My horse was broken and jumped at 2?!

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coffee1

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Hi! After been told a few weeks ago my horse had been broken in at 2 I did some research and found out he was not only broken in but jumped quite a bit. :( I'm just worried if this will effect him in the future? I'm angry/worried!
 
It isn't an ideal start, how old is your horse now? I'd suggest taking it easy with him for a fair well, give him chance to settle in himself. If he is only 3-4 I would be tempted to give him 6 months to a year off to mature fully.

If he is shod make sure he is shod well as his legs may have taken a hammering if he was doing so much so young. Also make sure his tack fits correctly, his back may have been strained from the early work but with correct schooling and well fitting saddle he should be able to mend any damage done.

Don't fret too much, if he is sound and his back is in good nick he should be ok :)
 
Thanks :) He is 5 now and barefoot. Don't think he has done too much between 4 and 5 except a bit of hacking so I guess that's his bit of rest! I don't do too much at the moment, only walk/trot hacking out, feel a bit better now.
 
I would suggest you get his back checked regardless tbh :) It's just a good preventative measure :) A joint supplement might not be a bad idea? It can (sometimes) cause extra wear and tear on their joints if they've done a bit as a baby, so it can't hurt to prevent any damage (was advice from a v good surgeon for a horse of ours who was really over-cooked as a baby)

But, you've got him now, and you're taking it easy, so don't worry too much :)

J&C
 
coffee1 said:
Also forgot to add, should I get his back checked too then just in case?
Click to expand...

That would be a good idea :)

It sounds like he has had a fairly easy time of it since so he should have had chance to recoup but it is always a good idea to have a back check if you are at all concerned.
 
Some do mature quicker but at 2... lets face it, a baby from any breed.

Ime, I've seen so many broken at 3 ridden have lots of issues... hocks, back, shoulder and navicular I think breaking early has a lot to answer for...
 
breaking at 2 is common practise in alot of circles, racing, travelling communties, ireland etc, I've still seen x-race horses go on to have long fullfilling working lives into their 20's in some circumstances. Carriage horses are often also started and driving at 2. I'm not saying it's right (personally I don't like to get on them until they are 3 and even then taking it easy), but that it isn't as rare as some might think and doesn't always affect the length of the working career of the horse, though there are extreme's. As others have said I would make sure he's had enough down time since then, whether that be light hacking or time off to mature fully before you now bring him back into full work. A supplement such as gluccossamine certainly is only going to be a good thing, and is not going to do any harm what-so-ever. And I would make sure his back's checked incase they also used poor fitting tack at 2, better to knock any problems on the head now than let them fester. Good luck with him and enjoy.
 
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Mine was sold by a dealer to the owner before me as a broken but green five year old. She rode him for a year and had lots of problems with steetring, stopping etc until she discovered that he was in fact:

-2 1/2 years old when she bought him and
-unbroken or probably just backed.

The dealer had only had him a week from after he had been gelded and first handled!

He has recently ruptured a tendon but then I bought him when he was 5 , he is 21 now and I have had him and enjoyed him for 16 years so hopefully yours will last at least as long!
 
My horse was broken to harness at 2 1/2, I got her from a sale and she was shod and had nail holes in her hooves showing she had had at least 2 sets of shoes on before the set she had on, meaning I guess that she had been driven for around 6 mnths.

She has had an easy life with me but started to go lame on a circle aged 13, she was X-rayed and had pathology to both front coffin joints, the vet is sure this was caused by being driven at such a young age.

Have u had your horses feet X-rayed to see how they are looking? Definitely not a bad idea to use joint & bone suppliments, also keep joints warm in winter when horse stabled with leg wraps or similar.
 
Haven't had him x rayed, but will buy some joint supplements and getting his back checked soon. :) Thanks for replies, it's good to know!
 
Agree totally with tallyho.
Sounds like he's had a quiet time the past year though so I would be tempted to get back/ teeth checked and then take things slowly for the rest of this year before building things back up again. Annoying thing with horses is that you sometime end up with other peoples problems
 
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