What are you all doing with your 4yo's?

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McW

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My first ever 4 yo, so I'd be keen to know what you are doing with them at this time of year.

He has mainly hacked, some schooling (naturally quite balanced schooling) and been up the gallops.

I'm thinking will hack at weekends, walk and trot with road work. During the week he will be schooled maybe 3 times a week.

We would also have a lesson on the weekend, so that day we wouldn't hack. He hasn't done much jumping so I think our first 'outing' should be a lesson and then a WT dressage.

Keen to know what you are doing with yours.

Thanks.
 
At the moment .. Nothing, only because I dont have a saddle. She does pretty much everything I want her too, will jump any kind of fence, lunges nicely, hacks out alone and in company, isn't really scared of anything (except wheelie bins :p ), we need help with schooling so will soon be looking for an instructor. I have also taken her up gallops but she did that as a 2 year old. She's brilliant for a 4 yo in my opinion, we just need to work on the basics so once I get a saddle I'm going to be taking a step back and kind of start at the beginning :)
 
Hacking once a week on my day off (she's actually rising 5 but I thought I could still join in) once days get longer plan to get her fit do some schooling teach to jump and do some fun rides, have a go at cubbing/hunting, perhaps do a teeny ODE or maybe save that for next year, just see how we go
 
My 4yo was started last summer and ridden for a couple of months, he is on a break at the moment to mature a bit and will be going back to my trainer for 3 weeks in June, then I hope to do lots of hacking and fun rides with him for the rest of the year to build up his experience! Can't wait! :D
 
My rising 5 sec D was backed as a 3 year old last winter, so about a year ago. Previous owner overworked him somewhat and took him showjumping (local & RC level) and did a few sponsored rides etc. Unfortunately he was overjumped and has lost his confidence - something happened to the both of them and he scared the previous owner, hence he was sold to me.

I've had him for four months now, and found that he wasn't very respondant to my leg and didn't always quite grasp what I was asking him(presumably from being over and incorrectly worked by previous owner) so I decided to take everything back to basics with him. I have been hacking at weekends to encourage him to think forwards (first few weeks just at walk, then introduced trot, and have just started to introduce steady canters) and I alternate schooling him (at walk and trot, lots of shapes, transitions and leg yielding etc) and lunging him with either side reins or a bungee (we both prefer the bungee, but I like to vary things) during the week.

I've done a little bit of groundpole work with him, both on the lunge and ridden, although he was nervous of these at first, he has pleasingly progressed, and goes forward quite nicely. I will be introducing canter to the schooling in a few weeks time.

Transport dependant, I would like to do a bit of showing with him, both in hand and ridden and perhaps w&t dressage and if the canter work is ok, then possibly a bit of prelim over the course of the summer.

Once I've established a nice, balanced canter, I would like to introduce him to jumping again, but I'm not rushing this at all - he's my horse of a lifetime already and he's not had the best start to life and I'd rather progress slowly and correctly rather then rush him and confuse him any more! :)
 
My 2008 foaled filly is on holiday until the end of March. She was up for a long time last year and I do not have the time in the winter to put the work into her. She will be going to unaff dressage and show jumping and some XC schooling as and when. With her schooling she is required to move from the leg and seeking the contact. As long as she's working through from behind and off the leg I am not bothered as to where her head is at this point.
 
my just 4 yr old loan went to her first W&T test last week - has another one next month & will then start preparing for Prelim in the later summer & will be doing some low level fun ridden showing over the summer too
 
My rising 4 year old (4 in may) is just in the process of being backed.

So far he wears all tack, happy to lead out in traffic/ on roads, lunges, starting long reining and starting to be backed. I only do about 2-3 sessions with him a week for about 10 mins or so.

Once hes backed I'm just going to take it slowly with him over the summer i.e. gentle hacks/ light schooling. Not planning on doing any jumping till end of summer (see how he goes), and might turn him away over winter.
 
mine is finally able to be mounted and stay still and stay still when i get off too! she walks, trots and canters (gallops) and is jumping 85cm at home and clear rounds at shows, which she's done two of so far. most days i try to school her in the morning and pessoa her in the afternoon, and every few weeks she has three or four days off in a row to chill out.
 
unlimited10 said:
mine is finally able to be mounted and stay still and stay still when i get off too! she walks, trots and canters (gallops) and is jumping 85cm at home and clear rounds at shows, which she's done two of so far. most days i try to school her in the morning and pessoa her in the afternoon, and every few weeks she has three or four days off in a row to chill out.
Click to expand...

Is she a true 4 year old or a rising 5 year old? (i.e. is she a 2007 or 2008 baby?)
 
My rising 4yr old section c has been broken to drive just two weeks and is doing fantastically, a couple of trips round the village seeing lots of traffic and in the school a couple of times, he really seemd to love his work and it a pretty mature youngster
 
My 4.5 year old has done quite a lot less than other people here!

She was backed last autumn, now roughed off and turned away at grass.

In Spring when I will re-back her.

Then it will be hack, hack and more hacking out for the rest of the year to help her find her feet and get her thinking forwards.
 
Combination of schooling , hacking and a bit of jumping at home and the odd clinic to keep them entertained and happy! (they're show horses)
 
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