[sorrell]

We hand lead up until about a year, then ground drive, then lounge, usually in a round pen first.

[trotplease]

I would not even consider, for one moment lunging until at least 2.5 years old. Circles are very damaging to developing legs. Not worth it in my mind. Even later I do very little work on the lunge, except introducing tack and the weight of the rider.

[Lou3]

Never ever would I lunge before 2 and a half years old - and then not for more than 5 minutes at a time.
I prefer not to lunge at all in training really and will only lunge to teach a horse how for the sake of being able to exercise them that way when they are fully mature. I ground drive for all other purposes.

[Jess!]

I lunged my 6 month one time x_x Do I get flogged for that?

Usually I start around 1.5 years old.

I don't ground drive.

[imacowgirl2]

Around 2 years old...except for 5-10 minutes in their yearling year just so they can learn the concept and the voice commands.

And yes, I ground drive before I longe...our filly has been ground driving since she was about 1-1.5 years old.

[Doll-Face]

I dont see a problem with it as a yearling, as long as its slow and not very long. The people that about faint about lunging anything below 2 or 3 years make me laugh. I'll be starting Tuff soon

[jumphigher]

I have never broken a youngster before and i dont really have much experience in that area.
But the lady up the road from my stables has been walking her 2yo out inhand to get him used to all the "spooky" things and shes asked me if she can walk him around my jumping arena, so im guessing she is starting very light work on him.
But horses arnt completly fully established (bones and muscels) until the age of 6 apparently so according to a horsey book of mine, and apparently you shouldnt be jumping until it is a 6yo, but i dont understand that because i see loads of horses who are like 5 or 6 competing on big tracks?
So to be honest i think its whatever you feel is best for your horse and what you want to do with him!

No one every wrote a book on how to handle every horse, because they are all different!

xxx

[PiaffePony0412]

I don't touch them with work until they are 3. I work consistantly at the pace that they set for a few months, then I chuck them out to pasture and don't touch them again until they are 3.5, and they are always 100000% more willing and interested the second time around. Some horses I have waited, started at 3.5 and then picked them back up at 4. Warmbloods usually later, TB's and QH's usually earlier, just because of the way they grow/mature.

-Piaffepony0412

[Lou3]

Originally Posted by Doll-Face

I dont see a problem with it as a yearling, as long as its slow and not very long. The people that about faint about lunging anything below 2 or 3 years make me laugh. I'll be starting Tuff soon

So you havent read the research about the spinal deformities and joint problems it causes then?
I think your attitude is very disrespectful. People get angry about lunging youngsters because we KNOW what serious damage it does.
You wanna ruin your own horse - fine we cant stop you, but dont laugh at those who choose to respect their horse's welfare and not do things that can damage their youngsters irreparably.

[Jenje!]

I SAID NO FIGHTING. -waves duct tape-