[IIIBarsV]

Ground work is great. Sometimes I feel like I don't do enough of it. Great way to test a horse's mental state, too, get them to chill, become more confident.

Waiting til 4, 5, even 6 years old on the under saddle stuff can be good. Mentally I think 2 and 3 yr olds aren't quite ready to stop having "fun" in their minds (exceptions, of course). With busy-minded horses I find it easier to wait until they're 4 to start under saddle... much safer and easier on them to teach them to focus on the halter first.

Overall, it certainly makes transitioning to the saddle ten times easier than just "jumping on". If you spend enough time doing the right things, when it's time to ride, the horse won't notice much of a difference aside from balancing with a rider.

Many trainers prefer to have groundwork done before they get a horse in- it makes their job much easier, and they can progress the horse quicker under saddle than they could if they had to spend the time doing all the groundwork themselves.

Although, there are some who'd rather do it themselves- I'm one of those, so I know that something hasn't been missed or been done improperly. I think too often people will just ship a horse to the trainer's, and then they wonder why they have no "bond" with the horse when it comes home. If they had spent hours playing on the ground before training, they could easily get the "bond" back just by going through their ground exercises again and giving the horse something familiar.

[Grey Wolf]

JB,

He takes the time to do it on both sides, too, which goes to your point...

Originally Posted by JBandRio

PERFECT!!! So many people start out being oh-so-careful and doing things "properly" that the horse expects that, and the first time someone scrapes a foot across the rump getting on, it surprises the heck out of the horse and off we go!

Originally Posted by JBandRio

LOL, yeah, never mind. Groundwork as preparation for ridden work is sadly too underestimated by too many folks.

We obviously agree. The more you do on the ground, the less you have to do in the saddle - where, especially on a new horse, you're at an increased risk of injury! That's nothin' to sneeze at when you get older!

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by Grey Wolf

JB,

He takes the time to do it on both sides, too, which goes to your point...

Man, what a guy! I like him!

We obviously agree. The more you do on the ground, the less you have to do in the saddle - where, especially on a new horse, you're at an increased risk of injury! That's nothin' to sneeze at when you get older!

*sigh* tell me about it...

[westerngrl]

I think thats great you spend so much time with ground work before even thinking about getting on. So many horses would benefit better in your program then the "send him out to a cowboy to get broke" method.

[ryu2832]

Yeah I've been looking at Berry, just turning two, thinking she's got at least two more years of groundwork before I'd let anyone try it....

[Goonhorse]

Originally Posted by Grey Wolf

Anyway...I'll be the first to admit that this mare has a tremendous disposition, and loves work. Some of it is genetic, no doubt (Morgans do have that reputation).

*chokes*

Want to trade?

[MissCriss]

I haven't read any of the other comments yet but...

I would just like to say: THANK YOU!!!!

For not backing her early. And, for getting her adjusted to different types of situations. I like how you have the guy getting on sloppily as well as correctly. In my opinion, horses are not as mentally prepared as they would be at 3 as they can be at 5. An additional year or two can do wonders and smooth out a whole lot of stuff. Plus, then they grow to their full potential and overall, the movement and conformation is much nicer in the end. I'm sure their longevity is also improved.

The other lady I am grooming for is going to start backing her 2 year-old Quarter Horse pretty soon, and I am very against it, seeing as how he still looks like a baby. If I had seen him, I would have never guessed he was two. I haven't seen many babies, but he just looks too fragile to me. It bothers me VERY much when people start their horses early. I don't understand the point of it. And um, excuse me, but I don't know why they are criticizing you because ground is SO important in my mind. A lot of times it is what makes or breaks the horse. So, great job . She looks LOVELY. Morgans are such sweethearts. It seems like you've done wonderfully with her, especially considering she is being so trainable and already is pretty flexible. Ground work is in no way overrated.

By the way, what kinds of things were you doing for her groundwork?

[Buckshot]

All I have to say is "Good for you!" for choosing this route and such an outstanding trainer.

[CrazyHorse]

Very refreshing!! I applaud you

My Mustang was a coming 5 year old when we adopted him 3 years ago and I got comments like "You should've gotten a weanling or yearling at the most 'cause he's going to be hard to train" but guess what? He was going well under saddle within 6 months (We trained him ourselves) And now you couldn't ask for a better, calmer riding horse for literally any age. He truly takes care of his rider no matter if it's somebody who has never ridden him or whatever. I wouldn't hesitate to let anybody ride him and as a matter of fact, I have

[Rhythm 'n Blues]

Just wanted to congradulate you yet again!

I hear ya on the waiting game....I waiting till my QH was a 3y/o before I even did anything....ya I sat on him once just just before he was 3, but didn't again till after he was 3, and even then we weren't cantering till he was nearly 4y/o!

Right now I'm working with a 5y/o DWBx gelding, and in 6weeks we have gone from not knowing how to pick up our feet, to being backed and started troting with a rider....defenitly faster due to him being older

Before that I worked with a 7y/o un-back DWB (same owner as the above 5y/o) Sure they don't have ground work done on them, but you start there and move on. This guy is now 8 or 9 I believe and is a dream to work around and on!

I only wish I could find something that around the 4-5y/o stage that hasn't been backed...but it's hard to find that.....especially one that has had any rough handling to boot!