palo1
Well-Known Member
All of the above are valid points, I would just add that three is the age when the horse is also usually mentally ready to begin to absorb all that he has to learn, and still pliable enough to agree to do it cheerfully.
I think this is really valid and has also been the basis on which we have started young horses. When I have had young horses (under 3) for purchase vetted (very rarely actually but a couple of times) the attending vet has advised that backing and starting should be done gently at 3. We think that makes life easier for the horse actually as you can do a little at 3ish (after the 3rd birthday) with plenty of time to go slowly, turn away, bring back at 4 to do a little more and then by 5 you have enough in place educationally speaking to start 'working' the horse physically more consistently. Sometimes the slow way is the quick way! But obviously if you want to be selling horses that are competing etc at 4 in order to make a profit then you need to work faster and do more at an early age. I know which I prefer.