T · Answer

It really all depends,if she has a quiet nature and you have a professional to break her in for you, she may turn out to be perfectly suited to you.However it`s almost never a good match putting a novice rider to a novice horse.Usually it takes years and years of experience to bring on a youngster. Having said that,she could end up teaching you so much. You could always buy her,get her broken in professionally and see if she`s suited to you.If it turns out that she isn't you could sell her on,making sure she goes to a really good,knowledgeable home..Ps. I think it`s so lovely that you want to rescue this mare, Good luck whatever you decide.

? · Answer

I say get her, even if you get a trainer, its still cheap, and worth it for saving a horse!

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Question about 2 year old Haflinger mare?

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