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Stigg

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Hi, I've got a 2 1/2 years old Irish Sports gelding. When is the right time to brake him in?... I want to leave his after as well for at least 12 weeks. Oce broken. I'm hoping to take him hunting regularly. He's currently turned away in a field with other youngers on a large farm. But we bring him in every week for grooming/cuddles/bathing and getting use to farm stuff like machinery/cows and sheep etc. He does so well with all that.
 
It will be a while before you can take him hunting unless you really want a broken horse before you have even started. Depending on whether your horse is mature or not you can probably start around 3 but I would advise very gently.
Have you been long reining? Doing Groundwork etc? Thats all a really important part when breaking a horse.
 
My 2 1/2 year olds are currently doing 2 weeks of coming in every day, wearing a bit and a roller and learning some general life stuff like standing next to a mounting block. They will then get left until next Spring when I will repeat but this time with a saddle on. Then I get on them in the Summer and hack them or a few weeks before leaving them until Spring of 4yr old year. Again, they will do 2 stints of 'work' under saddle and then get left until 5. Little bits, very gradual, no physical demands until older
 
Stigg said:
Hi, I've got a 2 1/2 years old Irish Sports gelding. When is the right time to brake him in?... I want to leave his after as well for at least 12 weeks. Oce broken. I'm hoping to take him hunting regularly. He's currently turned away in a field with other youngers on a large farm. But we bring him in every week for grooming/cuddles/bathing and getting use to farm stuff like machinery/cows and sheep etc. He does so well with all that.
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No harm showing him tack and long reining him when he's 3 but I wouldn't do more than that .
The traditional way would be to lightly back him on the flat when he's 4, then turn away for a winter.
Do more and start some jumping when he's 5.
 
When your breaking and doing the slow work afterwards I would be mindful to give him an all round education, not teach him things you just need for hunting. Hopefully hunting will be banned sooner rather than later and if your horse hasn't had a good all round education you may struggle to find him another job.
 
Flowerofthefen said:
When your breaking and doing the slow work afterwards I would be mindful to give him an all round education, not teach him things you just need for hunting. Hopefully hunting will be banned sooner rather than later and if your horse hasn't had a good all round education you may struggle to find him another job.
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Yes your right it is very inportant to give him an all round education. He's my first younger and I want to get things right as I think I've always done in life. I'm not that stupid or ignorant! All horses need a purpose to be here or they'll just end up becoming extinct or in a in a zoo.
 
IME, there’s a lot of value of getting basics in with a 3YO. Such as wearing tack, long lining in straight lines / big circles and then maybe just having a rider on board for a few steps around the arena / yard. Then some time off.

I always do this with mine, and then when they are in their fourth year (or whenever looking physically strong enough) - I have them ‘broken’ and ridden away. Even then, the work should be low key and involve more hacking than anything else.
 
Jenko109 said:
If you need to ask, then I would err on the side of caution and wait until he is four.
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I've now had some really good advice. He's my first youngster. I've some professional help offered. I'm just leaving him until he's 3 1/2 for puting tack/bridle on... I'm currently having loads of cuddles, leading him around farm for an hour every other day. Showing him eveything I possiblely can. Spend time just looking around and placing new/strage obsticles all around. He lets me brush, pick his feet and bath him. So just sticking with doing that on headcoller and shorter lungline. He's happy fot now.
 
Bear in mind IDs mature VERY slowly and so anything with draught in will also be slow to mature - 2 1/2 is still very young but by all means get g#him wearing a roller, saddle, mouthed, go for walks in hand wearing tack etc. but be mindful of how much you ask of a young, growing skeleton; focus on slow straight lines and keeping things short and sweet.
 
FieldOrnaments said:
Bear in mind IDs mature VERY slowly and so anything with draught in will also be slow to mature - 2 1/2 is still very young but by all means get g#him wearing a roller, saddle, mouthed, go for walks in hand wearing tack etc. but be mindful of how much you ask of a young, growing skeleton; focus on slow straight lines and keeping things short and sweet.
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It's easy to get ahead of ourselves wanting to do "something" with them, but I completely agree that it's more about laying foundations than actual work at this age. Gentle in-hand stuff and letting them experience the world bit by bit seems to make such a difference later on. I’ve seen a few that were pushed too early and ended up with all sorts of issues. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say.
 
Stigg said:
Yes your right it is very inportant to give him an all round education. He's my first younger and I want to get things right as I think I've always done in life. I'm not that stupid or ignorant! All horses need a purpose to be here or they'll just end up becoming extinct or in a in a zoo.
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You could always do a few in hand showing classes this year or next - think it’s best to aim for at least 3 or 4, as he will probably be overwhelmed and therefore difficult for the first two.
It’s one way of getting them used to behaving when there is lots going on around them - useful for hunting.
 
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