Very Scary, similar question to Machannah

[jelibean]

Just logged on for first time in ages to ask views on starting a two year old only to find machannah is experiencing similar problems. What are peoples views on this subject (he was born 04/07/06)? Does anyone really disapprove and for what reason? Are there any advantages / disadvantages to doing this?

My youngster has always been quite bolshy, he did calm a little after he was cut but he is generally quite a strong willed character. Hes not dangerous and we dont have altercations like those machannah is experiencing however he is going through a growth spurt and all of a sudden seems to be getting really big (He now stands at approx. 16.1hh) and filling out nicely he seems quite mature all of a sudden.
Just wondering what peoples views were on this?

 

[Rocky01]

Have Pm'd you.

 

[JanetGeorge]

[ QUOTE ]
Just logged on for first time in ages to ask views on starting a two year old only to find machannah is experiencing similar problems. What are peoples views on this subject (he was born 04/07/06)? Does anyone really disapprove and for what reason? Are there any advantages / disadvantages to doing this?



[/ QUOTE ]

He's a baby (albeit a big baby!) And big babies are VERY prone to developing joint problems if asked to work too young. Instilling ground manners, leading etc is fine - anything else and you risk doing enormous damage that may not show up for several years. And of course he is mentally immature too. Let him grow up - we don't send 8 year olds up chimneys anymore!!

 

[TarrSteps]

Also discussed recently here:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/sh...rue#Post3398456

You are not alone . . .

 

[Foxfolly]

We backed our boy as a 2yo as he was pretty big and getting rather pushy. He was probably about 16.2/3 at 2.
We just did a little long reining in the paddock, got him used to tack and then backed him, he did a very small amount over a couple of months at the back end of the summer, all just in walk once or twice a week max. Just to instill some manners into him. We then did a bit more with him as a 3yo, again mainly on the farm and out for short hacks and this year as a 4yo he is being brought into proper work, and has just started jumping.
We were very careful not to do too much but it definitely helped with his manners etc.

 

[jelibean]

Thankyou JanetGeorge for your comments, i appreciate what your saying and honestly do still see him as a baby. Im trying to establish what is an acceptable level of education for a two year old, for example hes been handled reguarly since birth he leads beautifully even away from the herd and doenst even flinch when hes alone. He was bitted at 14 months becuause he used to rear up box me in the face then try to gallop off which i seem to have cured. I lead him round the front of the yard on sundays when the road is a little quiter than usual to let him get used to the sights and sounds of cars but he gets really strong when he's spooked and i really struggle to dig my heels in now. He was born and has always lived on our farm so isnt phased by any farm machinery including the tractors and combine. The biggest problem is when he sees anything exciting he seems to grow a few more hands and prances, the other biggest bugbear is that he has always been terrible with his feet, lucklily i have a good farrier whos really understanding, but we still have to twitch him to be trimmed, bad i know and partially my fault throught being pregnant for a large proportion of his upbringing. Dont get me wrong hes not a monster and im not scared of him and have always handled him myself even through my pregancy but he is getting sooooo big now (Not just tall). Im not fortunate enough to have the use of a lunging area to loose school just lots of large grassy areas which are useless for that.
IYO what age do you recommend starting your youngsters and to what degree, what is your thoughts on my comments?
Im not trying to start a debate about what is right and wrong just trying to establish what is best for my boy, i know that im definately not planning on doing anything this side of xmas as ive got a five week old baby but i really feel like im getting close to having to do something with him before much longer before i loose him to the abyss of untrainable horses.

 

[jelibean]

Thanks foxfolly thats really interesting to know that it worked out well for you and that it served its purpose instilling some manners, have you experienced any disadvantages health wise to backing your two year old?
Once you'd backed him did you turn him away to mature or did you keep on with light work to further his progress? Also what do you find him like to ride now is he a little immature or do you find he has a good approach to his education.

Sorry for the 20 questions, am so interested in this subject at the minute.

 

[jaffs]

Have you seen Foxfolly's youngster......
It's HUGE

 

[Foxfolly]

No probs re all the Q's!!
I know a lot of people are very anti doing anything with them too young but Ed was getting so big we knew he was strong enough to take our weight as he is built like tank!!

He did very little but enough that it instilled some discipline into his life.

Before we backed him we would take him and our other smaller 2yo on walks up the road in hand to get them used to things, (Ed was a wimp out on the lanes so was easy to handle doing that!!)

In fairness to Ed although he was a bit of a sod to handle on the ground (being strong, pushy and a bit nippy) he's a very laid back character so once he knew what the long reins and tack was for we got on board the 2nd time he was tacked up!!

As a 2yo he just did a bit of walking round the paddock learning how to turn, stop, start and walking around and occasionally over any SJ poles that were lying around on the floor and he also did a few short walks up the lanes, he seemed to really enjoy the attention he was getting!!

Last year he mainly went out for short hacks once or twice a week with my eventer and progressed to doing a bit of trotting and the occasional canter the latter end of the summer. As he is so big although he is strong we felt it was important to still keep the workload very low as he still had a lot of maturing to do.

Then this year he has done more, he's taking to everything really well, he has done some RC lessons and jumped a bit at home in the field then jumped a course of SJ in one of the lessons and just tapped a couple of poles but went over everything 1st time!! He is getting more up together in how he goes now as his muscles are maturing and catching up with the size of his frame!!

I certainly don't think it did him any harm, it gave him somthing to think about and kept him occupied and instilled that we are the boss not him!! Our other 2yo we are only breaking this year (He's 4 now) as he was mentally not mature enough to take being backed any earlier. He enjoyed his walks with Ed as a 2yo (He was the brave one) and we long reined him at the end of last year.

Here is Ed this year now over 17hh, and only eats grass... he's rather a good doer!!

Here is is as a 2yo, not great pic he wasn't too impressed at being trotted up!!

 

[Foxfolly]

Should also have said we didn't really do a lot over the winters with him, so I guess other than the odd wander up the lane you could consider him as turned away for the winter!!

Also just read that yours is bad with his feet.
Ed has never been great with that either... he had a few probs with gravel as a youngster and also gets mud fever on his white leg so he's a bit paranoid we were gonna do somthing nast to him, has got better over time but still every now and again gets all silly about it, farrier usually sweats like a pig when he's shoeing him!!
Also he's not good with needles either, took 3 of us, a chifney and a chain over his nose to have his vaccinations done, he was dragyying OH all over in the end it was a case of stab and hope... fortunately it worked!! Last year I took him down in the trailer with his mother so he couldn't go anywhere!!

 

[jaffs]

and i forgot to add....
velly, velly handsome too

 

[Foxfolly]

If you want a hansome picture of him will this do?

He said he was doing his best sexy... with a hint of cute babyface pose!!

 

[jaffs]

Yep that one will do it!!! Brad Pitt eat your heart out!!