Starting a young horse- How young is too young?

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SilverFilly

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Hi all!

As above really, I have a 15 month old ID and I bought her an In-hand bridle the other day (I haven't bought a bit yet as I thought, one thing at a time) When I brought it down the yard and tried it on her I got looks of horror off one particular lady on our yard. Telling me how I've started her AT LEAST one year too early....

I wasn't planning on doing anything other than getting her used to having it on her head and eventually working up to the bit. But now I'm doubting myself. How young is too young to be starting a filly on her basics?
 
CMcC said:
Agree, you are teaching basics and if you take it one step at a time not too early.
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I have to take it one step at a time with her as she was horribly abused in Ireland so has massive trust issues. She's just recently let me put a headcollar on her normally (rather than dismantling it) and touch her ears and all over her face :) she's a good girl just got some trust issues at the moment.
 
Personally I'd do as much as possible barring jumping and putting weight on their backs, expose them to as much as possible and by the time it comes to backing they have seen lots of life.

I'd not be hitting to soon, you have to remember teeth are still growing and forming allow them time for that, but to teach lefts and rights and halts on long reins off a halter I Be doing, same with things like a saddle...it. could just be a pad that you can girth up..the more you do as a baby the more ready the horse will be, let people look at you in horror but I'd suspect said suspects horses are the ones with the worst manners and most issues...
 
We do a small amount of everything from foals upwards apart from lunging, sitting on and forced jumping. They are handled for about 10 minutes two or three times a week, and go to a few shows once they have learned to lead and load. Homebreds from about 4 weeks old but bought in ones can take a few hours or a few weeks to learn to lead and load. Feet picking up on bought in ones is usually the biggest problem as no one seems to do it early, some farriers wont trim foal feet so it can become a problem. The latest bought in one is doing great has been to a pony party and a horsey adventure playground she is 2, next trick is to teach her to wear a rug, not that she will, but needs to know it is ok to do so as it is a pre requisite of wearing tack. I havent bitted her yet but she has only been here about 8 weeks so plenty time but we already handle her mouth head and ears so she is fine with that. I have bitted yearlings to show usually colts but tend to let fillies wait til they are at least 3 if not a bit more, but a big strong yearling could be bitted if it was a safety issue. Just make sure you never yank on the bit as a form of discipline as I have often seen with colt handling in the ring it makes me cringe. My yearling colt had a bit in but the rein was attached to the noseband with a coupling to the bit as a safety measure mind you he did keep trying to brain me so I guess he was very hyoed on hormones he bacame the best ever lead rein pony once he was gelded he was meant to be our stud stallion but blotted his copybook too many times to allow him to do so.
 
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I spent at least ten minutes a day with my little lad. Grooming, leading , handling, up to about two. Then I bitted and got him used to being tacked up. From an early age he was led along the road to swap fields, I increased that as he got older and he was taken out in hand on his own. He got used to everything he needed to wear and had all my expectations down pat by three. I did not start lunging until 4 and he was then backed. It was all short and sweet and in small increments, so he was never phased. He had plenty of time to be a horse. He is now a solid , calm , brave pony, of whom I'm very proud.
 
Could anyone recommend when I should start bitting her then? I have no ménage at my yard and would love to start taking her on the roads for walks but if she spooks she spooks hard and I'm worried about not being able to hold her in a halter. Should I try something like a rubber happy mouth just for now? :) thanks for your help everyone!
 
jhoward said:
Personally I'd do as much as possible barring jumping and putting weight on their backs, expose them to as much as possible and by the time it comes to backing they have seen lots of life.

I'd not be hitting to soon, you have to remember teeth are still growing and forming allow them time for that, but to teach lefts and rights and halts on long reins off a halter I Be doing, same with things like a saddle...it. could just be a pad that you can girth up..the more you do as a baby the more ready the horse will be, let people look at you in horror but I'd suspect said suspects horses are the ones with the worst manners and most issues...
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This.

My sister got her youngster, a then rising two year old, back in march. In the first two month he was leading out, had a bridle on, roller and sadlde cloth and has been bitted.
He is now two and a bit and 15:3 has had rugs on and will be light rugged over winter to keep him uses to it as well as having an idea on a saddle on and stirrups dangling as he is going to make the same height as his half brothers 16:3
 
I got my horse at 17 months old and he was bitted that day, to see if it would help get him on the lorry, it didnt!! but he took the bit well so I kept using the bit in his mouth when leading him in hand but kept the lead rope attached to the head collar for a while and then got him used to being led from the bit when he was about 3

but I didn't do inhand showing or anything
 
SilverFilly said:
Could anyone recommend when I should start bitting her then? I have no ménage at my yard and would love to start taking her on the roads for walks but if she spooks she spooks hard and I'm worried about not being able to hold her in a halter. Should I try something like a rubber happy mouth just for now? :) thanks for your help everyone!
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I always start with a lightweight rubber bit, most seem to like it as a first bit unless they've got a tiny mouth. I prefer rubber to plastic because it doesn't get sharp if chewed and they're a lot cheaper to replace as well. If you're having trouble keeping control when she spooks a lunge cavesson gives more control than a headcollar. A cheek snaffle gives more control than an ordinary snaffle bit, they often open their mouths at the harsh jolt that occurs when they spook away from you and the cheeks mean you more easily retain some control of direction.
 
A lightweight rubber snaffle is ideal as long as it fits in her mouth. I would be far more inclined to keep a halter on over the bridle with the bit becoming a last resort in an emergency. You will find a proper halter trained horse will be easier to manage in that than a bridle anyway
 
We bitted our yearling and took him out to various in hand shows just to do quiet youngstock classes and also the Futurity grading. He's now aged 3... he's learnt to lunge quietly in walk and a little trot. He can long rein around the farm. He's worn a saddle but not been sat on and we don't intend to do this until at least next year as a 4yo if he's ready as he's going to be a tall lad! He has felt ready to do everything he's done so far and loves it but physically i don't think it would do him any good to have us on board yet or do any harder work in the school or around the farm. We have however taught him to stand at the mounting block already and we've leaned over just with arms to scratch his side and he's fine - teaching him manners in preperation for ridden work I think is very important and doesn't put un necassary strain on them! Good luck with your baby, you will have so much fun x
 
Bitting i think from abut six months, gently, actual backing about four years or within a few months, Please, do not use a RUBBER bit, they can grip and pull the tongue and hurt.
 
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