turn away or keeping in work - pros and cons with a 3yr old.?

Turn away or keep in work? 3yr old

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BUCKandREAR

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Here is the scenario:

Horse 3 last may, July - backed slowly, lots of ground work/long reining etc,
Aug: Riding away quietly, hacking 3 x per week for max 50 mins mainly walking, schooling 1 x per week 30 mins, becoming fitter and stronger all the time with a noticeable difference. Horse is a native type cob. Mentally and physically mature. Seems to thrive on work.

Plans are:

Spring/summer 2012 - ridden showing classes, dressage prelim, introduce a bit of jumping toward late summer/early autumn.

Autumn 2012 - Cubbing, hopefully hunting too

Would you:
A) Keep in light work throughout the winter (same as above)
B) Turn away from end of september till April next year then start work again.

What are your reasons for your answers??
Thanks :)
 
I voted turn away. I personally wouldn't have backed him before 4 years old, but as he is already backed, turning away is the next best thing. :)

Mentally and physically mature
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He may be mentally mature and it is wonderful that he loves his work, but he isn't physically mature yet. If you haven't read it, this is a very interesting article.

http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf

The growth plates on the vertebrae don't finish closing until the horse or pony is approx 5 1/2 years old.
 
BUCKandREAR said:
Here is the scenario:


Aug: Riding away quietly, hacking 3 x per week for max 50 mins mainly walking, schooling 1 x per week 30 mins, becoming fitter and stronger all the time with a noticeable difference. Horse is a native type cob. Mentally and physically mature. Seems to thrive on work.
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This paragraph says it all!! Keep this one in a bit of work over the winter - that's what I'm doing with my 4 year old, he's the same type and thrives on routine, getting better all the time, he will have a couple of weeks off over xmas as I give myself a break then, but apart from that we are going to crack on!!
 
I would turn away ,but if I wanted to do things next spring/summer I would get back into work end of Feb at the latest so it would be able to get fit and schooled without rushing.If left until April will be several months before being fit enough to prepare for outings and can end up rushing to get there.
I feel a complete break does them good physically and mentally.
 
So for those who turn away how long would you turn away for??

Getting very conflicting advise from people such as instructors and trainers, some say do not turn away others say yes, turn away??!

November to end of Feb was what i was thinking?
 
I have a 3 year old, and although he was an early foal (born 2nd April), he is very immature in himself. This subject really interests me as I wanted to break him in and turn away for the winter. The thing is - I think this is partly because it is what I have always been taught.

I looked into it further, haven done plenty of reading and research, and I came across such information that Faracat refers to. I have decided to send him away to be broken when he is 4 - that is - if he is ready then. xx
 
I would bring him back into work in the early spring slowly and gently. I would then build his workload up gradually. I wouldn't do 'hard' work (eg hunting) with him until he was 5.

You may think that I'm over-cautious but I've had alot to do with broken ex-racers (of course they are worked very hard, young) and I will take it slowly with my own horses. :)
 
Faracat said:
I would bring him back into work in the early spring slowly and gently. I would then build his workload up gradually. I wouldn't do 'hard' work (eg hunting) with him until he was 5.

You may think that I'm over-cautious but I've had alot to do with broken ex-racers (of course they are worked very hard, young) and I will take it slowly with my own horses. :)
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Wise idea :)

I also have a ex racer who i bought (unknowingly) as a 3yr old (was told 6) :rolleyes: 3 years on and i have had to turn her away last spring due to spinal problems, am hoping after a good 12 months of field rest she may come well again to start in the spring, my vet suggested she could come into work anytime now but am giving her another 6 months. I really think she did far too much too soon. :mad:
 
BUCKandREAR said:
So for those who turn away how long would you turn away for??

Getting very conflicting advise from people such as instructors and trainers, some say do not turn away others say yes, turn away??!

November to end of Feb was what i was thinking?
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For me, if you intend to show then early November to early February would be about right but it would also be dependent on the weather/your work hours/access to a school.
The break will do him nothing but good and by break I mean either turning away 24/7 or being turned out all day and nothing but the basics done with him; let him grow his coat and mane, just let him chill out completely, preferably with company too. He'll come back both physically and mentally stronger but you should still take care not to overface him and start him off as a complete novice again and take your time over getting him fit enough for the work you want of him.
 
I would turn him away even if only for one or two months just to give him a bit more time to mature a bit. Just because he is level headed and enjoys his work doesn't mean that he is ready to work hard. He will still have some growing to do and the link that Faracat posted highlights the importance of avoiding "too much too soon". As others have said, turn away until February and then bring him back into work slowly, I bet you'll notice a big difference.
 
Have you got another horse so you could 'pony' him so he still gets out and experiencing life/building the relationship but there isn't the human weight on him?

I've got a 3.5 yr old and that's what I want to do as movement so valuable but easier said that done - box carries one, need a calm horse to ride and lead off etc
 
Native types physically mature much later than tbs & arabs so I would be backing at four, turn away for winter and schooling lightly & showing at 5.

That's my opinion.

Too quick to rush horses into work these days. I currently have a native x who was ridden hard at 3 - he's rising 12 with all sorts of joint problems.. shoulder, stifle, hock and foot!

He's not the only one I have heard of getting "old" at 12!!!
 
I wouldnt do any riding over winter but do more long reining, ground work and with mine i did alot of bombproofing (i.e. set tarp out, flags etc) around our yard. Sounds silly but those 4 mths ground work has made her into a well rounded mare, it also helps when you start xc and jumping.
 
I've just brought a unhanded 3 yr old (4 in the spring), so teaching him everything from leading to lunging during the autum and carry on till the snow hits, then as so as it clears start again, aiming to have have him broken at Easter, rode away over the summer. And a break mid summer when I go on my hols.
 
I also voted turn away - Horses are not mentally or physically mature enough to be in regular work. His spine has not yet completed its growth.

If you want your horse to live to a ripe old age free of joint problems then turn him away, allow him to grow and mature over the next six months. Winter is always harder on a horse and her really needs this time to digest what has been done with him.
 
If he's a big, strong lad, then why not keep him ticking over until "proper" work next spring? I find that most 3 year olds, if they are tidy, mature types - not the lanky, growthy sorts - quite like having something to do.
 
I have voted "other" I would turn away from end of October until end/mid April. then bring very slowly into work. if thats not possible then just turn him away from end Sept until earlier May ,complete turn away,just let him chill and grow and enjoy the relaxation. Will do him a lot of good.
 
I voted turn away too as in my opinion he is too young for his breeding. I would have preferred him to have been backed at 4 to 5 to be honest too, but as that has already been done then there is no going back. I have read that native cobs don't mature until around 8. I would agree with this based on the experience of my own cob. He is a gypsy vanner, was bought as a just backed 6 year old, green and only just broken in for the auction. We took it very steady with him doing lots of ground work, long reining, leading out on roads, lunging and pole work. Do you know what it paid off. Not only is he a chilled out horse most of the time ( gets excited at rides and shows though) but I think it did his mental and physical wellbeing the world of good. He has also grown by at least 2 inches since we bought him too. Don't forget he was just over 6 when I bought him. 6 years of age!
Personally I hate seeing travelling horses doing what they do at the ages that they break them in. No concern for the well being or longevity of the horse and its joints!
Somebody mentioned not to hunt until he is around 5, I would be thinking more like between 6 and 8 years old to be honest depending just how native this cob is.
Hunting is an extreme test for horse and rider and puts so much pressure on those joints. Trotting down the lanes and fast work through soft ground, jumping ditches etc will test the horses physique to the max.
Personally I would take it very steady indeed with the cob now he has been broken in and certainly give him a very, very long winter off. When he is brought back slow and steady work and as others have said don't over face him. In reality he is still a baby. My horse did not mature in his head until he was around 8. Good luck though.
 
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I backed my youngster last summer when he was 3 1/2, but only went as far as sitting on him and a short meander around the school because he was very croup high and physically immature. Mentally he is very bright. He's been back in work for about a month now, he will be five next April, and will only be worked lightly over the winter with a mix of school work, hacking and ground work because he still has a lot of filling out to do. He is Welsh D/Irish Draft.
 
Where I used to work they would be backed at 3, with a few stints of a rider on them, then turned away for 6-9 months, sometimes a year depending on what type of horse it was, i.e its growth, physical and mental strength and then back, worked lightly til they were rising 5 then went to a few parties.
They all came back better then befpre and they were all nice calm "people" when they went into proper work.
So turn him away for the winter. The break always does them good. If you think he is getting bored, walks inhand, some groundwork in the school etc wouldn't go amiss to keep him "ticking over" but from my experience they all see to really enjoy the break :)
 
I would also turn away. My youngster was backed and hacked lightly at 3, turned away for 3 months that winter, in light work his 4 year old summer, then given 2 months off between 4 and 5. He's now ridden 5 times a week, had a fortnight off in June, then another 10 days in august, and will be turned away for a month in November. Next year will probably cut the shorter breaks down to a week in march a week in June and a week in September, then again a good month in winter. It seems to suit him
 
To be honest unless you either have an indoor school or an outdoor with a very good surface snow will dictate a lot of what you will be able to do. I also agree with another poster that 3 is a big young for a cob - mine didn't finish growing until he was 8!
 
I voted 'other' as my 3 yr old is still lounging about the field, and has only had a bridle on about 3 times! I don't believe in doing anything with them until at least 4, or possible older.

My last one was 4.5yrs before breaking, the 2 before that were 6yrs old.

And its not as if they are ponies, current 3yr old is 16.1hh and still growing, but mentally very immature, so thats why I will leave him until I feel he is looking for something to do.
 
I have decided to keep in light work till the end of October then turn away until March, will then be brought back into work slowly. TBH i think the weather will dictate most of her ridden work anyway. She is living in a small herd out 24/7 with a few others (a baby, a TB who has been turned away till next year) and an oldie.
I want her to last and not ruin her, shes too special for that, so turn away is a good option looking on these replies, thank you everyone for your input :D
It is hard to know whats right though as read lots about people not turning away and just carrying on?
I don't feel as though she has done too much, not by far. Road work mainly and always walking, no trotting atall, no jumping (strictly until autumn next year) and when i do take her hunting she will be only staying out max 2 - 3 hours and i won't be jumping her till the following season.
 
If you want to be riding a fit and well horse in it's late teens, twenties or more, then don't work it hard in the beginning, as this horse has been. Depending on what type of cob he is, he won't mature until 7 - 9 years of age. Leave him alone for the winter, then start on groundwork only - this can be very varied from teaching via a long rope to long-reining.
 
My 3 year old has been backed and for about 4 weeks lightly hacked out and thrived on this but as other posters have mentioned, at this age they are still physically maturing.

I don't know if this helps but we are turning away in regards to ridden work but as recommended by a trainer we are going to continue with ground work to keep him going (as he needs this mental stimulation) and desensitise him further, walk over poles, more walking out in traffic etc

Maybe this could be something to suit ur horse x

Hope this helps
Gem
 
With my youngster I turned him away from October-April.

However he did come in every night and was handled and groomed as my other horse has to come in at night at winter and it was the best thing I did. He gave him chsnce to grow mentally and physically. Also the twice a day handling stopped him becoming to big for his boots:p
 
tallyho! said:
Native types physically mature much later than tbs & arabs so I would be backing at four, turn away for winter and schooling lightly & showing at 5.

!
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I always understood that arabs were very late to mature?!:confused:

I am watching this post with much interest as I have a 3 yo (may) and I have started his education. I feel he is physically immature and is still growing. currently 16hh

he is currently working on the lunge with roller and bit. he tackles coloured and rustic poles, calvaletti and small jumps, does cross country obstacles, ditches, banks, steps etc, will tackle bending with flags, curtains, platforms, tarps, is happy to stand by the mounting block with people on the top and standing whilst horses are clipped, is good to box, and shoe. regularly meets quads, gaitors, tractors and diggers.

this has all been done without a school, but one is being installed and is complete bar the sand/rubber which is immenient and will be floodlit.

Winter is approaching and I am not sure how to progress. he will be out 23/7 has always lived out bar snow when he was barned in the past. I do have the option of a stable.

Thoughts??
 
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