Workload for 3 yr old

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Tegan

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Hi

Just wondering what sort of work you would do with a 3 yr old. I have one that we have just broken in and would prefer to keep him ticking over through the winter rather than turn him away.

We are aiming to do riding club activities with him eventually.

Thanks
Tegan
 
Was he a late or early foal, is he a native, TB or warmblood, has he been well done as a youngster (ie fed correctly and been at grass for much of it) and how heavy is his rider?

At three he still has growing to do. His 'work' should mostly be hacking quietly about learning to go forward, 30-45 minutes a few times a week and he shouldn't be carrying excessive weight either on his frame or on his back.
 
With mine, I don't like to 'ride' for too long. It's tough for 3 year olds physically, and mentally they are still very much babies. Rather than doing 2 or 3 45min sessions per week, I prefer to keep the sessions shorter, about 20 to 30min max each, 5 times a week. Nothing too demanding or strenuous. Like Brighteyes has said, moving forward freely and willingly is the most valuable lession you can instill in your youngster at this stage of his training. The short, regular sessions will slowly build up his muscle and stamina over winter, so by next Spring (when he presumably turns four) he'll be ready for the next stage.
 
Thanks for your reply.

He is a 13hh coloured cob and a late foal (when our vet had a look at his teeth in August she said he was 3 but not 3 1/2 yet).

We don't know very much about his history but he has been well fed and at grass for the last 3 months with us and with our friend for 6 months prior to that.

His riders (me and my mum) are about 8 stone. He lunges and long reins nicely in walk and trot and canter (just one circle on each rein). He walks, trots, stops and steers when ridden in the school and has been hacked down a quietish lane (has been led out on busier lanes).

I was thinking that we could hack him out a few times a week and do one short session (20mins) in the school per week. Do you think we should leave the school work out for now?

Thanks
Tegan
 
[ QUOTE ]

He is a 13hh coloured cob and a late foal (when our vet had a look at his teeth in August she said he was 3 but not 3 1/2 yet).
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His riders (me and my mum) are about 8 stone. He lunges and long reins nicely in walk and trot and canter (just one circle on each rein). He walks, trots, stops and steers when ridden in the school and has been hacked down a quietish lane (has been led out on busier lanes).

I was thinking that we could hack him out a few times a week and do one short session (20mins) in the school per week. Do you think we should leave the school work out for now?


[/ QUOTE ]

One short session in the school once a week will be fine - just avoid SMALL circles - and try to canter JUST down one long side at a time (corners are hard for a youngster!)

Then hack him out for 30-40 minutes - mainly in walk - for as many of the other days as you can fit it in! You're both lightweights and won't do any harm!
 
At 3 he will still be growing and may have another inch in him to go. Dont be too concerned with schooling him over the next 6 months- in fact if it was me I wouldnt do any schooling with him at all until he was 4 now that he has learnt the basics- You can teach a horse a lot on hacks. I would keep the hacks under 30 min to with no fast work. Just remember if he were a human he would only be 9 years old so you dont want to push him phisically if he becomes tired when worked he will begin to resent work/turn sour.

TBH fair I am probably a little on the over cautious side of it having backed a 3 year old about 6 years ago which unkowingly caused a fracture of the hock and wearing of the plates at the joints. I was only 8 stone and he was 15hh at the time but the 3 hours a week he did hacking was obviously too much- although he never showed any signs of tiredness/unhappynes or lameness for that matter he ended up with damage to his body that I have always to this very day felt guilt over- and I am hugely cautious about backing now. How did I find out if he didnt show lameness? Because he struggled to turn round at gates when bringing him in or out hacking or manouvre backwards so the vet came and he was sent to a specialist for scintigraphy scans. It cost £2000 for two scans etc and a year off. So dont rush it- just enjoy each other- you have a whole lifetime ahead. x
 
"0 mins in school for a 3 year old too much, 10mins at the most and the hacking cut down and keep them short. He's still growing and his bones are still soft. Short and sweet or you will be building up trouble in the later years. Remember he's a 3 year old baby
 
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