A little advice please.

[PinkGlamourGurl]

Hi all. Most will know about Silas.

He is 4 years old and I was just wondering how much work I should be doing with him. He has recently started jumping small coloured fences. I'm not thinking of jumping him anything major as I have strong opinions about jumping young horses.

Also what can I do to keep him entertained, as in schooling wise? He really concentrated on me tonight but theres always a chance that he'll get bored and numb. I'm going to start small, light hacks with him soon to get him used to leaving the arena.

So in summary

How much work?

A little jumping say once a fortnight maybe?

Ideas to keep him focused, JUST in case ;)

Thanks in advance :)

[CurlyWurlyRach]

personally, i work young horses for short lengths of time, just so they dont get brain overload.
Lots of praise.

little hacks are good, can you get someone to ride Fleur out with you? and also in the school with you (i know so many horses who go 'ohmygiddygosh' when another horse is in the arena :rolleyes:

trotting poles and bending/weaving through cones always seem popular with babies.

[Ptaty70]

ooo, lots of groundwork! will really help your relationship later on. Do you feel confident just walking him out in hand to eat some of that lovely grass? I used to take a book and let him eat once we had gone away from home... reward for being so very brave. Made him STRIDE out!

There are many games you can play in the school which will help his emotional development. There are a few that I did, but can't remember exactly (it was ages ago!). Am sure others can give you some good games to play...

Oooo, I remember that I started to introduce him to 'scarey' things in the school from the ground, like plastic bags. It helps them sort out problems themselves instead of fleeing. Those horse footballs are also good - there was a good vid from Whatanejit (I believe) about the training of young police horses and they used the ball to teach the horse to be brave.

(oh pleeeeeeeeease call him Terry, the chocolateorange horse!)

[Luv 2 Trot]

Circles, figure 8s, change of rein, transitions, trotting poles, things like that that will make him think. I too have a 4yo and have do a lot of circles and change of rein to help keep his attention. He's really nosey, so i know what you mean to help keep their attention. ;)

[showjumper-zoe]

Well as on our yard we have 4 shcools what I do with echo as she gets bored in our little school I alternate between all the 4 schools. Thats why I had tthe canter poles out last nite as she was switing off in the little school lol.

[sheryl]

My horse is rising 4.

He was lightly backed last summer. He just learnt to walk on, stand and turn. Then I turned him away for the whole winter.

In the last month I've re backed him. He also gets bored quickly. I make a point of stopping before he's really had enough. He loves loads of praise;)

I have cones to walk in and out of, and we do trotting poles. We also do a lot of walk - trot transitions, and walk - halt. He responds mainly to my voice, so he's learnt lots of words now. This week he's learnt to go back:) .

Do you walk your horse out in hand? I think its wise that they meet as many new things as possible, before you ride them out.

My boy is a handful at walking out. Sometimes he gets over excited and rears, so we're making an effort to walk him out, until he becomes cool with it, (may take forever!:o ).

I have also taken mine down to our big field (about 6 acres), and walked and trotted round that.

Some time soon, I'd like to ride with someone else, in the field, to see how he reacts to it. He doesn't like anyone else going infront, so thats something else we need to work on.

As yet we havn't cantered, or jumped. I'd like to get everything else sorted first.

Mine is ridden twice a week, for about 20 mins at a time. and he's walked out about once a week.

Good luck with your boy. Keep us posted!:)

[Peanut]

I'd start slow and only up the pace when you feel well established at each level.

Short periods in the school as concentration will be limited and light hacks with a steady escort horse until you are sure of him. Personally at this stage I'd stick to straight lines and circles no less than 20 m, introducing a few trotting poles to add interest, and no trotting on roads or hard ground.

[flintybaby]

No advice but good luck whatever you choose to do! :)

[BeachRiding]

Only tip I have is LOTS of praise! Honestly it worked for Gitch so well. The more praise he got the higher he jumped the better he rides. Young horses thrive on knowing their doing well.

[NZdressage]

Keep the work new and excitiong to keep his enthusiasm, lots of transitions will help keep a horses attention, not to mention it will make your horse lighter in the hand.
Later on lateral work also keeps them interested. You could also work your horse over poles if you do not want to jump every day.
A 4 y/o shoudl be working through leg-yield and abit of shoulder fore depending on how long it has been broken for. Serpentines and circles help suppleness.

[NZdressage]

30 mins schooling with breaqks at the moment is probally enough of him, then increase it as he gets fitter. When the schooling session is going well that is when you shouldnt ask for as much as you want it to stay fun.