ideal age to break a horse in you thoughts

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kayclover

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ideal age to break a horse in you thoughts as i have always been told that the ages is 4yr old but when i was looking on the net at horses there was a 1yr 4months that had been broken in .
 
Completely depends on the horse. I backed my 3yo last year, who was physically and mentally ready. I have jus backed a 4yo that definately would not have been ready a year ago. I have a 2yo at the moment who we have no intention of backing until she is at least 4yo as she is just not physcailly mature enough.

Thoroughbreds are backed at the end of their yearling years, although are ridden in minimal tack, by very light jockeys, in a straight line - riding a horse in a small school, forced into an outline by a 12 stone rider is a bit different. In Germany I frequently saw 2yo WB's backed ready for sales as 3yo's. A lot go on to suffer joint and muscular damage.

Every horse should be treated as an individual - there is no standard right or wrong time to back a horse, it is relative to the horse in question.
 
zoeshiloh said:
Completely depends on the horse. I backed my 3yo last year, who was physically and mentally ready. I have jus backed a 4yo that definately would not have been ready a year ago. I have a 2yo at the moment who we have no intention of backing until she is at least 4yo as she is just not physcailly mature enough.

Every horse should be treated as an individual - there is no standard right or wrong time to back a horse, it is relative to the horse in question.
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Totally agree with this.

I think alot of horses are broken too early.

Personally I wouldn't want to start on anything younger than 3. At 3 you can back and lightly (very lightly) school then let them off and turn them away to think about it and grow. bring them back at four and start then. I know some horses that simply can't cope with it until they are at least 5 but some who have been itching to get on at 2.

There are lots of things you can do to help a youngsters education without riding it before your break them in.

I have always thought that is a horrid phrase, break in a horse...
 
Well there's backing and then what people call breaking in (ridden work), also the breed and the individual horse will make a difference.

Some people like to back what would be a large horse earlier on then leave them be for 6 months or even a year before they do anything further, a horse doesn't forget once it's been backed.

Some horses are broken in then turned away, again this varies, can be a few months or up to year.

Larger big boned horses develop quite slowly so you wouldn't want them doing too much too soon, people hark on a bit too much about their backs but it's actually the whole skeleton and particually the legs that will take the strain, so depending on the work asked and how often, where as others you might not touch till there 5 or 6 or even 7, you have to consider how mature they are mentally as well.

I don't see a problem with a horse being backed coming u to 4, leaving until they have matured for 6 month, then being prepped (lunged/long reined) then broken in, lightly worked for a while or turned away afterwards for say another 6 months.

Obviously the racing industry break then in sooner, but there not expected to work the same as a 'riding horse'.

I would stay clear of anything that is advertised as broken in at 1yr 4 months though for sure! obviously some peoples views of being broken in is different to others, just because you can perch a kiddy on their backs doesn't mean they are broken in to ride and for example you can go to some horse sales and see people riding 2 year olds about, so I can see how it could confuse people but it's really down to good old common sense and who you are buying from.
 
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I did alot of ground work, when my pony was 3, then backed and kept every thing short and simple, then turned away over the winter and picked up again in spring. I'm still not rushing things though, I don't see much point. I would rather do things slowly and get things right. So far so good, apart from transitions from trot to canter. But we are getting there.
 
Around their 4th year as a rule. This can be towards the end of their 3yr old year, turned away then back in their 4yr old year, or start from scratch at 4 :)
 
I'm in the 'later the better' camp although I agree some breeds mature earlier but if you want to avoid massive vets bills and saggy horses with bad joints in the future, leave them be till 4 or even 5!
 
LIKE!:)

Kenzo said:
Well there's backing and then what people call breaking in (ridden work), also the breed and the individual horse will make a difference.

Some people like to back what would be a large horse earlier on then leave them be for 6 months or even a year before they do anything further, a horse doesn't forget once it's been backed.

Some horses are broken in then turned away, again this varies, can be a few months or up to year.

Larger big boned horses develop quite slowly so you wouldn't want them doing too much too soon, people hark on a bit too much about their backs but it's actually the whole skeleton and particually the legs that will take the strain, so depending on the work asked and how often, where as others you might not touch till there 5 or 6 or even 7, you have to consider how mature they are mentally as well.

I don't see a problem with a horse being backed coming u to 4, leaving until they have matured for 6 month, then being prepped (lunged/long reined) then broken in, lightly worked for a while or turned away afterwards for say another 6 months.

Obviously the racing industry break then in sooner, but there not expected to work the same as a 'riding horse'.

I would stay clear of anything that is advertised as broken in at 1yr 4 months though for sure! obviously some peoples views of being broken in is different to others, just because you can perch a kiddy on their backs doesn't mean they are broken in to ride and for example you can go to some horse sales and see people riding 2 year olds about, so I can see how it could confuse people but it's really down to good old common sense and who you are buying from.
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