Giving a 4 year old experiences

[Fielder]

What are you doing with your 4 year olds?

I've had my lovely 4 year old coblet since December (anyone who remembers my horse hunt thread it took me 20+ viewings). She arrived backed and has been coming on really well, we've been doing mostly hacking or walk- out hacks a couple of times a week with an odd schooling session / lesson once a week/every other week she's become really relaxed perhaps a bit unsure and lacking focus sometimes - typical youngster.

Shes had a month off in winter with odd weeks off every few weeks to just be a horse and grow into herself but she starts getting bored and causing chaos if left to her own devises for too long escaping etc. So plan is to keep her in some level of work to keep the mind engaged. With a month of in winter again unless I feel she needs one sooner. She has also been out to an arena hire, and I have been debating taking her to a walk/trot or even just a tack and turn out class just for the experience but worried about pushing her too fast. A walk-trot unaffiliated is also a possibility ( as the nearby dressage is pretty quiet in comparison) Shes currently quite distracted when ridden with other horses in the same arena so feel like this may be a better option ? I don't mind making a tit of myself if it doesn't go to plan just worry more about overwhelming her when shes doing so well!

What are you all up to with your young horses?

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn’t go straight into a competition but would take time to get her relaxed working around other horses.

I have a 5yo that is at 4yo education stage and although she is earmarked as an event horse and is under production I think the concepts probably apply pretty well to your situation.

She has learnt to work around other horses from the outset as on a big yard. Initially stage managed with other sensible horses but now expected to just get on with it.

We have made an effort to get her out on the lorry and working away from home. She went out first time with two of her stable mates to a very quiet facility hire. Nannied by her mates until she relaxed.

She then went on a trip to a couple of competitions but did not get ridden. Came off box, took in atmosphere, went back on box.

Then did a slightly buzzier arena hire

Then did a little unaff dressage a few days after arena hire at same venue

Then been out jump schooling to two different venues. The second time she came out more relaxed and less gawky so it’s only now that we consider jumping competition (CR 80cm tonight at a venue she has been to before).

So it really is gradual exposure.

One thing that is brilliant for young horses is joining a nice friendly riding club - most do low key group clinics that are great for getting babies out. And maybe a little in hand showing to start with?

 

[Fielder]

Thats really useful thank you. She rides lovely on our own is a really responsive ride but as soon as were in with another horse its like riding a different horse! When we went to the arena hire with friends horses this was quite 'exciting' to her shall we say... so any ideas for that in between exposure much appreciated. Im not bothered about doing serious riding but conscious shes only getting quiet rides due to how quiet our yard is so would get a shock at a busy show environment currently I think

 

[ihatework]

Thats really useful thank you. She rides lovely on our own is a really responsive ride but as soon as were in with another horse its like riding a different horse! When we went to the arena hire with friends horses this was quite 'exciting' to her shall we say... so any ideas for that in between exposure much appreciated. Im not bothered about doing serious riding but conscious shes only getting quiet rides due to how quiet our yard is so would get a shock at a busy show environment currently I think

I’d find some in hand shows and just take her out to absorb the atmosphere.

There is also nothing to stop you entering a ridden class but not actually going in the ring, just riding in the warm up.

Riding club is your friend!

Are you at home with your own arena? Can any friends come and exercise at yours while you are in there?

 

[Xmasha]

We have a 6yo, that was backed at christmas. She initially just hacked out , then we added a bit of arena work. Its transformed her now she has something to think about.
We started by taking her for arena hires, which she coped really well with. So the other week we took her to an unaffiliated intro test. It was a mid week daytime one, so was very low key. She was a little on her toes in the warm up , but in the test was super brave. Didnt flinch at the banners /judges box etc . Last week she went on her first farm ride, and again we took her in the off peak times. She was on buckle end the whole time. So the key is timing, go to clinics / shows that are low key to start with.

Be prepared to do nothing other than walk around, its a bonus if you do the test or the clinic. Key is no pressure, as long as the horse comes home happy thats all you want at this stage

 

[Fielder]

I’d find some in hand shows and just take her out to absorb the atmosphere.

There is also nothing to stop you entering a ridden class but not actually going in the ring, just riding in the warm up.

Riding club is your friend!

Are you at home with your own arena? Can any friends come and exercise at yours while you are in there?

Theres some inhand shows down the road but I feel if she had a tantrum Id be safer on top of her rather than within stomping range. Possibly me overthinking as she was only like this when she first arrived as the move unsettled her but a stressy environment could bring that side of her out. Its a small yard people are often left by the time I get up after work but I can definitely try up the number of rides where there is company. I think the nearby competition might do clinics aswell so could look into this.

 

[Fielder]

We have a 6yo, that was backed at christmas. She initially just hacked out , then we added a bit of arena work. Its transformed her now she has something to think about.
We started by taking her for arena hires, which she coped really well with. So the other week we took her to an unaffiliated intro test. It was a mid week daytime one, so was very low key. She was a little on her toes in the warm up , but in the test was super brave. Didnt flinch at the banners /judges box etc . Last week she went on her first farm ride, and again we took her in the off peak times. She was on buckle end the whole time. So the key is timing, go to clinics / shows that are low key to start with.

Be prepared to do nothing other than walk around, its a bonus if you do the test or the clinic. Key is no pressure, as long as the horse comes home happy thats all you want at this stage

Ive had seasoned dressage horses do a spook at the banners they've seen 50 times they are really scary for some reason ! Sometimes the show nearby is really quiet it just depends on the entries. We have a farm ride planned for late august

 

[Xmasha]

Ive had seasoned dressage horses do a spook at the banners they've seen 50 times they are really scary for some reason ! Sometimes the show nearby is really quiet it just depends on the entries. We have a farm ride planned for late august

i took our 14yo schoolmaster to the same arena last week he wouldnt go near the judges box. Total muppet sometimes.

Some low key showing classes do ridden novice/green classes so no cantering. That could work for you.

 

[Fielder]

i took our 14yo schoolmaster to the same arena last week he wouldnt go near the judges box. Total muppet sometimes.

Some low key showing classes do ridden novice/green classes so no cantering. That could work for you.

It must look at them funny, fake flower pots was another offender of my old horse. They do have a walk-trot novice class but last time I was there that is was a large class (12 horses?). I think its less the class and more the warm up area that would be more problematic, theres often someone on a hot horse cantering round with its head in the air and the warm up area is quite small and you've got to go through it to get to the class.

 

[SEL]

Due to lack of transport mine had just turned 5 when I first took him out.

If I was doing it again then I'd start with quiet arena hire just so he gets used to other places - whether that's on his own or with a friend it doesn't matter. I'd then build up to warm-ups, in hand shows etc. Mainly because we got wildly excited around other horses. Actually a lot better in clinics - especially polework - where he had something to focus on. But that is probably better for you next year.

Can you box out to rides in company?

 

[Fielder]

Yes it is wildly exciting. Can hire a box but I find its hard to pin down people to come with though we do have a trip out planned for august, a few on the yard are timid riders / dont ride or the opposite and are out competing. We're in the middle of wanting to potter at a slow pace. We have a couple of different arenas we can hire and hack to including the competition venue for a clinic if I can find one low key enough so we could definitely look to do this a bit more first

 

[Identityincrisis]

I haven’t read the other replies but in terms of low pressure environments which help her to get used to other horses working around her, if you have a local riding club who do training events that’s great for youngsters. I took mine to these to build up confidence away from home, learn to be tacked up beside the box, work in around other horses, although I didn’t teach it, he quickly learnt to stand still in the middle awaiting his turn (he just picked this up off the others)

Just take your time, there’s no rush, mine was 6/7 when he started doing the above but he was weak, highly strung and a late starter

 

[tda]

Also Le Trec do arena obstacle training, can be very low key, small groups, can do inhand or ridden.
Same for Working Equitation

 

[Alibear]

It could also be worth asking the competition types at your yard. They might appreciate the chance to split hire costs and may well have gone through the young horse stage in the past, so they are happy to pay it back.