Is 3 too young to go in a horse walker?

Spit That Out

Spit That Out

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I've been told i can't turn out due to our field being trashed by another horse...see my last thread to save you all getting bored and reading the same thing twice!!!

Anyway the YO has said he'll put my horse on the walker for half an hour for me while im at work for nothing (Normally charges £3.50 for 20 mins!!) as i can't use the field.

However my horse is turning 3 and has never been on the walker.

He'll only be walking, there will be 2 other horses on there with him but i'm not sure if i should use this service due to his age.

This might sound blonde but, I know it's different to lunging but i wouldn't do that at his age so i'm not sure how going around in a circle for half an hour (15 mins on both sides) is any different.

The YM and YO will be there so i know if anything happens there is someone to stop the walker etc so i'm not to worried about not being there but it's the whole going in a circle thing.

Sorry if this sounds stupid...:o
 
Thanks.

He's quite sensible for his age and even after being in for 5 days he's not being silly on his walks around the yard but i was wondering about the walker.
 
We put our Sec B stallion on at the end of last year but he was already three earlier in the spring, he goes on now for 20 mins about twice a week to tone him for backing, hes fine with it even on his own as he can see others in the fields.
 
i worked at a TB rehab / training yard over my gap year.
All the 2 year old breakers went on the walker every day, no problem. The youngsters just try to turn around more when taking other horses on and off the walker.
If i had a youngster, Id prefer it to get as much exercise as possible.
 
I wouldnt be too worried about his age especially if its a short term thing. What I would be quite fussy about is making sure he is happy about the walker, especially turning around, so I would want to be there for the first couple of goes
On the whole they adapt very quickly, but you do get the odd one who keeps reversing and not working out how to face the other way!
 
would say he will be fine. mine went on the walker the winter between 2 and 3 as they have snow there for 2 months so cant get out. they only walk and would porb do more damage hooning around the field.
 
I worked in racing and we had yearlings and 2year olds on there (trainers instructions). However they all got on a coped really well. They got used to it stopping and starting we had a couple that would walk backwards then they figured out how to turn around. They did around 5 - 10mins trotting on there too
If it was mine i would just to get them out and moving
 
'Tis like anything depends on the horse, youngsters on our yard go on no problem including yearlings so no problem at three, gotta be better than basically box rest :)
 
Is 3 too young to go in a horse walker?

Yes.

This study contains charts which show the uneven development of the feet in young horses put on a horse walker compared to light exercise. (and other forms of exercise that we aren't concerned with). There is a VERY big difference in the uneveness of development in the horses on horse walker exercise.

http://jap.physiology.org/content/102/6/2194.full
 
Well it is routinely done to TB's and TBH I would prefer my horse to go on the walker than be stood in his box. At three years old then it should be no problem. And FYI most professional yards outside of racing (i.e. dressage and showjumping) would have no problems in putting anything over 2 years old on the walker.
 
No, not a chance. Accidents can and do happen.

Also, i dont agree with young horses on a continuous circle. Bad for the joints.

ETA: All the people suggesting she move yards.. Its not that easy just to 'find another yard' i know from personal experience. Flippant comments like that are unhelpful and did not answer the OP's original question. Most good horse owners know babies need to be out and not stood in, but the reality of it is that it is not ALWAYS an option, things like this happen and sometimes it just cant be helped. If we could all just move yards to somewhere with 24/7 turnout, wouldnt the world be a better place.
x
 
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Its going to be an ongoing problem. If everyone insisted on daily turnout for at least 3-4hours shabby yards would stop trying to get away with 'in when its wet' rules.
The horse didn't ask to be owned, its up to the owner to do right by the horse, if that means a longer drive to see them so be it! It's a youngster so turnout at a local stud with their youngsters is the best solution often in these cases
 
GeeUp&Go said:
If i had a youngster, Id prefer it to get as much exercise as possible.
Click to expand...

Really?!

Turnout, yes, but surely not exercise. :confused:

Too much, too young ruins so many poor horses' legs and joints :( I absolutely would not want a horse of mine that age walking continuous circles.
 
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