Couple of questions regarding riding 4yo's??

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Rochelle

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To all of you who have or have had a young or green horses. Do you have someone with you on the ground when you ride "just in case"? And secondly how often do you ride your 4 year olds? I tend to do every other day so not to put too much pressure on but I'm starting to think about upping it to doing something most days
 
Always have someone there, watching, just in case. Your life is worth more than a horse!

Even if upping the pace is tempting, wait until they're nearing five before doing this as bringing on a horse slowly and carefully is much more satisfactory.

Good luck!
 
We always have someone on the floor, and work them every day. After that they usually get turned away and brought back up at 5.
 
Thankyou! My horse will be five in May so not too long off. Just recently he has suddenly filled out and looks so much stronger. He is a big lad though so I'm sure the growing hasn't finished just yet hehe
 
We have only had him since the end of July and in that time we have backed him and taken things really slowly. He had a very "easy" winter what with the weather and me being ill with flu! Just starting to get back into regular short sessions in the school and then hopefully start hacking when the weather becomes a bit more settled!
 
I usually do 4 times a week schooling and (attempt) a hack with my 5y/o. I don't do alot though because she is still growing me thinks, just like some long and low with walk and trot. I sometimes ride on my own with nobody around on the yard, but I feel alot safer knowing that there is someone around when I ride if my horse decides she want me off!
 
I ride mine about 4 times a week and i always have someone around (and therefore always have my mobile on me encase they aren't in hearing distance)
 
I ride about 5 times a week, about half hacking half schooling plus a freeschool or lunge. But mine will be 5 in May and was very early to mature physically. She hasnt grown at all for the last 6-9 mths.

Theres not always someone around but she was backed at 31/2 so we've been active about 18 months now. We do hack alone sometimes but I always take mobile. Mostly in company tho..

With larger, or less mature horsie (mines only 147cm) I would def have gone much slower....
 
My rising 4yo is ridden just at the weekends at the mo. He was broken last june ish and had a holiday from aug to jan. He then had two solid weeks of work (a day of every 2 days). And the aim is for 4yo BE in May!!!!
He is very mature though. I do ride on my own, but he is SOOO easy!!! If he is wild i get someone to come watch or ride with me. In jan, after 4 months of just tacked him up, dragged him to the mounting bloke and jumped on and took him for a little hack!!!(mother did help).
But Titus was still growing at 7 and is just fillin out at 8!!! with him there was always someone around as he was very unpredictable.
 
5 times a week has been back into work since Jan and is aiming to compete in late summer. He is 5 in may and slow to mature (ISH) so even though he is working hard still dont ask too much of him with regards to jumping.
1 day grids
3 days flatwork
1 day hack or pessoa

2 days off
I have another horse too so alot is also dependant on where im going with her atm. Usually give him weekends off as im out competing or schooling
smile.gif
 
I was always taught at this age school for the no of years old. So for a 4yr old 4 times a week but if in school only 20 mins and 45-60 mins on a hack. At 5, 5 times a week etc. Don't forget they are still growing and if you over do it now you will have joint problems in later life. Take your time and enjoy slowly building your youngsters confidence, if you rush them you ruin them (well in my humble opinion!). At 6 they are much stronger so you can do more, but many breeds don't mature until they are 7 or 8 yrs old
 
I worked Governor about 5-6 days a week as a 4 year old.

1 or 2 of those sessions were long reining or hacking and the rest was schooling sessions of about 20 minutes (variation with poles/gridwork).

I never had anyone around just to keep an eye on me but i'd probably avoid riding if I was the only person on the yard. That said he did hack out alone as a 4 year old and then I just had my mobile phone. He was always fairly good though both hacking and in the school but I turned him away for a few months and he's never been easy to hack out alone since.
 
it really depends on what you're aiming for with him? If he's going to be a happy hacker, then I would only ride possibly 3 times a week, one of those in the school and the other two out in the country seeing the sights and de-spooking!

If you're aiming for competition, then obviously the pressure is greater and I suppose needs must require more school work.

But I am very much of the school that pretty much everything can be learned and accomplished out hacking
wink.gif
 
I broke mine in the september of his 3rd year and did groundwork/gentle lunging/riding for about 10/15mins every day for a month. Then he was turned out completely until easter. From easter (rising 4) until january (rising 5) he was hacked at the weekends with very occasional schooling. Since january I've had him at uni and he's been hacking 4/5 times a week with no schooling.

When I was doing the initial groundwork and ridden work there was always someone around but after that he was always hacked alone so there wasn't anyone else there.
 
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