the age of maturity in the skeleton of a horse in colour

[hollyandivy123]

so the back is not fully matured until 6yr..............

 

[j1ffy]

I think most people are aware of this these days. It's why it's so important to have steady, progressive training for young horses to build the correct muscles to support the back - developing good posture, encouraging the horse to lift through back and withers and ensure the spine finishes developing in a way that will prevent issues in future. Allowing a young horse to slop around and not develop correct muscles and a good way of going is potentially damaging (as is winching a horse in in front with a hollow back, obviously).

 

[paddi22]

weren't there studies recently that said appropriate ground and ridden work at a young age is beneficial for the back and makes it stronger than a horse that is untouched until 6.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

weren't there studies recently that said appropriate ground and ridden work at a young age is beneficial for the back and makes it stronger than a horse that is untouched until 6.

The same is said of limb bones and all connected soft tissue. Small amounts of work - walking out inhand and long lining as yearlings and 2yo's help to condition bones and soft tissue to work. I'm not talking miles and miles of work just regular bits.

In general we now break all of ours at work as 2yo's. Do some walk, trot and canter work then turn them away to grow up. Bring them back in 4 months later and repeat the 2-3 months of work then put them back out again. This can be repeated as many times as needed until the horse is strong enough and mature enough to race. Most run for the first time late in their 4yo year. They have all stayed sound and resilient so far compared to others that sat in a field until they were 3 or 4yo before being broken in and worked.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Totally agree.
Having broke in two horses at 7 and 9, respectively, whose bodies had slopped along on the forehand for years,it is beneficial imo to gently and correctly begin the foundations of correct muscle build up as 3
/4year olds.I think I read an article about a little stress on growing bones can lead to stronger and more quality bone density.

 

[tristar]

but most young horses move around a lot, which is where turnout is the key

i prefer to wait until they `show balance under their own power` at liberty, then they are ready to carry themselves and the rider.

the last one i broke in was 6 years old, ran loose in a field untouched, he`s now 8, feels good and strong under saddle, just starting his schooling this year

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I think like anything it's about balance. I think leaving a horse in the field untouched until 6 is for most horses, probably a recipe for disaster. My friend has a yearling who would absolutely benefit from engaging his brain to stop him getting up to so much mischief. But also doing too much before they are fully developed is equally as bad but physically.

I plan on getting my next connemara straight from the breeder having been lightly backed, then my plan is to do lots of groundwork and hacking with lots of little holidays thrown in. I am on a yard that specialises in rehab and almost every horse has kissing spines.

I suppose it's a bit like human children, they definitely benefit from being active and supple, but probably wouldn't hold up too well to a full time job heavy lifting.

 

[Cortez]

The human skeleton isn't fully mature until around 25 years old, and I don't think anyone advocates people just sitting around until then. In fact participating in sports and being active is actively encouraged for very good reason.

 

[JBM]

Would turning them out in big fields with steep hills gets them working their muscles in a good way? seems to keep my older mare fit anyway! Not riding fit obviously but much more muscle than just sitting in a flat field

 

[MissTyc]

Would turning them out in big fields with steep hills gets them working their muscles in a good way? seems to keep my older mare fit anyway! Not riding fit obviously but much more muscle than just sitting in a flat field

My youngsters seem to very much benefit from our hillside. I have backed my own and also sent away for professional backing. The professionals often comment on the natural balance. It helps that I also have a track system over the winter, so they have to learn to canter their corners if they want to canter at all.

 

[dorsetladette]

I have a 3 yr old that mental needs to be stimulated or he gets himself in all sorts of trouble. Keeping the balance is really difficult. You could easily do to much with him as he is really clever. He is being slowly backed this year but he wont do alot really. Light hacking once we have the controls in place.

I also have a very backwards 2 yr old (he's really not very bright) who will benefit from more time. He will go to a couple of small shows this year and some in hand walks but he will not have anything really done with him until next year or maybe the year after depending on how he develops both physically and mentally.

Thet all mature differently.

 

[tristar]

I think like anything it's about balance. I think leaving a horse in the field untouched until 6 is for most horses, probably a recipe for disaster. My friend has a yearling who would absolutely benefit from engaging his brain to stop him getting up to so much mischief. But also doing too much before they are fully developed is equally as bad but physically.

I plan on getting my next connemara straight from the breeder having been lightly backed, then my plan is to do lots of groundwork and hacking with lots of little holidays thrown in. I am on a yard that specialises in rehab and almost every horse has kissing spines.

I suppose it's a bit like human children, they definitely benefit from being active and supple, but probably wouldn't hold up too well to a full time job heavy lifting.

i have two that were broken at 6 yrs, one is now 15 yrs old , a big fabulous horse no money would buy he had an injury at 5yrs broken at 6.

the other a rescue, wish i had time to put on his full story, anyway he has always been very active, and now if not pulled out to work at 4pm. can be seen running round the field performing just at that time, we say `he`s doing his training` ha, all his life he has been super active and i mean on fire, into everything, up to tricks but never came to any harm, he was x rayed back wise to check no adverse indications due to his appalling start, so when first backed he had an occasional neurological symptom, of no real significance, he has grown out it of without intervention, and continued to grow the last three months the growth has stopped, he has filled out.

he feels really strong and connected under saddle, and the last few weeks shows he will soon be working at competition level, so two there that no needs to worry about.

i`ve got a fablous 15 hh. horse for virtually nothing.

i have always felt that young horses need to play, and they show a need to move around a lot, not be too educated, all the basics yes, to be civilized, but however rough they play they never seem to come to much harm, freedom to gallop and i mean GALLOP, no sitting on sofas round here i can tell you! its all go, activity, play and fun, if they look a bit lazy they get oats, go gallop horse.

you are on a yard full of horses on rehab from kissing spines, ask yourself the question how this happens, so frequently, worked too young, not worked enough when broken, schooling, training not tailored to individual needs.


good luck finding a pony

 

[ihatework]

Would turning them out in big fields with steep hills gets them working their muscles in a good way? seems to keep my older mare fit anyway! Not riding fit obviously but much more muscle than just sitting in a flat field

They definitely benefit from being out and moving over proper terrain.

The problem is for many people having access to that. It pains me when people go out and buy foal/1/2yo then keep them in their small acreage livery paddock because ‘that’s all they have’

 

[JBM]

They definitely benefit from being out and moving over proper terrain.

The problem is for many people having access to that. It pains me when people go out and buy foal/1/2yo then keep them in their small acreage livery paddock because ‘that’s all they have’

Yeah the turnout options for many livery yards is why I have moved mine to 24/7 turnout at home
Can be a bit of a pain as I have no stables to keep them in or any facilities for myself for riding but they’re much happier so worth it!
They’re is definitely a problem for the amount of horses now vs the amount of land available as no one wants to rent to horse owners either as we like them out during winter which murders the best of fields

 

[Orangehorse]

My horse was born at a stud farm where the fields were virtually flat.

If I ever have another it will have been bred on a Welsh mountain and lived for some time on a Dudley roundabout!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

you are on a yard full of horses on rehab from kissing spines, ask yourself the question how this happens, so frequently, worked too young, not worked enough when broken, schooling, training not tailored to individual needs.


good luck finding a pony

That’s the point I was getting at. These are all horses that are 10+ years so there is obviously something wrong historically with how we are starting horses. These are also competition horses but also happy hacks like mine (although I got mine at 9 so I don’t know what she did before, I think probably hunted into the ground sadly). Dressage horses, eventers etc. One was even backed western.

I think we’re also a lot better at diagnosing and treating so naturally stuff is becoming more common.

 

[soloequestrian]

I read the title as 'horses of colour' and started worrying that I don't know how to be politically correct about that...

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I read the title as 'horses of colour' and started worrying that I don't know how to be politically correct about that...

Don't worry the Shetland pony world will be the first ones hit with that at some point! We have 3 sections - Black's, Coloureds and Mini's.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Would turning them out in big fields with steep hills gets them working their muscles in a good way? seems to keep my older mare fit anyway! Not riding fit obviously but much more muscle than just sitting in a flat field

One of my instructors, in my first year of learning to ride, said that one of the best places to keep a horse was on a hillside with the water trough at the top of the hill and the hay trough at the bottom so that the horse would spend a lot of time walking up and down hill.

 

[JBM]

One of my instructors, in my first year of learning to ride, said that one of the best places to keep a horse was on a hillside with the water trough at the top of the hill and the hay trough at the bottom so that the horse would spend a lot of time walking up and down hill.

That’s a really good idea! I would rather do the water at the bottom tho as I have to carry it and hay is lighter

 

[Keith_Beef]

That’s a really good idea! I would rather do the water at the bottom tho as I have to carry it and hay is lighter

Yes, it doesn't much matter which it at the top and which at the bottom.

 

[blitznbobs]

The human skeleton isn't fully mature until around 25 years old, and I don't think anyone advocates people just sitting around until then. In fact participating in sports and being active is actively encouraged for very good reason.

Yes i couldnt agree more - this attitude that horses shouldnt be touched until fully mature is a well meaning falacy. We encourage our children to run jump and do weight baring exercise — weight bearing exercise is proven to increase muscle and bone mass I see so many well meaning people ‘leaving’ their horses til they are mature but its not that straight forward.

 

[SEL]

My most broken one wasn't started until she was 5. Only light hacking and then diagnosed with hock arthritis. Vet asked if she'd been hunting in Ireland (I guess she thought hammered around) but no - fat and unfit in a field for 3 years.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I like to do alot of out walking in hand, long reining, big circle lunging then jump on for 10 minutes at 4 then up it a bit at 5 and then really start the schooling and longer periods of riding at 6.

I think a quick sit on at 3 is more than enough and then leave until at least 4.

 

[Ali27]

My ginger baby is 3 next month and I got her unhandled in July. She now leads well and has been out in the trailer to a local farm ride (with my ridden mare) twice for a 20 min walk inhand. She has just had wolf teeth out so will bit next month, up walking in hand, introduce long reining but don’t plan to start her under saddle until next Spring when she is 4. No rush at all, I want to get all the groundwork established and she is my next forever horse

 

[fidleyspromise]

Interesting to read this thread as I'll have my newly gelded boy arriving in a couple weeks.

I'll have 3 horses and currently have 3 acres but the yard is in the process of creating more fields so end of the summer I'll have x2 2 acre fields plus 2 field shelters.

I'll be looking at taking my boy out in hand in the woods and once they're used to each other ride and lead from my mare.
He'll get to meet dogs, cyclists, cross the road, horses and maybe go to the beach.