What have your 5 year olds done this year?

[SEL]

My poor friend got told at the weekend that her 5yo was 'a bit too well bred to be a happy hacker'. She was mortified. Happy hacker isn't her long term intention but with life, lack of transport and a very gangly horse she has taken it easy. I tried to tell her that but she pointed out BabyCob has done quite a bit this year. In all honesty all he's really done is a little bit of various things so that he can see life and - hopefully - learn his job is to crack on with whatever I ask instead of being a bouncing idiot.

I'm happy enough with his progress although I'm sure he'd have done more with his breeder / producer but it got me thinking about what other 5yo have been up to this year?

And when do I have to stop saying 'he's just young' as we boing around a warm up / arena / fun ride? I'm thinking when he's about 17 at this rate.

 

[dottylottie]

i’ve never once thought critically of anyone for not doing “enough” with a youngster, but i’ve seen an awful lot of youngsters that i think (to myself) have done a bit too much for my liking!

 

[SpotsandBays]

Look at Nugget! Gangliest 5yo in town couldn’t get away with doing too much with him currently.
His stable friend as a foal is out and about regularly (also 5yo) doing 80-90cm, and looks fabulous. But a lot more mature physically and built differently

 

[blodwyn1]

My 5yr old who had done nothing is being broken in and is struggling to accept a rider sitting up progression seems very slow. Now I am laid up with a broken rib and can't visit . She has been away seven weeks now and I am glad they are not rushing her but I am hoping for more progress before the weather gets really bad.

 

[melle]

I bought an unbacked 5 year old 6 months ago. She is only just hacking quietly alone for 15-20 mins at time. She was a bit more feral than anticipated when I bought her and more time was spent on rugging, leading, handling feet than I thought. There is no rush; she is just our next family horse and no real timeline planned or competitions aimed for.

 

[daydreamer]

Mine had Jan off (also the previous Nov and Dec), moved yards in Feb and started a bit of in hand stuff and a bit of ridden work - about 2 times a week in the school because the hacking was not as advertised, some walking out in hand and the very occasional hack. At the end of the summer we had 3 trips out to a local arena to have a lesson with my instructor. Moved yards in August, had the month off. Moved yards in September (all the moving would not have been my choice!!) and since then has been ridden about 3 to 4 times a week. Usually 1 or 2 hacks a week of about an hour (yay for nanny horses and no-nonsense horsey friends), 99% walking and a tiny bit of trot, 1 lesson a week and then a session of me riding by myself in the school or lunging or doing some work in hand over poles etc. We're still trying to get a consistent rhythm in trot and our canter transitions are pretty rubbish. I'm sure we are miles behind many others but I'm trying to be kind to myself about it and remind myself that he doesn't really care and it isn't a race.

 

[UKa]

I can so relate to the question of how long can we say they are just a baby .
i bought my baby pony last September as a 4 year old. In our first winter we did work in hand and hacking to get to know each other. Through the warmer months we did a showing class, two dressage outings, a dressage clinic and a jumping clinic. That’s it. Was enough I found. We are back to mainly hacking now and some schooling including ground poles and will aim for a few similar outings next spring and summer maybe get a few more lessons in espec some jumping. We are doing everything at leisure. maybe going forward I will need to say “she is still green”

 

[Caol Ila]

My 5yo does some very basic schooling in walk and trot, and she hacks alone and in company. I only did a proper canter two days ago on a hack, following a friend. She felt very weak and wobbly when I backed her about a year ago, despite long-reining and all that, so I haven't pushed anything. Yeah, I feel a bit useless, because the other 5-year olds at the yard walk, trot, canter, and jump 80/90cm courses. I mean, they came that way -- their owners were not the people who broke them in, but still.

 

[SEL]

@SpotsandBays I was going to use Nugs as an example of a leggy late developer warmblood but then I remembered you have a wall of rosettes and sashes from showing this year and kept quiet!!

In all honesty I suspect she knows that every 5yo develops at their own pace but I don't think she's enjoying the journey. I think if she took a step back from her riding club it might be easier because she won't be comparing herself to people all the time. She is pleased for me when I've survived a cross pole clear round with the lead rein ponies but I don't think she'd lower herself to do it!!

I'm not sure whether the happy hacker comment was tongue in cheek or catty but it was definitely unhelpful. Hacking is exactly what he needs right now and teaching a 5yo to hack safely is a skill too IMO

 

[UKa]

I'm not sure whether the happy hacker comment was tongue in cheek or catty but it was definitely unhelpful. Hacking is exactly what he needs right now and teaching a 5yo to hack safely is a skill too IMO

hacking gets easily overlooked or people don’t take it seriously. Well my 5 year old sees farm machinery, umbrellas, prams, barking dogs and deer on a regular basis and is getting quite resilient. Also sure footed. Can’t beat that.

 

[MarvelVillis]

My gelding turned 6 in August, and this year he had a 6 month break over winter (due to my pregnancy) and since being back in work he's only done light schooling and mostly hacking. The summer before was the same, although he did go on his first fun ride and we also did a pole clinic that we hacked to (ground poles). So not a lot! But he is my horse for life so have no plans to rush him whatsoever. He is also half WB so is going bum high regularly, hence another reason for not wanting to do too much at this age.

 

[SEL]

hacking gets easily overlooked or people don’t take it seriously. Well my 5 year old sees farm machinery, umbrellas, prams, barking dogs and deer on a regular basis and is getting quite resilient. Also sure footed. Can’t beat that.

I agree.

Different footing all helps their proprioception and builds muscles and at a young age that's so much more important than how high they can jump.

Mine had never seen cyclists before he came to me and we have those big gangs of MAMILs that zoom down the lane. He was genuinely frightened to start with but 18 months on doesn't really notice them - even when they ring their bells, practically take my stirrup off and definitely don't slow down.

 

[JackFrost]

I like that I'm not alone in not having done that much, I was feeling a bit inadequate. Since I started my horse a year ago, we have just done lots of quiet hacking on our own and some walk/trot circles and poles in a school. We haven't done canter, we haven't been out with another horse, but horse hasn't once put a foot wrong so I think we've got a good foundation for the future.
I hope to have this one for the next 20 years, so there's no hurry.

 

[Bernster]

People say the oddest (unhelpful) things. Maybe what they meant was something a bit kinder and less judgmental, like the horse would benefit from a bit more life experience, or he’s ready to do more work now, but putting it that way just seems rude.

 

[sjdress]

My 5 year old is mainly hacking and a little flatwork once or twice a week.

 

[SEL]

People say the oddest (unhelpful) things. Maybe what they meant was something a bit kinder and less judgmental, like the horse would benefit from a bit more life experience, or he’s ready to do more work now, but putting it that way just seems rude.

It really wasn't helpful!

I'm useless on the breeding side of things but he was expensive and bred for dressage so I guess at best it was trying to encourage her to do more. Life has got in the way a bit though.

It has made her think about livery options. With limited transport a yard with more opportunities might be the way forward (rather than the most glamorous happy hacker around )

 

[Birker2020]

Here's Lari (second half of video) in 5 year old class at Hickstead. Maybe that explains why he has the multiple arthritic issues, possible PSD and K.S at the age of ten because he did too much too soon. That's not mentioning all the BE at the age of five or six that he did. Not a criticism of anyone involved over the years, just a general observation. Who knows. But I'd not do too much with anything under 7 if I was planning on regular competitions, not that I'd ever be doing BE or BS.

 

[SpotsandBays]

@Birker2020 it does make you wonder doesn’t it! I really believe that horses only have so many rides/jumps in them, and the more they do when they’re younger, the less they have when they’re older!

 

[Birker2020]

@Birker2020 it does make you wonder doesn’t it! I really believe that horses only have so many rides/jumps in them, and the more they do when they’re younger, the less they have when they’re older!

Yes most definitely. I've never heard of Lari's lineage having issues (Larimar) but I'm not into breeding as such.

Shame, my vet physio sees this an awfully though. And if he was doing 5 year old classes he must have been jumping well before then. Again no blame or allegations just IMHO.

 

[MissTyc]

My 5yo is now backed and ridden away. I congratulate myself on a daily basis that I am able to sit on him without being scared of him and the other day I did a 40cm x-pole and felt like I'd won the Olympics. There's a lot to be said for being older and wiser ... I hoped this year would be our year but he wasn't ready physically and I wasn't ready emotionally. Maybe next year will be our year? We just enjoy existing for now.

 

[Celtic Jewel]

The only time I would criticise someone is I have seen some 4 year olds that are just very unhandled they won’t lead properly like they will stick their feet to the ground very bad for farriers and very difficult to do anything with . They are broken but could do with going to a professional trainer as the horse doesn’t understand cues at all.

 

[SEL]

The only time I would criticise someone is I have seen some 4 year olds that are just very unhandled they won’t lead properly like they will stick their feet to the ground very bad for farriers and very difficult to do anything with . They are broken but could do with going to a professional trainer as the horse doesn’t understand cues at all.

They are definitely missing some basic training - those skills can be taught early on IMO

@Birker2020 it does make you think about how much pressure we put on young horses

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Nothing wrong with a happy hacker! I class myself as that if I’m honest.

My 5yo went cross country once then we did our first local 70cm hunter trial. We also did a ‘fun team challenge’ which is like a mini team chase up to 80cm with 2 others. We did a funride and a few local group rallys for experience.
I’ve recently started having lessons with a dressage instructor because she’s strong enough to do 30 minutes in the school. She can walk trot and canter in a lovely outline now (we even did some walk to canter today!) and have booked our first prelim test this weekend!

She is ridden 3-4 times a week and has done majority hacking apart from the above if I’m honest.

A friends 5yo is competing at big competitions jumping 1.20m and another evented all summer.

 

[lme]

Mine (ISH x WB) mostly hacked as a 5yo. Even now, as a 6yo she does not go into the school very often. We may do a little more schooling next year, and perhaps some jumping, but our main focus will still be be hacking.

 

[Jinx94]

I brought Arya back in in July. For anyone that hasn't seen our other threads, at the end of last year she was diagnosed with severe trigeminal-mediated headshaking and the vet and I decided that if we couldn't get her comfortable, she'd be pts. We were given a 5% chance of spontaneous recovery and I turned her away for a few months. Incredibly we were one of the lucky few.

Started from scratch again, had only sat on her once before that due to a lot of things. Had her going fairly nicely on the long lines again (I say 'fairly' as she's a real jobs on type, she can and will stand but would rather get on with it!), popped a saddle on her and discovered that my longest girth is 6" too short as I've had a tonne of expenses lately, I can't afford another small fortune for a girth, so we're sticking with the groundwork and will hopefully have a much more varied 2024!!

 

[SpottyTB]

So nice to read this thread!!! I always get a bit worried my 5yo isn’t doing enough! He’s 3/4 Irish draught so a slow grower…. He hacks alone/company, gets led from my other horse but I can also lead my other horse off of him… he’s absolutely solid in traffic (HGV’s, tractors, buses, low flying helicopters )…. I’ve gone in the school probably a maximum of 15 times… mostly in straight lines and only in walk/trot atm…. He can just about trot a circuit in a nice, soft contact… (then trips over his own feet)!!! Im always harping on about young horses doing too much, but I still worry I’m not doing enough !!

I am aiming for an intro test before Summer…. We’ll see though!

 

[Wishfilly]

The only time I would criticise someone is I have seen some 4 year olds that are just very unhandled they won’t lead properly like they will stick their feet to the ground very bad for farriers and very difficult to do anything with . They are broken but could do with going to a professional trainer as the horse doesn’t understand cues at all.

I think this is so much more important than what they do under saddle- a youngster needs to be handleable enough to see the farrier and the vet as needed. If they're not backed until 5, it hurts no-one. If they can't safely have their feet seen to, then it's a welfare issue for the horse and the farrier!

 

[Cates123]

This makes me feel better. I'm always worried that I'm moving too slowly with my 4yr old TB (5 in April). He's a great natural mover and could do really in the future but I mostly hack or long rein with the odd schooling session in walk/trot when weather/light makes hacking impossible. He's enormous and still bum-high so I'm not sure when he'll be physically mature and ready to push on so slow feels right but I'm also quietly worried that I'm just sitting in my happy place so that I don't have to reach out of my / our comfort zone...... Being surrounded by social media posts of people dazzling at fun rides/training clinics/shows with their baby ex-racers doesn't help the situation!

 

[SO1]

Bert my 5 year old will be 6 on June 12 seems to spend a lot of time rolling in mud.

Since I have him since August he has quite an easy time just getting to know him and build our confidence together. He is working on being more confident out hacking and we are working in the area on getting to know each other, when he first came he was scared of the mirrors and now much better. I also rode him for the first time in the evening when it was dark with the floodlights on which is new to him.

 

[Caol Ila]

This makes me feel better. I'm always worried that I'm moving too slowly with my 4yr old TB (5 in April). He's a great natural mover and could do really in the future but I mostly hack or long rein with the odd schooling session in walk/trot when weather/light makes hacking impossible. He's enormous and still bum-high so I'm not sure when he'll be physically mature and ready to push on so slow feels right but I'm also quietly worried that I'm just sitting in my happy place so that I don't have to reach out of my / our comfort zone...... Being surrounded by social media posts of people dazzling at fun rides/training clinics/shows with their baby ex-racers doesn't help the situation!

Nae rush. My 5 year old (6 in June) is just learning canter. I backed her myself a year ago. Mostly, we've just hacked. I have focused on solo hacking because my other horse doesn't do it (he has reasons, but still....), which we've pretty much nailed. Only now turning more of my attention on the schooling stuff. But still kind of in a half-a*rsed way because 5yos are still growing.