How Young is too Young to Start Breaking?

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YellowCaterpillar

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My sister and I will be joining a Mounted Games team in November, she already has a pony suited for the job but I didn't (I'm on the heavy side so tend to stay away from ponies) until last Sunday, when I bought myself a 14hh, 5 yo unbroken cob mare. She is extremely well handled, already mouthed/ used to the bridle and quiet as a lamb so my plan was to have her broken and riding by November. I have never done mounted games before so we will be learning together.
However, over the last week I started thinking that she was younger than 5, just little things I picked up on (don't get me wrong, she is an angel) and I put her around the 3 1/2 yo mark. Yesterday when the vet came up to sort out her passport, I asked him to check her teeth as I thought she might be younger than I was told and his first reaction was that she's about 2 1/2 years old. (He put her birth year down as 2011 though so does that make her 3?)
So basically, I'm not sure what this means for my original training plan as I don't really know how much growing she has left to do. I've put a link to a (really bad) picture at the end of the post to give you an idea and I'll try take some better ones this evening. But do you think she looks too young to start training? How much growing do you think she has left? and do you think it will be taller than the 15hh restriction for mounted games?
I'd really like to hear some different opinions on this! Thanks in advance!

https://31.media.tumblr.com/90ee352fecb538135cc6a164533b4fa7/tumblr_n924dqFKwI1s1fku4o1_500.jpg
 
Three is old enough to start backing, but I can't see her doing mounted games next year - if she was a late foal she'll only be just over three when the season starts, even if she is technically four. It's physically very demanding, so unfair on a youngster, I think
 
If she's not yet 3, she's too young to break, and if, as you say, you are heavy, you shouldn't really be breaking her until she's nearer 4 so she's as mature as possible before you ask her to carry you. Even if you break her at 3, it's going to be while before she is ready to do mounted games on - that's a pretty high energy sport, for which she will need to be fit and strong. Realistically, I can't see you being able to do what you want to do with her for another year at the very least.
 
well cobs grown until their 8.....so a bit more at least

It seems people (not you) are starting younger and younger, I would not back a horse until its 4, later if immature. That does not mean I will not do lots of ground work, lots of handling, trips out, walks up the road, shows. I would take it easy, light work or even just turn her away until spring, if she is 31/2 she will have another growth spurt drew towards the end of the summer. can see that my 5 year old is showing signs. ( He goes sticky in his hocks and gets a runny nose)
My advice for what it is worth, take it slow and let her grow. she sounds sweet, worth waiting for!
good luck
 
Oh no it wouldn't be full time kind of thing, the team that I'm joining only has training once or twice a month and as I'm a complete beginner to mounted games I don't think we'd be doing too much of the really physical side of it. I get where you're coming from though, I don't want to rush her in any way, in my opinion there is nothing worse than starting a horse too young.
 
swilliam said:
Three is old enough to start backing, but I can't see her doing mounted games next year - if she was a late foal she'll only be just over three when the season starts, even if she is technically four. It's physically very demanding, so unfair on a youngster, I think
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Really.....3 and a cob, Having just started one I do not think so, they are just not really ready until 4, no offence
 
Sukistokes2 said:
can see that my 5 year old is showing signs. ( He goes sticky in his hocks and gets a runny nose)
My advice for what it is worth, take it slow and let her grow. she sounds sweet, worth waiting for!
good luck
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I have never heard of a runny nose being a sign for a growth spurt?!
 
Bear in mind that cobs can continue to grow till they are 6years old. Also it may be the camera angle but she looks "bum high" to me - if so it would be a good idea to delay backing until she has evened up to aid balance. I'm having a similar problem with my boy at the moment - he was born 23rd April 2011 and is 15.3 at the front and 16.1 at the back (he's half Trad half welsh cob).
 
Firstly, what a beautiful little filly :)

Secondly, at 2 1/2, she is still just a filly. There's nothing wrong with introducing her to tack and starting a little light in hand work like walking in hand on little hack with your sister when she goes out as it will help get her used to all the sights and sounds, but too young to be backed and broken properly as her growth plates still have a few years left to do their work. She could well top 15hh, but you won't know until she's around 7 for sure as they can still have little growth spurts.

I would not look to be doing mounted games with any young horse until it had had a good year under saddle in normal work as the type of work in mounted games means a lot of stress on the joints, tendons and ligaments and if you are on the heavy side as well, that will only compound the issue. Same for backing. If you're on the heavy side, it would be worth having someone lighter back her and do the initial work to allow her back muscles to develop before she carries you. Nothing wrong with larger riders at all, but it does mean you have to think about how your weight affects the horse and youngsters shouldn't be asked to cope with more than they can physically deal with.

She is absolutely gorgeous and I hope you have a great year getting to know her better before you start enjoying her from the saddle :) xxx
 
There are two cobs at my livery yard who were started as 3 year olds (thought to be 4 at the time though) and they have turned out really nicely but as I'm not entirely sure which side of 3 she's on I think I'll just take it slow.
Mentally I know she could handle the training, she's incredibly smart and inquisitive, and she takes everything in her stride - doesn't bat an eyelid at anything new or 'scary'. But I don't want to put any physical strain on her so I might just continue with the groundwork for now! Thanks everyone!
 
YellowCaterpillar said:
There are two cobs at my livery yard who were started as 3 year olds (thought to be 4 at the time though) and they have turned out really nicely but as I'm not entirely sure which side of 3 she's on I think I'll just take it slow.
Mentally I know she could handle the training, she's incredibly smart and inquisitive, and she takes everything in her stride - doesn't bat an eyelid at anything new or 'scary'. But I don't want to put any physical strain on her so I might just continue with the groundwork for now! Thanks everyone!
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And with an attitude like that, she's not just beautiful, she's lucky to have landed on her feet with you as well xx
 
_GG_ said:
Firstly, what a beautiful little filly :)

Secondly, at 2 1/2, she is still just a filly. There's nothing wrong with introducing her to tack and starting a little light in hand work like walking in hand on little hack
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Thank you! :) she is a sweetheart!

I have been walking her out in hand down the lanes around my livery yard and she loves it! Ears pricked, eyes bright the whole time! It's her favourite part of the day :')
 
YellowCaterpillar said:
Thank you! :) she is a sweetheart!

I have been walking her out in hand down the lanes around my livery yard and she loves it! Ears pricked, eyes bright the whole time! It's her favourite part of the day :')
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Just lovely :)

Only one problem....we need more pictures.

Oh...and why not update us every now and then as well ;)
 
Personally as you are 5ft7 and 14st (by your own admission) I'd say (IMO) you are both too tall and too heavy to back this horse as a youngster. You were questioning being too tall and too heavy for a 15h1 Appaloosa, what makes you think a 14h1 welsh youngster is going to be any better for you?

What I would do (and have done myself as I got myself from 12st to 10st to back my 14h2 youngster) is use her growing up time to get yourself fit and healthy. Your current weight puts you above 20% of her weight (assuming she is 450kg)
 
Fides said:
Personally as you are 5ft7 and 14st (by your own admission) I'd say (IMO) you are both too tall and too heavy to back this horse as a youngster. You were questioning being too tall and too heavy for a 15h1 Appaloosa, what makes you think a 14h1 welsh youngster is going to be any better for you?

What I would do (and have done myself as I got myself from 12st to 10st to back my 14h2 youngster) is use her growing up time to get yourself fit and healthy. Your current weight puts you above 20% of her weight (assuming she is 450kg)
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I'm actually down to 12 stone 9 now but still heavier than I want to be, I'm aiming for 10 stone. And she's actually a 14hh Irish Cob at 420kg.

I also don't think 5ft7 is too tall for a 14hh cob?
 
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My NF x was backed at 4 years and 5 months then turned away until she was 5. She is only just now at almost 5 and a half looking like a pony and not a youngster, so has only done very light hacking. She will be starting some simple schooling end of this summer and then left again to mature until next spring.
 
YellowCaterpillar said:
I'm actually down to 12 stone 9 now but still heavier than I want to be, I'm aiming for 10 stone. And she's actually a 14hh Irish Cob at 420kg.
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Very well done on the weight loss.

It's about 35 years since I finshed my gymkhana career - I was never athletic enough and my pony was too atheletic - and I've never been interested enough to watch it since, but she doesn't strike me as the mounted games "type", which in my day were of the very fine/fast/turn on a sixpence type.

Agree with what someone else said about getting her used to tack, out and about, showing in hand etc - I'd love to see more photo's of her :)
 
In the nicest possible way you come across as someone who will do what you want to do or that those close to you tell you to do so I am not convinced that you will take on board a stranger's advice

FWIW backing is one thing but MG quite another. I would also point out that there is probably a rule about the minimum age of ponies taking part (as there is in most disciplines)
 
Not sure she's a mounted games type. Fab tho mine is, he's a similar type and just too square to be turning quickly enough in a tight area, although he's surprisingly agile. I got mine when he was five, more probably four and he's grown 3 inches from 14.2 to 15.1. He did that within a year of having him.
 
WelshD said:
In the nicest possible way you come across as someone who will do what you want to do or that those close to you tell you to do so I am not convinced that you will take on board a stranger's advice

FWIW backing is one thing but MG quite another. I would also point out that there is probably a rule about the minimum age of ponies taking part (as there is in most disciplines)
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That's fine, you're entitled to your opinion :) I have put the mounted games idea to bed for now, as I said in here somewhere, I'm just going to work on groundwork for now.
 
Find a good instructor to teach you to long rein. You can clock up more miles than leading, teach her to be forward and not rely on you always being at her head and shed your unwanted pounds at the same time.
 
Chunkie said:
she doesn't strike me as the mounted games "type", which in my day were of the very fine/fast/turn on a sixpence
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Firstly, thank you for the compliments!

She is actually surprisingly fast and agile (her favourite passtime is chasing rabbits in the paddock :p ) but I guess I will have to wait until I ride her to find out!
 
YellowCaterpillar said:
I'm actually down to 12 stone 9 now but still heavier than I want to be, I'm aiming for 10 stone. And she's actually a 14hh Irish Cob at 420kg.

I also don't think 5ft7 is too tall for a 14hh cob?
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It might not be too tall (in your opinion) but it is too heavy for an unmuscled youngster. It still puts you at the top end of the maximum a horse should be expected to carry. Most people feel it is kinder for a horse to aim below 15% (so you're talking 10st). Just because they can carry you doesn't mean they should have to... And when you factor in the fast turns needed for mounted games it puts even more strain on the joints/spine.

Just because they can, doesn't mean the should :(
 
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