way too young....

S

shadowboy

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I saw this and felt it was quite sad that some babies are started so young when they are not of the type/ mature enough to cope. I was looking for a foal when i came across this. Out if interest does this happen often- that some horses are atarted as yound a 18 months (not racehorse) Maybe i was naive in thinking it was the done thing to wait at least till a horse was three.
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/AdvertRef/HM7...HorseDetail.asp

I hope i dont offend anyone by putting the link up though!
 
I am going to sit on the fence a little I think with this one... I think some young horses need things done with them from quite a young age, especially if they are stabled and quite intelligent. However, others require the time to just chill out and mature.

I would not sit on a horse at this age no matter what, unless it was a TB being prepared for the track. I would, however, lean over a young horse, play with it in the school etc etc but I don't think I would do too much lunging as it can prove detrimental to their joints. I have already leaned over Troy and wrapped my arms around him where the girth will go, and there was no struggle, no panic, he just stood there (obviously didn't put much weight on him, just a little pressure to see how he would react).

I'll just pick the splinters out of my bottom
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Hmm, that doesn't sit right with me at all, especially the bit about lunging
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I'm all for getting horses accustomed to various things at an early age, but that's taking it a little too far, IMO.

Bethxx
 
I think its quite sad that its owners obviously think this is right for a horse so young. I do agree with starting some kind of training whilst they are young but not this sort. It is obvious from the pictures that this horse is still a "baby" and no way old enough or strong enough to have someone sat on its back.
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I only hope it finds a nice owner who respects its age.
 
They are riding it in a stable??!! Not very well either....
It looks very sorry, poor dear. Am I right in thinking horses can get a dipped back from this kind of thing?
 
GUYS the horse is not even being ridden - it is being sat on in a stall!! HUGE DIFFERENCE. Everyhorse is going to be unsure with something new like that - well until they breed horses that are born with a rider on their back!
 
He looks very immature for 18 months. Poor boy.

I wouldnt even want to sit on a horse in the stable at that age.

Surely its a bit dangerous sitting on a horse in the stable anyway?
 
he looks a very immature youngster and not very happy with having side reins on.
i wont be sitting on my baby until she is 3-4yrs old depending how mature she is.she will be wearing tack and walking out in hand and going to shows before then obviously but i dont think there is anything to be gained and alot to be risked from sitting and lunging such a young animal especially of that slow maturing breeding
 
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So remind me whats gained at starting a horse at 18months?

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Mainly routine, and desensitization and at that age they are more welcoming to change. It is like Pre-K, you are too young to really learn and work, but you get a lot out of socializing, painting, making things, etc.
 
I can't see any beneficial purpose to riding or even working a horse that young from the horse's perspective. To many bits of the horse are still forming and immature.

I suspect most people do it for one of two reasons.

Money - they want to be riding/selling/competing the horse as soon as possible, rather than just paying on it to grow up.

Impatience - they want a horse to ride NOW and justify "just doing a bit" which then inevitably leads to doing too much. Yes, some people back and turn away for a considerable period but in my experience only large farms (race horses, large breeders etc.) actually end up doing that. I actively discourage people from doing it because I find once they start it's very easy to justify keeping going.

Work on the ground, exposing etc. can be very useful, so long as the horse has time to socialise, play and just be a horse as well.

I'd be worried about side reins on a horse that young. The last joints to "close" are the ones in the neck and the back (at 6-7). There is some pretty interesting evidence that the propensity these days for horses to develop back/neck problems is possibly a result of the current mania for working horses in a "frame" very early in their lives, even well before riding age. No question that compressing/stressing/unevenly loading growing joints can cause damage that leads to arthritis . . . food for thought.
 
...and I do it for a third reason; the horses enjoy it, they learn little skills at a far more gradual pace, they learn routine, they are pliable and curious and take on board a good work ethic.

Up where I live, and in the circles which I move in, gentle backing at 2 years old is the "norm". In my opinion there are far more benefits than down-sides.
 
It's pretty common to start horses before they're two in western/AQHA/Paint/Appy circles in the US - they have ridden huge - and VERY well paying - Futurity classes for 2 year olds in the fall and horses can show in open shows after July of their two year old year. Horrifyingly, the hunter people are trying to getting in on the act with u/s 2 year old classes and over fences 3 year old classes but luckily they don't seem to be catching on. Interestingly, the ones that do well at those comps are usually never heard from again.

If you go to You Tube and google "two year olds under saddle" or "Futurity" (the reining and cutting competitions are for 3 year olds - most don't compete past 5) there are a number of videos.
 
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