Breaking in- what age and whats your process?

I have found that too Wheels!! My arabs only require the lightest ask!! Then I wait for a response and release asap!! My post simply listed skills I require my horses to have before I put a leg over their backs!!
 
I did the same as you with my filly, we bred her so she was walked out as foal along side mum whilst I rode so she too had seen traffic and lawn mowers and children. Then walked her in hand on her own and introduced her to bit and bridle at about two. As a three year old I had a saddle fitted for her and continued to walk her in hand tacked up. i backed her myself as a rising four year old and to be honest she was absolutely fine, I then hacked her out with company with no problems at all. She was sent away for professional schooling as a six year old just to teach her the finer details. She is 20 now and still with me.
 
I prefer to back at 4, but I will do the lunging/longreining/intro to tack etc as a three year old, as well as taking them showing inhand. Prepares them well for backing in the spring they are 4, and then mostly hacking and very light schooling as a four year old, with the schooling increasing over the winter rising 5 and beginnin to work properly as a five year old. I've had to retrain a few horses broken as three year olds (one I suspect younger) that become very nervous of being pushed, and they take longer over all to get where you want them. Not to say every horse at three is being over pushed, but I think a three year old being hunted and schooled as I've seen is far too much not only physically but mentally. They need to be both physically and mentally ready to ride, which not all horses are at three.
 
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