Breaking or Training green horses :) Discussion

[Elkos2002]

I know a lot of people break or back young horses or train green horses so i thought it might be of interest to people as to what processes other people go through to break a horse or to train a green horse.

What methods and stages do you go through?

 

[pennyturner]

Hmmm. 'Begin to break' means different things to different people. I like walking out a 2 year old, with or without tack, or long-reining, so that it starts looking forward to the attention, sees traffic and begins to understand verbal and rein aids. I would not agree with lunging one in circles in a sand-school, which puts a lot of strain on growing limbs.

 

[Merrymoles]

I like to start general education at two - so, learning to walk out in hand properly in not taught previously, experiencing "things" on their backs, even if just a rug, beginning to understand verbal commands such as "walk on" and "stand" and beginning to see the world, such as a short trip to a show for one in-hand class, even if it's bonny pony, as an eye-opener.
I would not generally start with tack etc until three but that depends on the horse - a bolshy, confident two-year-old can benefit a lot from a bit of gentle long-reining. I'm with pennyturner that I would not be lunging growing limbs!

 

[Tern]

Depends.

A two year old will start to be walked out on roads because once broken they will be doing a lot of road work. A three year old will be bitted and getting used to a roller. I may introduce the saddle but not add any weight.

It depends entirely on the horse, their mental and physical maturity. A 3 year old may be mentally mature but not physically so I will break and add weight but not clamber aboard until physically ready.

If it was my Welsh Cob and I was breaking her, She wouldn't have been broken until 8 ish, she wasn't mentally ready to cope with work - she has only just settled down and I understand she was like that in her previous home as well.

Different with every horse. Just like some are sweet as pie to break and some can be right devils.

 

[Sukistokes2]

I voted 4-5, I voted with the assumption that breaking in/ starting meant going in to consistent ridden work. I would never want to do that with a horse younger then 4, however in hand work and desensitising can start much younger in preparation. My lad was out road walking from the age of three.

 

[Speedyfluff]

I voted 4 - 5, but that is for the actual backing stage. I would do bits and pieces with them before that. Anytime after 2, I would start in hand work. After 3, I would get them used to tack. After 4, I would start them lunging (but only a few circuits each way to get used to the voice commands at a distance). I am currently at that stage with my four year old. I like to take things really slowly and only progress to the next stage once there are no hiccups. My boy, for example, needs to be taken a step back and have some more in hand work before he's ready to progress. Might not be on him before winter at this rate! But there's no rush. If they are not ready, they are not ready.