is she too young to begin riding?

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mizzdiz

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i have a 2 year old welsh d filly. how do i know if she is ready to be ridden? is she too young for me to start backing her and riding in just walk in straight lines?? i have been sitting on her while she is standing and she has never bothered about it. she is basically good in all ways i can long line her in straight lines and she is fantastic to lead anywhere. shes good to load, pick out and trim hooves and can be brushed all over and when i sit on her she feels strong and her back does not dip and there are no signs of discomfort for her when i am on her. But i am worried that i am doing to much too soon, should i turn her away and let her be a horse before i break her? or should i start now?
 
I would advise to back her when shes 3y.o.
Howveer im no expert on this so better off with some more advice
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Personally I would leave it especially with a native and let her mature. very different thing to back and turn away or to break and bring into work. Be patient I reckon it will be worth it as she sounds a nice sort.
 
Too young,back her at 3 tbh if someones going to have a youngster i would presume it would be basic knowledge you dont back a horse before 3yrs old.
 
Sitting on her as a precurser now every now and then probs wont do her any harm but section D's are one of those breeds who don't really finish growing/filling out until 5-6 so I wouldn't truly back until 3 at least but it doesn't mean you can't do other things with her
 
Aaargh, what is going on? What is this trend to start riding 2 year olds? Please don't do it, she is far too young. Even though you can't feel her back dip, or she's in any discomfort when you sit on her, and she seems mature, don't imagine that it's doing her no harm. She hasn't finished growing and building up the muscles she needs to support a rider yet. You can do all sorts of other stuff with her in the meantime, more groundwork, or even just turn her away to play, but PLEASE don't ride her.
 
Turn her away. Welshies are a slow maturing breed and not fully grown until 6 or 7 years of age, I bought mine as an unbroken 5yo. I couldn't believe my luck in finding something with such low milage, i would never consider buying a horse that had been broken at 2 years old. The damage won't be apparent now, but will show down the line at 10 - 11 years old.
Why is it such a rush these days to get ponies going??? I have a mare that i have had since she was six months old, she is now 4 and I am yet to break her in.
And don't even get me started on the new showing classes for 3 year olds
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The growth plates in her joints will not be matured as a 2yr old. If you ride her know, you will risk doing damage to those and end up with a horse prone to problems later in life. Just get her used to everything else, tack, traffic, trailers, water, dogs and generally being out and about but leave the weight off her back until she is old enough. Sure, they break and race TBs at 2, but look at how many don't make it to 3.
 
christ! what on earth happened to breaking in horses at 4. we leave ours untill 4/5. do lots of ground work with her but i personally wouldn't 'back' untill 4- with any horse.
 
Too early. Next year at the earliest you could very lightly back her, but nothing serious. section D's do not mature physically until 6/7 years of age.
 
im new to this site, can you tell me what you mean by the post does not add up? as it sems pretty straight forward to me all she is asking for is advice not abuse
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christ! what on earth happened to breaking in horses at 4. we leave ours untill 4/5. do lots of ground work with her but i personally wouldn't 'back' untill 4- with any horse.

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Don't know if your post is just QR or if its aimed at me ...but I'll answer anyways .
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My now 3 year old is standing 16.2 and a half ...so heading for 16.3hh , Shes very mature mentally and physically .
She was lightly backed ...ie a sit and walk around november of last year .

She was then properly backed just after she turned 3 in march , Shes now walking and trotting and has tried a canter .

Its all been very slow and shes going at her pace . Shes a very well behaved young lady , but can be quite headstrong
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Her size and my size just don't add up
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sorry, no i meant the op. she said in a previous post (just checked when someone said nit didn't add up) that the filly in question is rising 2. personally i think that's too young. however like you say-it varies from horse to horse, some are more mature mentally and physically at 2/3 then others.
 
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im new to this site, can you tell me what you mean by the post does not add up? as it sems pretty straight forward to me all she is asking for is advice not abuse
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She seems to have had the horse for 12 weeks and asking for worming advice and then posted 2 days later about going to buy her????? Just seemed a bit odd, and not abuse.

Mmmm, sillyfilly, I'm thinking you are not so new to the forum.....
 
Far far too young. Dont start too soon - you wouldnt sent a 10 year old to do a mans job- I learnt the hard way. Would not break in a horse until rising 4 now.....
 
agree with all the above take your time am not against throwing a leg over and sitting on a large 3yo to give them the idea before they get too big and stroppy but would leave actually backing til late 3yo early 4yo
 
Lol well despite the fact you sort of brought it to light earlier
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I think in your signature you should write "chief troll spotter!" tehe.

im not sure any more about cazzie, but sillyfilly and pirate..w.e it was definitly are :P
 
Far too young. Have some fun showing her in hand for the next 2 seasons and back lightly in the autumn in which she is 3 (so 3.5yrs) or in the spring when she is 4 - then turn away to think about it all and mature a bit more. A year or two's waiting now will add many years of useful life at the other end.
 
you can start playing with her now like putting take on taking her for works in hand long reining but personally i would not get on top until she is at least 3yrs!
 
lol cazzie123 is my nan! but she was asking about my filly for me, i havent got a clue what you are going on about the worming and only having her for 12 weeks because ive had her a year and a half since she was 6 mnths old!?!?!? and was just asking for advice i have a 4 year old as well who isnt broken and i have experience with youngsters but my welsh just seemed more willing to do everything, but thanks for the posts and i am more than happy to wait until she is 4 before i back her so that i dont do her any damage, shes a lovely girl, one more question tho... at the moment she is standing at about 14h2, i dont know much about welsh ds how big do you think she will make? thanks everyone
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