free schooling

[sunny001]

Im just wondering whether you people think it is ok to free school a rising 2yr old just in walk and trot, im just trying to think of things to make his mind work as i think he may be a little bored. ??
Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Theresa_F]

Depends on the horse. My cob at 18 months was turning into a real pushy monster so we started with bitting him and then some in hand work, getting ready for in hand showing in the summer. At 20 months we started working him round the school on a line - but not lunging. By the time he was 2 he was wearing tack and being led out off our old steady clydesdale which he loved.

I also from 18 months did a lot of work getting him used to bath, loading, bags, loud noises, walking over plastic. On his "hacks" we went past combines, tractors, bonfires and anything I could find that was likely to spook him.

He was doing free schooling from about 2 once he was working on the line nicely and obeying voice commands.

From about 2 1/2 he would occasionally do a few 1' jumps on a line once a month for fun and to give him a variety of things to do - he gets bored very quickly once he has got the hang of something.

I started with three 5 - 10 mins sessions a week and now he is rising 4 he does 4 sessions a week of 30 - 40 mins of a mixture of ground and ridden work.

For him this has worked well - you cannot leave him out in the field or he gets bored and destroys things and forgets his manners - he is one cheeky little bugger but I love him for that spark.

 

[xcalicox]

I personally wouldn't. I believe a youngster should be in the field and playing with other babies, learning to be a horse is important!
I would however do some handling as preperation for the future, leading, putting rugs on etc.

 

[archie1]

people i know who ride western ride their horses at 2 so i don't see how free schooling with no weight on but learning to listen will be harmful as long as the surface is ok