age and expectations

[madhector]

ok, not sure if this should go in here or new lounge but will stick it in here and hope for the best

what would you expect a horse of the following ages to be doing work/competing wise? am interested because i was origionally looking for something to buy around 5/6 but now going to look at a 3yr old so wondered if what i would do was the same as everyone else if that makes any sense,

3yr old..

4yr old..

5yr old..

6yr old..

at 3 i would be longriening, backing and progressing to little hacks and learning manners etc..
competing wise just some in hand showing to get them out and about

at 4 i would be hopefully schooling on the flat, and maybe be starting jumping depending on how developed the horse was, from there i suppose would depend on the horse, but i tend to take things very slowly and it takes me ages to do anything with them competition wise so wondered what everyone else did, how soon do you start serious stuff?

thanks

 

[JoBo]

Oh I’m also very interested to hear this post as I have a 3.5 year old in the process of being backed (been sat on twice now).

Our 4 year old is doing hacks (up to 2 hours at most walk, trot and a little canter), walk/trot dressage, jumping at home max 2ft6. Totalling 3-5 times a week.

 

[H-J]

Well I can speak from my past experiences and from my experince now from my youngster.

My 4 yr old Spider will be 5 in May time and she is SJing @ British Novice/90cms, she did JAS Intro the other day, XC schooling, Novice dressage and has a BE event in 2 weeks at Poplar (Intro). And a PN hopefully in April. the the Pavo 5yr old classes.

Then next year as a 6yr old I would be expecting her to be jumping Discovery & Newcomers, Pre-Novicing at the start of the season and then Novicing and doing the 6yr old Pavo classes and hopefully a 1*.

But then Golly who I had from 6mths and broke etc and had to be sadly PTS due to Navicular was very talented on the flat and was doing changes, leg yield, counter canter etc at 4 but was very slow in maturing in his mind with the jumping he was no where near as brave as Spider! So it depends on the horse

 

[lucysnapshot]

my 4yr old has just been backed and hacks pops a fence and will be starting doing showing, unaffiliated dressage and clear rounds in the next month. a friend of mine has a just turned 5yr old and is already jumping 1.20m bsja which IMO is a little too big for the horses age

 

[H-J]

I agree I think 1m tracks @ 5 are fine.

And about 1.10 maybe a bit more into their 5th year.

But as I said before every horse is different

 

[madhector]

what age did you introduce jumping under saddle?

 

[BBs]

I dont feel there are any set in stone rules when it comes to horses.
Every horse is different, some horses develop quicker than others and obviously it also depends on who owns/rides them.
I mean, what a professional would expect a 4 year old to be doing, others might only be expecting the horse to be backed or indeed gentle hacking and schooling at most.
Times have change, there are far more young horse classes, many IMO are pushed too fast too young. Others I feel are given no where near enough work, and you often find that creates more problems because the horse becomes frustrated!
The worry is of course if you have a very talented, or bold horse that you do too much too soon.
My rising 5 year old is doing BN, schooling, hacking, clinics and this weekend xc schooling for the first time. He should be going eventing come April if all goes well. Equally had i had him last year would I have been tempted to have had a crack at the 4 year old PAVO classes?
Same with SJing, 5 year olds are expected to be jumping Discovery/Newcomer heights and up to 1.15/1.20 at the championships 6 year olds Foxhunter and 1.40 at the Foxhunter final.
5 year old dressage horses again would be working at a very high standard compaired to most, like Id be happy with my 5 year old doing basic novice tests.
So IMO although 5 year old eventers are expected to be doing 3 phases, nothing is higher xc wise than 1m and sjing 1.05. Again tho, with pure SJ and DR many are held on a surface where as eventing isnt, so again you must be careful with the ground.

I think in all honesty you have to listen to what your horse is telling you, and he will tell you if he needs to progress or stay at a certain level that little longer before moving on up again.