Awareness of the outside world. BBC: 2023 confirmed as world’s hottest year on record, Poynting & Rivault, 9th January 2024. Previous posted about heat [Homewood Forest Preserve, Photography]
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Choices in horse buying. Older Horse with Experience vs Young Horse with Potential. All of the following are generalizations. There are exceptions to everything.
I have no answers. We heard about an interesting horse who was older than we would like. Caused me to think about this.
Older Horse with Experience
PRO
Whatever your thing is, the horse can do the thing. As soon as the two of you get acquainted, to the show ring you go.
No training surprises, wherein you find the horse can do X and Z but not Y, so that XYZ is out of the question.
No training montages that look short but take years.
CON
More money.
Shorter competitive lifespan.
Shorter lifespan with you.
Maybe badly trained. The show record was a combination of fluke and being strong-armed by an experienced rider. Amateur gets on & the horse says, ‘Who me? Do what?’
Maybe exquisitely trained, in a way that turns out to be incompatible with how you ride.
You are probably not going to go higher than the level the horse is now. At best, a few years at that level and then you start winding down.
Closer to needing maintenance, if not already.
Less time for a career change if you decide you no longer wish to do the thing.
Young Horse with Potential
All of the above, except reversed.
PRO
Less money.
All that untapped potential lies before you.
Make your own mistakes rather than fixing someone else’s problems.
CON
Show ring? Ha.
Can the horse do X or Y or Z? You’ll find out.
Cue training montage.
Thoughts
I could point out that we have one of each in the backyard. When we bought them, Rodney was an 11 year old with hops and Milton was a green six year old. But talking about those two is tailspin territory, so I won’t.
Also, I notice that pros & cons above apply to buying a competition horse. Well, yes. That’s the plan? goal? wish? futile fantasy?
Pull up! Pull up!
I go back to my previous comment. I wonder how anyone buys a horse ever. [Status Of The Horse Hunt, Needle Pegged at Overwhelm]
On the positive side. [Horse Shopping, What I Am Looking For]
Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 
A former boss used clichés a lot. One of his favorites was “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” I’m not sure how it applies here but you seem to be taking the right baby steps. Onwards!, as you say.
Louise
👶🦶👶🦶👶🦶
(baby-step emojis)