What to expect from a 3yr old

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Deefa

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I have turned my 3 yr old away untill end of dec (since middle of Oct). He will be 4 on the 1st May

Before turning him away he was lightly backed then i sent him for 2 weeks basic riding, gentle hack and to learn to walk/trot/canter basically he also goes over a pole on the floor but not jumped.
I plan to bring him back in when i break up for 2 weeks over xmas and just do a week of groundwork then do a gentle hack over the fields of the livery a few times a week and maybe 10/15mins in the school sometimes and slowly build him up to do some intro and maybe prelim dressage and low CR jumping(less than 70cm!) or pleasure ride at the end of summer depending on how he matures etc

Does this sound about right? Would you then turn away for the next winter or keep in light work?

He is 17.2 IDxTB type

This is him the week before turning him away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75pn16zZO8U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f9mvVeqoNY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agPZM-uso4I&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75pn16zZO8U
 
He looks lovely, relaxed and happy too

personally I think that sounds fine, don't forget to do lots of pole work before jumping!

Just be aware that if he goes really bum high the saddle maybe uncomfortable for him so I would avoid riding during that time

I wouldn't bother turning away next winter unless you really want too
 
im in the same position as you.
I backed mine may and june and then turned away the 1st july and he has been turned away ever since.
2bh i contemplated bringing him back to work because he is getting so bored and he is fat but i decided against it because even though he is only 15hh, he is really undeveloped for his age. yours looks quite well developed for such a large horse!

i think its personal for each person but sounds like you just backed him lightly so i dont think it would cause any issues. a girl on another forum is backing her 3 year old and has been riding for 3 months and walk, trot and canters in the school once a week and hacks another 2 times a week. she said she is going to carry on doing this the whole winter.

I am planning on rebacking mine in march/ april time and plan for young dressage horse classes. then i will probably compete until beginning of october and then turn him away when weather gets bad jan/ feb time.
 
Thanks guys, glad it sounds about right.
When do people normally start having lessons on there youngsters? i will want lessons on him eventually but not sure whether to start 20/30min lessons at the end of summer or wait another year?
 
No reason why you can't start say end of Jan/Feb your instructor should be sympathetic to a young horse and it would mean that you would know you were going in the right direction with him
 
he looks a happy horse! as he is such a big chap i wouldnt work him hard til at least spring 2012, he will continue to grow and mature for another couple of years so be careful with circles etc for his joints. these big lads are slow growing. if he is of the nature a quiet hack once or twice a week for half hour/ 40 mins should be enough for him. keep an eye on his saddle fit as he matures. he looks like he will be very useful so definitely not worth rushing him. insist on good manners and forward going paces at all times. Good luck sure you will have lots of fun with him.
 
Sounds spot on to me. Mine is one year on and popping 2'3-2'6 courses both sj and xc but only schools once a week ideally altho is now twice with the lack of daylight. He's comfortable walk trot cantering in school (altho balance and outline in canter still a work in progress !)
I was advised to give him another break this winter tho by a fairly well regarded local instructor so he is going to have jan and half of feb off.
I started having lessons pretty early prob April of his 4th year after he came back into work in march as wanted to be 100% sure we were going about things the right way!
 
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