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T O P I C R E V I E W
glo
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 09:10:20 AM As I have said in other posts I have 4 two year olds, one Honey is already backed and been ridden around , only small bits by the lady I got her off, Previously that would have put me off buying, but I can see her point in having a stick thin youth messing with them.
Also Magic is being kept entire! I know I must be mad! But I have started doing things with him, he is mouthed and had a saddle on, started lunging off the head collar at mo but progressing amazingly as he is a bit head shy, and the thought of trying to start him as a big 4 year old was unthinkable and filled me with dread.
The question is when do you start yours and what do you do with your 2 year olds.
25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
glo
Posted - 30 Nov 2014 : 08:25:02 AM Your boy was a gelding, and you didn't ride him once he was home! Each of us know our horses, we all do things differently. Wether its right or wrong, we all have different opinions. I am happy with the pace and start that's been made. You see many old mares the old stallions that have never been broken in, what life have they got if they can't breed! They end up in unsuitable homes so the new horses can take there place, loaned out or given away free, that horse that once was your pride and joy, never to be sold!
I would rather start Magic now and have a good well balanced stallion, riding horse than leave it till he's 4/5 big and full of hormones stallion that can't be sent away because nobody will take him.
Your welcome to come and see what I have been doing.
Sahir
Posted - 29 Nov 2014 : 10:03:33 PM Can't say I'm too impressed with sitting on a 2yr old I sent my boy away to be backed when he was almost 4yrs old, he was away for 8wks & came back happy, well adjusted & loved being ridden, he didn't have a bad experience but then I chose people who I knew to be kind, honest & with an excellent reputation He now is with his new owner and has an extremely rosy future. Everyone has their own opinion about what age to start backing their horse but surely the fact that yours is only 2yrs old must make it stressful for him.
glo
Posted - 25 Nov 2014 : 3:27:20 PM I had come across that article or one similar several years back, gives a good in site on developments and growth, made me realize the importance or correct feeding in brood mares and young stock, for good strong bone growth.
The thing is, what is more harmful, sending away your 3yo for starting for 4/5 weeks of what will be very hard work, as most owners would want to see there horse walk, trot and canter in that time, most horses would be worked for a hour a day for 6 days a week total 24 hours of hard work for 4 weeks or doing it bit by bit for timed work sessions that I'd I added up the time spent total 11 times, time spent not even 4 hours! That includes brushing, tacking up, bit of lunging at walk, with some trot (not enough to sweat) bit of long raining, siting on for a few minuets. By the time I have spent 24 hours doing my horse it will be this time next year!
I know my horse and I know what he can do and what he's happy with, from experience if I sent him away next year it would be a disaster, as it is he will never have a bad experience, never have bad fitting tack, will not get stressed, will not be over worked, will never do more that he can cope with.
The end result will be the same a horse that is rideable, but one will have to be turned away to recover from the stress of it, and it won't be my horse as he won't have that stress.
barbara.gregory
Posted - 25 Nov 2014 : 10:51:59 AM Thanks for that, great article.
Pasch
Posted - 24 Nov 2014 : 12:21:04 AM Excellent article.If only all horse owners-trainers would follow this...
Faracat
Posted - 23 Nov 2014 : 11:20:12 PM
Originally posted by gossy
Arabs mature and grow much later than other breeds
This is actually a myth. The truth is that all breeds are slow to mature.
Posted - 23 Nov 2014 : 8:50:28 PM There backs are not mature enough at 2, Arabs mature and grow much later than other breeds, we barebacked our youngsters at 3 having done all the traffic etc before that age, then turned away until 4. Would never of considered breaking or backing at 2
glo
Posted - 23 Nov 2014 : 8:40:58 PM I must admit that I lead out my first horse for a long time till one day a old man that I would meet each day asked if I would like a leg up, I agreed and rode home, and never looked back. I was 16 at the time and must have been mad! But the ground work had been done, probably not to the standard I would do it now, but the time made up for it lack of knowledge. Just to add I had had Gem for 2 years by then and had sat on her a few times like kids do!
I still to this day do things slowly taking 6 months to back a horse and riding on, and can't understand how it can be done in 4 weeks and have a safe horse at the end of it!
Doing Magic once a week, by this time next year he will be just starting to think about canter work!
Pasch
Posted - 23 Nov 2014 : 8:13:40 PM
Local pony club types have found my methods a bit odd, on the pony club it seems you expect your baby to jump 3' country courses by the time they're 5. Poor babies, they'll be lucky to make old bones.
Yes it is the same for show jumpers at least in Italy where they start with the 4 years olds championship…let alone western with the 3 years olds reining futurity….no wonder most end up lame early. By the way,
debs
Posted - 23 Nov 2014 : 8:03:57 PM Everyone in the village thought I was mental leading my first arab out for 2 years! Don't think anyone thought I would actually ride him! With Ali it was a little different... He was so naughty couldn't walk out without fearing for my life! But true to form was a doddle to back just like my first! Much harder to work though #128516;
glo
Posted - 23 Nov 2014 : 8:03:19 PM Welcome to this site, time spent is always well worth it. Leading out is essential in my option as it gets the young horse used to going out, I would do 2 or 3 little routes that can be added to make a longer hack. Where we live we can include road work and tracks. We always lead out on there own, and get them well used to the routes. When they are ready to ride out, this we do as soon as the horse is happy to be sat on first around the yard , progressing to the lane and then drive and then the roads. I don't do any arena work and no schooling just hacking, walking for the first 4 weeks, to set the training.
With Magic I would expect to be doing short hacks on his own by about May/ June if all goes to plan.
Just to add we always take our babies out on there own from the start, and have never had any problems, also our short hacks are about 15 to 20 minutes witch is plenty for the young horse.
Whitehorse
Posted - 23 Nov 2014 : 6:39:45 PM Hi all, I'm new to this site but just wanted to say I heartily agree with those who have mentioned leading out youngsters in hand. I bought my current gelding at 3 years old & spent 12 month getting to know him & leading out, gradually introducing a bridle & roller, then saddle & continuing to lead from the halter, once backed I used 2 sets of reins, one to the bit & one to the halter. He's been very laid back (actually rather too laid back) until this summer, at 8 years old, when he's finally realised that he's an arab! Looking back, although it's taken 4 years of patience & wondering if he'll ever really 'move', it's really been worth it, he's so strong &straight in his body. Local pony club types have found my methods a bit odd, on the pony club it seems you expect your baby to jump 3' country courses by the time they're 5. Poor babies, they'll be lucky to make old bones.
glo
Posted - 23 Nov 2014 : 4:47:58 PM Just to add, I have just been sitting on magic this is the second time and I work / play once a week if I have time and it's not raining, he is still good and getting better and better he is thriving on doing something.
We still are in no hurry and we are making sure that Magic and my self are totally happy before we move on.
Kharidian
Posted - 13 Sep 2014 : 4:01:31 PM I walk out in hand from weaning (approx once a week) on circular routes either solo or with company, during the second year I will introduce a nylon bit on a headpiece but still lead from the head collar, introduce a saddle when walking out too. With both my boys I legged up the obligatory "small child" I.e. a child of one of the other liveries and walked around the yard in the second year (only did it once). In the third year I started to introduce steering from the bit whilst mainly leading from the head collar. I also got above them on a mounting block, jumped up & down and made lots of noise etc and leant over and put a little weight on their backs.
This meant that both boys were SO easy to back as all the basic steps were in place so from being legged up and walked around leaning over (once) to sitting up, astride and being leant round was the next step. I can genuinely say that this is all I did with both Rog and Chips and I have had no problems whatsoever......I'm not saying this is the only way but it worked for us!
Caryn
glo
Posted - 13 Sep 2014 : 3:02:59 PM Interesting to hear what others do, I will still do little bits, getting him used to things. Maybe walk down the road!!sometime
Mags
Posted - 13 Sep 2014 : 06:46:26 AM Regarding when I start, never before 4 and sometimes 5 if I think its needed. My 4yr old does everything including long reining confidently and he will be lightly backed this year.
Callisto
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 10:08:27 PM I think a lot of handling is a good thing - feet, leading in hand, leading from another horse, tack on etc. we used to take our foal on hacks - I was riding his mother, he was 8 months old, but we were very lucky in our location that this was possible. We didn't have to back him as such as a four year old - he would stick his own head in the bridle, and more than happy to let us sit on him - but I think four is quite early enough to sit on them, and never forget that their skeleton's do not mature until they are 6 years old. But loads of handling, excursions etc. and they will take everything in their stride.
RUTHIE
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 9:28:37 PM Well I'am a bit ahead of the game because my Crabbet is 3 1/2. But as a two year old we did loads of road walking, loading and trips out with my two school masters. I bitted him and he had a saddle on his back...briefley. Now at his age, I have sat on him but most of our work is long reining and voice commands, with flexion on both reins. Tbh, I still install daily basics like feet, tying up , grooming and general manners. I like to teach something new and then go back to familiar lessons he understands. As a two year old and now...24/7 turnout , strict routine and plenty of freedom. In my book produces a well balance young horse with the best of everything ! But what do I know...lol!
Pasch
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 9:02:43 PM And another one here..
Mags
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 8:53:42 PM Im another that thinks 2yr olds should be out in the field. But at the very least zero riding or lunging
Ari
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 8:13:24 PM As a 2yr old Ari had good ground manners (thanks to previous owners) and we just built on that. I walked him miles in hand around and about and occasionally put a very wide light synthetic saddle on him just get him used to the idea. At 3yrs we replaced headcoller for a snaffle bit and continued his outings. He was always a gangly little chap until he turned 3 and then he so grew up. I too spent ages grooming him off the mounting block and he was backed at 4. He was long reigned from 3 and a half in school and out and about and had minimal time on the lunge as to me it was a learning commands exercise to take into ridden work and once he got it then no further benefit against the risk to growing joints. Playing with him with tack and ground games like plastic and poles etc is a great foundation for his future.
glo
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 7:00:33 PM I think it's more getting him used to the idea, I have no intention of getting on him, not at the moment, but getting him used to the tack, slow lunging, I suppose it's more like playing with him.
Vik1
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 6:13:27 PM My boy at 2yo was out in a field until xmas. Then he was brought in only because he got a whopper of an abscess. That point we did in hand work with long reins up and down drive couple of times a week. Or went a walk in hand to end of road to watch cars passing. That was pretty much it. He was backed at 3 and half. Ridden only 2/3 times week for 8 weeks then turned away again until end of march following year when better weather came. I can see point of what is potentially going to be a huge horse being sat on at 2 and half. Its hard going for the person giving the leggy. I dont mean properly ridden, just the experience of saddle and rider on board for a walk about. Id then leave them again til spring as 3yo, do it again, leave then do a bit more in autumn as 3 and half..walk trot, maybe canter then turn away again til following spring.
pinkvboots
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 12:35:32 PM When Arabi was 2 he was still entire I used to take him for walks on the bridleways in hand mainly just so he saw a bit of life, he was very confident going anywhere on his own in hand which is what I wanted, I think 2 is too young to start backing any horse, as your stallion is head shy and nervy I would concentrate on getting him over this and building up trust before attempting anything else as you could end up with a very messed up horse, to be honest if he struggles with someone putting a head collar on how is he going to deal with someone sitting on him I wouldn't rush him, by all means handle him but he needs to be out being a baby so he can grow up naturally, I am sure in a years time he will be a different horse and be in a much better state of mind to cope with saddles and being ridden.
glo
Posted - 12 Sep 2014 : 12:08:16 PM I must admit, I normally would not do anything, but with Magic it's hard to get a head collar on as it is, won't let anyone touch him but me, and has the screaming ab dabs at any change, but we are getting there, he is 15.hh now and big with it, my vet thought he was 3 when he was just 2, the saddle I have for him is a 6x so that gives you an indication of the size and stamp of him.
So Sab I know where your coming from,
we are going slowly and can now get a bridle on over his head, he is happy to have the saddle on but still unsure when walking and trotting in it, I have stared standing on the mounting block to brush him, again to get him used to being above him. As a colt / stallion I want to be him to have a life out side coving mares, and be a useful all rounder, that we can take anywhere.
I sent my boy away to be backed when he was almost 4yrs old, he was away for 8wks & came back happy, well adjusted & loved being ridden, he didn't have a bad experience but then I chose people who I knew to be kind, honest & with an excellent reputation 
He now is with his new owner and has an extremely rosy future. Everyone has their own opinion about what age to start backing their horse but surely the fact that yours is only 2yrs old must make it stressful for him.
