Too soon?

[severnmiles]

Do you think its too soon to start lunging, long reining and backing Rhi? She's 3y.o around Feb or March, she's bored stiff and now the pups are going and Ernie is lame I'm a little bored.

 

[Nickymac]

Bored???!!! Fancy a life swap for a week or two?

We've got some nice hunters, you could ride William, and if want to back something Jupiter is in the field looking cute.

I don't think it's too soon btw.

 

[LouHardwick]

i think you know your horse better than anyone- long reining is great idea for bringing on without pressure IMO.
Lungeing- well depends how developed the horse is- as long as its big circles i dont see why not.
I think if you start now, then you will be well prepared to back in the new year.
i was leading my 2 year old round the village to give her world experience, then long reining ect at 3 and lunging, back at 3.5 and she was a doddle. as she had seen it all before she took to it like a pro.

Go for it but be ready to back off if your horse goes stale.

Good look x

 

[ajf]

It would be okay to take her for walks and stuff, but personally I wouldn't get on till the summer or do too much lunging.
Used to walk mine round a 20min trot hack (took well over an hour!), okay with the one that daudled but Woody marched the whole way, so only did it with him once!!!
Used to walk mine through the water jumps, river, over ditches, over logs through the woods and allsorts!!!

 

[severnmiles]

[ QUOTE ]
Bored???!!! Fancy a life swap for a week or two?

We've got some nice hunters, you could ride William, and if want to back something Jupiter is in the field looking cute.

I don't think it's too soon btw.

[/ QUOTE ]

Brilliant, I shall pack my bags and come and play 'hunt groom' to your OH for the Christmas period

 

[severnmiles]

I wouldn't lunge too much and it would be big cirlces, she's a great big mare, sort of looks more like a 4y.o really. I'm just worried if she carries on doing nothing her overactive mind is going to get her injured

I think she'd love walking around the lanes (not under saddle).

 

[Nickymac]

Yay!

This is what you've got to cope with:

http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo782447.html

http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo782447.html

And this is what you have to ride to "nanny" him:

http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo782449.html

http://www.belvoir-photography.com/photo782450.html

So what's the deal at your house? Can I just play with Rhi?

 

[ajf]

Its also nice to have them well taugh to be led, so when your at comps later they now your there and listen to u and not try to bu**er off!
Ours have always enjoyed it!!! As Ilive on a farm they get walks round the sheep and cows and in and out of sheds and past everything, so when u get on there such old pros its great!!!

 

[elaineh]

Here's a link to a study which was done on lunging & horses walkers. It can cause way too much for a growing horses bones and could cause damage.

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1195740744

You could do groundwork stuff (riding prepartion)....hindq yield, foreq yield, backup, sidepass, walk, trot on loose reope, lateral flexion, etc.

The basics too, if not already done.... leading, feet, loading into box, touch all over, cilppers, walking on weird stuff, leading out on walks, seeing the world, gettgin used to cars, bicycles, trucks, cars...

tack stuff....

Getting used to numnahs, saddles, girths, reins, etc just while you're on ground

Basically doing every but get up

Then mayeb next summer do the actual backing, on a very well prepared horse.

Have a read of this about what ages a horses body develops at. their kness do not fully close over until they are 4, thus why its not a good idea to lunge them as 3 yos.

http://irishnhsociety.proboards41.com/in...read=1189155303

Time is one of the most precious gifts you can give a horse, they are a lot out there physically sore or messed up before their ten because they did too much too soon. For me the idea of starting a horse, is to give him the best start in life, so he'll be a pleasure to be around, and he'll also have the best opportunity to live a long healthy life with people who think he's marvellous.

Have fun

 

[icestationzebra]

Long reining yes, walking out in hand, walking over poles - shown traffic etc etc YES definitely. Lunging and backing - too soon for me I'm afraid. I'd start perhaps later summer and then turn away for a bit. She's a lovely looking mare - I look forward to seeing her started - I can understand why you might be feeling a bit impatient!!