3 year old-work & teething.

[Gracie21]

What exactly should he be doing at the moment?

Background info: 3 in May, 14hh at the moment, PBA. In good condition (even if I do say so myself ) comes in at night. From showing parents, sire is WHP. Most of you probably know him quite well by now, but for those of you who don't, these are two weeks old...

He is a bit leggy and bum high.

To date he has:
-Walked out on busy roads with no fuss
-Lunged with roller & headcollar/lunge cavesson
-Trotting poles & a couple of tiny cross poles (inhand and on lunge)
-Certain amount of desensitisation with carrier bags, tarpaulin, flags etc (not bothered by any of it!)
-Loaded into lorry & trailer without fuss.
-Has feet trimmed regularly.
-Voice controlled to walk on, trot on & stand.
-Has done one inhand show where he pulled in 2nd.
-A couple of sessions of long reining in his roller.
-Lots of groundwork with backing up, small circles, poles, show ring practise etc.
-Worn boots to long rein in.

When should we be putting a saddle on for the first time to walk around then lunge in?

At what age would you introduce side reins to lunging (loosely), I am tempted to leave it altogether, but my old trainer was saying she has side reins on her youngsters every time she lunges?

Would you want to sit on him in summer/autumn then give him the winter off before bringing him into ridden work as a four year old? I don't want to rush him..

Also, he is teething at the moment so haven't done anything with his bit for the past few weeks. He is playing with the mouth a lot (rubbing things like my hand, stable door, the tractor!) as if he is grooming another horse/being groomed, is this normal?! He is also chewing his leadrope which he has never done before, I am putting this down to teething too? Dentist due out in a couple of weeks. It is making him act like a idiot so the sooner his teethies are sorted the better!

Advice greatly appreciated
I can offer left over chinese & highlights hot choc

 

[AmyMay]

I think what you've done so far is brilliant. But don't over do the 'work' as it were.

I certainly wouldn't sit on him for at least another year - he's far too immature.

So apart from the groundwork and showing you're doing - I personally wouldn't do much more (and certainly wouldn't lunge).

 

[rhino]

I would just continue with what you are doing, sounds like you're doing all the right things He's lovely!

I don't see the harm in putting a well fitting lightweight saddle on him, but would prefer to do more longreining than lunging with side reins.

Personally I don't back until 4, and as you said your boy is still rather bum high the extra year certainly won't hurt

Good luck with him. I think he's a cracker

 

[Gracie21]

Glad you both seem to be on the same wavelength as me!
He certainly isn't doing too much, we are pretty much restricted to two evenings a week so he has plenty of time to be a child
He loves long reining, he stands up really tall and marches on like a grown up horse haha

amymay, may I ask why no lunging? He is lunged on a large circle in walk & trot on a surface once every couple of weeks for 10 mins before we long rein, it gets him listening to my voice before we start.

Thank you Rhino, I think so too

 

[AmyMay]

I think it's just too much for young legs.

 

[Wheels]

My boy is the same age as yours, 3 in may. I haven't done quite as much as you have but i do aim to do similar things to you over the next few months (just been to pound shop in fact to buy flags and balloons for de spooking!)

I have taught him to lead well in walk, just currently mastering trot! Will be doing spook busting and teaching to long rein on straight ish lines but won't lunge or back until next year i don't think. May partake in some loose schooling tho

 

[Gracie21]

Wheels-De-spooking is fun He actually tried to eat one of the flags, then tried to roll on the tarpaulin! He is a nosey little monkey! He snorts...then just ignores everything, like it was all an act