Schoolong Youngster

[gemmaw]

Does anybody have any advice regarding working a young horse? I have a 5yr old TB x ID thats only been broken and gelded a month ago, just starting to work him properly. He is showing real promise in dressage movements so want to head in that direction but dont want to overdo the work and put him under too much pressure. I currently hack for about an hour and a half once or twice a week but only school for 15 to 20 mins. He starts to feel tired after this so dont want to push him, not sure how long generally people school for??

 

[GinaGem]

My youngster has been broken about 5 weeks now. We are doing school work three/four times a week for about 10/15mins in walk and trot, can't really call it proper schooling yet as am just working on him being relaxed and calm (usually do a quick lunge first to check he's calm but we are reducing this down now so soon will be getting straight on). Also once a week will lunge or take him out for a walk in hand. Lunging i do for about 15mins and walking out about 30 mins.

 

[AmyMay]

All newly broken in youngsters on my place are hacked about for the first three or four months before their real schooling begins.

It's amazing how much you can do with a horse on a simple hack. It also ensures that they don't get bored, see a bit of the world, and build their muscles up in preparation for school work. They also become happy, forward thinking horses.

 

[Eccles]

Mine is 4 and has been broken 2 months. I get straight on him, and am currently hacking around the farm, along with doing a bit of schooling. I am on my own a lot though so i can't hack him off the farm alone. He gets *schooled* about 3 times a week (not proper schooling - just making sure he's forward and happy) for 20 mins max. I have also taken him into the sj field a couple of times and had a play over poles and cross poles, just to keep it interesting and varied (which he loves!) All very low key. He has to feel he's done something however, as at the end of the day he is feeling well and he must learn some manners before he gets bigger and stronger! HTH.