How much work are your just turning 4yo's doing?

S

Snugglebum

Active Member
Joined
12 November 2009
Messages
36
Visit site
I just wondered how much work your 3 turning 4 yo's are doing? I am riding mine twice a week max 45 mins and maybe lungeing once a week or loose schooling him if he has had a day in as they are on alternate day turnout.
I have had a few comments from people on the yard makeing out I don't do enough with him but I think at the moment what i'm doing is enough and I was planning on upping his ridden work to 3 times a week in a month or so and gradually building him up.
What do you do with yours and do you think i'm too soft?
I am hopeing to get him to a few local shows and to do some unaf dressage this summer and some unaf SJ over the winter.
What are your competition plans with your babies?
 
I backed mine last year and have brought him back up last month. I won't be doing a great deal with mine till later on in the year as the poll and pelvis are the last to fuse - generally round 5. I'll be keeping his outline nice and long and stretched. Don't get me wrong, he'll be in work but I will try to keep the pressure off these two joints till a little later.
 
you are doing plenty......mine is being hacked maybe once or twice a week at most and occasionally being schooled in the field in walk with a little trot. She is a big warmblood and I am very aware she won't be mature for quite some time, so trying not to expose her too many stresses on her in her early life.

Also, with spring just kicking in, I want to make sure that she isn't stressed in either body or mind to make sure she doesn't catch anything......it's a prime time of year for coughs, colds, grass sickness, laminitis.......

You're not too soft, just sensible I'd say :)
 
Researc has actuallyshown that it is in fact he last cervical vertebrae (base of neck) which fuses last at around the age of 5.5-6yo.

However the best thing for bone is to be working so that the musculoskeletal system can adjust to the type of work being performes whichshould help prepare for later life. In my xperience regular days of (ie 2per week interspersed) and gentle exercise is best
 
Mine is getting a couple of hacks a week, maybe an hour each hack. I am getting her to hold herself in a nice outline for some of it, but am not doing any real schooling and avoiding lunging her as i have been warned against it.
 
Hi, Im in the same situation as you! mine turns 4 on the 3rd of may. He was back last year and left over the winter. I started him again in feb/march. I have just been hacking him a few times a week really! and maybe schooling him now and then. im hoping to go to some local shows with him this summer just to get him used the the crowds etc and enter him in some showing classes :) good luck with your neddie
 
My friend's 4 yo is worked 5 times a week, either ridden or lunged.

I don't think it's how frequently they are worked - I think it's how they are worked that matters. A young horse can be worked lightly every day, as long as he is ridden in an educated, harmonious and compassionate way, without force.

That is also what I did with Frodo last year, when he was 4 - ridden most days, but for only 20 minutes or so. He definitely thrived better than if he had been ridden twice a week for longer!
 
Mine's doing about 4 or 5 days a week hacking and a little in the school. I am finding he is a complete hooligan so keeping his mind occupied is stopping him from causing carnage out in the field!
 
Mine is doing similar work; she was backed last year, and have gently brought her back into work in the last month. She is now hacking out a couple of times a week for around an hour each time, as she is a little feisty now that the spring grass is here, so I want to keep her brain working. I only walk really, with maybe one or two little trots, as I'm not in a hurry with her. I am quite keen to start a bit of basic schooling, but am making myself wait as I don't want to overdo it. My theory is that gentle hacking will teach her straight lines and balancing herself without too much stress, and as she muscles up a bit I will do a bit more. Enjoy your baby!
 
Mine has just been away for 6 weeks which was mostly long reining, hacking and a bit of loose schooling- no lunging. She is now going to have a few weeks off then come into work and will then hopefully start jumping and get to some baby shows. I do think that too much lunging and schooling at this age puts too much pressure and strain on immature joints.
What you are doing is fine it's so tempting to get impatient and do too much too soon.
 
Hello! The yard is going through a particularly bitchy phase at the moment, so wouldn't worry too much about the 'know-it-alls' :rolleyes: There'll be a big blow up shortly with a few people and things will calm down again! :D Can only think it's because we're getting close to the end of 'winter'!

I know nothing about babies but would just stick with whatever you feel most comfortable with and stuff everyone else:)
 
If we expected any of our 3 coming 4 year olds to concentrate for 45 mins they'd be slightly peed off I think...Ours all get worked for about 15mins daily, with at least 1 hack, 1 day off and 1 lunge per week, now they are going to shows too so one pony party most weeks. They will carry on like this for another 6 weeks or so then have 6 - 8 weeks holiday in the field being babies again until they come back to start doing age classes. We always find that their brains just can't cope with such a long time working, it has just IN OUR EXPERIENCE * runs and hides * turned them sour or nappy, 45 mins is a long time for a baby to be having to concentrate, it's not just their joints to worry about, it's their brains too.

Just our experiences...

x
 
i think what you are doing is fine he is only a baby just keep scratching his bum forever u know what i mean and just ignor what other people say he is yours afterall
 
Thanks everybody! You've made me feel better about what I'm doing with him, I'll just carry on as I have been with him and see how we go maybe reduceing the time but rideing more often
I Nicole1968 - Yes I will up his scratching to 10 mins per day from 5 mins
Ludi Doodi - Hello! I'm fed up of the Know it all's !Didn't realise you were on here :-)
Egerdenfarmstud - I realy agree I think Mentally he couldn't cope with any more and he's easily stressed 45mins is max and that's when I have a lesson once a fortnight - However alot of that time is chatting before we get going and also while we are cooling down - so far he hasn't even broken out in a sweat whilst ive ridden him.
Blazingsaddles - I bought that book as a present for my friend who has just got a youngster , I shall borrow it back off her! Thank you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top