So when do you think I should back this girly then
she's 3 tomorrow, a holsteiner and standing about 16.2 now... broad in the chest already (but if her parents are anything to go by will be broader) and as you can see still slightly bum high...?
Blitz
I would like to know how a horse can be 'desperate' to do something and go places? Is that not just the owners desperation to do those things, or how would you know?
Being bum high is no barrier to starting light work, neither is being narrow in the chest - both these things are normal in the young horse, as are weak quarters, low withers (AKA bum high), sickle hocks, etc. Surely it is the weaker horse that would benefit most from some light work? What better way to strengthen muscles, bones and tendons than to condition them? When I worked in Germany breaking youngsters (they were all 3 year olds, of varying maturity), one of the aims was to strengthen, especially the withers and back, so that the horses were ready to carry the rider for later more serious work. To me the majority of horses pictured here would greatly benefit from some light work, not sitting in a field stuffing themselves, or "playing" with their owners.
Being bum high is no barrier to starting light work, neither is being narrow in the chest - both these things are normal in the young horse, as are weak quarters, low withers (AKA bum high), sickle hocks, etc.
Must "work" be ridden to be considered work? Is there a difference between work and a planned exerize regime and if so what is the difference?
I like the sound of this I must say.With respect I disagree. Mine were backed 'late' but they never played or stood in the field stuffing themselves, they were worked 3-4 times a week, occasionally 5 or 6 if the weather was good (Pah when does THAT happen in England), they had all the foundations for ridden work established from the ground before adding a rider. We worked in the arena with long lines, we hacked in hand, with long lines and also ponyed from an older horse. When I backed my mare at 4 she already knew wtc, rein back (a few steps only) turn on the forhand and haunches, the correct canter lead, she had been desensitised to all sorts out 'hacking', she knew how to position herself to open a gate without having to dismount. To her it probably was 'playing' as there was little pressure as I wanted her to enjoy her job. The result was that I had a 5 year old who was well rounded enough to teach a 5 and 7 year old to ride.
No, work can be anything that makes the horse, well, work - like lunging, etc. And there is physical work and mental work; most of the early work a young horse does will be mental, with physical work increasing as the horse is capable. But I think that leading horses about like dogs on leads is of limited use, as is longlining actually - after the first half hour there is not much else to teach, especially if it's all at a walk.
. But I think that leading horses about like dogs on leads is of limited use, as is longlining actually - after the first half hour there is not much else to teach, especially if it's all at a walk.
I now begin to understand why there are so many "green" 6-7-8 year olds, and problem horses...............
Umm My horses don't just walk on the long lines - trot and canter are also there... they learn all the moves on the lines too it's great for passage and piaffe too... anyone who says long lines are of limited use has never been taught to long line correctly - they can solve so many problems from the floor and give you another tool in your chest for when there is an issue on board...
I now begin to understand why there are so many "green" 6-7-8 year olds, and problem horses..............
Tssk. You wouldn't be trying to be provocative, would you ?I now begin to understand why there are so many "green" 6-7-8 year olds, and problem horses...............
Sickle hocks are not normal for youngsters, they are a conformation fault that will stay throughout their lives.
Tssk. You wouldn't be trying to be provocative, would you ?
And sickle hocks are not a normal developmental phase, and if you can teach a horse everything that you know about long lining in half an hour, then that says a lot about the extent of your long lining skills...
Backing at a later age doesn't automatically create a problem horse. I've helped back ex broodies who were in their teens and they all went sweetly. One of mine was sat on at four and then not properly backed and ridden away until she was eight. She's able to be ridden by disabled riders so not exactly a problem horse.
I learned to long line in Portugal, but not like you do it over here.
At the risk of being controversial, I'd suggest that lungeing young horses excessively is at least as damaging as backing them early. A lot of unnatural pressure on joints.
This is true, bone, muscle and sinew does respond to the stresses placed on it. Someone came on here once that had something to do with research into this area (sorry i can't find it) but they were saying that in-hand work or ponying from another horse would also have the positive physical effect. If you wanted a dressage horse, you should start from a young age (again in-hand) to teach it lateral work as this is a specific thing that they will need to do. If you want a racehorse to run on turf, turn it out on a field so it can run and move on that surface.
I found that quite interesting as at the time I'd just bought my gelding. He'd come from a very flat area and I put him out on the hillside here and he really found it hard work. Soon he adjusted to the terrain and is now very nimble and agile on steep inclines. As he will be ridden around terrain like that, I'm certain that his years of getting used to it in the field will stand him in good stead to physically cope with it under saddle.
ETA - I'd be very interested to hear people's opinions on whether they think that this horse is ready for backing or not, based on this photo (sorry he's standing on a slope). The photo was taken this Easter and he'd just turned four.