Up to what age is a horse still a youngster to you?

JoBo

JoBo

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I know it all depends on when they were backed, how much training, breed etc but up to what age do you consider a horse a youngster?

Was talking to someone the other day about Bodey and I said he was 5, and they said ‘still only a youngster then’. But I don’t really consider him a youngster anymore as he has been backed over 20 months now and we have done quite a bit.

Just wondering.
 
Sol is still a youngster to me
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She won't be when she hits 5 though ....
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I call my Haffie a youngster(still call her a baby sometimes!) and she's 4 and a half. I think I call her it because she's still learning....she's in the process of being broken in and she is still immature.
 
At 5 I no longer consider them youngsters. I do find it interesting that people may "take it easy" with a 5 yr old whilst others have already entered their 4 yr olds for the Potential Badminton classes.

I suppose it's horses for courses as to how quickly you decide to bring them on.
 
At 5 i would definately still be calling my horses youngsters but then again mine are broken at 4 and are worked very lightly for the first year- no galloping or jumping and are only actually asked to work properly at 5 at the minimum. They still arent fully mature at 5 either hense why i dont ask to much to soon. Id be calling mine youngsters up until they are 6 i think or therabouts.
 
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At 5 I no longer consider them youngsters. I do find it interesting that people may "take it easy" with a 5 yr old whilst others have already entered their 4 yr olds for the Potential Badminton classes.

I suppose it's horses for courses as to how quickly you decide to bring them on.

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I think it depends a lot on the breed and the horse.

Haflingers, for example, should do any training other than handling and manners until they are 4 yo, this is so they are given time to mature properly and fully understand what is being asked of them.....
 
i consider any horse under 7 to be a youngster and therefor unpredictable ect due to age and not temp! I dont alter my view on when they were backed/i dont think it does depend on backing as they all take different lengths of time. I would expect more from a 7 yrold than a 5 yrold as the brain should be mature at 7! If i back at 3 i still would forgive certain ways from a 5 year old. I had a vet out to a friends horse and he was looking for arthritic changes he commented that there shouldnt be any as the horse wasnt an older horse,,, he was 12!!
 
mines a tb and is 10 but still acts like a 3 year old lol. so when he learns to grow up and act his age lmao!!
 
My friend has a Haffy that was imported and she bought it a 4, it was already being driven and ridden.
Must say, it's ridden work leaves alot to be desired though. Not sure if it's wooden because it was broken to drive first or if it is just ignorant of what is being asked of it.
Nice pony mind
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FWIW, I don't see the point of asking too much too young unless you are in the business of selling on and therefore looking for a quick turnaround on your investment.
 
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My friend has a Haffy that was imported and she bought it a 4, it was already being driven and ridden.
Must say, it's ridden work leaves alot to be desired though. Not sure if it's wooden because it was broken to drive first or if it is just ignorant of what is being asked of it.
Nice pony mind
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I see a lot of these kind of Haffies for sale and TBH I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. All Haflingers need time to mature and anything broken in before it was 4 will have temperament problems...in my experience. .
 
Up to about six I think, as a general rule...
My friend's 7yo cob is still green but isn't a baby any more in her attitude, whereas she was this time last year (she had to be doing something, thinking about something, at all times or she'd get bored and naughty!) We have a 6yo at work only backed this summer and she is still a youngster in my eyes as she still acts like one, not because she was only backed this year. We have a 5yo who, although she is a stroppy madam, never really acts like a baby - she is adult as far as I am concerned (and I often forget she is so young!)
So it's flexible, but about six is when they tend to start growing up!
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Maybe she bucks the trend because she has a lovely temperament. Is great with children and adults alike and adapts nicely to whoever is riding her.
She is willful but that seems to be a breed trait from what I can gather.
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I consider a youngster to be 5/6 and below. Although with Haddy for example, he is quite inexperienced - yes he has done events etc but hasn't been schooled/showjumped or xc schooled properly and is just learning how to do things like mediums and lateral work...as well as pick his legs up properly! So when someone asks me, I say he is 7, but I would expect a 6, maybe youngerin some cases tobe at the stage he was when I got him
 
i class 5yro's as adult horses, so 4 and below as youngsters. i tend to back lightly in the late autumn of the 3yro year and then work them sporadically as 4yros.
 
I'd say they are still youngsters until they are 5/6yrs, but then it all depends on your point of view.
I think if you are working horses with a view to sell on/get rid of them if they go unsound, then working them at 3yr old, to get them starting their competitive career at 4yr old, with lots of miles on the clock, is perceived as a good thing.
Personally, I would never break anything (at all) til it was fully 4yr old. But then, I intend to keep my, horses til they die, and a bit of care while they are still weak and growing, til their joints are fused, can extend their working lives.
Interestingly, the same people who tell me my 3yo should be jumping 1.20m, are the same ones who tell me my 20yr old Tb looks amazingly good for her age. D'uh.
S
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A youngster to me would be up to 6- imo before that they aren't really ready for "proper work"
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But that's I'm my experience with young horses- that's all I have ever had and at 5 they would just be out seeing the world with occasional competitions, and doing a bit of everything.
When they hit 6 I start to do a little more grown up work, with more comps and being more competitive, and starting to event.

When they hit 7 they are ready for the big bad world
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and have plenty of experience behind them
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My tb 5yo is definatly still a youngster, and will be next year as well, his appearance and behaviour is that of a youngster, still a lot of maturing to do.

Do you call teenagers adults?
 
Depends on the horse as some act a lot older than others. One of mine only seemed to behave like a youngster for about 2 months when I got him as a 5yo, whereas my other horse has been a youngster until earlier this year when he turned 8 1/2!! Some horses take much longer than others. But in general, when I look to buy a youngster Im looking at a 4 or early 5yo.
 
yes i think your right
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when hes retired i dont even think then he will be acting his age lol. he is abit special.
i went to catch him today and this is what goes through his mind.
NO IM NOT READY YET [canters away]
oooh but you have a carrot [ walks towards me]
HAHA nice try!! [canter away again]

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me not impressed!
then he hears the feed being sturred an all of a sudden he is busting to come in pawing at the ground wickering.
naughty boy
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