New fashion it seems

A

abbieandfiona

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to ride a two year old. I dont mean just lightly back a two year old but full on hack it out all the time, even to school it for a good hour a time. Now i have my two year old who at most has been lightly long lined thats it, bitted as shown in-hand. Would never dream of any more whilst she is growing and is still at the end of a day a baby.

Now i know of 2 people in my area already doing what i have said to their youngsters. Just me who things this is very wrong!
 
:eek: Poor things! At least you aren't pushing your youngster!
I've heard a lot of people justifying it by saying that if flat racers can do it, so can riding horses but it doesn't really apply - I wouldn't dream of doing it. I wonder if it has anything to do with age classes - like people trying to be at a further stage than the other competitors in 4 year old classes etc. :confused:
 
Coincidentally I was thinking about the very same thing today after seeing some backed, ridden and driven 2 yr old youngsters for sale on the internet.

The fact that a lot of people take their cue from the racing made me think that the racing community ought to take some of the responsibility. Maybe someone high profile, a respected trainer maybe, could stand up and pubicly explain exactly why it's a bad thing for riding horses to be backed so early....through TV or any of the horse magazines? There could be a terrific campaign, other star riders and trainers from other equine sports could get involved.
 
Personally no. I think they should mature mentally and physically.

However, mine is an ex racer, so I presume she was raced from 2 years old. She is now 4 and I have had her 6 months, retrained her and now she is on holiday for 4 months :)

I have had youngsters and played with them when they were young, but the actual work didn't start until 3.5 lunging and long reining and wern't sat on until 4 years old.
 
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