Wednesday, July 29, 2009

How old should a horse be before it is trained for riding?

I have no idea at what age a horse should be when he will be ready for training.
Answers:
Some good advice here, but let me see if I can give you a good summation. The long and short of it is this:
Average horses are 'started' in the spring of their 2nd year. 'Started' means beginning saddle training, which involves getting used to saddling, longe line work with the saddle on, driving, and using the the basic voice commands already used without a saddle while the horse was a yearling, and when you've done that enough and the horse is calm and responsive to your voice commands 'walk', 'trot', and 'whoa' under saddle on the longe line, then you can get on him. First time on is like a 1 minute thing.. lol You have probably spent 3 weeks pulling on the stirrup like you were going to get on, without getting on, and he's gotten used to that, then you laid over the saddle and put your weight on his back, and he got used to all that and it don't bother him now, so now you just kinda slowly get up on him. If you did it right, he will be okay with that. He'll prob turn his head around and look weird at you, but he should be okay.
Never get on him before 24 months, but as soon after as you feel he is ready. Assuming you don't have a problem with that, no bucking or whatnot, then you do alot of slow walking and stopping, making sure he knows 'whoa' unequivocally means stop. lol (using the same voice commands as you did on the longe line) and after that has gone well, then a little trotting, then after a longer time and everything is going well, some cantering. This process, slow and gradual, should take you up to around 2 1/2 yrs.
You never want to ride a young horse for very long at a time, maybe 30 minutes, because for one they are physically immature and you could harm them, and for two, they are emotionally and mentally immature and you will either bore them or stress them, either of which will cause more harm than good.
Most people prefer to basic saddle train the 2 yr old, and then turn them out for the winter to let them mature physically into 3 yr olds before they do anything else, like train them for a specific purpose, which requires harder, more intense work, and would be hard on a young horses still growing minds and bodies.
FYI: A horses knees dont 'close up', meaning the bones don't fully grow together in their knees, until they are over 4 yrs old. So they are supceptible to damage if they are worked too hard before then.
What people are talking about when they talk about horses they don't 'start' until later, like age 4, are usually jumpers and dressage horses.. Horses that have to really think and work hard. That's a book all by itself. But regular plain old riding trail horses are fine at 3 for most things.
I've raised a lot of babies, they are my love. It's a real process, and I always start when they are just yearlings, training them to stand tied, be groomed, pick up their feet, just walk around and sniff everything, be easy with their environment. Then I train them to longe, drive and eventually saddle and ride. I always turn out well-behaved, highly responsive and willing horses that aren't the least bit spooky and can be trusted.. and personally, that's what makes me do it.. lol I love to see them like that.
You can start at a very yourng age some time under a year
2 years old is the general age to start training any earlier and it could cause harm to there bones and muscles because they arent fully developed yet.
i would start at about two and a half years of age with just lungeing and puting the saddle on and taking it off and having just a plain snaffle bit in there mouth but i would not recomend getting on them tilll at least three years of age. make sure you get a vet to check there knees and make sure that the joints are strong enough to hold someones weight.
you can start sadle "breaking" it at a year. any later and it may be too wild. start slowly though.
About 3 is when you can put a light saddle pad on him.Do this for 1 week.
You can put a bridle w/out the bit on him, too. Leave that on for a week. He may not like it.
Then you can put a light saddle on him. Do this also for 1 week.
Then, you can eventually put a light person on him.
Good luck %26 have fun!!
There are a couple of you that have answered that really want me to grab the cyber 2x4, what the heck, a year? Are you really that misinformed that you have no clue the physiology involved of a growing horse? AHHHHHH I swear its I own and train breyer horses on here tonight.
Anyway, back to your question. Some train at 2 some at 3. I wouldn't personally ride anything under 3. I train my animals to drive between 2-3 and then saddle train at 3. It depends, you want a long lasting animal that will be healthy and sound into its later years. Do a search on the maturity of the skeleton of a horse and what years the back, the knees etc mature. Then you will see what you should do.
depends quarter horses at 2 regular horses at three
It varies depending on the breed, some breeds take longer to mature then others. Most can be started at 3, but wait to do strenuous work and conditioning, and no jumping until age 4 or 5. It is ideal to speak with your veterinarian on the subject, they can help you with exactly where your horse is at and what the can do.
You can start training on any age horse to prepare it for riding, work on getting it used to leading, voice commends, having things dragged across it's body, etc. John Lyons had a great way of introducing young horses to the sensation of a bit by using a soft rope. He had great pre-riding exercises he outlines with pictures in the books "Bringing up Baby" and "The Yearling Year." Anything that teaches a horse that new things are not scary and gets them trusting you will help tons when you do go to start riding.
i was raised to not ride until 5 years old there is so many other things your horse has to learn in hand and lunging first. when you wait that long you have an easier break. i worked with my walking horse since he was ridden so early by the *** who owned him b 4 he will have and does have problems with his hind quarters it is so sad because he would have been a classic. you don't have to always wait till 5 but check with your vet he can tell you the best time for your horse.
Generally people start horses under saddle at around the age of two. However, some horses don't mature until much older, so maybe do some research on whatever breed you'll be training. And you can start ground work from a very young age. I'd say, the younger, the better!
2-3 yrs.
I am completely with Mulereiner on this!!! A year... come on!!! Waiting until 3 after the knees have closed and time for the horse to mature is best, anything younger should only be started lightly (younger meaning late 2 year olds) and not really in training until 3.
i am with muelrainer,
some of you guys should not answer,
i have been breaking and traing horses since i was a very young girl
now come on if you were to try and break a horse at 5, it is in ints prime it has the ability to throw you around like a rag doll if you want.
a horse can not have a time frame to say as soon as it hits 2 i will go and get it broken in,
some bushies dont have a clue, and most of these stuck up know-it-alls who ride horses dont have a clue,
there is a difference between breaking and educating and, riding and showing.
horses knee caps dont join all the way through until they are 2-3 in general but can take longer, until they are join its not safe to do anything with the horse. if you feel a yearling's knee cap you will notice there is a grove through the middle (this is on the front legs)
that has to be joined before anything can happen,
if you break this horse in earlier and its not joined you run the risk of snapping it and there fore ending up in putting the horse down.
see a vet, or an experience professional horse breaker, not a showie or a friend (they dont know) but actually seek advice from people whom are educated in that sense
Some people on here have NO idea what the heck they are talking about!!! It is SCARY to think those people think they are right! I am with Mulereiner!!! I wait until 3yr. I've been breaking %26 training for 19yrs.
A horse is usually started training for riding around 2 years old but it really depends on the horse's development. Sometimes horses with small frames like Arabians shouldn't be started that early because they backs are still developing. Also when starting you should introduce the saddle and bit pretty slowly. I mean it is good to take your time when breaking your horse. Rushing the horse only ends in problems because they are young and learning. Don't ride for long periods of time for starting out because they will be sore especially if you are heavy weight. (Not trying to sound mean but it is the truth)
I have read alot of the answers and the only thing that I can add, is thoroughbreds start racing at two years old. So we can assume they have started training as a two year old. And does everyone know here that January 1st is the birthday for all horses, no matter what month they were born in as far as keeping track of age.

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