How old should he be when i break him in?

[welshied]

I am wondering whether my welsh section d will be broken in next year or the year after he is 2 now so didn't know whether to break him in as 3 or 4 year old as i have heared welsh ds should be left later as they are still developing as they are slow growers, he is very stocky and looks more like a 3 year old now. What are your opinions?

 

[Nailed]

Id go for 3, before he is too old and bolshy.. and id take it slow.

Loux

 

[1275gta]

We do ours rising 3, not too much but a little everyday.

 

[martlin]

The middle ground - lateish in his 3 year, ie at 3 1/2

 

[Lippyx]

I'd say 3 as well, but there is nothing wrong with introducing him to tack etc now. Let him see it, sniff it, rub it on his back, put bridle on without the bit in, so he gets used to the headpiece being pulled over his ears etc.

I wouldn't wait til 4 as he may staight getting a bit bored and pushy!

 

[Theresa_F]

With my chunky gypsy cob, he was sat on at 2 1/2 - and I do mean just sat on with 5 min walk in the school. He got used to being mounted from the block, a leg up, doing up girth, stirrups, basic halt and turn and me doing things like kicking legs out of stirrups and waving arms about - more of despooking than real work. He did this once a week and ground work on three other small sessions - he needs to be given things to thing about or he can be a bolshy git.

At 18 months he was bitted, at 20, wore a saddle and started long reining and had also been led out off Cairo so had a little bit of muscle and sitting on him really was very easy, he took to me onboard immediately - he has been a little star since I got him.

After 2 months he went back to just ground work until nearly 3 as he was teething and having a huge growth spurt. He then started doing little hacks, building up to 30 mins over 6 months at a walk with a tiny trot. He also went in the school for 10 mins once a week, working on the very basics of halt, turns, walk and trot. At 3 1/2 he did his first few strides of canter and at 4, his first tiny jump with a rider onboard.

Then had three months off ridden, and just ground work, more growth and teeth changes. At rising 4 he started doing a class at local shows and over the summer we built up the fitness and schooling.

In December that year at 4 1/2 he started his affiliated showing career. He has also started doing a few jumps at home with the plan to be out doing small competitions when he is 5 1/2.

I have found with him that doing it early but very very slowly has really worked for him, basically I have done in nearly two years what a lot of people would do in 3 - 6 months - go from backing to affiliated showing.

He too is a slow growing breed - he won't finish until 8, ditto our clydesdale who is also being brought along very slowly, but she too was ridden from 2 1/2.

All depends on the horse and how they are put together both physically and mentally - mine were ready to do a tiny bit young and as said, this has really worked for them. They have never been stressed or rushed or needed to have a time off in the field to recover as they had plenty of time to think about things between sessions.

I had the luxury to do this as he was backed and brought on by me at home, albeit with consent supervision of my very experienced at youngsters instructor.

 

[MagicMelon]

I'd say 3 1/2 and make sure to turn away for the winter, before properly starting him (taking him to shows etc.) as a 4yo. Welsh D's do mature late, especially mentally IMO. Mine only began to mature recently as an 8yo! Unfortunately mine I bought as a 3 1/2 yr old but the previous owners had him backed, jumping tiny fences and hacking out regularily by then! I had to go back to square 1 with him as it had blown his mind. He was very nappy when I got him, took me a good 6 months to get him going nicely.

 

[Taffster]

It will all depend on his temperament, the bay d in my siggi was 31/2 when i got him and was hacking round happily on the roads taking everything in his stride he had been backed 3 months. The chestnut was a nightmare and she needs much more persistent WORK. You could try in the spring of his 3rd year and see how he reacts if hes not ready then make sure you've mouthed and backed him properly then turn him away till winter - he will let you know if hes not ready!

 

[nobbster]

well i belive 3 buttt....................

people at my yard thinks its fine to lunge a 1 year old for 2 years and then at 18mths they completley break him in.

also when bitting up and lunging the horse chin HAS TO BE TOUCHING HIS NECK i think this is disgracfull

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