What age to break horses?

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kaizan 8998

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Could someone please enlighten me as to why you break horses at different ages?

recently i spotted an ad for two horses both 4 year olds but one was broken earlier on in the year and one was just starting to be broken now. why wouldnt you break one later than the other? and why weren't they broken as 3 year olds?

Any answers would be much appreciated =) It is something of great interest to me
 
I think it depends on the individual horse as some can be more mature at 3/4 then others.

As a rough guide I would Lightly back at 3 (maybe a month or two of work, walk, a little bit of trot and maybe the odd hack) then turn away for the Winter and then start again when they are 4.

Some 4 year olds will have done much more then others, we are looking for a youngster at the moment and the difference in some of them is vast, some have hunted, done PC, local shows, fun rides etc while others have been lightly hacked/schooled and nothing else.

I don't think there is any right or wrong answer as long as you are going at the horses individual pace and don't push them to soon.
 
The decision to back at 3 or 4 years old could be down to personal preference of the owner, the emotional or physical maturity of the horse, how much handling/training the horse had as a 2/3 year old. There are many reasons why one person might back a particular horse at 3 years, and another person a different horse at 4 years.
 
Yes, different horses mature at different ages.
I think it also depends how much they have haddone with them beforehand.
I have a youngster who is just over 2yrs but i have had her from 3 weeks, she has been well handled etc. and i know everything which has happend with her.
Alot of people get unhandled 2 years old etc. which imo means they would have to be backed later.

Basically its just what suits the individual horse.
 
Half way through the pointing season...!!!

As said above it depends on the horse/time/amount you have in etc etc. Sometimes it's easier to leave the awkward one til tomorrow, then tomorrow never arrives. And you hope they'll settle down!
 
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