Re: starting my baby

["hn.heather" <hn.heather@wanadoo.fr>]

----- Original Message -----
From: <guest@endurance.net>
> We have worked 15min. to 2hrs in the saddle.

Others will have their opinions but you can have mine as well.  I think that
2hrs work is far in excess of what you should be doing with your young
horse.  Arabs in general mature later than other breeds and he's possibly
still growing.

Handle him, pony him, trailer him to strange places, harness him to a cart,
whatever, but stay off his back if you want him to have a long career in
endurance.

You can't really compare young endurance horses to young race-horses,
particularly TB's.  I don't know about the States but in France and in the
UK these youngsters are pampered and cossetted from birth in terms of
nutrition so they mature early.  However their careers are often criminally
short due in part to this "forcing".

You should in any case make sure his diet is very sound in terms of its
protein level and its vitamins and minerals, particularly in terms of the
calcium and phosphorus ratio.

Hope this helps.  Have fun with your youngster but let him grow up
naturally.

Heather
SW France



   He's my baby and I don't want to rush him, I thought we were ok until I
started reading all the comments about young arabs.  i'm a novice , he is my
first real youngster  please advise if I'm going too fast with him.  He is
very willing, no bucking or rearing, but I don't want to over do the actual
riding.   P.S. what age are arabs started on the track?
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