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  Discussion on When to start a 2-year-old
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Member:
Thomboy

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2005 - 12:26 pm:

My 2-year-old stud colts are going to the trainer over the next 3 months (seperately). Typically, we gently ride the young ones very lightly (only enough to keep them settled in) for the first 2 or 3 years. They do nothing faster than a slow lope and no tight turns, etc. This has worked very well for the other 4 we have started here. Is this necessary? In my thought process, their backs and legs are not fully developed so putting too much strain on them at an early age could result in problems. Not to mention their minds are not mature enough to handle all the "gas" some people put into them early. (A lady at our riding club has a 4-year-old running 18 second barrel patterns but the horse has turned into a lunatic.) The ones we have started slowly, the biggest problem we have with them is "gassing them up" when they get older. Am I being overprotective? All the locals around here tell me I'm nuts for taking it so easy on them. "Look at race horses; they start running at 2." Our 4-year-old is getting fussy with me right now because we take her team penning, and she instinctively knows what to do and how fast to do it, and I hold her back so as not to stress her back and legs. Before I even get these boys started, I want a good game plan since they will remain studs and I have a lot riding on their futures. What opinions do you guys have? We playday locally, team pen with USTPA and trail ride. These boys, if fitting, will go on to cutting and/or reining trainers as they mature.
Member:
Chohler

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2005 - 2:54 pm:

Hi Melisa, you are not nuts although a lot of people jump right in swinging with their young ones it is hard on them. I myself take it easy on the young ones. It is a good time to perfect your ground work and play. The barn I work at has many retired horses that started young and they have fallen backs and of course arthritis. one in particular was a barrel racer at 2 at 15 he looks like a swing with old legs. I find that a lot of people who start their horses too strong to o young usually don't keep them when they get older. I think alot of the young ones that turn lunatic do so because they are given one job go and go fast, they need other things to do.

However your 4 year old wants to play let her play even though young she is ready. Just don't be extreme.

Yes there are a lot of young good cutter/reigners out there but time makes an even better horse.

I think a lot of people start theirs so young is because of some of the futurity/incentives. More for the young than the old.
Member:
Leilani

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2005 - 3:31 pm:

Melissa,
I saw a Pat Parelli show on RFD awhile back and he talked about how much better it would be for the horse industry if the horses were allowed to mature before they started riding them hard. He mentioned race horses and that 90% of them (not a quote) never earn any money because they break down physically and mentally.

Seems if we could convince the people with the money to let the animal grow, the horse would be just as fast, maybe faster and certainly sounder and perhaps could make money for more than a couple of years.

My almost 4 year old is with a trainer from the mainland who is a Cutter/Reiner guy. He was very pleased that I just let her be horse for the first 3 years other than ground training. My hope is for a physically and mentally ready mare who is sound and ready to do what is asked of her when she is 5 years old and that she will be sound for the rest of her life. Just my thoughts.
Member:
Maximum

Posted on Thursday, Feb 3, 2005 - 7:44 pm:

Yeah!! others that think alike. I really feel bad for those young horses being asked to do so much. I let our young ones live as much as possilbe as horses for 3 years. I do ground training at 2, introduce a saddle, sack em out, and then off they go for another year. At 3 they get handled more, but only have a rider once or twice a month at a slow pace in arena and short trails. Year 4, they do more trails, might go to a small show for experience, don't ask them to collect much, etc. At 5 they are ready to start doing more, a few lessons with kids, etc. By this time they are so soft in the mouth, know how to use their backs, collect easily, and I think most of it comes from the light riding and then leaving them be for weeks while they take it in. Each experience is positive. I have never had a bucker or run away. They always seem eager to do work when asked. What I love most is they are people respecting horses because the lead mare in the pasture keeps them in line while young and we have also changed a lot of our handling methods. When leading ( this is hard for new people to adjust to) we have a long lead and hold at least 4 feet from the halter allowing the horse to walk behind us and never in front or beside us. UNLESS we are working on showmanship and the horses learn quickly that a hand near them means it is work time and they pay attention.
I know I have a barn of 12 well minding, kid safe, calm and willing horses from ages 4 years to 28 years, no lameness, no health issues, etc.
Member:
Alden

Posted on Sunday, Feb 6, 2005 - 10:02 am:

I agree, IMHO two is too earlier for hard riding. I do get on them, 5-10 minutes per session maybe 4-6 times between 2 and 3 years of age. I think you have to consider the mental aspect also, some horses just aren't ready mentally until 3 or 4.

I read about Vaqueros and their use of the bosal. I remember reading they didn't ride them until 3 or 4 and then light and only with a bosal. They didn't use a bit until 6-8 years of age.

Someone needs to do a good study and see if there is any correlation to age started and problems in old age. But then maybe most people in the industry don't what to know.

Good day,
Alden
Member:
Maximum

Posted on Sunday, Feb 6, 2005 - 6:07 pm:

I have been around horses for over 30 years and have watched too many great youngsters look aged and worn out by age 10 and the one thing I know they had in common was a fast start while young. I DON"T want to ever be responsible for that. I'd rather raise a sane, healthy, sound, well minded horse than gather in loads of ribbons to store somewhere.
Member:
Brandi

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 - 7:43 pm:

I applaude and cherish anyone handling their horses as Debra described. As the owner of a stunning and talented 16.2 hh, 1400-lb APHA who was raced into the ground as a 2-3 year-old and now at 8 is knocking on the door of a neurectomy due to severe navicular (as a last resort, possibly), it sickens me to think of these babies not getting a chance to grow up strong and healthy before being put to work. Nevermind the effect it has on their behavior--mine is emotional and nervous, which we still work on every day. I took this amazing creature into my life just 2 years ago, knowing his condition, and knowing that my time with him will be drastically cut short, but I could not look into the soul behind those eyes and leave his fate up to anyone else.
Member:
Thomboy

Posted on Thursday, Feb 10, 2005 - 4:32 pm:

Thank you guys so much! I just got a call from the trainer. The first of the stud colts has already been ridden with no bucking or acting up. He is seeming to take everything in stride. This also made me feel better knowing that everything we have been doing over the past 2 years has paid off!

I feel much better knowing that I haven't completely lost my mind with my views on this issue! Thanks again!!!!
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