What 'stage' should a 5yo be at?

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saddlesore

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I know this is probably a bit of a can of worms question as so many people will have different opinions, but since breaking my ankle and losing my confidence as a result I feel that my horse has gone a bit 'backwards' in terms of education - or at least not forwards if that makes sense!

He is fantastic to handle and long lines well. He can be a bit 'backy' when you get on (tenses up when you mount, especially from a block) but relaxes pretty quickly. Works pretty well when relaxed but again can tense up quite easily, espcially with unexpected movements in the saddle. Will hack out alone/company and doesnt nap but again can be very tense.

Do you think he is 'behind' in his education or is he just a naturally tense chap who will take longer to mature?

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I personally do not think there is any hard and fast rules.

I know of a 5 year old that if he was anymore laid back he would be asleep, yet his best friend is full of beans.

I think of it like kids, when they are ready they will do it.

Not much help I know, and I am a soft when it comes to most things, but if they can, they can. If they cant, they cant
 
If just finding my total lack of confidence atm depressing and its making me wonder if my horse is falling behind his peers lol!
He switches from half asleep to tense loon bag with no warning whatsoever!
Feel bad when some are out competing at that age and I'm still trying to convince mine that the mounting block does not eat horses!
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IMO it depends on the individual horse and as each horse is different, obviously some will progress quicker than others. When we bought our 5 year old (he's now 6) last year, he could be very tense at times but he has matured a lot in the past year and is now a lot more relaxed.
 
Why not look at it from a different point of view....
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It's not a case of not being out there competing... he has been given the chance to mature mentally and physically!
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At least you will have peace of mind of not over doing it! That's what I worry about when my youngster finally gets there, I'm scared of doing too much and knackering his legs!
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If you don't mind me asking, what part of your ankle did you break? What was your recovery time? I've broken my talus and fibula, and at 15 weeks, I'm still not weight bearing! That may commence next week mind! xx
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Well, he was very tense in the school but generally more relaxed when hacking out, so we just rode him in the school little and often and mad sure we made sure each session was enjoyable and good fun. In the end, he began to think of schooling as something he enjoyed, rather than something to be scared of. Also, he was a bit nervous in the stable and when being handled, but the more time we spent with him, the more confident he became with us. We have just moved yards, and he is coping far better than we ever imagined he would.
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I understand that you may be blaiming yourself, DONT.

I still stand by my comment, but IMHO, you are doing it all slowly slowly catchy momkey.

Some horses are fine with whatever you put at them, others ask questions and need the answrrs before they will perform. Yours sound like a ask questions, much prefer those ypes and then you know where you are at.

Good luck, and he is tense and you are nervous, what is the rush?
 
I think perhaps some of the trouble can be that we see others out competing with young horses and wonder why our own is no there already.
They are all very individual and should be treated so.I wouldn't rush things and let him come along slowly,don't feel pressured by others out there doing it.
I haven't come across a young horse that doesn't know when he/she is going in the school or going for a nice hack.We as owners just need to try and keep things sweet for them without pressure.
I sold a four year old homebred gelding last year who was in the very early stages of his training,no pressure to progress,if you push to hard they will push right back.
He had a 5 stage vetting and the vet told us how much it made a change to see a 4 yr old at the stage of life/training he should be.He himself said far to many are pushed along far to quickly.
I wish you the best with your horse,i think patience is the key
 
Thanks guys, guess I'll just keep plodding along and hope for the best lol!

Re my broken ankle, I'm afraid I have no idea what part I broke lol, I was too busy recovering from the shock that it is the 3rd time I have broken the same one and wondering how on earth I was going to look after my mum who also broke her ankle two weeks before me!
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Imho (you may not like this sorry) it takes around a year for things to heal fully although you will be weight bearing lol before that (me being a pro and all lol). I found exercises such as sitting in the bath with a sponge between my 'bad' foot and the bottom of the bath and building up a degree of strength my pushing into the sponge really helped. I would also focus on walking correctly for short periods rather than letting yourself walk badly for longer periods. I made this mistake the last time I broke my ankle and had to return to physio to be taught how to walk properly again
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. If I can offer any more advice feel free to pm
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[ QUOTE ]
I understand that you may be blaiming yourself, DONT.

I still stand by my comment, but IMHO, you are doing it all slowly slowly catchy momkey.

Some horses are fine with whatever you put at them, others ask questions and need the answrrs before they will perform. Yours sound like a ask questions, much prefer those ypes and then you know where you are at.

Good luck, and he is tense and you are nervous, what is the rush?

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Could not have put it better myself. I have been going through this myself with my youngster (4.5 yrs). I have decided its my call when he's ready for whatever I want him ready for.
 
Look he's a baby mentally ,sounds like you have started him off alright, tensing a little when you get on again that him being a baby, take him at your and his pace. just remember there are a lot of ruined youngsters by being pushed to soon and too hard, you hear about on them forum every day
 
Just let him mature
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I don't like to see young horses being competed at a high level. Getting out and about for a look-see is fine, but they are still growing and maturing and should be treated as such.

Dizz is now five and we've done nothing competition wise, but it's not a problem
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. We have days which are brilliant and she seems to understand what I'm asking, and we have other days when I think it's better to get off and chill out instead
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Thanks all!
Sometimes a get a bit of a bee in my bonnet when I feel we aren't doing things 'properly'
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. He is much better if someone holds him when I get on and then leads him for a few steps (this seems to be all he needs to remember I don't bite) but I still feel he should just bl**dy well stand there and stop being such a nervous nellie! Although I am fully aware that my own nerves atm aren't exactly helping! *sighs*
 
DON'T panic, I feel exactly like this about my 5 year old- we tried to back him last year and he objected very strongly so we worked in different ways and backed him this year when he was 5. He hacks out and schools now at walk and trot but then you see other 5 year olds that are a Burghley Young Event Horse classes and you think you've failed but I have now decided that as long as we have a nice time, it doesn't really matter what anyone else is doing. Also, young horses seem to have their own quirks that they need to work through, they all seem to be different!
 
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