What stage to start lessons w young horse?

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cullord

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At what stage/age do you generally start having lessons with your young horse? Mine's rising 5 this year. Was lightly backed last year, sat on and walked out 4 or 5 times for 20 mins, then turned away for 10 months (due to illness). He's now been long reined, lunged and ridden out at walk a couple of times since being back in work. Obviously it's too soon for us to have a lesson yet as we're still fittening at walk, but at what stage would you recommend we book one? Although I am a good rider technically, I haven't ridden in several years and am quite unfit and out of practice. I'm sure we could both do with some pointers from the ground!
 
as long as you don't hit problems you can't deal with then I think it is probably best to wait until your horse is fit and mature enough to manage 30 minutes in the school with plenty of trotting. Obviously if you are having problems or are unsure what to do then get lessons sooner.
 
I dont see why you couldnt have some lessons now even if its just 20-30 minutes with your instructor on the ground giving you some pointers and exercises for you both to work on - even if its just working on halt/walk transitions and gentle easy school movements, nothing too strenuous.

Sometimes it helps having someone there on the ground even in the early stages to ensure you are riding correctly and your horse is learning the basics to work correctly to. But if you are confident in what you are doing now, you can always wait till you are doing a little bit of trotting and you and your horse are a little bit fitter before you have your first lesson.
 
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Start having lessons now! Always best to make sure you are setting off on the right tracks and a good instructor will know exactly how much your horse (and you!) are capable of
 
I don't tend to start having lessons on youngsters until they are doing well at prelim and ready to move up to novice and/or jumping courses about 2'6ft confidently as otherwise I don't feel there is enough to work on.

horses for courses though, some people have lessons much earlier and some much later!
 
My rising five year old is now fit enough to handle lessons so I've got one booked in. It's taken me a few months to build his fitness though and he is now hacking out and walk, trot and cantering under saddle. I feel I now need lessons so I'm getting them.

How long is a piece of string :-)
 
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