I've rode and broke several 2yr old Quarter/Paint/Appy horses,
but that was YEARS ago too. Now days I prefer to go more slower with my
own horses too. Lite riding once they are 3, learning a lot of
basics. I see no reason why a 3yr old shouldn't be able to do a basic
trail class, open/close a gate, walk or jog over some logs, back up, side pass,
ground tie, short little canter, simple things like that. Prehaps these
breeds tend to do so well because most are doing western pleasure and it's a
slower speed??? It's just amazing how much we've learned in the past
10-15years.
Buffy Spellcaster Miniature Horses Beware... They'll cast a spell on
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Messenger ID: Spellcasterminis
My first thought was, three is too young to be riding
a colt. The only breed that seems to get away with that is the Quarter
Horse, and I'm not so sure they do well with riding at such a young age,
either. I don't like to ride a youngster until he is four, and then only
very limited and at a walk. Five is old enough to start a little extra
work and I don't like to compete a horse until he is six. They don't
mature until about 7 or 8. I'm speaking of the Arabs since we don't have
any other breed at the moment. Arabs mature later than some other
breeds.
I need some thoughts and ideas here... my 3yr old is worked
fairly regularly here at home. We go trail riding a once or twice a
month. My friend's horses stand in a pasture until we go trail
riding. Mind you they aren't worked hard on the trails at all.
However, every time my colt comes back with a sore back and stocks up in the
legs. I rub him down after every ride and cool him out on the way back
in. We honestly walk most of the trails with a very limited amount of
trotting or canter. Here at home he works all 3 gaits, plus
extensions, I like to do a lot of bending and flexing too. My friends
horses don't come back sore or nothing. Heck my daughter's new 3yr old
stud (we just got him a few wks ago and he was about 250lbs underweight) did
better then my colt on a trail. He's been standing in a pasture eating
non-stop so he can put his weight back on and start getting back in
condition later. I've thought of starting to wrap my colts legs on the
trails, but really hate to do that. I just don't know what else to do
thou??? As to his back it's sore where the tree of my english saddle
sits on his back, not his withers.
HELP!!!
Buffy Spellcaster
Miniature Horses Beware... They'll cast a spell on your heart! www.geocities.com/spellcasterminis/ Yahoo
Messenger ID: Spellcasterminis
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