Advice on 3 year old thoroughbred

[claireannejames]

My daughter has bought a recently imported three year old TB just out of training (he hasn't raced). She is getting conflicting advice about what to do with him next. I had always read that young horses should be backed at 3 then turned away until 4 before starting ridden work and schooling. But others are telling her that since he is already under saddle and would have been in a routine in training that she should carry on with light ridden work this year. He is a big horse, already over 16hh. Lovely nature, very laid back. Quite ribby and no topline. Views please. **edit to add: he is so good tacking up, tying up, mounting, leading, baths, walking over tarp, just about everything she can think of to teach him on the ground, he seems to already know...

 

[windand rain]

I would turn him away and let him down so his fitness level drops and he learns to relax. He is effectively backed and now ready for the turn away. I would let him gain weight and get his mind in order before bringing him back into work next Spring

 

[Goldenstar]

I would turn him away as well .

 

[Zuzan]

Another turn him away ..

ETA completely agree with W&R .. there is a lot to be said for letting horses mentally mature as well as physically.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would turn him away to fill out and mature until next spring and then start very light work with him.

 

[TheMule]

With the ex-racers (even if just been in training, it’s still a lot of work on immature bodies) I ride them a few times at home just to establish what I have and how they settle to a different style then turn away until the Spring of 4.

 

[DabDab]

I would hack lightly for a month and then turn away until next spring

 

[AmyMay]

I’m another who would turn away.

 

[Esmae]

I would also turn away until the spring.

 

[ihatework]

I would ride him lightly for a short while given he is up and together just so he knows new environment and routine (month max), then I’d let him down and turn away for a bit

 

[Trouper]

"Re-educating Racehorses - A Life After Racing" by Fred Cook and Rowena Jane Simmonds will give you a good start. I know you said he has never raced but his routine will have been much the same and with TBs it is as much about the mental mindset as the physical one.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I agree with the people who say ride him lightly for a month then turn away till spring. I would want to get to know him under saddle and for him to get to know me so that we felt confident together then hopefully just crack on next year.

 

[ycbm]

You can turn him away or not turn him away, he will still grow and mature mentally and physically. If he was my only horse I would keep him in light work with a light rider and very little arena schooling.

If he has been in training he may take 3 or 4 months until he becomes deinstitutialised and you find out his true character.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

There is a lot to be said for keeping him in gentle work. He is 3 now, probably more like 3.5 and will change and grow quite a lot in the next year. If turned away he might come back in next Spring much bigger and stronger and a bit more of a challenge.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

The ex racehorses I helped with when I was younger were all turned away and 'let down' for a minimum of 6 months regardless of age. I mean out 24/7 too, they only came down to the yard for the farrier, dentist or vet. Some had a year of being let down if the horse needed it. They came off the lorry and went out in the field. It worked for that retrainer anyway, the horses went on to become super riding horses.

 

[ycbm]

I'm sure it works to turn away, but I also know it's not strictly necessary. I never turned any of my ex racers (all 3 or 4 year olds) away and they all turned into nice all round horses that I sold to ordinary RC level riders. I wouldn't, though, do it without plenty of turnout and it's very possible that my quiet private yard helped a lot too.
.

 

[AandK]

As he is fresh out of training, I agree with the others who say to ride a few times and then turn away until next year.

 

[tristar]

You can turn him away or not turn him away, he will still grow and mature mentally and physically. If he was my only horse I would keep him in light work with a light rider and very little arena schooling.

If he has been in training he may take 3 or 4 months until he becomes deinstitutialised and you find out his true character.

in his case i would do this, he sounds so nice and obliging keeping him lightly occupied may suit his character

 

[Carrottom]

I would keep in light work with plenty of turnout for a few months to develop the relationship, then turn away for the worst of the winter and restart in the spring.

 

[Izzwall]

I bought my lad straight from the trainer as a 3 year old. Agree with others saying keep him in light work and gradually turn him away. I rode my chap lightly out hacking for 6 weeks then turned him away. He wasn't used to turnout and by the time I stopped riding him he could then manage 9 hours out. I also took off his shoes which really helped him as his feet were not only awful but he kept injuring himself due to being young and clumsy. I then brought him back into work in the spring as a 4 year old, mainly just hacking. I then moved yards to 24/7 turnout from October last year and turned him away again. He's been back in work 3 weeks now as a 5 year old and he feels blooming fantastic! Much stronger and just loves his work. He's still barefoot too and has cracking feet. My chap is like yours too, very sweet and level headed and nothing has changed personality wise. He was fitted with a medium saddle when I got him and now he's in a wide!

 

[PeterNatt]

I would continue to gently hack him out each day but not do any arena work or circles for another full year. That way he woill get in to a nice laid back routine.

 

[[142807]]

My daughter has bought a recently imported three year old TB just out of training (he hasn't raced). She is getting conflicting advice about what to do with him next. I had always read that young horses should be backed at 3 then turned away until 4 before starting ridden work and schooling. But others are telling her that since he is already under saddle and would have been in a routine in training that she should carry on with light ridden work this year. He is a big horse, already over 16hh. Lovely nature, very laid back. Quite ribby and no topline. Views please. **edit to add: he is so good tacking up, tying up, mounting, leading, baths, walking over tarp, just about everything she can think of to teach him on the ground, he seems to already know...

A horses bone structure is not developed until around 6 years of age. Yes some horses are backed at 3 years of age and turned away but others especially the bigger breeds benefit from being backed at a later age. Different schools of thought however in my experience the older ones have been more able to cope with the backing process than the really immature ones. I own a rehabilitation centre.