Perissa
Well-Known Member
I've been reading on another forum thier outrage of an advert stating that a 10 month old filly has worn a harness.
I am a firm believer in not backing horses before they are physically and often mentally ready for it however I can't really see what is wrong with the above. There is MASSIVE difference between wearing a harness and being broken to harness. When my boy was two he wore a saddle, just stood in the yard with me flapping the saddle flaps, later I added stirrups and let them bang his sides gently.
From a two year old he was introduced to a bit. Never lead from it but just to have in his mouth. Once in a while he wore loose side reins (not attached to bit) and I taught him to 'lunge' - as in walking in two or three circles and learning what whoa and stand means. I really do mean a circle or two in walk on each rein before talking him for a walk around the lanes.I also taught him to long line this way. He would not bat an eyelid if one of the reins would touch his hocks.
At three he was leant on and over when I was grooming him. I stood on a chair next to him and leaned over to brush his other side so he would get used to seeing someone above him.
At four he was sat on bareback and walked around the school for a couple of minutes (I didn't have a saddle to fit him then) but I see nothing wrong with sitting on a three or maybe even a two year old providing they are WELL GROWN and healthy. There is MASSIVE difference between sitting on for few moments in walk then riding around the arena in all paces for half an hour.
At four I would slide off his backside so he would not bat an eyelid if his bottom was accidently brushed by the leg when being mounted or dismounted.
I hear so much about what you shouldn't do with youngsters but there is nothing wrong with doing some of them IN MODERATION as part of the learning process - IMHO.
Cindy Sims backed my boy and she commented that he was one of the easiest horses she's ever done. He wasn't worried about anything. The first day she rode him around her indoor school solo in walk. The next day I stood inthe middle and pretended to lunge him, she gave him the aids to trot when I told him to trot and in 2 minutes he understood. The next day we did the same thing with canter. He learnt to walk , trot and canter undersaddle in 3 days.
Some people thought I was mad turning him out or bringing him in while holding an umbrella! Or leading him down the lane in one hand with the wheelie bin in the other. Got somefunny looks that one!
So please don't think that because you have a youngster you can't do things with them. Play about with them, use common sense!!
I am a firm believer in not backing horses before they are physically and often mentally ready for it however I can't really see what is wrong with the above. There is MASSIVE difference between wearing a harness and being broken to harness. When my boy was two he wore a saddle, just stood in the yard with me flapping the saddle flaps, later I added stirrups and let them bang his sides gently.
From a two year old he was introduced to a bit. Never lead from it but just to have in his mouth. Once in a while he wore loose side reins (not attached to bit) and I taught him to 'lunge' - as in walking in two or three circles and learning what whoa and stand means. I really do mean a circle or two in walk on each rein before talking him for a walk around the lanes.I also taught him to long line this way. He would not bat an eyelid if one of the reins would touch his hocks.
At three he was leant on and over when I was grooming him. I stood on a chair next to him and leaned over to brush his other side so he would get used to seeing someone above him.
At four he was sat on bareback and walked around the school for a couple of minutes (I didn't have a saddle to fit him then) but I see nothing wrong with sitting on a three or maybe even a two year old providing they are WELL GROWN and healthy. There is MASSIVE difference between sitting on for few moments in walk then riding around the arena in all paces for half an hour.
At four I would slide off his backside so he would not bat an eyelid if his bottom was accidently brushed by the leg when being mounted or dismounted.
I hear so much about what you shouldn't do with youngsters but there is nothing wrong with doing some of them IN MODERATION as part of the learning process - IMHO.
Cindy Sims backed my boy and she commented that he was one of the easiest horses she's ever done. He wasn't worried about anything. The first day she rode him around her indoor school solo in walk. The next day I stood inthe middle and pretended to lunge him, she gave him the aids to trot when I told him to trot and in 2 minutes he understood. The next day we did the same thing with canter. He learnt to walk , trot and canter undersaddle in 3 days.
Some people thought I was mad turning him out or bringing him in while holding an umbrella! Or leading him down the lane in one hand with the wheelie bin in the other. Got somefunny looks that one!
So please don't think that because you have a youngster you can't do things with them. Play about with them, use common sense!!
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I do think making stuff just part of the day in an informal, totally non stress way is a great way to get younsters used to coping with all the odd stuff we will or are likely to do with them throughout their lives. For me putting stuff on with no intention of work but purely as a desensitization exercize is fine.
