lungeing a yearling?

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mozza1001

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Hi peeps, got a training question.

My yearling is working really well in-hand at the moment, and coming along in leaps and bounds when listening to voice commands and body language.

Has anyone on here started lungeing a youngster before they hit 2YO. I am getting mixed views on this one and dont want to over do it with him, but fear if we dont start to introduce new training methods soon he may become bored and start to lose interest.

He is only 15 months old, but has a very receptive attitude. The yard where he lives is surrounded by big scary things, i.e. a golf course, an industrial estate, a sports lake and a helipad.... all reasonable distances, but nothing seems to phase him when we go out for walks etc.

A TB without the Fiestiness.... WOW! ha ha!

Advise and opinions gratefully welcomed
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Thanks

Lesley
 
I wouldn't lunge a yearling at all. I only lunge a 2 year old if I really HAVE too (if I grade fillies at 2 and a half, they have to be lunged for the vetting - but I give a 5 minute lunging lesson the day before and that's ALL they do.)

And I also keep lunging a 3 year old - particularly a BIG 3 year old - to the absolute minimum. Lunging is very hard on young joints - it's just not worth it!
 
Thanks all! I thought this would be the general opinion!
I have never lunged any of my previous youngsters until they were approaching 3-3 and a half.

Just thought I would ask the question as someone suggested lungeing to offer something different (planted the boredon seed in my head).

All I do with him at the mo, is take him for walks around the local area, 15-20 minutes maximum every couple of days. Plenty of handling and grooming and the occasional lesson walking around the school listening to me.

Other than this he lives with 3 other yearlings!

So hopefully he wont get bored doing anything just yet!
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Personally I won't work a horse on a circle until they are 3.5 years old. I am not against longreining as a 2.5 year old but I really don't think working on a tight circle at that age is good for the joints etc.

I saw an advert recently for a fantastic yearling filly, brilliant breeding, done well in showing etc, lovely looker but a pic in her advert of her being lunged over a fence - And that was done for me, far too much far too young.

Treat them right and you could have a riding horse for the next 20 years or more, why rush?
 
JUMPING???? God not yet!!! I have shown him fences but have NO intention of making him jump them for a good while yet!

He is quite leggy and shows good movement to be an all rounder, I have all the time in the world for him and no intention of breaking and selling on!
So like you say WHY RUSH!

I am quite happy taking it slowly with him and getting it right, rather than turn him into a 16.1 TB Nutcase!

Thanks all!
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I wouldn't do any work like that at all to be honest.
Teaching him to walk in hand, be handled easily etc is all he needs to be doing at the moment, as he is at a stage where he will be undergoing immense development and anything concussive on circles is likely to give him problems.
just enjoy being with him and teaching him manners.
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I wouldn't choose to do anything like that until 3yo, but we did a bit of lunging (When I say a bit i mean 4 or 5 times) with a 2yo and actually backed him but only as he was getting very big and bossy, he was 16.2 at 2! We only did a small amount to teach him the basics and literally got on him and walked around our schooling paddock, and a couple of walks up the lane. He was then re-backed at 3 ridden quietly and turned away again over winter and now at 4 is doing a bit more, just started jumping him.

Our other 4yo whom we started lunging at end of his 3rd year and long reining this year and prepping to get on him soon. He was not strong enough in the body or mature enough mentally to do much last year, so we didn't!!

I kept my old horse at a racing yard and they used to lunge yearlings and trot them daily on the walker to prep them for the yearling sales. They looked fab!! Their lunging surface was a nice woodchip so very forgiving on joints

I suppose to a degree it depends on the horse and how physically mature they are, TB's do mature quicker than some of the bigger built horses!
 
It might help it might not, but this link backs up what I was taught & that is all horses growth plates mature about the same time, though Islandics I believe take longer (4yrs). This was after I was led to believe TB's matured early & Arabs for instance matured late. Their outside appearance has nothing to do with what is going on inside.

http://www.equinestudies.org/knowledge_base/ranger.html

HorseGrowthPlates.jpg


I have also heard more then one vet (I also remember it a small mention in H&H on walkers), that say oval shaped walkers are better for the horses joints then the round ones. If that is the case then putting a 2yo or younger one on for any length of time maybe doing more harm then good.

At the end of the day people will have their own views on what is right/wrong for their animal.
 
im not going to lunge my 2yo until next year and then only very very lightly.i long lined her in walk and halt 5 times for 5mins in the spring- she was really good and responsive to the voice.
i want her to last and be sound.ive got years of competition in her why be ina rush to start it all so early?
she has done all the none strenuous bits-wearing saddle,bridle,boots,going in traffic etc.
the physical hard work wont start until shes 4.
plus ive got a 5yo to concentrate on at the moment so while b is maturing nicely, im bringing my other baby on(also incidently not backed until she was late 4 and she hasnt even got a splint)
 
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