opinions on turning away?

I have a 2.5 yr old ISH. He is still being a baby mostly and lives out 24/7.

He's worn tack, longreined a couple of times, gets rugged, fed and handled daily and goes for a walk about once a week. He's not ready for anything more.

I'll prob sit on him in the spring (i.e once he's turned 3) so he's used to the idea. That's about it really.

He'll spend the rest of the summer growing big (far too big :eek: ) then hopefully be backed properly (learnto walk and trot) in the late autumn. He'll then be turned away over winter (mainly due to weather, lack of facilities and dark nights) and brought into proper work in the spring once he's 4yrs old.

It sounds like your baby (and he is still VERY much a baby) has already done quite a lot. And now he's stuck in a stable pretty much 24/7 so a recipe for disaster. I DEFINITELY turn him back out and maybe think about breaking him properly in the autumn.

Turning away is an older fashioned thing when the horse went from standing in a field for 4yrs to Grown Up Working Horse overnight. They needed the time to stop and think about the masses of new info they've been taught in just a couple of weeks.

It's much more common nowadays for youngsters to build up over years of handling as babies to ridden work so it's much less of a shock.

And no, three is not the normal age to back them, 4yrs old is, 3.5 if they're just doing a little bit.
 
I do wish you the best of luck.

No one wants a clever horse IMO - dumb is better they don't question you and just get on with it. :)

When he does turnout does he go in a mixed herd? I really recommend cheeky youngster being turned out with mixed herd. You will never be able to teach a youngster respect and manner like a old mare and herd.
My Neddy started with individual turnout and then out with one gelding and he was a monster yearling/devil. September I turned him away in a herd of broodmares, foals and gelding, harsh to watch as he wasn't accepted at first but after 6months his a lovely boy now and a member of the herd. It's great because his a big boy and now a pleasure.
 
He is only turned out with one other gelding :/ my yard before he was in with a herd and it really did put him in his place! Come back with some nasty cuts and bruises to show it tho! Lol but the yard itself was awful it's so hard to find a perfect yard :/ I think Iv established I gonna turn him away until next year tho
 
beckyjg312 said:
He is only turned out with one other gelding :/ my yard before he was in with a herd and it really did put him in his place! Come back with some nasty cuts and bruises to show it tho! Lol but the yard itself was awful it's so hard to find a perfect yard :/ I think Iv established I gonna turn him away until next year tho
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You're not turning him away, your are turning him out. Turning him away is the phrase used once the horse has been backed/broken and then turned out into the field to be brought back into work a few months later. I think leaving him for longer is a good idea. From what you say he sounds very babyish and not ready to be backed.
 
beckyjg312 said:
He is only turned out with one other gelding :/ my yard before he was in with a herd and it really did put him in his place! Come back with some nasty cuts and bruises to show it tho! Lol but the yard itself was awful it's so hard to find a perfect yard :/ I think Iv established I gonna turn him away until next year tho
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I showed my baby, that's something you could look to do if you want something to do. Inhand Youngstock classes - more things to think about.

Yeah Neddy was out with a lovely old TB to start with when he was a colt - he was so nasty to the old boy, jumping on him and biting him and the TB just put up with him. He then thought he would try it with me too. After a summer showing I then put him with a herd and yes it was hard to watch them kick and push him about. It was actually my broodmare doing the most damage but he was asking for it. They settled and pecking order was found and all happy healthy horses now.
I read that only weak horses fight.
 
Mine was backed in the spring of his third year - since march last year he's been turned away. I plan to being him back into work/re start April this year at rising four. I'm confident he will have forgotten nothing. Mine is very tall however which is why I'm taking things very slowly - he's currently nearly 18hh!
 
I normally break a load at this time of year, they have a good 6 weeks work put in, should be going in the school nicely and hacking. They are then chucked out and given a holiday to let them get some spring grass. They are sometimes pulled in for the odd hack.
 
I give mine breaks during the process. I have a turning 3 filly but I won't start doing anything with her til spring. We all have different reasons for doing what we do. The starting process will bring horses forward. I will do 6 weeks with my filly doing the basics and then will leave her off for more development before more work in the fall and then off over winter before we see how she's doing in the Spring. She's mine and I can develop how I like. I do feel breaks are good for them mentally but to each his own.

I don't play games. If you do that's your thing. My opinion is that I don't see the benefit unless I'm going to be starting a trick horse doing things at liberty. But again, different strokes.

Starting at 3 and done sympathetically will cause no issues. As stated horses continue growing and developing so its another reason I like giving them breaks too. None of them have ever gone backwards or forgotten anything. They've always been better for it. Mentally is equally important as the physical.

He's your horse so you can do what you like. If you do turn away he won't lose anything.

Terri
 
FWIW mine was backed and ridden for 3wks at just over 3yrs, walk, trot and canter in the school and hacking. due to lack of time she was left for 2yrs :o, but she has come back into work straight under saddle like she was backed yesterday and i am really pleased she got left so long as she is physically and mentally so much more mature
 
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