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[RC] re: stating a young horse - A. PerezI too am starting a youngster, so this is a topic I have read up on. There is no concensus. Many trainers start 'long yearlings' so they can sell them as soon as possible and get a return on their investment, but many others feel that horses should not be ridden until all 'growth plates' have closed. This can be as late as 5 - 6 years old for some breeds. The bones mature 'from the ground up' - growth plates on the lower limbs close before those on the upper limbs, and the spine matures later than the limbs. Cherry Hill, in "Making, not Breaking" says when is less important than how a horse is started, and that mental maturity is as important as phsyical maturity, and varies from horse to horse. She likes (as do many other trainers) to back horses in the fall of their 2nd year, riding them gently a few dozen times, then turn them out for the winter to grow up some more, then ride them the full summer of their 3rd year, then again give them a winter off, and only as a 4 year old does she ride them year round. This is just one approach. I plan to do alot of ponying and ground driving with my filly, even after she is backed. Ponying is especially good, as they can get accustomed to being out on the trails, and get legged up, without straining their back. I am also a firm believer in every-other-day riding, so that any minor strains can heal on the off-days, and the horse has some 'down time'. This is just my opinion: others feel every day training is essential (see http://www.horsemanpro.com/articles/age_criteria.htm). Don Blazer's website offers a very different opinion (which I don't agree with): (http://www.equiworld.net/uk/ezine/0901/ahorseofcourse1.htm) He writes: "I've always been an advocate of saddle training horses at a young age. It has always gotten me into trouble---not with horses, with people. What I'm about to say will probably generate a lot more criticism. I like to saddle break (I use the word "break" just to needle those who are already furious with me) using horses when they are one-year-old. I like to saddle break race horses from age 15-months to 18-months. Now I've heard all the arguments against early saddle training. "Horses shouldn't be racing as two year olds. You can't start a jumper before he's four. Never saddle break a horse until he's at least three years old. All you do, starting them young, is break them down." Horse feathers! It just ain't true! And if you don't like what I just said, find some scientific evidence to support the false notion early saddle training breaks horses down. " ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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