Ultimately, every buyer has to come up against the same choice: whether to buy a horse that already knows what it’s supposed to do or one that is young and which you take on yourself.
A horse that has been properly trained, often referred to as a schoolmaster when it has sufficient experience to teach the rider, is something you know well. You can observe what it does, look at its performance history, and feel it responding under you. If you wish to learn the more advanced movements, there is no alternative to using a horse that has already carried out those movements correctly, since you can’t pick up the sensation of a true half-pass or a smooth flying change from a horse that has never performed them. The drawback is that the training of the horse has already been carried out over many years and, as a result, it is generally older, needing more in the way of care and having a shorter career span because of its age. You are therefore buying a companion and a teacher, the teaching being the main purpose.
A young horse is a worse deal since it is cheaper to buy than to raise. You are able to train the animal in accordance with your own style of riding, and if it turns out well you can look forward to a long career. However, there is no guarantee regarding its ability or soundness, training takes a long time and generally requires the assistance of a professional, and the young horse goes through difficult stages which try everyone’s patience. A prospect is something you have to work on. If you enjoy the process of producing it, then it is a pleasure. But if you had been looking for a partner and end up with a project, the difference becomes obvious during the second winter.
For international buyers in general, particularly those who are buying a horse for the first time, the more sensible choice is one in the middle: a horse aged between six and eight years, with good basic training and some experience in competition. The horse is old enough for its gait and temperament to be known for certain, yet young enough that most of its working life still lies ahead of it. Although it is not the cheapest and not the most impressive, it is the one that travels most easily and causes the fewest disappointments.
No matter what you decide, you should be honest about the one you are really purchasing. A young horse, even if it is portrayed in an advertisement as ’nearly ready’, is still just a young horse. And an excellent old schoolmaster is worth every penny and all of his wrinkles, provided that you understand that you are getting an education with a horse attached, not a horse that is going to last forever.