I just started traininga two year colt and I have rode him around the corral a couple times. I heard that you can ruin their knees if rode too young because they are still growing. Is that true? Can I use the horse to trail cows or is he too young?
2007-02-21 05:28:39 · 9 answers · asked by rsverp 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Your horse is perfectly fine being broke to ride at 2 if he is up to weight, fit, and has good muscle tone. Horses do most of their growing between 6 months and 2 years. And growing slows after that. And despite people saying wait until they are older because they'll be fully developed- most horses never stop growing.
I break in all my colts and fillies as 2 year olds, start them on tracking cattle when they've had 6 months of training and then start them full time on cattle- cutting and reined cow horse- I'll do this when they turn 3 and have already learned the basics. This is so my horses will be ready for the futurity's and millionheir classics their 3 year old winter.
As long as you properly care for your equine- ie....proper saddle fit, proper shod, correct feeding, and the right supplements- you should have no problem having a healthy equine partner that will live a long and useful life.
My equines that were broke at two and aren't being used as studs or broodmares now are still being ridden in competitions of every discipline and are still sound and healthy. I even have horses in their late 20's and early 30's that are still going strong.
Just make sure you take the time to take care of your equine properly and you will both be fine.
2007-02-21 09:17:37 · answer #1 · answered by silvaspurranch 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My trainer has a 2 yr old Percheron/Tb/Morgan, earlier this year she put a saddle and bridle on him and just let him get use to it, then she put her foot in the stirrup and lifted herself up then dropped down, she says when he turns 3 we can take him on VERY easy rides but cant do heavy rides until he is 4 or 5 (or finished growing) I would wait until ur horse is 4 until u do heavy rides REALLY hope i helped EDIT- A horse stops growing around the ages of 6 and 7, does that mean u cant ride them until theyre 6 or 7. no, If u feel down the knee of a horse when they're around 2 or 3 u can feel a gap between the beginning of the knee and the end of the knee, start hard work with the horse when that gap is almost gone, u can still ride them when the gab is there, but i wouldnt if the gap was big!!
2016-05-24 03:01:23 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We like to wait until they are three before putting any real riding on them. We spend most of the tow year old year just getting used to a saddle and bridle. I would wait until he is almost three before you start trailing cattle. Most two year old are to immature to handle much work or training at all. I would turn him out with a few cows and see if he is even interested in them before I tried trailing them and have freak out. If you let him track them on his own, he will learn where he needs to be to make them move and when you start this with you on him, he will be a lot better at it and enjoy it. We have done this will all of our rope horses and the ones who do it on their own make way better cattle horses than the ones who are scared to death or just not interested. Good Luck!
2007-02-21 09:50:41 · answer #3 · answered by Paint Pony 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the UK most people seem to introduce being ridden to their youngsters at around 3. They do some light work with them (introducing bridle and saddle then light ground work) before then turning them away to mature for a bit until they are about 4. Then they work them gently, gradually increasing the work they do.
I know some people who have started working their horses younger but its usually very light work, for short periods. Saying that though, in the racing industry (where I work) the youngsters are broken in and worked at the age of 2 if they are a flat horse.
2007-02-21 05:47:06 · answer #4 · answered by Tiffers 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
2 yrs is too young for what you want to do. he's not fully developed, & you can cause damage later in life by working him too hard. If you are light weight, & you're just riding circles in an arena for a short period of time, he should be fine.
if you want him to get used to trailing cows, pony him with an older, experienced horse.
give him a couple more years growing before you start working & riding him hard.
2007-02-21 05:43:43 · answer #5 · answered by jamie c 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Break him at 3, get him totally collecting and working off your aids really well at each gate. When the 4 yr spring comes around, you can trail cows, bull dog, buck him, whatever you need. You can ruin their knees, back, loin, stifles, and shoulders if you work them hard too soon.
2007-02-21 06:29:24 · answer #6 · answered by Horsetrainer89 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have heard that you can injure them if you ride them when they are too young, so yes i would believe this is true. Please wait until your horse is 3 or 4 until you saddle break them. You can do other sorts of training until them, such as getting them used to wearing a saddle.
2007-02-21 17:17:19 · answer #7 · answered by Miso 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I wouldnt do anything hard until he is like 4, but you can have your vet look some breeds are ready alot soon like throughbreds
2007-02-21 05:42:12 · answer #8 · answered by Skittles 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
its best to wate till thay are 4
2007-02-21 06:18:09 · answer #9 · answered by bear 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋