Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Young Horses

----- Original Message -----
From: "superpat" <superpat@xxxxxxxxxxxx>


> I would always err on the side of taking it easy and slow. That does not
> mean don't begin to put conditioning on your horse, but start slowly and
> remember that it takes at least two years for the bones to become dense
> enough to handle the constant concussion and the tendons and muscles to
> become strong and flexible. I have a training partner who got her new
> endurance prospect two and a half years ago at the age of four.

Hi Pat,

I read your post with interest, as I have a three and a half year old.  Due
to busy life, we didn't get on her as much as I wanted to this
summer...which is probably just as well.  She may still be growing.....and
there is no hurry.  |We have backed her maybe 20 times total, and only on
her back for 10 minutes max.  I tend to belong to the school of waiting
until the horse is done growing....anyway, why this post interests me, and I
would appreciate your opinions, is that she has been out on the trail since
she was a baby.....doing short outings at first, up to a max of slow 2 hour
jaunts.  What do folks think of this early exercise program, as far as
developing bones and tendons as they grow?  With the imput of my vet, I just
tried to approximate that might be natural to a young horse in a wild
setting (moving with a herd), without overdoing it.  At the least, I would
think her balance and handling her feet over rough terrain would be more
developed..... she has had pasture turnout of 3-5 acres all her life, and
hauled out at least 3 times a week since she was a baby, for light exercise.

still, I can\t imagine, at this point, of doing 50 miles at age 5!!

Karen


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