Turning youngsters away or not?

[Poppy2003]

I have a large native gelding who is 4 at the end of May. He’s been away at breaking livery for the last 5 weeks. I wasn’t planning on backing him until the summer but due to flooding our turnout was becoming restricted so I thought he’d be better off somewhere else with turnout and some activity.
Backing generally went well and he was walk,trotting and cantering on both reins towards the end. I had a sit on him on the last day. The plan was to do a week of work at home with him then turn him away but due to the weather and the school needing maintenance I’ve only lunged him once in full tack in the week he’s been back.
what’s the thoughts nowadays re turning away? He can now live out 24/7 so do I just leave him now for a couple of months or do I keep going?
Thanks

 

[ycbm]

You'll get all sorts of answers, but the answer I put most store by is that turning away a newly broken youngster is only a "thing" in the UK.

Do it if it suits you, don't if it doesn't, as long as you don't over work him he'll grow up fine whichever you choose.
.

 

[paddy555]

I don't get the logic in turning him away now unless you are planning on sending him back to have further schooling.
Having started him I would work him daily. That would be lots of long reining out, no lunging, walks out in hand, groundwork, loose schooling and riding 3 times a week. Only short amounts of riding but enough to keep the message home that he is now a ridden horse. None of that would be physically hard due to him being such a young horse but it would be to make a point and encourage him to continue learning. It may only be 10 minutes groundwork on the way to the field but he would be continuing to learn.

Otherwise I would turn him away for the summer and then send him back to the breaking yard either in the Autumn or leave him turned out over the winter and send him back to the breaking yard next spring

 

[ihatework]

I would always give youngsters periodic breaks. BUT, unless you are planning to send the horse back to the pro after the holiday I wouldn’t give a break just yet - I’d do at least another 4 weeks of light work, possibly 6, before giving a break

 

[Poppy2003]

Appreciate your thoughts thanks.
I think I will continue to do something with him as he seemed to enjoy it and he was a much nicer/calmer level headed horse with a job. He won’t have a hard ridden life with me regardless. I was thinking of really focusing on things like standing nicely to mount and long lining out and about rather than schooling etc

 

[Poppy2003]

Plus... he’s had an absolutely gorgeous saddle fitted now so would be a shame for that to just sit there ?

 

[tallyho!]

He's quite young but some light hacking and groundwork over the summer will strengthen the ligaments and tendons (therefore bones) but I'd find turnout for the winter so you can turn him away with movement until next spring before you start again. I always give horses breaks over winter. Just what I like to do.

 

[tallyho!]

Plus... he’s had an absolutely gorgeous saddle fitted now so would be a shame for that to just sit there ?

Well you'll have plenty of fun changing that as he grows

 

[Poppy2003]

Well you'll have plenty of fun changing that as he grows

youngsters are definitely not the cheap option ?

 

[tallyho!]

youngsters are definitely not the cheap option ?

Part of the fun though... I love saddle fittings and the smell of new saddles and the feel lol I'm so sad

 

[Littlebear]

I think if turning away is on the cards I am not sure I would do it yet tbh, maybe carry on for a bit especially when the weather will be nice to get hacking and if you want to give him a break I would wait till later in the year, it should be a good time soon to get out to some arena hires and clinics to get some more education in.

 

[Marigold4]

I would turn him away next autumn/winter. Take advantage of the better daylight hours and weather while it's here. Enjoy!