Keeping a weak three year old amused

ycbm

ycbm

Overwhelmed
Joined
30 January 2015
Messages
61,638
Visit site
My three year old is backed and loves being worked, but he really isn't up to more than a few minutes ridden at a time and I am only riding him to stop myself becoming nervous of getting on him by leaving it too long between sessions.

So what do you knowledgeable people suggest I do with him to satisfy his desire to be 'doing something' every day?

I don't like lunging in circles, and I really don't have enough energy to ride my fatty , walk with my OH, and then spend more time long reining the baby over any sort of distance. So suggestions for low energy input from me that will amuse us both would be very welcome.
 
I walk mine (who I'm in a similar situation with) with my OH - we load her up and drive 5 mins to a quiet part of the forest and then go for a little walk. She likes just getting out and about a bit.

Other than that, a bit of ground work in the school - she doesn't have the best mouth naturally so a bit of flexing and straightness work should hopefully help a bit when I'm doing more on board with her.

And maybe clicker training if you want to try something a bit different
 
I did a lot of in hand walking with one of my Arabs when he was 3 I just did about 15 to 20 minutes on a short hacking loop through woods or round some of the farm tracks, his an amazing horse to hack now his so bold and will basically go anywhere on his own and always has, if you have dogs you can take them with you and it gets 2 jobs done and he will get used to them running around even twice a week will really make a difference.
 
Ride and lead, walking out minus rider weight is about the only thing I’d want to be doing early in the year with a 3yo.
Personally, he’d be in the field with his mates if he were mine, but he’s not
 
ihatework said:
Ride and lead, walking out minus rider weight is about the only thing I’d want to be doing early in the year with a 3yo.
Personally, he’d be in the field with his mates if he were mine, but he’s not
Click to expand...

Ride and lead is too dangerous on my roads I'm afraid.

I thought I made it pretty clear in my post that this horse really wants to do stuff with me? He's happier for the other twenty three and a half hours a day if I spend time with him for half an hour. His confidence and general demeanor changed markedly as soon as he was brought into 'work'. Other people on my other threads have said similar things about their appys.
 
Last edited:
DabDab said:
I walk mine (who I'm in a similar situation with) with my OH - we load her up and drive 5 mins to a quiet part of the forest and then go for a little walk. She likes just getting out and about a bit.

Other than that, a bit of ground work in the school - she doesn't have the best mouth naturally so a bit of flexing and straightness work should hopefully help a bit when I'm doing more on board with her.

And maybe clicker training if you want to try something a bit different
Click to expand...

Thank DD.
 
I would suggest some Horse Agility type training, or Linda Tellington-Jones type things. S bend, stepping over poles, over tarpaulin, wooden bridge, bending poles.
 
Orangehorse said:
I would suggest some Horse Agility type training, or Linda Tellington-Jones type things. S bend, stepping over poles, over tarpaulin, wooden bridge, bending poles.
Click to expand...

Ah, yes, get the poles out. I must do that. He's already doing a tarpaulin because I had some rubber delivered and he walks happily over the big white bags it comes in.
 
How about training for flying gazebo's?

I set up washing lines and "handy pony" courses for mine, including umbrellas etc I'm also very lucky to have the forest to take mine out for walks.
 
Horse agility ... Squeezing through gaps, under flapping things, up and down stairs, forwards and backwards over logs, etc etc etc ... Lots of ideas on Youtube. It's not just about spook busting but about proprioception (super important for a weak baby), confidence, and bonding. Can do it in hand, on long reins, or at liberty. We have a weak 3.5yo on the yard currently, not yet backed as he is a bit small, who loooooves his agility. Mostly in walk with careful measured steps he is now entirely off lead and confidently facing new obstacles, *thinking* about how to get through/under/over, and then going for it.
 
MissTyc said:
Horse agility ... Squeezing through gaps, under flapping things, up and down stairs, forwards and backwards over logs, etc etc etc ... Lots of ideas on Youtube. It's not just about spook busting but about proprioception (super important for a weak baby), confidence, and bonding. Can do it in hand, on long reins, or at liberty. We have a weak 3.5yo on the yard currently, not yet backed as he is a bit small, who loooooves his agility. Mostly in walk with careful measured steps he is now entirely off lead and confidently facing new obstacles, *thinking* about how to get through/under/over, and then going for it.
Click to expand...

I never even knew that was a thing! I think he'd be great at it. He went for an explore the other day and walked around a short path around a small building we have here, found it went nowhere, and I had to tell him NOT to step off the five foot drop onto a concrete pad, as he boldly eyed it up.
 
Second the agility type things - great fun and can be done in very short sessions. Also, loading and going somewhere nice for a picnic, walk on the beach if you have that near and the time to do that etc. It can also be fun to do some silly games together (2 of our youngsters enjoyed playing with a giant ball with us...they grew out of it but loved it when they were 2-3 y/o) Hard on the ball but hilarious fun!! As we have children our youngsters also had bicycle, football, skipping and other 'desensitisation' - though not structured as such...! Carrot stretches, massages...Enjoy his busy brain :)
 
Keith_Beef said:
Squeezing through electric fences?
Click to expand...

:EEK: Preferably not!

Was thinking more like barrels; things that touch their sides, etc :p ... Having squished my otherwise spooky mare through an unavoidable stupidly tight gap between two lorries on a showground recently I was glad we'd done the practice as she danced up towards the gap, turned into serious mode, squeezed through v carefully, then continued dancing afterwards lol.
 
Keith_Beef said:
Squeezing through electric fences?
Click to expand...

Don't go there! :D

I watched some Youtube videos of Freispringen a while ago. I've no idea, though, if three years old is too young for that.
Click to expand...

I don't believe in jumping three year olds at all, Keith. Repetitive jumping is an unnatural activity for a horse, genetically designed for flat plains, and three is too young, imo.
 
Definitely poles (with or without squirrels and flying gazebos). Odd distances, ask to stop between them, back up over them, traverse sideways across one etc. Can be in-hand or on board.

Rather liking the sound of agility training and wondering whether I can pinch one of our winter paddocks to set something up while it's resting. Might keep a naughty retired Ardennes entertained!
 
off to google horse agility as reckon my little chap would be great!

i got poo pooed for riding a 3yo too but mine is the same and loves to explore/do something with his people.

i would go and do some in hand showing too...............i thought i would detest it but its actually quite fun as long as you accept all judges are mad, the other competitors are madder and the PC mum are the maddest of the lot!
 
Hallo2012 said:
i got poo pooed for riding a 3yo too but mine is the same and loves to explore/do something with his people.
Click to expand...

Do you need to ride him? Mine isn't ridden anywhere near as much as yours, and proportionately he's carrying a lot less weight than your 13 hander with an adult on.

i would go and do some in hand showing too...............i thought i would detest it but its actually quite fun as long as you accept all judges are mad, the other competitors are madder and the PC mum are the maddest of the lot!
Click to expand...

I can't abide showing but I do plan to do some for his experience. I'll just have to grit my teeth :D
 
ester said:
I don't think anyone has ever really got poo pooed for riding a 3yo here, 2 year olds yes.
Click to expand...

Ummm, well yes I think they have, Ester. On this thread, in spite of making it clear that the horse wants to 'work' I've been told that he'd be in the field if he belonged to someone else, which can only be read as poo pooing when I start a thread asking for things to occupy his brain, surely? And on another thread, people like me and H2012 who back at three were told in no uncertain terms that we shouldn't be riding a horse any younger than four, and I think at least one person said six!
 
Last edited:
ester said:
I don't think anyone has ever really got poo pooed for riding a 3yo here, 2 year olds yes.
Click to expand...

Ha! People regularly get ripped limb from limb for advocating riding 3 year olds on here!

YCBM, why not just do little bits - as in short, regular sessions - of more of the same? I used to break all my 3 year olds in at the same time (could have up to 20 to do) and would ride them in rotation, 5 or 6 a day so they all got done about 4 times a week. They would all gang up at the gate saying "Me! Me! Take me!", they seemed to enjoy having a job.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top