youngsters?

[kaykell7]

i have very little experiance with youngsters but have a 3yr old that i need to decide what to do with. is it best to break him this year properly? and what is the best way to do it? (all will be done professionally) any ideas as what is the best way to appraoch this. he needs to do something he is getting to the point were he needs to do more thanpotter around his field with the odd walk etc all though he has been introduced to lots of things and is very confident.

[Showjumper]

I did barely anything with my mare last year other than get her used to a saddle, and sitting on her.

This year, I've started her training seriously and she's coming along sooooooo well!!! :D However the little just 3 year old down the lane is doing the same things as her.

It's entirely up to you. You could get him started this year, turn him away over winter and start riding properly when he's 4 (like I did), get him trained and riding this year (like Emily), or do loads of in-hand this year with riding next year.

Do you have a jockey for him? It would be a wasted expense to get him trained this year if you have no-one to carry on his training when he comes home.

[hus&wp]

I would break her soon Its really your choice on professional training or not. Good luck!

[shandy84]

Hiya,

What breed is your youngster? I have two youngsters a rising three year old who we are working towards backing this summer and a two year old filly who I doubt will be ready to back before she's four. Is your horse very calm and sensible and does it take new thing in their stride and have you done any walking out or long reining or anything like that. Is your youngster bitted at all. I like to back at three before they become more headstrong but the horse will let you know if they're not ready.

[kaykell7]

hi, he is a highland he does walk out in hand and has had a bit in his mouth several times but that is about it. he is fairly calm but then he has moments when he is a very stubborn/balshy young boy. the problem is he still seems small but everyone who only sees him occasionally says how big he is. showjumper the plan is my sister would ride him most the time with me occasionally but she is worrying she is to big for him but im not so sure. thanks for all your advice:)

[shandy84]

Firstly, Highlands in my experience are brilliant weight carriers no matter the height. I think showjumper will agree that natives can aprox carry a stone per hand so a 13.hh native could carry 13stone as a high weight.

If it was me I'd back him just very gently and slowly because I like to think I could back a pony before they get too argumentative and bolshy I know others have different views but I have expereinced a native left till he was four and it was a rude awakening. If he is bitted up and the majority of the time is a good lad there's nothing to stop you gradually bringing him into work and maybe give him next winter off if you think he needs a break. Best of all be confident and have fun it'l work wonders if you are confident and happy about it. :)

[Showjumper]

Highlands are definitely weight carriers but he's still a baby. Natives do tend to mature slower than other breeds and rushing them can do more harm than good. But I agree with Shandy - backing them lightly at 3 does teach them the basics before they start their "Kevin" years, and even if you give him the winter off, he'll remember his early training and likely be a lovely sensible ride.

Good luck with him! :D

[H & Bailey]

When i got bailey (gypsy type cob x welsh) he was 3 and had been backed and ridden in a headcollar.I did an intyensive type breaking with him but only doing as much as I felt he was ready for.(done myself)
Do lunging and lots of voice and ground work with him then when he is obedient move onto short hacks out with company.
Continue on ground and voice aids and schooling.
i had to leave bailey off for a while about 6 months (s i unexpectidly fell pregnant)but found him really easy to get back intothe swing of things.
Rose is another matter.....ive just bought her but have known her since she was 3...i think she had been newly broken and sold to a dealer.my friend bought her and only hacked her out in compny or just left in the field.she will be now 5/6 and is terribley nervous in traffic and doesnt have a clue about voice aids or ground manners.She is taking ages to sort out.....compared to bailey....and wonder if being left later in life does seriously stop them overcoming things?
i would if time allows get him broken now and keep him working and not have a break but you will find he will get alot more sensible when he hits about 4/5 but he will also figure out alot more things ....for eg....rose has been allowed to turn round and go the other way if she doesnt want to do something or if she is fed up she can disappear.
At my place and in my time she does as she is told.i think if this had been sorted from an earlier age she wouldnt have know how to get out of a situation and have coped better.
this is clear in that my friend has a cob that she has owned form 6 months.
she has never tied him up to groom or do anything with him.she never did any sort of manner work with him which would have done if he was mine.
now she is getting him broken he is being a little monkey.my pal puts it down to him being frightened but you can see from him that he is doing the nasty things because he just doesnt want to do what he is being asked to do.
I am a confident rider but wouldnt get on him because you can see he is being nasty!

[kaykell7]

thaks for all your help guys:D youve given me lots to think about!

[ros]

Just an additional point - I think probably the others are right and there's no harm in backing him gently at 3, but if you do that and turn him away over the winter, DON'T expect to be able to pick up exactly where you left off the following spring without some refresher lessons. Young horses, like all Kevins (;) ) can be a bit absent-minded in some ways :p

[T-bred]

I just got a 3 year old swedish warmblood[turned 3 today] and I am going to be working on ground manners with her and I am having her professionally trained in dressage[ I will help train her]!!:)

Anna