Are we breaking in horses too young?

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LuandLu24

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I just read an interesting article on breaking in horses, it suggested that we (as the whole equestrian community) are breaking in horses too young.

Because a horses vertebrae doesn't stop fusing until they're 5-8 years of age (depending on the breed) people are saying that we are causing lifelong problems for the horse and it's cruel.

People I know have sat (only a quick sit) on their youngsters at 18 months old (although I personally wouldn't do that) and their horses seem fine, they will be ridden perfectly with no problems now as adults.

I've been with horses for years and have known many people that will break their horses at 3half/4 years of age. I have a 16 month old cob that I plan on breaking in when she turns 4 and I'm concerned I suppose.

So my questions are:
•What are your opinions on this?
•When did you break your horses?

Thanks in advance!
 
I have always started my horses at four. Started in the summer months, hacked lightly until winter and then turned away to start again at five. I do not allow jumping until at least six and even then it's light. My horses have been for my personal use and I want them to have long active lives. I can never understand why people rush horses they want to keep.. I understand the rush for a produced horse but I don't like it which is why I start my own. Now don't get me started on riding a horse in an outline at 31/2!!!
 
Depends upon what exactly you mean by breaking in. If you mean first sitting on them then mine was 4. However you could say her training/breaking had started way way earlier than that -
halter-broken, taught to lead, have feet dealt with etc as a foal,
being led about to see some of the world as a 2yo and preliminary learning about rugs and rollers and stuff,
long-reined as a 3yo which built up her muscles and her mind ready for being sat upon as a 4yo.
She also had plenty of breaks to just be a horse and, as I have all the time in the world and we can please ourselves, she is ridden regularly but has not been in intensive training- she's now 10 and we suit one another and have fun.
 
mine was backed just before his 4th bday! he wasn't ready at 3, which I had originally wanted to start him at! but he was bum high, very babyish and ill mannered! at 4 he took it all in his stride, he was physically ready too!

him at 3 showing his baby side


My first ride on him in March


this was our last ride in Sept at 4 and a half, unfortunately hes on box rest at the moment :( - but you can see how he's filled out over the summer
 
Kezzabell2 said:
mine was backed just before his 4th bday! he wasn't ready at 3, which I had originally wanted to start him at! but he was bum high, very babyish and ill mannered! at 4 he took it all in his stride, he was physically ready too!

him at 3 showing his baby side


My first ride on him in March


this was our last ride in Sept at 4 and a half, unfortunately hes on box rest at the moment :( - but you can see how he's filled out over the summer
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Love that photo,
I have exactly the same silly grin on my face in this photo of me riding Moses for the first time. He had been started at four by a light rider and this was me having a go when he was five.
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I think that the fact that the neck bones don't seal until seven or eight is not necessarily any argument for not riding a younger horse. It would be a bit like saying no male human under twenty one (out whatever the age of male physical maturity is) can do any serious sport.

I would need some more evidence to convince me that backing a suitably mature three or four year old causes any damage.
 
I bought Rio from Spain when he was 8, he had been broken at 18 months, started parading at 2 years and by 3years he was doing passage, piaffe and canter pirouettes on the road. I didn't know this until I had already bought him home. He is now 10. He has arthritis in both hind fetlocks, hocks and changes in his sacroiliac. He passed a 5 stage vetting when I bought him, and he only started showing signs coming up to 2 years of owning him. I do think that the reason he has these problems (and quite a few more that I haven't listed) are due to him being broken in early.

Taz was started when he was rising 4 and was then turned away on the winter of his 4th year. In fact he was basically turned away every winter until his 9th year because we didn't have a school :o. He is now 13 and doesn't do much of anything due to an old injury but I'm sure if he hadn't tried killing himself, he would be fine.

I personally wouldn't break them in until they are around 31/2, 4 years old and only have them in light work just getting the basics right and hacking etc until they were 4 1/2, 5. But that's my own opinion... I also don't like to see horses of 18months/2 years being free schooled over 4ft jumps but that happens a lot too.
 
I agree. It is a system that has stood the test of time. I also think it is a good idea to introduce the work ethic while still quite young and enthusiastic.
 
We bought two younsters 18 months ago, a just backed 3 year old Appy and a two year old cob (some draft horse in there). I decided that the 3 year old was too immature and needed time to grow and to settle in here. I intended to ride her this summer, but again left her to grow and become "my horse", she will be ridden in the spring and will imo be all the better for being left. The cob girl will probably be backed in the spring, so when she is four. I know horses used to be broken early, but then children went to school half time and work the other half, in mills and mines, we live in more enlightened times, I hope.
 
I agree. I wouldn't start anything until 3.5-4yrs. I bought my welsh as a 5 yo who had been backed at 4 and turned away. I think it has done him the world of good as he is so switched on and eager to please. Although I think that ground work needs to be enforced and maintained from a young age
 
LuandLu24 said:
I just read an interesting article on breaking in horses, it suggested that we (as the whole equestrian community) are breaking in horses too young.

Because a horses vertebrae doesn't stop fusing until they're 5-8 years of age (depending on the breed)
Click to expand...

Can you post a link to the article?

Can you list the 'slow maturing breeds' the 'fast maturing breeds' and the 'average maturing breeds'?

If you read Dr Bennetts 'Ranger' article, she clearly states that there is no such thing as a slow or late maturing breed. http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf see page six.
 
Having been the owner of an ex-racer who had to be PTS at 17 as he was crippled with arthritis - I actively looked for a 'late starter'.
One of the things that prompted me to go and view my current mare was the fact that due to her previous owners illness - she hadn't been backed till she had turned 6.
 
Camel will be three in June 2015, and my plan is start long lining him then, and to lead him out on hacks from another horse to let him see the world and build up his fitness too. Not really sure when he'll be ready to back; certainly don't intend to rush things though. Thinking of waiting until he's finished growing to make fitting him for a saddle less costly; hence the leading out etc, for fittening purposes :) So he'll probably not be ridden before he is six.
 
I like to back at 4. I do enough work on the ground that a horse learns how to hold itself first and I back gently. Basically, it is not the spine that I am concerned about when thinking of time to back. It is the growth plates in the legs (supporting weight bearing structures) that I am concerned with. If someone is going to bang around on a hollow back, that's a different story, but the riders weight should not be carries by the spine anyway, so I concentrate on correct carriage with mature legs and after that, the actual time depends on the individual horse.
 
My youngster was backed a few months off being 4, turned away and is now being broken fully. He wasn't mature enough at three, and the fact that he's just had a big growth spurt at 4 has encouraged me to leave breaking him in until now.
 
Have to admit. I have always backed at 3 mainly because they are easier then. That was until I bought my filly and she was just so diddy. A June foal that was born 3 weeks early she was still only 14.2hh and I'm 5' 10". But then I read about the growth plates and realised that I would be better waiting until 4 in any case even if she wasn't small.
 
If I have the horse from the start I like to long line/ ground work at 3, turn away, break to drive at 4, working alongside another horse, keep in light driving moving to solo over winter as conditions allow. Back and bring into ridden work the summer of 5. I feel that way they have a good topline and experience of bringing their legs under. Also they're safe on the road and not fussed about tack/ you doing stuff with them.
But... it's been a few years since I've been able to start a horse. And that regime isn't practical for everyone. Suits my horses and how I relate to them though.
 
I usually start in their third year, perhaps 3.5, but once they're broken I go very slowly, doing short,slow hacks a couple of times a week and nor much in the school for the next year or so. I hate seeing young horses strapped in draw reins and gadgets. I'd rather let them find their own balance and carriage over the next year or two. I let them play on farm rides and over small fences (grids usually) as four year olds and let them enjoy work rather than having to go round and round in a school day after day.
 
I start them in their three yo summer .
There's no need to do to much work with them just enough to do what you need .
If they are weak sometimes I just leave the canter and get them backed and light,ly ridden about then turn away.
I liked to turn away three yo horses after riding away it suited me as I always has several older horses on the go and gives them time to mature.
I don't think it's starting at three effects soundness it's starting badly and doing to much or the wrong things .
Skilled backers can get the job done with minimum labour for the horse .
If I think back to all my horses I had a,raced at two TB who hunted Into his twenties and a started at four and did very little work until five beauiful horse that was an unsound creature that only the vet would love .
 
No, but I think we are asking a lot from them too young. 4 year olds being asked to jump ridiculous heights and work in an "outline". IMO the first 2 years should be spent hacking, fittening and gentle gentle school work, just strengthening up, learning to carry and take weight behind, leaving the head and neck well alone.
 
Arizahn said:
Camel will be three in June 2015, and my plan is start long lining him then, and to lead him out on hacks from another horse to let him see the world and build up his fitness too. Not really sure when he'll be ready to back; certainly don't intend to rush things though. Thinking of waiting until he's finished growing to make fitting him for a saddle less costly; hence the leading out etc, for fittening purposes :) So he'll probably not be ridden before he is six.
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I may have some bad news for you :)

In my experience, because the front legs are not attached to the skeleton by anything but soft tissue, the shape of the withers will change according to how the horse works when it starts to carry a rider, and you'll still probably have saddle fitting changes even if you back late. Sorry!

I've backed an eight year old and a six year old and they had as many saddle fit changes as the younger ones I've done.
 
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Personally (and i dont think this will be a popular comment) i would like a ban on four year olds competing in anything other than novice classes. I know some are naturally talented but to be ready to compete at a high level in the spring when they are technically but possibly not actually 4 years old you have to ask how early they were started
 
ridefast said:
No, but I think we are asking a lot from them too young. 4 year olds being asked to jump ridiculous heights and work in an "outline". IMO the first 2 years should be spent hacking, fittening and gentle gentle school work, just strengthening up, learning to carry and take weight behind, leaving the head and neck well alone.
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^^this. I don't think it's the backing that's the problem, it's the need to get them going 'properly' and out competing that puts the strain on them. Backing and riding away at 3, especially quiet hacking, I think is more beneficial in the long run as they have a year or 2 of very light work before anything demanding is asked of them.
 
Everyone seems in such a rush to produce accomplished horses and get get competition results when they are still young and immature physically and mentally. My previous instructor told me bluntly that if she had my mare (who had just turned 5 at the time) she would be schooled 5/6 times a week (proper work not 15 mins pre or post a hack). We parted ways as we couldn't agree on approach.
 
Mines 4 1/2 next month and went for backing a week ago. Trainer says looking at horse now he'd probably have struggled physically and mentally being backed as a 3 yr old but now he's ready to go and doing great so far.

I never planned to have him backed 'til he was 4 and he's basically done nothing workwise apart from 2 weeks training (severe mental issues) with same Pro around 18 months ago that involved steady lunging in walk and trot at it's most intensive. Trainer offered to back him then but I stuck to my plan and waited until I felt it was 'time' and it seems like that was the right thing to do.

He'll be lightly backed over next couple of weeks, have the winter off, be re-backed next spring and start his ridden career propery in his 5th year. He hasn't been loose-jumped to date and is very low mileage. I just don't see the point in pushing them if they aren't ready. I bought him to keep, he's very well bred and I didn't see the point in ruining/rushing him because I was impatient and I 'could'.

Each horse is different, I appreciate that and everyone has their own goals/beliefs as to what a horse should be doing by a certain age. For me, giving a young horse an extra year or so to mature is no real biggie!
 
Sukistokes2 said:
I have always started my horses at four. Started in the summer months, hacked lightly until winter and then turned away to start again at five. I do not allow jumping until at least six and even then it's light. My horses have been for my personal use and I want them to have long active lives. I can never understand why people rush horses they want to keep.. I understand the rush for a produced horse but I don't like it which is why I start my own. Now don't get me started on riding a horse in an outline at 31/2!!!
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My feelings too. Yes OP in general horses are worked too hard too soon. To be broken to saddle at 3yrs is not too bad so long as once the breaking in process is complete the horse is turned out again until it has turned four. Then that summer lightly worked. Flat education beginning in earnest once five and then rising six start learning to jump.

Either people are too impatient to wait or there is too much money potential for those being sold on.

When I wanted my rising 5 yr old broken, one place turned me down as they don't break anything over two years because they are too strong and could be difficult to break. She was a coddle, man that eventually broke her, put her on the lunge a couple of times with gear on, then got on her and rode her. She never turned a hair.
 
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Ideally, I would keep a youngster n the background to mess about with when I had the time. If I start a horse or pony it has to be reasonably well balanced and in good condition with good feed.
My NF was a well balanced, strong two year old when I started long reining and putting to a sulkie, [just walked out in hand] he was three when he was backed by a light rider and had been out in traffic and so on. He went back to his owners at four and never looked back.
My own youngster had been broken to drive at two, and I gave him two summers before lighly backing, he still was unbalanced and never offered the canter on the lunge, although popping little fences and loose jumping, he was really still developing until he was 7/8. He was sound all his life, I think if I had rushed him he would have had problems, basically he needed feed and work and time to build and develop. I thought I was patient, but I really was tested!
When I started with horses, my hunter was 10 when I bought him, he was unblemished and sound in limb, he had had traditional breaking at 4 hunted at five, he was always sound in limb till he retired, working as an exercise horse for a beagle pack, for which role he was very suited, as had had broken wind and could not hunt.
I trained flat horses [flapping] and though some had been in training for two years, we preferred to start our own, they were ready to race at full fitness when they were four. We had limited facilities so the did traditional preparation of three months walking, with a bit of trot and canter.
For homebred national hunt horses most came in to the yard late in their fourth year, some might race in a bumper, but few would jump and race till they were rising six.
 
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Seems like the general consensus is that it is not so much that horses are being broken in young, it is how much work they are being asked to do.

My endurance horses were started as four year olds, had some hacking, turned out for a couple of months, then started legging up in June (mid winter for us) and then as five year olds did a season of 40 km rides, turned out for the winter, then back in as five year olds ready to look at 80 km rides - all at around 10 km per hour. Starting them under saddle any earlier made no sense as there was nothing for them to do.

However, I have a three year old currently being started - not an endurance horse. She will be aimed at dressage and general hack about/riding club mount. Plan "A" for her is to keep her ticking over, three or four days a week as weather and time allows, 45 minutes to an hour, lots of quiet hacking, seeing the world and yes, there will be schooling. Don't think we will be getting piaffe at four though!
 
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