I have a 20 month old filly that i am wanting to start. I am wanting to start her around 2 yrs, the only problem is she is maturing really slowly. She looks like she is 12 months or younger. Would it be ok to start her at 2? Or should i wait till 3 or 4 yrs old?
2006-11-04 04:51:12 · 12 answers · asked by Barrel_Racing_Cowgirl 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
She is a paint.
2006-11-04 04:59:25 · update #1
I show and breed paints and had a filly that was smaller like this as well. There is no reason why you cant start putting a saddle on her and bridle and lunging her to get her use to the sounds and weight of it. Then start long driving her to get her use to the bit and guidance of the bridle. Go very slow and take your time. Make sure to wrap her front legs for protection and never do tight small circles on the line. I would wait til she was a late 2 yr old before getting on her and then only walk and possibly an easy jog a couple of times. Work on leg yields and back and giving to the bit. You will need a smaller rider for her so she gets use to balancing a rider and since shes smaller you dont want to add undue weight on her. Its always best to wait then to rush since you want this horse to be able to continue when its 14 then to have a horse w/major hip, back, and leg problems. Good luck.
2006-11-04 07:36:36 · answer #1 · answered by Ivory_Flame 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can start her with a bit of light lunging and getting her used to having a "ponypad" type saddle on her back. There's no harm in this, get her used to having you around her, just general handling like grooming etc.
As a paint she will take longer to "come to hand" - warmblood type horses do. I suggest you wait until she's about 4years old before you sit on her, by this stage she should be mature enough.
Patience is everything, and you seem to be open to this.
A good idea may be to put her in foal if you have access to a nice stallion, in your area or something. That is a very popular thing over here in South Africa. Alot of people will put their 2yr old warmbloods or ponies into foal by the time the foal is weaned the filly is generally mature enough to begin serious training.
Just an idea, but i hope this helps.
2006-11-04 07:36:55 · answer #2 · answered by Kismet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Filly is a woman foal and could stay a filly up till they seem to be a 3yo. at which era they replace right into a mare. comparable with a colt that's a male foal up till they are 3 at which era they are seen a stallion and as quickly as they are bred they seem to be a stud. A gelding is a stallion who has been altered. A yearling is in basic terms that a horse the two filly or colt who's a year previous. Weanling is a foal who has been weaned from their dam up til the factor they replace right into a yearling. A suckling is in basic terms that a foal who remains nursing. Dam is the mare a foal is OUT OF and a sire is the stud a foal IS via. Dams have produce of dam and stallions have get of sire.
2016-10-03 06:44:52 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would start her regularly at 2 yrs. You can just start handling her, like by doing more halter work, maybe some ground training, and some gentle easy stuff. If you think she is shouldn't be working once you start her, you can always wait another year. I wouldn't neccesarily breed her, though, because then your stuck w/a foal that you would also have to train, and you do not want to breed the filly if she has something wrog with her.
2006-11-04 08:11:24 · answer #4 · answered by smile.for.meee<3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a good idea to get her knees and hocks x-rayed to make sure her growth plates are fused. If they are start riding lightly and build up her stamina and strength. If not you can start her, but only walk or trot for no more than 15-30 minutes a day, no more than 4 days a week. Generally paints, appaloosas, and Quarter horses mature faster than Arabians, or warmblood type horses. The growth plates in the paints usually fuse by two years in the knees and three years in the hocks. If you overstress the joints before they are fused you will have permanent lameness problems. I always get an x-ray of one knee and one hock before I start riding to check these joints.
2006-11-04 07:15:37 · answer #5 · answered by matakibud 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What breed is she? I would have already started basic halter, leading, standing ext..
But if your asking to start under saddle, depedning on the breed you should wait till there at least around 3 yrs of age. there still growning and starting them under saddle to early can lead to problems later down the road.
2006-11-04 04:58:08 · answer #6 · answered by Hays_farm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
paints grow slow..when she is about 2 1/2 she will shoot up..so you should start to lunge in a trot, and walk and bulid up her muscles..sorry but if you weight under about 150 than she should be fine.. but if you weight more i would wait for a walie..oh and dont' put shoes on her untill she is 5 because there feet don't stop maturing till then..and the vet would be good..too.. i really dont start mine untill about 2 1/2 and don't really ride untill 3
2006-11-04 05:30:08 · answer #7 · answered by i love my son wyatt 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that you should wait till 3 years old its the optimal age
2006-11-04 05:02:30 · answer #8 · answered by emperor_cyrus77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have your vet evaluate the filly and advise you. Personally I don't begin riding my youngsters until they're at least 3.
2006-11-04 05:17:44 · answer #9 · answered by CHill 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wait until her knees are closed (x-ray to check) or else she will have a breif career. I won't start a horse until at least 3, or longer if their knees aren't closed.
2006-11-04 07:10:42 · answer #10 · answered by Carson 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋