Hi, I am new here. I am thinking of adopting a 5 year old pmu gelding. He is halter broke. I do have some training experience, including starting a 3 yro PMU mare that was somewhat halter broke and had been handled a bit. Can anyone share their experiences adopting the older horses?

My mare was 4 when I got her. She was very skittish, especially when I got around her back end (understandable, considering where she came from) and only barely halter broke. But she's progressed to the point where my son has put his little kids on her and led her around. The youngest was 4 at the time. No problems apparently. The farrier has also trimmed her feet with no complaints. She takes paste wormer with no problem, and doesn't mind vaccinations. She can be approached and caught in the pasture without feed. I haven't ridden her because I don't live there and only get to visit occasionally, but I don't really think there will be a problem with it. The 2 ASBs got out when last winter's ice storm took down the fence, but she and the little filly I adopted impromptu off the trailer stayed in. PMU adoptees are gentle horses from what I've seen. It's the draft in them. I posted my first pics of them on this board recently. The one of my paint mare was taken just a week after they were delivered. She had already calmed down.

My husband and I adopted two PMU mares four years ago. One was seven, and pregnant, and we named her Two Socks.

Two Socks was terrified of people, had no training at all, and was not halter broke. If we managed to touch her, she acted like we'd used a cattle prod on her. I truly think a mustang would have been less wild than this mare was.

She wasn't mean though, just afraid. The first time her feet were trimmed we had to have her tranquilized. When she had her foal, a healthy colt, she wouldn't let us near him.

Fast forward to today, four years later...she's the first one to the gate, is very affectionate, and I'm riding her.

What did it take to get there? Lots of patience. I worked with the mare at her speed, using clicker training and positive rewards. I made mistakes, but Two Socks is forgiving, and we have a wonderful relationship. She is an amazing mare, is very athletic, kind, and super intelligent.

If you've got the time to invest in an older PMU mare, you could be rewarded with a friendship for life.

My husband and I adopted a 4 year old Percheron PMU mare and a 2 year old Belgian PMU filly. They are both absolutely wonderful! They are both sweet and eager to please, as well as easily trained. The Percheron is about to begin training for riding (and perhap driving). She is just a big sweet, wonderful horse. The Belgian follows us around wanting attention, which of course she gets. I say go for it!