youngsters should they be on the bit

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horseandshoes77

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ok...so doing my youngster myself shes been long reined etc....had saddle on daughter ( 5 stone ) on her anyways shes now 3 1/2 so im hoping to get her working in walk and trot then turn her away til next spring....shes lovely and is working long and low....when daughter is riding her she looks comfortable etc but been looking at pics and sufing the web and im wondering should she be learning to come on the bit and in an outline already ?.... i just thought maybe after shed been turned away n was a 4year old in work yes....but a lot of people have told me i need to get her working on the bit ?

any advice much appreciated

cheers
 
I would have her working long and low to build up her back muscles so she can carry you more easily. Having said that I wouldn't be working that way for more than 15 mins in each session.
 
In a nutshell - only if she is physically and mentally mature enough to learn about such things then no.

Some horses mature quicker than others and their learning can progress rapidly, others are slower and take more time. At the end of the day she is your horse and you can spend as long as you like getting her ready for her ridden career, why rush her because other people do? If you feel she is ready to learn about it in walk then by all means carry on, it's one less thing to learn completely later. Same with trot, if ready why not. If she isn't ready scrap the idea until she is.
 
i think shes totally ready for her learning... as everyything so far she has lapped up....she hasnt objected to anything and tbh everyone is amazed at how calm and cool she is...but i only work her maybe twice a week for ten mins...i have 2 horses in work so dnt have a lot of time....but when she works she works really well.........i just wasnt sure wether to just let her have this year to be herself and carry herself however she wishes with rider on....or listen to others...will i find it harder to learn her to come on the bit later?
 
When young it won't really make a difference when you teach her, the problems only really start when they have had 3 or 4 years of going how they please and then you try and tell them differently. If she is ready then bash on but if she protests then back off and leave her to carryon how she is for a short while longer before asking again.
 
Personally I would not be putting any kind of pressure on her at all, particularly if you are going to be turning her away - it's not like you have to build up and maintain the muscle?

Make it fun and relaxed, we have this one small opportunity to set them up and help them see "work" is fun.
 
I think it depends totally on the individual.

I'd do what EKW suggested and try it, try asking for a bit of contact and keep her going. If she resists then wait a while :)

You sound like you're doing a fab job :) Don't rush her, my 4 year old was rushed and now I'm paying the price :rolleyes: :p
 
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