"I've been waiting on *insert name*
Ever since I could recall,
I started in April and it's coming on Fall..."
Well... funny how life works...
I had hoped to very lightly start Hola in the Spring of her 2 year old year. Sometime about... April. But she just wasn't big enough for anyone, especially someone with such a bodaciously curvy bod such as me *cough* and she was not mature enough mentally either. I figured I could wait until... you guessed it, Fall.
Well it's Fall. And I am a bit smaller than I was April. And she is a wee bit bigger than she was in April. But she is still small (14HH and 800 pounds) and I am still too big (most definetly NOT inserting my height and weight here*) so it looks like I am going to be aiming for Spring. I am going to be hoping for a Christmas miracle... that I might drop 20 pounds and she might gain 200. That is possible right? Right? Right? *crickets* Right.
I've seen cowboys way too big to ride what they ride and their horses seem fine. :) I think if she seems mentally ready then she can handle anything. It's not like you start a pony with a 6 year old on it's back. *fingers crossed*
ReplyDeleteI was wanting to hustle up and get my 2y/o started under saddle as well, but she seems awfully dainty too, so I put her on the back burner for a little while too. Of course, Belle is a late foal, she just turned 24 months in September, so she'll be behind in development compared to every other foal born the same year as she was for several years. But, if Hola is ready for some beginning rides on her, I don't think you will hurt her. Back when I used to start futurity WP horses, we started them at 18 months and did nothing with them all winter but put walk/trot rides on them-15-20 minutes, 3-4 times a week. No loping. By the time spring rolled around they were pretty well trained up at that level and we could start adding the lope.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am of the opinion that if a person uses common sense, there is nothing wrong with starting a horse younger than the current popular opinion is dictating. You have to realize that the majority of the people who advocate starting them later are not exactly training for Jr. level competition. When you are preparing horse for that, it's not about putting long sessions on them, it's about frequent short sessions and getting a really solid, correct foundation. JMO. :-)
Well as usual, I have a differing opinion about when to start horses. I say wait. There is no rush in riding her. There is soooooo much that you can do with her on the ground, ponying her, trailering her and so on. Physically, a horse is mature at 6 years of age. The spinal column is the last area of the bony structures to "solidify" and become mature, and being the main weight-bearing location and being horizontal, you can imagine the stresses that are put on their backs. There is less chance of harming their legs because they mature earlier, but why push it? Contrary to popular beliefs and practices, you definitely can do harm to a young horse by riding them too soon. Most people just don't care, or they have enough horses that they can just use a different one if this one goes lame; or they retire them long before they should have to be retired. A perfect age to start a horse is 4 years old, light riding and nothing too mentally stressing, but if you waited until she was 3-1/2 and went slowly, she'd probably be alright. When you wait, and teach them slowly and without mental pressure, you'll have a willing partner that you'll be enjoying way into their 20's barring unexpected accidents or emergencies. Have fun with her, Chelsi!
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