Kat's answer was just fine. She is just being
honest.
What did I do when I started my young horse?
I waited until he was four. I ponied him, maybe 3 - 4 miles a couple times
a week. When he was 4 1/2, then I started riding him. How far?
Maybe 3 - 4 miles a couple times a week. I don't have a pen or arena to
train in. I used the great outdoors. We did just fine. I also
had babysitters. Probably more for me than the horse. When Rowdy was
5, he did one 25 miler towards the end of the season. This year as a 6 yr
old, he did 225 miles. 4 of those rides were 25s back to back so he did 50
miles in a weekend. The rides were about a month apart except for the last
month. We also did competitive since the pace is slower. I gave him
a break of about 5 weeks after the last ride. Why? He looked skinny
to me, the last ride vet said there was a small splint probably from him trying
to jump the front of the trailer, and he was growing again. The rest
didn't hurt him any, he didn't forget anything he learned, I can barely find the
splint, and he was annoyed with me for going so slow yesterday with a younger
horse, that he started looking for things to spook at. Sometimes we are so
eager to start riding the babies that we start too soon or too fast or with too
much. I don't care what breed one has, those bones, muscles, ligaments,
tendons, are all still growing and forming when they are 3, 4, 5, and even
6. I have shown my most patience with Rowdy. After all, he is going
to be the old lady's horse. I don't want to hurt him, it doesn't matter how fast
he comes along, I can take all the time I want. His main job will be to
take me down trail and keep me on his back while my bones become creaky and my
body arthritic!
Take your time, you have years to enjoy the
horse. Jeanie
