There are many factors to consider when trying to match the perfect horse and rider. Regarding a horse's age however, the most common (and dangerous) mistake made is to purchase a horse that is too young. Well meaning parents often have a wonderful, idealistic notion that a young horse and a young rider will be able to grow and learn together, and be lifelong companions. The reality is that a young horse and young or novice rider together is a recipe for disaster. Instead of creating lifelong companions, the rider often gets frustrated or injured and misses out on a lifetime of enjoying the sport. The horse's frustration and lack of proper handling often leaves him worth far less than he was purchased for, with bad habits and/or dangerous behaviors that may remain with him for the rest of his life.
The average life span of a horse is thirty years. Thirty years is a long time. How many of us will actually see the end of a thirty-year mortgage before we sell our house? Even the most enthusiastic, horse crazed child in the world will probably put their interest aside (at least temporarily) sometime during the late teenage and college years.
Keep in mind that the horse is a creature of instinct and habit. The younger a horse is, the less ingrained his habits (i.e. training) is and the more he will rely on his instincts of fight or flight. The best-trained two-year-old horse in the world is not suitable for a young or novice rider.
The May 1997 issue of The American Medical Equestrian Association newsletter cautions that, "No beginner or child should have a horse aged under five, older horses are better for beginners." A horse between the ages of ten and fifteen is ideal for the novice or intermediate rider. Remember a fifteen-year-old horse still has fifteen years of service left. By this age the horse is usually not as prone to spook or shy. He is usually very responsive to the riders aids (seat, hand and leg cues) and knows what to do so well by habit that he is forgiving when the aids are not used perfectly.
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