I sat on my 2.5 yr old *piccies*

Kallibear

Kallibear

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And he was very good boy
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Little Pipsqueak isn't so little anymore (well, he's still only 14.1hh, but bigger than he was) and for the first time ever I looked at him and thought - "he's big enough for me to ride now". So I did. Well, sat on him
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He's had saddles on like thus:
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And used to carrying his own dinner when we walked over to a friends yard for vacs etc
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And is well used to me standing on a big block to groom him, and having me lean on him etc.

So, as I had a friend up to help, I swung my leg over and shuffled on. Luckily he's still small enough to be able to swing a leg over whilst still standing on the block with the other foot (yey for small horses and long legs).

Not in the slightest bit bothered - just one of those odd things humans do to him.
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Practised a couple of times, getting on and off with my friend holding him, before giving him his dinner so we could take a picture

Too busy stuffing his face to even notice
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And big hugs for a good boy. And a carrot.
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I love easy horses. I've had so many quirky or difficult horses that it's lovely to have something that just behaves.

DISCLAIMER!!!!! Before anyone shoots me down in flames - he's 2.5 and he's been sat on, which he found enteraining as it produced apples and carrots. And that's it. He's not going to be ridden for another year at least, probably more like 18months.
 
I broke my younsger in at 2.5 years as she was getting very big and opinionated, i then gave her 6 months off to grown into herself.
It caused her no probs, and now she is just coming back into work and she is completely laid back about it all
 
Ahh nice youngster! I backed my horse when he was 3 and he is now turned away for the winter. I have umpteen people telling me I should be riding him now, but I know him and it's my decision - one that I haven't come to lightly.
Good luck for next year!
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What a fab ned and he's so lucky to have such a sensible owner. Love the dinner carrying! Sunny would have turned himself inside out and upside down to reach it while it was on his back! Give him a hug from me - he's gonna be a good 'un x
 
He looks lovely
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I would be rather pleased too
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He also looks completely unfazed!

I also sat on mine around the same age, well a little earlier at 2yrs. He's a big strong NH TB. Did it out in the field, got dad to give me a leg up. He just stood there as quiet as baby!
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Backed him under saddle at 3 and now he's turned away so I see no problem with it, you know that horse as well as anyone
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Thanks, he is lovely.
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I am of course bias but he's the cutest little man in the whole wide world.
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He's also the filithiest - those pictures are after an hours grooming! He's everything I wanted when looking to buy a youngster, except the height
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- he's meant to make 15hh but he's standing just 14.1, if that, at present. Better hurry up and grow so more!

dingle12 - don't worry - he was intially held by friend (who did have a hat on;) ). He was only tied back up again so she could take a photo.

There's def no rush to get his properly backed - he still looks really babyish- he's very immature for his age. I have another horse to ride and concentrate on so currently he's standing in a field playing with his friends and living the life of reily. Depending on how he's looking, maturity wise, he might be properly backed and have a walk around on him next summer, before being turned away. If not it can wait until he's 4.

BOF - yep, he did the rummaging too but they were just the wrong place to get a good hold off and pull. He has his dinner bowl tied to the other side to balance up- that really upset him
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This thread has got a whiff of 'The Emporers New Clothes' about it. Yes he is a lovely pony, and I'm sure he's a very good boy, but am I the only one who's heart sank looking at the photo of you on him?

Even if you don't sit on him again for another couple of years it sets a really bad example to anyone else with a youngster of that age, with less knowledge than you, who might think it's perfectly OK to sit on the back of a 2 and a half year old horse or pony. He looks mature enough to carry the weight of a saddle and a rider, but he's not, he's a baby. I know you know this because you wrote a disclaimer. I'm not writing this to be nasty, it just saddens me to read that nobody else seems to see how wrong it is.
 
Chestnuttymare - We're still at EC - That pictures were taken the morning we moved. I knew once we'd moved that he'll be doing nothing more until next spring at the earliest, as I have Toby to concentrate on. Are you there too? That looks like Molly in your siggy.

I appreciate that there are those who don't think horses should be broken until they're 3-4yrs old. I believe the same. However I don't see sitting on a horse as breaking it. It's just one of those many things we teach young horses - "people sit on you. Big deal. Same as you have to wear a rug, walk beside me politely and pick your feet up when asked.". Yes, he is still most definitely a baby and hence why he won't be doing any work for a good year at least.

I don't see why I should be having to "set a good example"? If others are stupid enough to go and break their babys properly at 2.5 yrs old I don't see why or how I should be stopping them by what I do? If they're of that mentality I doubt I'd be able to stop them anyways!

My disclaimer was because I'm aware that many people feel that sitting on them automatically leads to riding them. Only if you lack will power! I have no desire (well, I do, I think he'll be brillaint fun and will be impatient until he's 4) to get on and start riding him now or any time soon.
 
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