Broken and turned away?

[fuglyjowls]

Hi all

When looking at horses for sale (which I do all the time even though I can't afford one, don't have enough experience etc etc) you often see youngsters advertised as "broken and turned away".

Now I'm sure I'm asking a silly question here but why do people do that? Is it that it's best to break them at a certain age even if they are not going to get ridden for a while or is it that turning them away is a good idea so that they can mature for a while. If not why not just let them mature before breaking them in? Do they forget what they've been taught if turned away for too long? How long would they be turned away for?

Sorry if these are stupid questions but I'm curious as to the reason because some ads say that but some say just broken and ready to bring on.

[fitz]

My filly was backed and riding, and has now been turned away for another year to grow up a bit (she's 3). I dunno it just seems to be the normal thing to do here. I'd keep her in very light work if I could but am stretched as it is.

[jenren!!]

It is best to break a horse in at 3 then turn them away for a year so at least they have been backed and once they have grown up they can start work. Very sensible in my opinion.

Jenny xx

[baxter]

Doesn't matter when you break them and turn them away, whatever age it gives them time to "absorb" what they have learnt, my 7 year old will have this winter off (about three months to absorb) my yearling colt, will be backed at age 4ish, ridden one summer then turned away for the whole winter, brought back into work as a 5 year old.

[KateWooten]

It's a lot about finding a balance for the young horse's mental and physical development. When you're training them, you make so much better progress if you can get them working several days in a row. The first day it's all new.. the second day it takes a little while to settle, the third day they're in a routine and progress is really quick. So if you're going to attempt the complex task of startingthe youngster under saddle, you want to do a quite concentrated period of work - a month or two of working with them a couple fo times a day - and lots of other activity going on around the yard - quite intense. You can't continue thatlevel of activity though, the horse needs down time - or sponge time it's sometimes called - to soak it all in. That's when you turn them away for a season to grow and to think about it all.

[Peanut]

My horse was 3.4 yrs when I got her and had been lightly backed. I decided to just sit on her for 20 minutes once a week to keep her ticking over under saddle as I didn't want to have to get her rebacked but otherwise she was turned away over the winter to mature mentally as much as physically. It has worked out well.