STOCKYARD
HORSE  DISCUSSION FORUMS

Pinto Lover

Well most of you know about Lacey (yearling) our new Riding Pony, I just wanted to pick people's brain on when is a good time/age to start training/educating her, wither it be under saddle, lunging, mouthing, anything really. Nothing hard, just nice & easy stuff, as Britney wants to do some of it with her & I don't know what to start her off with, she is doing lots of leading, brushing, picking feet up, tying her up, etc etc.

No!! I am not going out to start riding her, I just wanted to know how much we can do with her without hurting her & what is best to start off with 1st?. She will be Britney's riding pony in the future, hopefully she will get to 12.2hh's, finger crossed. How can I tell what height she may reach?

Thanks for all your help.

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palomino6661

i would start lungen her in a round yard at 18 months old with a roller on her. then break her into saddle when she is 2 for two weeks steady eddy no rushen into the saddle she will get used to the saddle with out bucken to much when to get on her back. but i would mouth her last and i would do it real early in the morning or late after noon cause even know the bit seem cold its bit warm during the day for first time mouthing.

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Arnie

King is rising 2 years old (arab colt) and I still haven't taught him to lunge and isn't mouthed.
Although he is getting to that age (after 2) that he has to be shown in a bit so I'll be doing that very shortly. I will also teach him to lunge but only so he knows how its done and not for any training / work purposes.
I am personally going to leave him until he's 3-4 to back him and begin any real training.

I spend alot of time with him, leading him around (well not at the moment because I've had to move him a bit far from me for a while). And there I've taught him what "WOAH" is, what the aid to move on is, yeilding away from pressure etc.
At this age I haven't even thought about breaking so I touch up on everything else to make sure their perfect first. Your general handling makes a HUGE difference when it comes to breaking.
I make sure they: Can have all four feet picked up perfectly, load on the float without a hassle, get used to regular brushing (thats good so their used to being touched all over), used to be rugged, exceptional ground manners, used to being taken on walks alone or with company and used to other general everyday things around the property . Although I've somehow got to get King used to dinosaur sized farm machinery now! EEEEK!
Atleast then there's less stress when it comes to the sudden increased of handling when its breaking time. And being only a yearling she would of experienced most of the above or has lots of room for improvement .

Just my opinion on how I like to take things. Best of luck with her and keep us updated!

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simbin

Really depends on the breed of horse as well. Different breeds mature at different ages. Just dont rush theres really no need to if you have a youngster, the slower the better I believe and then you will have a sound horse that will last you a long time.

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norrishbex

Start now if that is what you want to do.

We've always started handling our horses from quite young, working on ground manners and leading, floating, having the farrier, that sort of thing, coz you never know what may happen, and the more stuff you can go with them the less stress and problems there will be later on. So long as you take into account that they are like kids, their attention span isn't great, so start something, and as soon as you get the reponse you are asking for on both sides, call it a day, and let them think about things.

Karijini

I think it really comes down to your horse/pony. My young one is 3 and 1/2 now and still very immature. He still has a lot of growing to do and is into everything... I think you will find from previous posts on Stockies that the most common age for starting is around 2.

My boy leads, lunges, ties up, has feet done, had a roller on etc BUT he is not broken yet and I will not do so until he is 4. Just my choice, but I feel he is certainly not ready mentally or physically just yet.

Go with your gut feeling with Lacey - maybe start small and if she copes ok, give her a new task and see how she handles it. Best of luck with it all, keep us informed on her progress, it's very exciting!

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~~*Karijini King & Forestdew True Talisman *~~

kiraspark

I agree with Norrishbex above, RE handling from young, ours learn to lead, trim, and tie up well and truely before their first birthday, then otherwise left in the paddock to be horses, and dont get a saddle or mouthed until 2, and then only lightly, and ridden lightly for a few weeks, then spelled for six months, brought back in, and ridden lightly again. The work doesnt really start until they are 3. But they are Quarter Horses, real thinkers, and quite sensible and able to handle it.

However, having said that, we also have a yearling with not the best of front legs, she probably wont get broken until shes easily three or even four. So truely, each horse is an individual. My gelding by Reebok Roc was LOOKING for work to do as a one and three quarter year old, he wore a saddle and was mouthed then, but not ridden until a two year old. And he thrived on it. Got bored being in the paddock. He positively DEMANDED to be ridden.

In the meantime we cart ours all over the South West to campdrafts, right from when they are weanlings, so they are used to hustle and bustle and noise and travelling by the time they are ridden.

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Merrylegs

I believe in good handling and ground work from day 1! It is essential to give the babies a good foundation to build the rest of their lives on and not to mention the advantage of being able to easily catch, transport and handle your youngster should it require vet treatment!!

I personally do not agree with actually getting on and backing a horse under the age of 3. I disagree with lunging before 2 and lunging more than once a fortnight or so before 3.

Horses should not be in 'full work' until at least 4 and I don't like the idea of jumping anything under the age of 5.

But this is my personal opinion as I believe so many people get started on youngsters undersaddle career way too early which can cause innumerable problems later in life. What's the rush?

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lil bec

i agree with merrylegs on the handling part, and i agree with most that it all depends on the horse it self you will know when its ready. but i think with most no later then 3yrs

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Teddie1980

Each to their own, but i don't like to "sterotype" horses, each single one is different. I tend to agree with Kiraspark.

Its kinda of the same as saying all kids should be walking by the time they are 1..... now all the mums on here will know/agree they are all different (1 of mine walked at 10months, the other at 18 months) - same as horses....

The only thing is i wouldn't work a youngster like a 8 year, hang on i think i am rambling... damn wine

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