is it to late or just right 4 yr old

[jollyponies]

ok so i have had my kids pony since he was 11months old, he is now 4 and will be 5 in aug 08, he has been lunged longreined, popped over jumps on the lunged, and has taken the children for pony rides around the field and is ok with everything..

i want to send him away this spring coming..
have i left him to long or do you think this is a good time to break him in as he has had time to mature

 

[Daisychain]

Perfect! just crack on anytime.

 

[jollyponies]

thank you i was thinking i may have left him to long..

 

[Murphy3]

Sounds like you have a lovely pony and you're half way there already!

 

[spitchwick]

I never break my youngsters properly till their 4-5, I agree that you're doing the right thing.

 

[magic104]

I have just posted a quote on another thread from a Dr Deb Bennett who quotes "No horse on earth, of any breed, is or has ever been matue before around six years of age" She is an Equine biomechanics expert. Further to that she says some breeds such as the QH have been bred in such a manner as to look mature long before their growth plates have fused. So that blows the theory out the water for starting them at 2ys! So it would seem you are spot on.

 

[vhf]

Over the years I have started a feral 6yo, a pet 7yo TB(!) and various other supposed "late starters". In nearly every case I got the feeling the extra age helped, and in no case have I found it hindered...
History was far more important - and as the feral one showed, no handling is better than wrong handling! So yours with correct starting and a sensible age should find it a breeze. Enjoy!

 

[isabella]

i broke in a 6yo that was pysically but not mentally mature and i dont think he ever will be bless him ( one sandwich short of a picnic lol

) and a friend of mine has been working on her arab for 2 years (doing ground work) because she just seemed to fight everything, one day my mate just thought blow it im getting on and the next thing she knew the little mare was hacking out like she had been doing it all her life and she was 12 when she was eventually sat on.

i personally think you are spot on and hope that you have a craking little pony at the end of it (he sounds like he will be)

 

[Seahorse]

I know of a broodmare that was broken in at the age of 16! She was an absolute star!