What would you do , youngster advice.

lovinyourwork

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Hi everyone, im after some advice with my youngster and what I should do next with him.
He's three, had him since he was 2, since having him I have done lots of groundwork, starting with leading as it was more like dragging to start, desensitising to stuff, farm equipment, tarpaulin, the hose, cars, my lord did he hated cars! We then did in hand big boy hacks, now very safe on the roads, introduced tack, did a few inhand shows, all brilliant. We dont have use of a school, I mostly do hacking and a few local xc and shows and clinics with my mums horses. Due to this I havent done very much at all in terms or lunging but have done some decent longreining walks with him, he was pretty good although a bit heavy on the bit. When he turned 3 we started leaning and all built up to rides, walking and a few small trots only 10 to 20 mins long. He had one broncing barney out of no where but apart from that was good, I think he scared himself!.
Now I am back at work (teacher) and the clocks will change I have stopped the ridden stuff and ended on a good note. I have got in contact with jason webbs people as I have never brought on a youngter (opportunity mad rush to the head purchase) so I wanted help to restart and school him as I would hate to do it wrong.

They have suggested I could either send him in march/april time for four weeks (turned away till then) or go to them for a couple of weeks at christmas (school holidays) then a break until 2 weeks in april holidays so he can be continue his hacking with me after this a the clocks will have changed and school calmed down ready for a summer of fun. By this time he will be 4.

Not sure what to do as he is young but a well built boy (15.3 id x ish), leave him till spring or split up the learning, will this have a detremental effect. Or I could leave it even later?

Mentally he is fab and enjoys everything he does but seems a bit board so could be good to give him brain ache in waves?
I also think learning away from me will be great for his confidence as he likes to hide behind me at first if he spooks!
Any advice would be appreciated what would you do?
 
What I would do, and have always done, is not turn him away completely but keep him ticking over with a little work on a regular basis. Don't like the stop-start nature of all this "out for a year" business; just means he has to start from the beginning again fitness wise. Sending him away for a bit of variety and another hand on him is a good idea I think.
 
What I would do, and have always done, is not turn him away completely but keep him ticking over with a little work on a regular basis. Don't like the stop-start nature of all this "out for a year" business; just means he has to start from the beginning again fitness wise. Sending him away for a bit of variety and another hand on him is a good idea I think.

here, here! Unless he has a dramatic growth spurt that may interfere with tack fitting, I would keep him ticking over... thats exactly what I intend to do with my boy :D
 
Having just broke my horse and ridden away, I will keep him working for a few weeks then turn him away till the spring and slowly bring him back. Although may take him cubbing first :)
 
Being an IDx I'd probably leave him until spring as he will have a lot more growing to do :)

Definitely this. He'll need time to mature even if he is bored. In your situation I'd only maybe take him for a walk or something at the weekends over the winter otherwise leave him alone and start him off in the spring gently, don't rush him, he'll be six at least before he matures.
 
Have recently backed and lightly ridden my 3 yr old (QH). Has now been turned away untill feb/march.

I always have given youngsters time off through winter then brought back slowly.
 
Thanks for the feedback, my gut is to leave him a bit more, perhaps more big boy inhand walks to make him even more bomb proof till spring would be beneficial. Then start work more toward sumner
 
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