Turning yuong one away?

kateknights

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I had a lesson on my new boy yesterday, he was really good, instructor thinks he is a smasher and we will learn a lot together, which was great to hear
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. She advised me that after Christmas i should turn him away for a couple of months to mature. He is 3 and has been broken in for 6 months, he hacks alone and in company and i take him out in the trailer once a week for either a hack at a friends or for a lesson at our local menage which we hire out and he takes everything in his stride, such a fab temprement. Do you think it would be okat to turn him away after Crimbo? Having not had such a youngster befor, i just want to do what is right by him?
Thanks
Kate x
 
Hi Absolutely, give him a good reat and holiday and he will pay you ten times over. The risk if you dont is that he could get bored and irritable and naughty, leave him out, let him mature, grow and develop a bit more and you will love him even more, good luck he sounds ace for such a youngster!
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I would turn him out for a few months & bring him back in the spring. I've done this with both of my youngsters and it really helps them mature, but if he is getting bored ( he will let you know) then you can still walk him out in hand a few times a week or ride & lead if you have that option.
 
Do you know that we Brits are the only ones who believe in "turning away"? If you feel like riding, ride. I've ridden all my three year olds right through, and surprise, surprise, they matured mentally and physically just like they would have done if they had been turned away.

Your fellow could be turned away to mature and come back feeling big and strong and sure of himself and start bucking you off.

It's not "wrong" to turn him away, just unnecessary. Do whatever you feel like doing.
 
I broke my irish mare at three did the same as you hacked her out gentle schooling, turned her away last xmas and brought her back into work this summer. I was unsure if to do it to but i believe it was the best thing she came back to work like a duck to water and better than before she remembered all the good stuff, and is now stronger but has never considered using this extra strenght to be naughty. The rest was the best thing and i wouldnt hesitate again in the future. They need time to grow and mature. Turn him away !
 
Taluna, how do you know that the rest was the best thing, though? My experience, and that of the whole of continental Europe, is that they grow and mature anyway!

People should turn away if they don't want to work their horse through the winter, and carry on with a level of work appropriate to a three year old if they do. The horse will grow and mature whichever you choose, it's just it's a personal choice you make.
 
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