Those with horses who will be 3 this year…

[BBP]

What are you up to with them? Mine has done almost nothing up til now. He leads in hand beautifully in and out of the field (have only taken him out away from field ‘hacking’ twice and he took the lead the whole way). Ties up nicely. Good to do feet. Understands moving quarters and shoulders away and following a feel on the rope. Had a tiny clip (as a hot itchy mess). Had a surcingle girth and saddle pad on two or three times. Been in lorry to my instructors once for a look around whilst my sister had a lesson.

But that’s really all he has done. He mostly just lives out, plays, sleeps and eats. He’s a super nice guy. I’m planning to start taking him out walking in hand this summer through his 3yo year, getting him to see a bit more of the world, and back him when he is 4 or 5 depending on how he matures. Just wondered what others are up to. I know some do loads with their youngsters and others do absolutely nothing so this is just curiosity really.

 

[NeverSurrender]

In hand showing, some road walks in hand, and some wearing a set of tack - all interspersed with living out 24/7 on a hill being a horse!

 

[Btomkins]

Your boy is lovely and I’m excited to see his progress with you.

My filly is 3 this year, but not until September so I’ll be taking it slow. Shes quite fine and immature right now. She’s done lots of handling already and is great with being faffed and fussed with - a real love bug with no hang ups. She’s had a bit in 3 times and went to one in hand show last year but that was pretty much it.

I’m hoping to get her out to a handful of shows this year, nice low key local ones to build confidence away from home.

We will be doing plenty of ponying off my very steady boy once the weather and ground is good, learning the hacking routes around the farm. Towards the end of the summer I will probably get her to wear all tack and do some gentle long lining in straight lines hacking. She will see the school but only to do some basic in hand work and games.

I may lean over her and introduce weight for a few strides but she won’t be actually backed until next year, and even then she may have a good break until proper work starts at 4/5.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Oh no I bow my head in shame!

I have done nothing with my rising 3 yr old!
I can catch him and lead him and have wormed him, but I am going to have some quality time with the main man once the evenings draw out. I can't wait!!.

 

[tda]

I have 2 x 3yr old olds, they catch, tie up under supervision, good for farrier, have been in box for short journey.. They have both briefly been led from another ridden pony, but will be doing more of that soon. They are both keen and interested, so will do random things once a month or so.

 

[nagblagger]

Oh no I bow my head in shame!

I have done nothing with my rising 3 yr old!

I'm in the head shame corner as well - i call it 'letting them develop naturally'.

 

[lannerch]

No shame required I would have a rising 3yo being out with a herd of youngsters still being a baby playing with fellow babies , only coming in for trims, only in the autumn would I get in to lightly back and start from the beginning .

 

[JustMe22]

I haven't done much with mine except pray that he grows - to no avail.

He's happy being handled, stands for farrier and dentist, has had a saddle and bridle on for a couple of short and quiet hacks on a leadrope (leading from a headcollar), and has been in the box once or twice. He has had 3 or 4 very short "lunges" - as in, two or three minutes in total. He goes out all day in a group and sometimes stays out overnight with another youngster, but is moved to a different paddock in that case so gets handled daily.

Planning on taking him with me to a few shows for him to have a look around and get him used to travelling, doing some basic groundwork and then hopefully backing for a couple of months gentle hacking when he's 3.5 or so, again depending on how he grows and matures. I'm really hoping to keep him as string test puts him at around 16.2hh and he has two 17hh+ parents but he's barely 15 hands currently and turning 3 pretty soon so I'm concerned :O

 

[BBP]

I haven't done much with mine except pray that he grows - to no avail.

He's happy being handled, stands for farrier and dentist, has had a saddle and bridle on for a couple of short and quiet hacks on a leadrope (leading from a headcollar), and has been in the box once or twice. He has had 3 or 4 very short "lunges" - as in, two or three minutes in total. He goes out all day in a group and sometimes stays out overnight with another youngster, but is moved to a different paddock in that case so gets handled daily.

Planning on taking him with me to a few shows for him to have a look around and get him used to travelling, doing some basic groundwork and then hopefully backing for a couple of months gentle hacking when he's 3.5 or so, again depending on how he grows and matures. I'm really hoping to keep him as string test puts him at around 16.2hh and he has two 17hh+ parents but he's barely 15 hands currently and turning 3 pretty soon so I'm concerned :O

Whereas I am hoping mine will stick at 14.2! He's Connemara but I don't mind if he creeps towards 15hh, but I want something I can leap on from the floor if needed, and I'm not all that agile.

 

[BBP]

Oh no I bow my head in shame!

I have done nothing with my rising 3 yr old!
I can catch him and lead him and have wormed him, but I am going to have some quality time with the main man once the evenings draw out. I can't wait!!.

No shame here! Mine has really done nothing. His biggest 'adventure' was a week long stay at vet hospital at 20 months. I was then told after a period of box rest to hand walk him and build him up to 30mins handwalking before he restarted turnout. But I had visions of how horribly wrong handwalking a very bored 2yo could go (bad enbough with an educated horse!) so he hasn't done any of that.

 

[BBP]

Your boy is lovely and I’m excited to see his progress with you.

My filly is 3 this year, but not until September so I’ll be taking it slow. Shes quite fine and immature right now. She’s done lots of handling already and is great with being faffed and fussed with - a real love bug with no hang ups. She’s had a bit in 3 times and went to one in hand show last year but that was pretty much it.

I’m hoping to get her out to a handful of shows this year, nice low key local ones to build confidence away from home.

We will be doing plenty of ponying off my very steady boy once the weather and ground is good, learning the hacking routes around the farm. Towards the end of the summer I will probably get her to wear all tack and do some gentle long lining in straight lines hacking. She will see the school but only to do some basic in hand work and games.

I may lean over her and introduce weight for a few strides but she won’t be actually backed until next year, and even then she may have a good break until proper work starts at 4/5.

View attachment 107921

She does look very young! She looks like she will be pretty special when she matures.

 

[Ali27]

My ginger baby is 3 in May. I got her last July, pretty much unhandled as had been living in a big herd with lots of friends. She now leads well, fine for farrier to trim, loads in trailer and self loaded yesterday and will take her out next week in trailer with my ridden mare. She ties up under supervision. I’ve done a bit of spook busting with plastic bags etc and put surcingle/ rug on her. She’s been out 24/7 all Winter with my other two so just do bits at the weekend periodically. She is booked for teeth in mid April so will bit her then. Need to get husband to drive truck with trailer past us in field and then I will start taking her for inhand walks or lead and ride. Will start long reining once she is bitted. No plans to start her under saddle until next Spring when she is 4 and will do it super slowly

 

[Hackback]

Mine has been introduced to bridle, bit, roller, side reins and bareback pad without batting an eyelid. Stands nicely (sometimes with a reminder) for a rug on/off, good to worm, OK with the vet and dentist. Front feet are pretty solid - will pick up with a tap and a voice request and holds up nicely. Hinds are sometimes OK and if he's in a grump he might kick out. For the trimmer he's OK as long as there are no distractions and until he gets bored, then he starts to strop but last time I put his breaking bit in when he started being a pain which occupied him long enough to get finished so I'll have that on standby next time. On the yard he leads, stops, starts, turns with the handler and stands at the mounting block while I pat his back and far side. He yields shoulders and quarters and backs up nicely. Off the yard he loses the plot slightly, so lots to work on!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Mine went showing today. He did 3 shows as a yearling, 2 as a 2yo. He will do 2 or 3 more spread out across the year. I don't like taking babies out week in week out, they need to out and grow up. He stands tied up for a groom, loves a bath, is polite turning out and coming in, picks all 4 feet up etc. He does need a poke up the bum to go in the trailer but he stands quietly when in. Obviously he has been bitted.

In the autumn we will decide if he is being gelded or licence. Depending on how well developed he is I may start to break him to ride late autumn but if he isn't ready he will be left to a 4yo for that.

 

[Marnie]

Eric is 3 in June. I have pretty much left him alone up until now. He leads and will tie up (under supervision), can be groomed and trimmed and doesn't seem to bother about cows (on a beef farm) and will happily let the JCB / tractors go past him. He has been bitted (after having his teeth checked) and I lead him in a headslip and bit with a headcollar, with any pressure being on the headcollar rope and not the bit. Our one failing is picking up feet - sometimes he will be fine and other times it is a real struggle. We are now working consistently on this so am hoping that it will improve!

 

[Horseysheepy]

You'll get there with the feet, Marnie!

Mine are not that great with feet, particularly the yearling, but going out and doing foot training in a big field with their mates hanging out with them like a bunch of interfering youths is not an easy task!

It's easier if you give yourself a nice block of time, say two weeks at a time, bring them in on a sturdy enclosed piece of ground and really work at picking up feet. Keep safe and make sure you're not alone in case you get hurt by a flying hoof.

I find blocks of time works better, then chill away from them for a few days to absorb things.

 

[ihatework]

3yo’s I do short targeted education spells then leave them be out in the herd minimally handled.
I don’t do leading about all over the place in hand. Plus I’m a bit allergic to showing.

Around this time last year My 2 x 3yo’s last year were dragged off the field for a months pre-school where both came in overnight. Learnt to tie, bridle, roller, saddle. Lead about in school over poles/tarpaulins. Leant over. One was literally sat on and lead, the other was too weak so wasn’t. Both had wolf teeth out.

Then later in summer both spent 4-6 weeks at breakers and I then did a further 4 weeks hacking. Then they both got turfed out again.

 

[Horseysheepy]

3yo’s I do short targeted education spells then leave them be out in the herd minimally handled.
I don’t do leading about all over the place in hand. Plus I’m a bit allergic to showing.

Around this time last year My 2 x 3yo’s last year were dragged off the field for a months pre-school where both came in overnight. Learnt to tie, bridle, roller, saddle. Lead about in school over poles/tarpaulins. Leant over. One was literally sat on and lead, the other was too weak so wasn’t. Both had wolf teeth out.

Then later in summer both spent 4-6 weeks at breakers and I then did a further 4 weeks hacking. Then they both got turfed out again.

You have took the words out of my mouth, this is my plan with my youngsters too.

 

[monte1]

My homebred chap will be three in May, ( I have no idea where the time has gone !) he lives out pretty much 24/7 with my other riding horse, will happily be left on his own in field and is happy in stable if need be, he moved fields a few times as a very young foal and yearling so is good travelling box/trailer. has been bitted when we did one in hand show as a yearling. leads and ties up, does feet etc, I popped a roller on him a few weeks ago with no drama and a saddle last week, again he wasn't at all worried- i have lead him in-hand around the fields a few times and he does seem to enjoy a change of scenery . i am in no rush to back him but will do a few bits during the summer and see if it warrants doing a initial backing this year, literally, lean over sit on and lead about, before he gets to big, he is at least 15.2hh now and his full brother is about 16.2hh and rising 5. I want him to go away to someone far better than me for his initial ridden education and plan to do that next year when he turns 4.

 

[shortstuff99]

You need to join the 3/4 year old mega thread where we have all been documenting our journeys

 

[Palindrome]

This little poppet might go to the breed show in the Spring. She has worn a saddle and has done some little walks in hand. Not sure if I'll try to get on board this year or next year.

 

[WelshHoarder]

Mine are 3 in April & May, and so far have done very little. A bit of general groundwork in the school to get them leading nicely, a couple of in-hand hacks, but mostly just making sure they’re good with the farrier (still a work in progress with Penny, although she is getting a lot better) and reasonably polite (again, a work in progress with Penny, she’s definitely got the Welsh Dragon attitude!). Satin has had tack on before I got her, but I haven’t done anything like that with her since she arrived. Mostly they’ve been out 24/7 unless the weather is truly dreadful, just being horses. They have buddied up together quite nicely as the two babies in the gang, which is lovely to watch. They’ve got a groundwork session again this weekend with my son’s instructor, who will hopefully help to back them when the time comes. Loose plan is to bit them in the spring, maybe lightly back late summer before turning them away again until they’re at least 4, but we’ll see how things go and if they’re ready. They’re generally both lovely to be around though, and both so funny - definitely goofy babies compared to the others!

 

[bubsqueaks]

Your boy is lovely and I’m excited to see his progress with you.

My filly is 3 this year, but not until September so I’ll be taking it slow. Shes quite fine and immature right now. She’s done lots of handling already and is great with being faffed and fussed with - a real love bug with no hang ups. She’s had a bit in 3 times and went to one in hand show last year but that was pretty much it.

I’m hoping to get her out to a handful of shows this year, nice low key local ones to build confidence away from home.

We will be doing plenty of ponying off my very steady boy once the weather and ground is good, learning the hacking routes around the farm. Towards the end of the summer I will probably get her to wear all tack and do some gentle long lining in straight lines hacking. She will see the school but only to do some basic in hand work and games.

I may lean over her and introduce weight for a few strides but she won’t be actually backed until next year, and even then she may have a good break until proper work starts at 4/5.

View attachment 107921

She's beautiful what's her breeding?

 

[dorsetladette]

Mine is out 24/7. But I have done an a lot with him.

We've messed around with things since he arrived at 9 months old. He was shown a bit as a yearling. He was shown a bit more as a 2 yr old. But we aimed at different enviroments rather than chasing judges. So, he's been in an indoor school, outdoor school. He's seen banners round arena's and heared tanoy systems. He's been to busy/buzzy shows and quiet shows. He's hung around in a collecting ring watching showjumping and ridden classes (ridden and inhand collecting ring together, it wasn't my choice). He travels well and loves being in the lorry. He's good with the farrier and vet (which both took some work). He is walked out in hand near where we live. Our fields back on to a main busy trunk road so all our youngsters/ponies see pretty heavy traffic of all shapes and sizes and so are traffic proofed naturally. He's worn driving harness and pottered round the field in it. He's worn a saddle and rollers and all sorts of other things. I've lent over him a couple of times. Last weekend I wanted to lean over him again maybe with the starts of a little walk, but I was alone so instead he learnt to stand at the mounting block - he thought he was the cleverest pony around and got lots of treats and praise.

We do all this 'stuff' so that everything outside of riding is pretty normal by the time we get to that point. I don't want to be that person at clinics saying 'its his first time in an arena' or 'he's never seen coloured poles before' - we all know the ones! I find them really frustrating and don't think a clinic is the right place or event to start introducing ponies to new things. It not fair on the others in the group, unless its that kind of clinic or event.

Anyway on balance what we do with our babies takes up very little of their lives and they are out in a field 24/7 for the rest of the day.

 

[blitznbobs]

One of my 3 year olds is being put in foal hopefully. The other i will be bitting long reining round the farm to get her used to life before being lightly backed in the autumn and chucked out for the winter.

 

[Btomkins]

She's beautiful what's her breeding?

Thanks, she is incredibly pretty. My others are cobs/heavy’s so the difference is noticeable Her dam is Lusitano and her sire is doylan silver ghost - Arab/Welsh B.

 

[Btomkins]

Mine is out 24/7. But I have done an a lot with him.

We've messed around with things since he arrived at 9 months old. He was shown a bit as a yearling. He was shown a bit more as a 2 yr old. But we aimed at different enviroments rather than chasing judges. So, he's been in an indoor school, outdoor school. He's seen banners round arena's and heared tanoy systems. He's been to busy/buzzy shows and quiet shows. He's hung around in a collecting ring watching showjumping and ridden classes (ridden and inhand collecting ring together, it wasn't my choice). He travels well and loves being in the lorry. He's good with the farrier and vet (which both took some work). He is walked out in hand near where we live. Our fields back on to a main busy trunk road so all our youngsters/ponies see pretty heavy traffic of all shapes and sizes and so are traffic proofed naturally. He's worn driving harness and pottered round the field in it. He's worn a saddle and rollers and all sorts of other things. I've lent over him a couple of times. Last weekend I wanted to lean over him again maybe with the starts of a little walk, but I was alone so instead he learnt to stand at the mounting block - he thought he was the cleverest pony around and got lots of treats and praise.

We do all this 'stuff' so that everything outside of riding is pretty normal by the time we get to that point. I don't want to be that person at clinics saying 'its his first time in an arena' or 'he's never seen coloured poles before' - we all know the ones! I find them really frustrating and don't think a clinic is the right place or event to start introducing ponies to new things. It not fair on the others in the group, unless its that kind of clinic or event.

Anyway on balance what we do with our babies takes up very little of their lives and they are out in a field 24/7 for the rest of the day.

Totally agree.

There is nothing worse than a rude or worried unhandled youngster for me. As long as they have plenty of time to be youngsters and have appropriate turnout with suitable companions I don’t see why they can’t learn the basics that set them up for life. A happy, confident youngster that has seen a bit of life is always my goal should I need to move them on.

I want them well behaved for the farrier, able to be touched and groomed all over (including baths), happy to tie up, able to load and travel sensibly etc.

It’s so unfair for any professional such as a farrier to have to deal with a rude/scared youngster because the owner hasn’t put in the minimal work to make it comfortable and easy for all involved, including the horse!

Shock horror I actually sent one of my 3 year olds for backing last year. I would never normally do this but I know him and he was ready. He was ‘hacked’ (pootled around some fields and lanes gently) probably about 15 times in total and has now had the whole winter off to just be a horse. He will be bought back into work towards the end of March and he has a good idea of what is expected of him.

 

[BBP]

Thanks, she is incredibly pretty. My others are cobs/heavy’s so the difference is noticeable Her dam is Lusitano and her sire is doylan silver ghost - Arab/Welsh B.

That’s why I liked her so much obviously! My older horse is 3/4 pre and 1/4 Welsh B, so we have some similarities. My youngster Connemara looks like a gorgeous little draft horse in comparison!

 

[dorsetladette]

Totally agree.

There is nothing worse than a rude or worried unhandled youngster for me. As long as they have plenty of time to be youngsters and have appropriate turnout with suitable companions I don’t see why they can’t learn the basics that set them up for life. A happy, confident youngster that has seen a bit of life is always my goal should I need to move them on.

I want them well behaved for the farrier, able to be touched and groomed all over (including baths), happy to tie up, able to load and travel sensibly etc.

It’s so unfair for any professional such as a farrier to have to deal with a rude/scared youngster because the owner hasn’t put in the minimal work to make it comfortable and easy for all involved, including the horse!

Shock horror I actually sent one of my 3 year olds for backing last year. I would never normally do this but I know him and he was ready. He was ‘hacked’ (pootled around some fields and lanes gently) probably about 15 times in total and has now had the whole winter off to just be a horse. He will be bought back into work towards the end of March and he has a good idea of what is expected of him.

My 3yr old will be riding away/hacking by the end of the summer. He will do other things too, a few in hand shows etc. He'll then have most of the winter off, mostly due to my working hours and lack of facilities at home. He will then do a few ridden showing classes as a 4 yr old and maybe the odd dressage test, but mostly he will be hacking. He will also be broken to drive at some point in this time, but this I will need to get outside help for.

The 2yr old will attend a few shows this summer and walk out in hand. He will be wearing tack and harness and doing all the things already done with the 3yr old. It will take longer with him as he's easily overwhelmed and generally not very bright, bless him.

My plan is to have 2 well rounded ponies that are nice people to be around - its working so far.

 

[Hackback]

Just a question - most people seem to turn away for the winter (after backing) rather than summer. I can see this is a far more preferable option for the human, but thinking ahead I thought it might be better to keep mine ticking over through winter and let him have time off when the grass comes through and he can chill and graze in the field. This is assuming he does get backed in the autumn of course.