Breaking in a 3yo... Unhealthy?

[Spotty_Pony]

I think that horses should be broken in at 5-6 years of age. My next door neighbour's pony is almost 4 yo, 14hh but will mature at 14.2hh and they're jumping him!!! I reckon they've broken him in too early, let alone jumping!

They keep him on the bit the entire time! I disagree with keeping a pony's chin to his chest without a break for hours on end.

What are your thoughts? I think youngin' should be broken in at 5-6 years of age... at least. They wouldn't be fully grown at 3 or 4 so they would hurt themselves too easily!

Ground work, fine. Backing...?

Thanks,
SP

[Showjumper]

I backed Dolly at 3 (literally, sit on, walk and turn for max 15 minutes a week for 6 weeks) then I turned her away.

Brought her back at 4 and hacked her. Aged 5, we started schooling and faster hacks.

Now she's 6 (7 in May 07) and she's just started jumping.

[Spotty_Pony]

Yeah, but I personally think you're 1 year behind... this is what I wish people would say:

I backed Dolly at 4 (literally, sit on, walk and turn for max 15 minutes a week for 6 weeks) then I turned her away.

Brought her back at 5and hacked her. Aged 6, we started schooling and faster hacks.

Now she's 7 and jumping. :)

[FudgieFoo]

So how do you do the Burgley Young Event Horse classes????? (What I really want to do with my foaly.

[Spotty_Pony]

Inhand is fine, what I don't agree with is jumping at such a young age and having weight on their back at such a young age.

It puts too much strain and stress on their legs and back

[Nik-n-Kia]

If they know what they are doing then it could all turn out fine.

Maybe they are doing the work now to sell on as a future showing prospect you never know.

Y not ask them how they are getting on and getting their pov on the pony.

Nikki xxxxx :D

[FudgieFoo]

The Burgley Young Event horse has those in their 4th year jumping 0.9m (1m at the final) and a basic dressage test. Those in their 5th year jump 1m (1.1m at the final)

[Spotty_Pony]

Mmm... Ok, sorry guys, you've lost me, lol! I have no clue when it comes to shows. :P

[KateWooten]

Just because there's a competition for it, doesn't make it in the best interest of the horse. Over here we have the 'futurities' .. big money prizes for 3 yr old QHs to show off their 'potential'. Of course the money is there, and the glory, and the three year olds are all doing all the reining moves - fast spins, sliding stops from a gallop .. everything that a mature horse will do .. only at 3. Just because there's money in it, doesn't make it right. My neighbour has a barnful of broken down QH broodmares who coulda-woulda-shoulda earned big money if only their joints hadn't given out so young.

I've been on a trail ride before and met an overweight girl on a 2 yr old "well, she's not quite 2, so we only walk her" They were out 6 hours. Down at the local hunter barn, a little girl jumps her 3 year old pony, to show her dad, with her instructor urging her to practice harder.

It doesn't make it all right.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

I love hearing people say they are waiting until the horse is three. It is more common here to break in youngsters at 2. 4 start jumping. once the horse is 6 It can be in full work (hard work, jumping 3'+) Everyone tells me I am to slow with Tahoe and I baby him to much. He jumped lightly at 4, 2'6 cources at 5 and now that he is 6 he has done more, lateral work basic dressage movements 3' occasionally 3'3. According to most I dont push my horse enough. I figure my horse has a MUCH higher chance of being in work at age 25/30 then those started at 2. Although my moms horse who was raced, started at probably 18mo or so is still going strong at 24.

edited to add: If not for this message board i would have never heard of anyone waiting until 4 or 5...or 6 to start a horse.

[Spotty_Pony]

I totally agree with you two! It doesn't make it right; not at all! It quite hard to see all those young horses being forced to do such hard work!

[CurlyWurlyRach]

*shrug* hasnt damaged the racers i know. My horse was broken at 2 and was jumping enormous courses at 4, now at just 8 shes a wonderful jumper but had to be turned away as she was going sour. Goodness knows whats happening in her joints though.

[Nik-n-Kia]

Hi Kate wooten

We weren't saying that just bcause it is a show that we should ruin a young horse. That is not the case but many if not all of the ppl who make it to these shows are proffessional and wouldn't ruin a horse that they have spent long hour training plus in UK we have RSPCA at all these events don't know bout anywhere alse and these horses are vetted too.

If ppl know what they are doing then all is fine. I broke a horse in at three for a friend who was incapacitated at the time we did small jumps and flat work the turned her away in the winter brought her back in the spring and sold her before the autumn in good nick and passing a vetting/xrays with flying colours.

She was for a couple into eventing and as far as i know she is fine and she is now 7.

Nikki xxxxx

[Spotty_Pony]

The damage occurs when the horse becomes elderly

[CurlyWurlyRach]

no it doesnt. it MAY become apparent when the horse is elderly.

[Spotty_Pony]

PROBABLY will become a PROBLEM when the horse is ELDERLY due to being pushed TOO hard when he was TOO young.

[Nik-n-Kia]

I can see this turning into an argument:rolleyes:

MAybe we should just stop this now and accept that some ppl believe it is right and someppl believe it is wrong!!!!

Nikki xxxxx:D

[Spotty_Pony]

This is not an argument, but a debate or a discussion...

[Dawn_connie]

think its an argument....

[Spotty_Pony]

Well, not really...

[Nik-n-Kia]

Hi dawn hows tricks??!!!!

Welcome to the new rider forum!!!

Everyone say Hi!!!!!

Nikki xxxxx

[CurlyWurlyRach]

Everyone say Hi!!!!!


*obedient voice* Hi :D

[Nik-n-Kia]

lol rach wasn't meaning to be bossy!!!!!:p

My bad!!!!!

Nikki xxxxx

[FudgieFoo]

I think alot depends on the horse. How grown up it is phsically & mentally.

[IrishDQ]

I think most horses joints aren't fully matured until their about 5 or 6.
therefor i think its fine to do groundwork and light training up until the age of 3, back, turn away, and start training to jump etc at 4.. but mostly lunging over jumps and free jumping over small jumps. :)

[puzzles]

natives tend to mature later - about 6/7 - and TBs around 3/4, so it depends.
however excessive jump training is nad for joints full stop.

[Cochise]

Please do not post the same topic in all different forums. One area will suffice. I will leave this thread open in "Training of the Horse" and close it in all others.