Turning a baby away - how long is enough time?!

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BUCKandREAR

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Youngster is 3 and half, backed and riding away since July/aug, has done 2 dressage w&t tests doing very well in both, hacking quietly alone and in company, walking and trotting nicely in the school. Have done some canter in the school about 4 times. Her routine: hacking in walk only 3 x per week for 30 mins and schooling 1 x per week walk and trot for 20/25 mins. I have always been very careful not to over do it or push - very willing youngster so would be easy to get carried away. Always booted up, careful not to trot on hard ground atall, nice legs no splints etc, never sour etc
I was thinking about turning away from now till mid Feb. Then start hacking out and building up from around mid feb for the 2012 showing season starting April.
Do you think this would give them sufficient enough time to have a break mentally and physically for a horse that will be 4 in may 2012?
Also i want to introduce jumping and xc next autumn (will be 4 and half) what age do/did you plan/start to introduce jumping?
thanks
 
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my baby is three (turned 3 in July) - he has been doing the ground work such as lunging and long reining and leading out on the roads, he will now have winter off and will be brought back into the groundwork early next year in prep for him being backed early next spring (at nearly 4)- he'll then have around 4 weeks off and begin a ridden career similar to yours. I personally wouldn't give him anymore turned away time than that. He will be grown up so just a little holiday will be suffice for him :) hes a welsh X warmblood so hes quite thick set already... I may be different if he was a more weedy type .
 
My 3 year old cob was started in June this year. (he was 3 in May).
He had one month with the trainer and since he has been home we have hacked out 2 or 3 times per week and have done 5 pleasure rides.
He is now having a 6/7 month break to mature and will be brought back into work when he goes back to the trainer for a refresher at the beginning of June next year.

He was ready to start, he has a very active brain and needed something to do, but he is only young and need the 6 months off now to mature and develop.

I think the OP is doing the right thing, if anything you could give your youngster a little more time!
 
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