[Fire]

She looks wonderful! I commend you for waiting until your horse was older to start heavily training her. I don't usually have a problem with breaking out younger horses, but it does take a lot of patience to wait that long! And you obviously have been working with her manners before hand. It really does show. She's a cute little mare! My horse just turned six and he was broken as a four year old and hasn't been worked since, so I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I think training an older horse takes a little bit more work but it's worth the peace-of-mind that they will be sound for the rest of their lives!

[AQHA_Ak]

Hi Ya'll ... Thank goodness I'm not the only one that starts my horses late. I agree with the reason you start late too. I wanted to make sure the growth plates were set. No sense hurrying things. After all they live 25 or 30 yrs. some longer. What's the hurry.

[Avishay]

I've really enjoyed reading through this thread. Congrats to the OP!

Like others here, I take my time with youngsters. I start horses under saddle as a paid gig, but I always refuse to get on one under 3 1/2. If I loose business over it, that's fine by me.

I recently started my own gelding under saddle last month - he'll be 4 in June. What's more, I actually had the vet out to do a pre-backing exam. She worked him over and gave me the go-ahead to begin easy, low-key under saddle work. So far he's had 10 rides on him, 10-25 minutes a piece, all just walking, turning, stopping - building his confidence. I'm just taking it very slow and easy. He did have a bad spook and threw me 2 1/2 weeks ago. The poor baby, he was so good, once he realized he'd lost me, he doubled right back and stood over me while I waited for help to arrive. So he's had a 2 week vacation (which, ironically, I'd been planning to give him anyway - I believe time off is just as important that time in the saddle when training youngsters) and yesterday was the first time I've been healthy enough to get back on, and even then all I did was climb aboard bareback and sit there. My plan is to continue with the groundwork and go back to getting on a couple times a week, and we probably won't even start trotting until summer. I'm in no hurry - I want him to be my partner for the next 25 years or so, and taking my time with him now is what will get us there.

I can't imagine wanting to start 2 y/o/young 3 y/os. Even with my guy being nearly 4, there's still so much immaturity there. INO it's just human selfishness to push youngsters.

[sunrisegurl146]

i'm sooooo happy that i'm not the only one doing this,
in my area ( central ontario ex. kingston) every one gets started when they're 2 specially when their quarter horses or quarter mixes.
so i get a lot of "what?!" when i tell them my almost 2 yr old hasn't been girthed up yet. i'm 17 and i'm not stupid. i'm taking my time its not like my filly is going to die in a year. by the time i'm 30 she'll be 26.

any way what i wanted to say is that i do a lot of desentitiving too. no i'm able to run the longe whip every where and she doesn't care!
i also get her used to grooming stuff i often sit the brushes on her back.

i love horses!!!!

[be_pretend]

Oh gosh- I read it wrong, and thought you waited until she was fifteen to back her! -sigh- I need some coffee!

[foxyfuzz]

I really have to say thank you to all of you who posted. I have a just turned 2 year old. I miss riding BUT I do not want to rush him by any means. AND I haven't and will not. He does need time to mature. He is still very much a kid.
Thanks to all the confirmations of my thoughts to wait and for sharing all your stories of the pros of my decision. Others (as I am sure you have all heard) disagree. BUT Whatever, my horse, my choice!

Congrats to Grey Wolf for your success and Thanks again for sharing your story.

[skysthelimit]

Originally Posted by be_pretend

Oh gosh- I read it wrong, and thought you waited until she was fifteen to back her! -sigh- I need some coffee!

HAHAHAHAHAHA! I *almost* did too, and then I realized what was really being said. And I'm LOADED with coffee. *quivers* lol.

That horse is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! And GREAT for you for waiting. You'll be glad in the long run. Actually, you'll be glad now AND in the long run since she's got such a solid foundation to build upon. It'll make new challenges...well...a lot less challenging.

~Brit

[Akhorse]

I am glad to know I am not the only one to wait till my horse id 5 to train. My gelding was a stud till last year. I did not start riding him till he was 5 but all the neiborhood kids (between 5&7 y/o) started riding him when he was 2. My daughter got to ride him for years befor I did. (leadline) When it came time to ride, all I did was get on and go! He is such a gentel boy who will be a father this year. I am hoping his foal will have his laid back disposition.

[Grey Wolf]

Ninth lesson. The trainer rode her all over the arena, then with about 10 minutes left, I hopped on.




I just walked her in a couple of circles, then got off. I didn't have my helmet, and all I really wanted to do was see if she cared that someone new got on. She didn't care at all.



Love that mare!

[PeggySue]

Hey Grey I think you are abusing her and I need to come and bring her home with me LOL

She is a good looking little mare !!