[Narmowen]

I'm just curious as to what the median age is that most horses are trained to ride (either by yourself or whomever you bought them from.

[Dressage.Queen]

I depends on the breed. Warmbloods and cold bloods (such as drafts) grow slower than hot bloods and such!

[Rhythm 'n Blues]

I like to start them around 3y/o. I have on occasion started them as a 2y/o, but the basic stirring at w/t and then let them have another year off, but that's about it.

Cantering doesn't happen will troting is 100% down pat, with lengthens and shortens as well as trot-halt transitions....so cantering doesn't end up happening till about 8-12mths after their 1st broke, or started back into work as a 3y/o.....so when they are nearly 4.

Oh and a point to make is that I don't do by Jan 1st being their B-Day, I go by their acutal B-Day, for as close as I can get it, as that makes a difference in the horses' acutal age.

[Temposmom]

My current one wasn't started until he was 8! LOL

Skyla

[Narmowen]

Originally Posted by Dressage.Queen

I depends on the breed. Warmbloods and cold bloods (such as drafts) grow slower than hot bloods and such!

Yep, I know-which is why I was curious about a median age for all horse breeds (and all HGS members!)

My mare wasn't trained to ride until she was 5/6, but she'd been left in a pasture with other horses without much human contact.

[Xiphias]

I backed them the fall when they were 2 1/2, and did a lot of ground work with them, started riding them lightly the spring of their 3rd year....Cathy

[shell]

I have started many a horse, but with the last 3 greenies I have started was Velvet at age 8, CJ at age 4 and Cleo at age 4.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

Originally Posted by Dressage.Queen

I depends on the breed. Warmbloods and cold bloods (such as drafts) grow slower than hot bloods and such!

False.

All breed mature at the same rate, give or take 6 months on individual. Growth plates close from bottom on up. Knees close around 22 months. The spine is the last.

It takes 5-6 years for a horse to be fully developed. Some breeds *appear* to mature faster, like Thoroughbreds and even Quarter Horses.

Drafts though, are not built for carrying a rider, so should wait on being started for saddle work. They are built for pulling.

Personally I would start a horse at 3-3 1/2. That's how I plan it for my Hanoverian colt. That's how I would plan it for any horse I was starting.

[SweetSavannah]

My Anglo wasn't started till about 2 months after she turned 4years old.

She was taught w/t/c on a loose rein, and to lunge with no head attachments (side reins etc).

I have found it a lot easier to train her because she doesn't rely heavily on your hands to 'hold' her up. She is perfectly capable of balancing herself around corners etc on a long rein and is unspoilt in the mouth.

Just gorgeous!

[Lou3]

Originally Posted by Dressage.Queen

I depends on the breed. Warmbloods and cold bloods (such as drafts) grow slower than hot bloods and such!

Actually thats a complete myth. Maturity rate has nothing to do with breed. ALL horses mature at about the same rate give or take six months for individual variation. Geldings are mature six months later than mares and large horses can be up to six months later than small horses - but this applies within a breed too, a 16.2hh QH would be six months later than a 14.2hh QH.
NO horse has ever been mature before the age of six, add on six months for individual variation, six months for a gelding and six months for a very large horse and you can end up with a scenario where a 16.2hh gelding is not mature until he is almost eight. However this can apply to QH OR warmbloods.

Myself I would never dream of asking a horse to bear weight before they were fully 3 years old as this is when the growth plates on the weight bearing portions of their front legs close - I add on six months for a larger gelding just to be safe. I have had horses who were still growing so fast it wasnt appropriate to start them until they were four - mostly large geldings! lol. I have also had horses that werent mentally ready for a rider until they were 4 or 5, My old pony Raven was one, she wasnt backed until she was nearly 5 because she was just too babyish in her head, it took her a long time to grow up enough to a point where I trusted her enough to get on her back!