Question as I'm bored and thinking too much!!

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

What would you expect a 4.5 year old horse to be able to do? I appreciate all horses are different and some are brought on faster than others but as a general average?
Hovis has been brought on really slowly and is only now really being worked. His Walk, trot and Canter are ok but his canter is a little unbalanced around corners in the school. He is learning to do a turn on the forehand and to do some very simple leg yielding. He hacks out in company and has jumped some small jumps.
Just wondered if he is about right in his capability for his age or a bit behind where he should be? It won't change what I'm doing with him but I am intrigued as this is the first baby i've had.

Edited to say when i say jumps I mean really little ones that he sprawls over like an equine superman!!

 

[pnap]

Jacks 13 and I'm just about at that stage too!

 

[GinaGem]

Ru's about the same age (5 in may) and has done a little less than yours. He walk, trots and canters in the school. Canter is unbalanced but coming along. He's done some pole work and we had our first jump (if you can call it that) on the weekend. We've started hacking but haven't done huge amounts yet. Have also walked out inhand. He's done small amounts of turn on the forehand and the beginnings of leg yield. He lunges, long reins and free schools. Have also ridden a few times in the field. We've been out once for a lesson at another yard but will do more outings in the spring.

 

[BeckyD]

My boy is rising 5 and his previous owners miscalculated his age so did more than I would have wanted with him when he was 3 (when he was rising 4 he was out doing a few local indoor low SJ). When I got him I eased off, I've done lots of hacking (alone), lots of schooling indoors/ in a field/ on hacks, jumped about once every 2-3 weeks over single jumps or grids, built up to doing a 2'6" course and 3'-3'6" single jumps just before he had his holiday. Lateral work started (leg yield and shoulder fore though he keeps offering shoulder in). Turn about the forehand tried but not terribly successful and turn about the haunches more successful but rarely tried.

So not done much or been many places. I don't think there's any need to rush them. Will be going out and about now, schooling over low courses at lots of different places and doing a bit of dressage. Hopefully some XC schooling too!

Some professional horses seem to be terribly advanced at a young age whilst others are taken very slowly - it's very confusing!

 

[Daisy11]

as a four year old your horse is still a year or two off maturity but he is strong enought to be able to undertake a moderate amount of work too much work stress during the year may not appear to do any harm but could set trouble up later on a prime cause of unsoundness in adult horses is that they were worked too hard too young so carry on with what you are doing and consentrate on the problem areas

 

[Petrie]

It depends on so many things, but I guess most 4.5 yr old allrounders would have basic flatwork, walk trot canter in a novice outline and leg yield. And if the flatwork was going really well, then maybe shoulder in and the start of lenthened strides in trot.

They would also be jumping by then, over coloured and small cross country fences, simple grids, easy courses. I would expect it to be going out to a few shows too, prelim dressage, clear round jumping, baby hunter trials, that sort of thing. And hacking on its own and in company of course.

Then you get 4.5 yr olds eventing at Novice level (officially in their 5th year, of course) jumping 1m20, and doing half pass and flying changes, but they're most likely with professionals!

The rest of us just chug along slowly, doing what we can, hoping we're getting it right!

 

[Daisy11]

you shouldnt rush youngsters as there bones are still growing and could still be growing till there 6 my mare is rising 5 and only just developed jumping as i was in no rush to rush her i backed her and turned her out to manture abit before carry on with her ediucation there is no time limit as long as shes happy

 

[Cop-Pop]

It really does depend on lots of different factors but I guess if it's just home schooling etc then walk, trot and canter and poss some small jump and poles.

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Thanks for the replies. I just find it really interesting having never had a young horse before.
I'm in no rush at all with Hovis and as I'm never going to set the world on fire as a rider I don't expect him to be amazing at his age!!
That said I am intrigued as to what other peoples youngsters are up to to see if I've gauged it about right.
He's having fun and thats the main thing. The jumping he's doing is very small and less than once a week - he just seems to like it as something different to do. He likes poles too!