Why Why Why???

I don't know... the pictures show a small (lightweight) child sitting on a pony standing still or walking with an adult and leadrein.

Many horses are broken lightly at two, the animal doesn't look under a lot of physical exertion or pressure, yes the child isn't wearing a hat, but surely that's child, not animal, negligence?
 
no way would I buy that pony...too many problems later in life - I prefer untouched youngstock thanks....probably why my sec c is still not backed at 4!!
 
My opinion is, the pony looks happy, fat, groomed and loved. Looks what I call play riding, toddling about on him, literally like you would take a dog for a walk. Anyhow I ride my 3 year old horse, so would not criticise this. The pony to me is not doing any form of work, would much rather see this than mistreated thin and scraggy horse.
 
Being led along roads... Many young horses are led along roads. Mine was stabled next to a main road when he was 2 - he didn't die.

What - two four stone (8st) children sitting on a pony? Not something you would want to be done schooling or round a XC course, but I doubt the pony suffered too much.

All horses are different, that includes youngsters.
 
Very, very common here too. It took me ages to find Ari because I wanted a horse that hadn't been broken until four or five and everyone laughed at me, saying it was far too old. Fortunately Ari's owner wanted him as a sport horse so bought him as a two year old, had him gelded and then left him to mature until he was five before breaking him this year.
 
I don't know, I just don't think a lightweight child trundling along on a leadrein equates to being hammered along, hard schooling etc.

I'd rather a tiny child pootled along on a 2year old pony doing lightwork for a few years, than an untouched 5 year old suddenly has a 9stone+ adult suddenly out of nowhere sits on a 5year old and expects normal work.
 
Yes, that is fair enough, because that is what you wanted, but I believe horses and ponies are different, and they have to be as versatile in their ways as their riders. I could not possibly class a happy, confident pony as an abuse case(not suggesting you are either) I think everybody should have their opinion, but when there is so much true suffering in the world, a young and fat coblet taking little children out with the supervision of adults to me is a nice thing.
 
Many people do things with their two year olds, such as take them down the roads and get them used to certain sights and sounds, and introduce tack. The added factor of a small child onboard is hardly going to make much difference.
 
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Many people do things with their two year olds, such as take them down the roads and get them used to certain sights and sounds, and introduce tack. The added factor of a small child onboard is hardly going to make much difference.

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exactly
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pony looks well cared for, and is probably handled more than these semi-feral 4yo olds people call 'untouched' with later behavioural issues.
 
Maybe it's just the old fashioned way I was taught then. I was always told that they are babies 'in mind and muscle'.
Walk them, show them the saddle but no riding till they were three. I was also taught that something as simple as lungeing was a no-no.
 
I'd mostly agree with you about the lunging. Just think, if you took the child out of the equation would you be ok with what the pony is doing?
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If the answers still no, then fine that's your opinion. I just think that sometimes on this forum people are a bit quick to shoot down people who dare to touch any horse under 4
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(not aimed at anyone in particular!)
 
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Many people do things with their two year olds, such as take them down the roads and get them used to certain sights and sounds, and introduce tack. The added factor of a small child onboard is hardly going to make much difference.

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exactly
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pony looks well cared for, and is probably handled more than these semi-feral 4yo olds people call 'untouched' with later behavioural issues.

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I agree totally. It certainly doesn't look or sound like it is being hammered. If it was being cross country schooled, jumped, galloped etc then fair enough bang your head away.

FWIW a well known showjumper and breeder near me starts ALL of his horses at 2. They are introduced to tack, traffic, taken to some inhand shows and often have a very lightweight rider sit on them. The good mares then breed a foal the others are turned away for a while.
His horses are jumping at the very top end so it doesn't seem to do them any harm.

I would rather see a youngster such as this toddling about, seeing the world and having lots of time taken with them then a 4 year old that has nothing done with it then because it has hit the *magic* age of 4. Lunged for ages, then tacked up (whilst still be lunged nearly everyday) then a rider put on (whilst still being lunged nearly every day) then schooled in incessant circles in a menage, then over poles, then over jumps, then off to a show.....all in the space of a couple of months usually
 
I have started so many horses at 2, and they have all gone on to have very full and very healthy lives with a LOT of manners. I really get bemused in this country when people won't touch a horse until it is 4 and then moans that it has no manners - HA, what do you expect?!

The pony is question is gorgeous, full of spirit and has impecible manners. It has also already had life experience, which is a good thing.

Oh, and I know the pony too....do remember that this is not a private social club
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Have to say i don't see the need for a horse to be regularly sat on at 2. Even by someone lightweight. I think there's plenty you can do for life experience at that age without having to put any weight more than a saddle on a developing back. I also don't agree with leaving a horse in a field for 4 years and then dragging it out and backing it within a few weeks.

There's worse things out there as we have seen tonight, but that doesn't mean i agree with a baby being ridden when it doesn't need to be.
 
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My opinion is, the pony looks happy, fat, groomed and loved. Looks what I call play riding, toddling about on him, literally like you would take a dog for a walk. Anyhow I ride my 3 year old horse, so would not criticise this. The pony to me is not doing any form of work, would much rather see this than mistreated thin and scraggy horse.

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I have to agree. Just toddling about no harm done and a lot to be gained in just getting him used to everyday life for a horse that is to be ridden, just so that its no big deal to him.

I know of a famous horse trainer based in Surrey/Kent who recommends breaking at 2. All his youngsters are started at 2 as well. It doesn't mean they are going to be put into hard competitive work at such an early age, but it is useful with horses that are going to be big, strong or heavy or all three of those things, as they get backed whilst they are still too young to have really tested out their strength on the rider.
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I agree with the 'in mind an muscle' bit.
Lunging is also a no-no because it puts an enormous amount of pressure on the horses body (going round in small circles)

I don't agree with backing young horses either. Their backs will be no where near mature at that age, not to mention the other parts of the body....

Yes there are much worse things but in my eyes breaking so young is not exactly ideal.
 
I didn't know it had covered, corr, would have thought of an even longer 'it's not proven' etc. speech.
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I'm too tired for that though *shakes head* I would just start babbling on about the same thing.
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aw he looks great and the owners look fine!

They're all in reflective on the road and the little girl is thanking the driver, he's also accompanied by another pony and has not been forced to go out alone.

His mane is plaited in one photo and he's very clean and well groomed
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and the advert does state light work. They look like good responsible caring owners so I'm sure they wouldn't do anything to harm him.

Surely being walked around with a toddler on a lead rein wouldn't do any harm, I really don't think you can compare that to 2yo gypsy horses who are broken to ride and drive at 2.
 
Because some people just can't be patient enough to leave their babies another year to mature before backing them
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My mare had manners to burn at two but I did not feel the need to tack her up and get on her and she is an NH bred TB too. I backed her at 3, turned her away for the winter then brought her back into work in the spring.

She is nearly 14 now and hasn't had a days lameness in her life. I put that down to not doing too much too soon and not schooling her to death as a baby like some horse owners I know have (and whose horses are more lame than sound over the year).
Each to their own I guess but it's not for me.
 
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Oh, and I know the pony too....do remember that this is not a private social club
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I was also reading this thinking ... "hmmmmm I know who has this pony now and he looks lovely!"
 
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