How immature/young does she look?

[almrc]

How does she look? How young does she still look and what do you think of her in general?
She is TB x with hano & NF and 3 years and 3 months. She didnt have the best first start until I got her (just before she was a year old).

People keep saying "shes 3, break her in" but to me she looks too flimsy and young, shes def a keeper so we are taking our time.She goes for walks, ties up, has general manners, has saddle on, fly fringe on, fine to get fly sprayed and does long reining, stops, turns and goes trot to walk on the long rein with voice commands. I'm not looking to back until next year really.

Shes about 14.1hh at the mo, how high do you think she will eventually get?

 

[Cedars]

She's lovely =]

Would want a touch more weight on her though?

No problem in waiting! She does still look a bit babyish, but I'm sure many would back by now.

Good luck anyway she looks lush xxxx

 

[HumBugsey]

She does look young in my eyes. I would probs wait 6 months then reassess but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a year till she's ready. Which would be right, her type is normally ready 3- 3 1/2 but if she had bad nutritional care that can easilly add 6 month- a year. Sounds like she's had a fab early education though. You can always take her out and about for a few months, see the sights and all

 

[galaxy]

I would put a little more weight on her too and see how she matures over the summer at reassess Sept time?

 

[Spudlet]

I think she still looks quite a baby, and as Humbugsey says a poor start can set them back anyway. As long as you do all your groundwork I can't see she'll come to any harm by waiting a bit longer

 

[devilwoman]

She does look a bit immature but then to be honest my filly is also 3 years and i thought she looked mature, she has recently been backed and broken to harness and suddenly looks more mature as she has muscled up a bit.

I personally would also want a little more weight on her if she was mine.

 

[Little_Miss_1]

She's lovely! Similar stamp to our 4 yr old. I think it sounds like she is having a great 'second start' with you. We did all of the things you've done with ours when she was 3 as she just wasnt mentally or physically ready. Just got her long reinging with tack on really. She then had the winter off and come back into work at easter and hes really been a different horse. She is strong and willing and has a totally more mature outlook towards work. I'm sure that after a period of growing up, yours too will be great under saddle, some just take their time about it and it is lovely that you arent pushing her. She looks to have the makings of a lovely horse.

 

[almrc]

Good point, I forgot to say that these pics were taken about 3 or 4 weeks ago, just after she had gone through a growing spurt and now she has put weight on nicely, but of course not fat! I will take some more pics tomorrow and add them up.

I never thought that a bad start would affect her like that. I was at the yard where she was before I bought her, but didn't have anything to do with her. She was taken from her mum too early as she had suspected gastric ulcer ad so was stabled. She was then fed stud mix. She also had a nail somehow in her frog/hoof and was again stabled for 24/7 for ages. Not only did she then try and kick everyone and anyone, but you couldn't get near her. She turned and would bite/kick/be aggressive to everyone. Thats when I got her! Shes a little darling now. Gorgeous girl. I soon stopped the stud mix when I had her. How much do you think this will affect her? Will she loose height because of it?

On the positive side, I also forgot to say she regularly has her feet trimmed, has had a visit from the dentist AND has been in the trailer driving around the field. She wasn't ken on her injection so still have bits to work on. That's a good idea to re-asses in 6 months. She just looks so flimsy to me, compared to others. I never put 2 and 2 together that it could be due to her background.

 

[Little_Miss_1]

Good point, I forgot to say that these pics were taken about 3 or 4 weeks ago, just after she had gone through a growing spurt and now she has put weight on nicely, but of course not fat! I will take some more pics tomorrow and add them up.

I never thought that a bad start would affect her like that. I was at the yard where she was before I bought her, but didnt have anything to do with her. She was taken from her mum too early as she had suspected gastric ulcer ad so was stabled. She was then fed stud mix. She also had a nail somehow in her frog/hoof and was again stabled for 24/7 for ages. Not only did she then try and kick everyone and anyone, but you couldnt get near her. She turned and would bite/kick/be agressive to everyone. Thats when I got her! Shes a little darling now. Gorgeous girl. I soon stopped the stud mix when I had her. How much do you think this will affect her? Will she loose height because of it?

On the positive side, I also forgot to say she regularly has her feet trimmed, has had a visit from the dentist AND has been in the trailer driving around the field. Thats a good idea to re-asses in 6 months. She just looks so flimsy to me, compared to others. I never put 2 and 2 together that it could be due to her background.

Sounds even more similar to mine! She was stabled 24/7, weaned too early and was on the wrong diet. Not surprisingly, she wanted to kill everyone! Amazing the difference a year in a field can do!

 

[almrc]

Thats exactly the same! Oooo I want to see pics of yours growing up please! That's true, time off can make a lot of difference. I left her for a while just to 'be' once I had bought her (and then moved yards ) I just used to tie her up, groom her, and lead around, not much.

I'll see what shes like in September perhaps, as suggested and see how shes changed.

 

[asommerville]

Try Dodson and Horrell's Suregrow it has made all the difference to my wee one who is exactly the same age and who was a poor skinny wee soul with no life in him when i got him, he is like a different horse after 2 months and his coat is gleaming!!

Aso i would maybe wait a bit before backin her as she looks really babyish - also comparing her to mine who is exactly the same age. Good luck with her she's gorge

 

[almrc]

I will wait as long as it takes before I back her, I am not in a rush, but appreciate all advice on how she looks etc.

Thank you for the feed advice thats a good suggestion thank you. I *think* shes put more weight on. She has been on alfa and Topspec leisuretime feed balancer. But I will take more pics tomorrow and ask you then, to see what you think about her weight. I am open to advice with feed etc.

 

[almrc]

Just thinking, I will have to find pics of all of your 3 yr olds so I can compare, or might start a new thread...hmmmm

 

[Patches]

I bought a four year old very early Spring that I also thought looked very immature. Had I not had her actual date of birth, from looking at her I'd have believed she was alot younger.

Here's Matilda when she first came. She was two weeks off four years old in these pics.

She changed so much with regular long reining, getting rid of the lice and being fed. I didn't know whether she was ready for backing (we had been told she was backed at 3 and turned away) but she did seem to enjoy her work.

She's now been away for three weeks being broken in. The chap doing it seems to believe she's ready, but obviously she is a whole year older than your youngster. Mine also doesn't appear to have thrived in her first four years (she has already grown over an inch since we got her) so I cannot imagine she'd have been ready to be backed and ridden away last year.

Long reining (I do it mostly in straight lines around our farm) might not hurt though, if you wanted to do more with her.

 

[Maesfen]

Your filly looks a cracking sort Almrc and personally, I would NOT want much more weight on her as she is a growing youngster and if you got her much heavier, she could end up with all sorts of joint problems although I would also agree with whoever suggested Suregrow. It is made for growing youngsters and has everything they need in it, unlike the mix you have been feeding her as I believe she needs all the help she can get after her poor start. It's very simple to feed and you don't feed a lot of it but if you give D & H a ring, they will be more than helpful.
I'd also hold off doing much more than what she's already done because she is a mixture of breeds that are quite slow maturing (if given the chance!) so could well be still growing until she's about six. The less you push a growing baby, so much the better for their long term future so I personally wouldn't want to back her until next spring at least although long lining her in straight lines for a short time in the autumn would be good education for her and would help her build up a little more.
You're going to have a lovely mare there who hopefully will be with you years, it would be a great shame to push her too early simply because others think you should, especially as she is such an immature baby at that.
Good luck with her, hope you keep us updated.

 

[almrc]

wow patches what a change! a credit to you. How is she going on now? Sounds like she is getting on well with the man, how long will she be there for?

Awww thank you I don't do much long reining with her at all. I do small things like getting her used to a fly mask/spray/scary things, short tasks, on a weekly basis. But big things like long reining, loading etc is few and far between. I do try and take her on walks every 2 weeks or so. I totally agree with what you are saying, its nice to see different view points.

I will ring D&H tomorrow thank you. Do you think the TS leisure time isnt so good? I've blocked my ears to people saying to back her, I can see she isnt quite ready and I have plenty of time. At least I can post pics of her on here for you lot too

Will get some pics of her today to see what you think

 

[Patches]

We don't plan to do much with Tilly/Matilda this year at all. If she comes back ok from being backed (which I have no doubt she will), the plan is just to have her hacking lightly for the rest of summer/early autumn and then turning her away again until next Spring.

She'll be rising 5 before we start to seriously consider any type of education with her. Yes, she's four now, but we're treating her younger than that and have no plans to rush her. I was tempted to leave her until autumn for backing but am completely undecided on whether we'll be keeping her long term, so thought it was more prudent for us to get her backed now so she can be sold at 5 (if we sell her) being more used to carrying a rider.

I certainly wouldn't rush to back a three year old, like yours. Does them no harm in waiting. Our youngster is "there" in her head. She actively wants to work and enjoys it. It was physically immaturity I was more concerned about.

As you can see from her pictures, she has changed an awful lot in three months and now looks far less immature in her frame than we first thought she was back in April.

She is by an ISH stallion, Ballybane Shamrock, out of a TB x Arab mare. I am hoping this means that she will also, like yours, still have some maturing to do even though she's a year older.

 

[Maesfen]

Awww thank you I don't do much long reining with her at all. I do small things like getting her used to a fly mask/spray/scary things, short tasks, on a weekly basis. But big things like long reining, loading etc is few and far between. I do try and take her on walks every 2 weeks or so. I totally agree with what you are saying, its nice to see different view points.

I will ring D&H tomorrow thank you. Do you think the TS leisure time isnt so good? I've blocked my ears to people saying to back her, I can see she isnt quite ready and I have plenty of time. At least I can post pics of her on here for you lot too

Will get some pics of her today to see what you think

It's not that the TS Leisure Mix is no good, it's just not meant for a growing youngster as far as I'm aware whereas the Suregrow is specifically made for growing youngsters although you can feed it to anything older too as well. It's a small pellet and you'd only feed a couple of mugfuls a day; it's also realistically priced at about £13.50 for 20 kg so lasts a while. I first 'met' it when I had the foster boys to rear and it did them very well; not fat but nicely covered which is what she needs, any heavier as I said before and you'd have to watch for growth problems; you want steady growth not spurts and this helps with that.

New pic's would be good!

 

[Spudlet]

I have ridden a horse that was backed in her teens, and was so wild that she had to be blow-darted before anyone could get a hand on her before that - she was a cracking horse and an absolute pleasure to ride. Not suggesting you wait quite that long but just to demonstrate that there really is no rush

 

[Persephone]

I like her a lot

Sounds like you have done the groundwork, everything is in place.

In your shoes I think I would turn her away, restart in the spring and continue into backing etc over the summer.

 

[Finlib]

She looks lovely but as you say a bit babyish.
My youngster which i bred from my x flat racing mare to a Iberian stallion was backed as a 4 year old then ridden on through the autumn 3 sessions a week in the school 1 session hacking out wasturned away in January then brought back up in the spring of this year and the maturity in him is amazing.
He is big strong confident yet gentle.
He is my forever horse I still own his mother and will keep him forever .There is no hurry .
I would say lots of ground work and 'seeing things' there is plenty of time
In my youth there was no such thing as 'kissing spine' no back people 2 saddles fitted every thing in the yard!! but we had time and patience to allow them to grow up in their own time this doesn't mean do nothing it means take tiny steps .
My old horse was put down a few years ago aged 36 and was still sound and up for a potter around the block even then!!
Too much too soon means a horse doesn't make old bones !!!
Good luck and enjoy your horses youth there is plenty of time

 

[almrc]

I've got some pics, taken today!! I got lots for you to see What do you think of her and about the feed etc? I was just the other day contemplating taking her off TS leisure time and replacing with a powder supplement for summer, but open to suggestions and interested in the suregrow.

Hello!

 

[HumBugsey]

Her weight looks a lot better in the later pics but even before she wasn't far off, I hate seeing fat babies. Out of interest are you running a "paddock paradise" style system? I read about them not long ago and was really interested by it.

 

[Whoopit]

Wait. If it doesn't feel right, then there's no harm in waiting. You don't want to spoil her by pushing her too early.

 

[almrc]

Glad shes looking better, I thought she was and was watching her weight! Just got to work out what to feed her now (help!)

Yes it is a paddock paradise, my other 2 are fatties (I mean good do-ers!) and started the track system in the top field which they use for summer last year. It works well for them, they constantly move around it, sometimes I feel bad as I only give them a certain amount of fresh grass per day, but then I see their bellies and don't feel bad! They are doing well at the moment actually, a little on the porky side but doing well.

Of course, the only exception is little one as she isnt a good do-er so she gets time in the middle...sometimes!

 

[BobbyMondeo]

In the first pics she doesnt look young.
But the in the others she does look very babyish, i wouldnt be breaking her in yet.

 

[rowy]

Hey, she doesn't look too immature for her age. Though she is very leggy! Not bum high though and her bum/back do look quite fragile and because she is smaller, i aggree with you leaving her!
My youngster is a month younger than her, i have backed him but he had a massive growth spurth recently so i am now not ridding him till next march/ april depending on how he looks.
Pic so you can see: he is massively bum high lol.

 

[Maesfen]

Yes, I think she's looking much better in these new pics, still a gangly youngster but it's coming, she has a lot to thank you for although I personally would like to see her on better grass, that really isn't the best regime for youngsters although I've read your reasons for it and understand how you need it for your fatties. Seeing her lack of good grazing I would be more inclined than ever to get her onto Suregrow as it will give her all the vitamins and minerals she needs and she won't be getting much from her grass there. I'd also, as you have already said, delay doing too much with her until next spring except maybe walking her out. Would you have a chance to graze her in hand on better grazing for an hour or so each day, that would help a lot as decent grass isn't called Dr. Green for nothing and they get a lot of goodness from decent grass - just what your others don't need by the sound of it!

I can't believe how lucky everyone who uses a paradise strip seems to be; if I tried it with my lot they'd be straight through every bit of electric fence in sight, they wouldn't tolerate it for one minute as none of mine have the slightest respect for electric fencing even though ours is off the mains!

 

[almrc]

No worries, I will ring d&h tomorrow and have a chat with them and get her whatever she needs. Yes it is very hard with the 2 good do-ers then her. The whole herd generally get a bit of fresh grass everyday but I do make sure that she gets time on the fresh grass everyday in the middle on her own, ranging from 30 minutes - 2 hours. She eats her tea in the middle of the paddock away from the others and I always put her in there when I ride/poo pick/ mess about for the day at the field doing goodness knows what! At least I know to keep doing that and more.

I have had to electrify both the inner and outer fences as one kept getting out! Yours don't respect it off the mains! Oh dear, they must be naughty then

 

[eggs]

She looks fine to back to me. However if you are in no rush it certainly won't hurt to wait until the autumn.

I do most of mine in the spring of their third year but one was very tall (17.1hh) but physically immature so we didn't do him until the autumn of his fourth year.