3 year old mare, how much work is ok?

I personally leave them until they are 4 - the mistake people make is some horses look more mature than others, especially TB's and Warmbloods, when in fact they are still very much growing and the joints haven't fused yet, this is when they are most likely to develop OCD. It's not a matter of wether the horse likes it - I'm sure it does - but it is still putting young joints under huge stress, a horse doesn't know what is good for it - that is up to us to look out for it's long term soundness - so many horses now are knackered by 10 simply because people are in such a hurry.

I have to say Brucea - that sounds like an awful lot of work for a baby horse, your baby looks nice but still very much a baby, especially when they are still bum high they are taking even more weight on the forehand and not able to collect themselves enough to carry a riders weight as they should do on their quarters - why are people in such a rush - just because a horse can be ridden doesn't mean it should?? 20 mins tops is all a baby should do under saddle, just to establish the basics then be left to grow, not 2hrs several times a week it's joints will be shot!!!

Cobsunshine your filly looks lovely but again still bum high and very babyish - I'd just be long lining if you really want to do stuff with her and no lunging until next year - it puts huge strain on their joints - horses aren't designed to go round and round in such small circles, some walking in hand is also great just so they see things and get out and about and really get to trust you before you get on board, but I'd turn her away for the winter and start riding again when she's finished her next growth spurt. Jumping little jumps is also something I'd never do until they are 4 with a rider on - they land with all that weight on one leg!!
 
with my 3 year old i backed him and walk, trot and cantered him for short periods and did a few walking over poles. only from end of april to end of june with a 2 week break in between. He is now turned away till next spring whenever we get a menage put in (for safety ;) )
for me though he is still physically immature, (even though i think mentally he is quite mature) He is getting a bit naughty now im not riding him and he didn HATE it the first month ish not doing anything and cos hes getting really fat i am taking him for walks in hand on the road and long reining every now and then.

I have a 2 year old filly who i will be backing next year and i have learnt from my mistakes this year and altering it for her so next year ideally i will be:
starting lunging and longreining in july/august. Half way through august start sitting on her and walking. then when i am off the lunge walking with tiny trots i will hack only twice a week for 15-30 mins until i dont have time or the weather is bad. probably about oct/nov time. then bring her back in work march/april next year if i have time or else leave it till i have time in june. (im at uni so have long holidays but stay at home so depends on timetable)

From the plan you put above it looks fine. Your horse looks lovely btw :)
 
I own a 3.5 year old arab x appaloosa, he is already backed and has some established steering, stopping and all that. I brought him already backed just before he was 3 and he was very very baby looking when i brought him, however he has since bulked out tremendously and i can see why he was backed so early as mentally he needs it, he gets very bored and stroppy if hes not doing somthing. We go out for lots of walks in hand, do some free schooling as well as lunging and long reining, he is also ridden for short bursts of around 20 minuites around once a week. I dont work him alot..just enough to keep him ticking over. I would personally like to turn him away as i normally do with youngsters, however he winters terribly and chances are because of his nature id bring him back and he would be some half wild nutcase who decided he prefferd to stay in the field, so he is a fine example of not all horses being suitable for turning away. Everyhorse and every owner is different, you just have to adampt accordingly and remember just because somebody else does somthing it doesent necciserily make it right.

I Wish everyone the best of luck with there youngsters! sorry for going on for so long!
 
I started long reining and getting my 3yr old used to tack in about april, (she was born in the may) just before her 3rd birthday, took her for short walks long reining outside the field 2 x per week till about end of may. Then started her again with prof help the end of july. Help came to me for a week, we did 4 days in the school, just basics like aids walk trot and a few strides of canter by day 4. Day 5 hacked out (for 20 mins) with another horse then had 4 days off then started hacking (20 mins per time) for 3 x per week. Since then she has had the odd week off. Our routine now is hacking (walking & occassional trot) for around 30 mins x 3 per week and a 25/30 min schooling session, mainly trotting tiny bit of cantering and we have introduced pole work a few weeks back but done none since. She will be 4 in May and is a cob type. She is physically mature but at the same time i won't push her. She is having a check from the physio next week just to keep her in check :) she has/will be having this week off (half term) then will be hacking 3 x per week with a schooling session. She has been to 2 x dressage comps and did the w&t tests, doing well.
I want to show her next year. She will not jump till mid summer nor will she be lunged or made to ride tight circles.
I spoke to my vet and various other experienced people who have all advised me to keep her ticking over throughout the winter.
She may get Jan & Feb off and will re-start again in time for the showing season :)
 
Just to throw this into the mix - does anybody feel that there is much difference when it comes to ponies on this subject?
ie that some ponies will have reached full height at a younger age than a horse (though joints obv not hardened still) and are generally carrying a lot less weight with younger riders and that certain breeds are said to reach maturity at an earlier age (ie sec a's) plus their strength to weight ratio is very high (I think that's the wrong phrase but hopefully you know what I mean)
I ask because I know of two sec a's who were backed at what I would have previously considered v. young (2 and a half) and yet now at 4 and 3 respectively are both steady and sensible under saddle, yet still have plenty of personality and spark. I am having trouble getting my head round them to be honest, having had it drilled into me not to back too young, but then I see them doing their thing and am :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
I believe that every horse should be treated as an individual - some are ready at 3 some not till there 4 or even 5 or 6, i do also think that alot depends on the breed too.
Everyone who i have spoken to in person has suggested to keep them in work and not to turn away...........:confused:
 
each to their own ways. the bones and joints and body maturing and height takes til they are 6 yrs old. add into the equation the temperament of the horse/pony and the general upkeep of the animal in its initial yearsd as to whether it is mature or not. i like to give my youngsters a break once they can lunge in W/T, ride and steer in a controlable manner in W/T/C, and hack in a mannerly way for 20 to 30 mins. i find when you pick them up in a few months they come back to where they were in a couple of weeks, but bigger, stronger (in body and mind not resistance) and better. i try to give them time off when the weather is not in favour ie the winter. but there is no wrong or right some keep going well, some rebel.
 
OP not sure what your longer term plans for the horse are but Ginny Leng's training of the event horse walks through the whole process of bringing up a baby in great detail, it's really worth a read and can be picked up from amazon for pennies. I bought it for fitness training for my scented but ended up learning loads about breaking and training young horses. It's great for how to introduce flatwork, deal with napping and more! :D
 
As the OP posted her question over a year ago, I'd be quite interested for an update, to know what she actually did in the end and also to know how her mare is going for her now that it's a while later.... :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top