Is H&H condoning this? This is not a racehorse!

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Personally I think the spring they turn 4 is fine, or perhaps the autumn before lightly & turn away. But, that's more for mental development than physical. However I don't see why h&h shouldn't run the ad. Even taking racehorses out of it, how do you think comp prospect horses are prepared for 4yr old classes? They aren't backed the week before them, I don't see any difference really. I actually find horses doing high level dressage at a young age far more worrying. I'd put money on the fact racing a 2yr old tb does less long term damage than a 6/7yr old who's done 2/3yrs of intensive schooling to be able to compete at a high level bd. Not saying I think the adverts fine, but if I wanted to trawl for ads that I found offensive or wrong, I bet there's worse just in h&h alone, or at least what I think is worse.
 
Nugget La Poneh said:
Apparently this horse is 3 years old - working at Novice. That, in my view, is not healthy or condusive to a long working life.
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Very good point. Do people find that kind of image (a fairly common one) more acceptable because it looks more professional?

NB You will have to go back to the original post on page 6 to be able to view that link.
 
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......... the same way a human will be lucky to not have any arthritis by the age of 40 or 50.........


Huh....I wonder how old you are...what a totally ridiculous thing to say....
 
i read to page four and didnt want to carry on but wil after i post.....people need to stop comparing this pony to a race horse. racehorses are bred in such away they are almost physically mature to do the work they do please do ur research and speak tontraininers. i have a race horse he was raced u till 5 hes not 8 and seems fine. yes itsa shame if this pony had been broken befre its 3 but all i can say is i hope it finds an owner that will do little with it for a year then reback....
 
Sidney said:
In Ireland I believe they hunt 3yr olds - the pony looks physically mature enough to me....not ideal but certainly not a cruelty case imo.
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Doesn't look at all mature to me, and in any event, even if she had a lot more condition, her growth plates would be a long way from being closed at that age. She might be a sweetheart but she is unlikely to have a long and useful career as a riding horse IMO
 
My horse was hunted in Ireland as a 3 year old. Then was a whips horse as a 4 year old here. He didn't stand up to the work. He was 16.1 when I got him at 5 and ended up being 16.3 by 7. I don't think he was physically mature enough for the work he was doing. He is now 9 and has DJD of the hocks. Perhaps he would have got this anyway but I can't help but think his early life contributed to it. Mentally it made him a fantastic horse, but physically it took its toll.
 
muff747 said:
This is so depressing if this commonplace. It's rising three and done schooling including cantering - and shod in front:eek:
No wonder there are so many horses and ponies with health problems before they're 10 years old:confused::mad:
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Try saying that to some of the dressage yards where they're priming for gradings and age competitions. Backing is one thing but intensive schooling is another thing completely.
 
To all you sad people taking it upon yourselves to comment on this advert! I am the person on the pony I am not the owner but I am the same yard! This pony has been broken recently and is hacking out without problems this has been as she is very keen and enjoys her work greatly! Under no circumstances has she ever been pushed or been made to do anything! Incase you have misread she has been walk trotted and cantered of her own accord out hacking and is taken in the school in the company of other horses to get her used to it! She has not bee. Pushed at all and is loved and looked after better than most horses! I am saddened by someone taking it upon them selves to post this with not even questioning the peeler! It's people like you that cause trouble in an otherwise nice world to be in! I turkey think you are pathetic and obviously have no understanding of horses! I have broken many horses and successfully show jump yet never push my horses to do anything they can't! You really need to grow up and think about what you are posting! For anyone that does care this pony has now been sold to a lovely family that are hoping to do lots with this pony eventually and are going to give her a winderful life much like she has had already! My own horse was hunted as a 3/4 year old bit by me but by the breeder so for this pony to be out enjoying herself is called life! All these show jumpers competing in 4 year old classes and 4 year old event horses were not broken at 3.5 years ( broken much earlier) and I don't see you going off to big show jumping yards complaining about that! You really need to get your facts right before posting this and I will take this further as I feel you have done an injustice to this beautiful pony! The reason she has very light weight aluminium shoes on is at the advise of a very respected farrier which the owner trust implicitly do please keep your opinions to yourself in future and of you have any other issues please contact me!
 
muff747 said:
No I'm not going to withdraw from the site, that sounds a little like you don't like my views so I should leave - and I am certainly not condoning the pony being broken in and shod at such a young age.
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Let's break it down - CPT is saying that the people who advertised that pony, like all advertisers, are paying for *you* to use this forum for free, and that by using the forum, you are saying that you are fine with that.
 
Can I also point out for anyone that can't read that this advert does not say she has been walked, trotted or cantered in the school so please read first! She has been walked and sat on and walked over poles in the school so please get your facts right!!!!
 
JillA said:
Doesn't look at all mature to me, and in any event, even if she had a lot more condition, her growth plates would be a long way from being closed at that age. She might be a sweetheart but she is unlikely to have a long and useful career as a riding horse IMO
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Yay - /\/\/\ this - we are on the same wavelength here ;)
 
ladybug15 if you don't know the potential problems you are storing up in later life by starting ridden work so young, you maybe need to do some research. Horses ridden before the growth plates in their joints have closed and set are likely to damage those joints if they are subject to weight bearing exercise of any kind too young. They might be super horses for a few years, and I'm sure you are very kind and considerate to them but I very much doubt they will be useful sound horses into their teens. Racehorses start young but most are retired to stud before they reach their teens.
 
There is no legal age that a horse or pony has to be before its backed.
Whilst I wouldn't want to see anything under 3 backed, it happens.
And those banging on about racehorses....they grow and mature MUCH faster than many other breeds, and those in training are looked after FAR better than anything you will ever see on DD.
 
ladybug15 said:
Can I also point out for anyone that can't read that this advert does not say she has been walked, trotted or cantered in the school so please read first! She has been walked and sat on and walked over poles in the school so please get your facts right!!!!
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Ok Ladybug, I'm not saying this pony has been made to do anything it didn't want to, I'm not saying you have whipped it and driven it into the ground.
IMHO, horses/ponies of that age are still growing, their bones are soft, their hooves trying to grow to keep up with the extra weight it will carry so I wouldn't want to risk damaging a young body or hooves.
The fact that it goes on all over the world even in professional yards does not change my opinion nor the fact that you have always done this and have hunted your horse at a young age.
The facts are there are thousands and thousands of horses and ponies that are suffering from arthritis and navicular, back problems, tendon and ligaments strains because of being put under too much pressure at too young an age.
This is my opinion - like it or not - just as you have the opposite opinion, and I choose to not like it ;) I can let people know my feelings about this and you have put your side forward so people can and will decide for themselves if they agree with you or with me - or are not bothered either way. This is free speech and I haven't said anything with which you could "take further".
And I am grown up and possibly old enough to be your grandma:D so maybe you need to do a little more growing so you don't get so wound up that you need "to take it further" :rolleyes:
O and BTW I never buy the magazine so don't see the ads normally but IMO I would have thought H&H wouldn't want to have the same dubious reputation as DD obviously has :confused:
 
Sorry ladybug but I agree wholeheartedly with MUFF747 it is very difficult to agree with even sitting on a horse younger than a minimum of 3 preferably 4 no matter how you wrap it up it is cruel and will impinge on the pony's welfare at some stage in its life.
I always have bred or bought weanlings for my horses brought them up well passed their third and in some cases their fourth birthday before doing much but instill a few ground manners and so far all have stayed sound into old age. I could maybe forgive this if that pony was rising 4 or in much better condition but it is poor, immature and doesnt have either the muscle or skeleton to be ridden.
 
Sorry Spring feather I did look but from the photos I probably wouldnt have started either but then again you cant really tell from a picture. The chestnut looks very like my yearling welsh did at about 18 months of age and the dark one a bit older but as I say it is very hard from the photos
Both are in lovely condition and are approaching maturity I would guess at but again limited by the fact they are photos with no other information
 
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windand rain said:
Sorry Spring feather I did look but from the photos I probably wouldnt have started either but then again you cant really tell from a picture. The chestnut looks very like my yearling welsh did at about 18 months of age and the dark one a bit older but as I say it is very hard from the photos
Both are in lovely condition and are approaching maturity I would guess at but again limited by the fact they are photos with no other information
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Thank you WaR :)

I don't want to say too much but the chestnut is a Quarter Horse (old working stock lines). He sticked at 15.1hh in the picture. The black is an American Paint (again working stock) and he sticked at 15.3hh in the picture. There is 2 and a half years age difference between them.
 
Sadly the majority of horses that go to the abattoir are ex racing injured and failed racehorses so very few actually go anywhere but for fertiliser or dog food
 
Well for those of you who don't know what dragon driving is, I will briefly explain. Without trying to offend anyone it is a site that advertises all manner if things equestrian for sale, however it is usually well used among the 'cheaper' :confused: end of the horsey owner/breeders and you will find various equines on there ywhich will probably have been round the world and back with a rider or cart before they're 3.
 
Spring Feather said:
Muff I'm disappointed you (or anyone else) didn't play my game :( :)
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I'll play, for FUN. :D

Neither. Not enough information. :D

The ?quarter horse in the first pic looks very well muscled and mature but I suspect he is only young 2ish.
The (lovely to me btw) lighter horse does look mature-ish and is wearing a saddle but I can't tell whether he is ready from a photo alone. I suspect the saddle might be a ploy to confuse. ;)

I don't believe you can tell purely by looks and muscle development myself, you have to know age and the horse in question as an individual surely.
 
amandap said:
I don't believe you can tell purely by looks and muscle development myself, you have to know age and the horse in question as an individual surely.
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I totally agree. Which was sort of my point in posting my piccies. That's why I think it might be rather unfair to judge the seller of the pony. We only saw two (not very good) pictures of the pony and a very rough information pack :)
 
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