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[Quinn4321]

Quote:
The horse can learn plenty from lot's of ground work.

It also will depend on how the horse fills out....
My paint filly is 2 1/2 right now.... and because of her warmblood bloodlines she is quite tall rather than filled out. So we are just now starting ground work. Many people often recommend a month- 2 months of ground work at 2 before waiting 3 months to a year to begin more riding work.
I am not trying to dictate your actions, simply stating facts I have learned from working with young horses. So please, I hope you don't find me bossy.

 

[horsecrazychicklovingkid]

Quote:
The horse can learn plenty from lot's of ground work.

It also will depend on how the horse fills out....
My paint filly is 2 1/2 right now.... and because of her warmblood bloodlines she is quite tall rather than filled out. So we are just now starting ground work. Many people often recommend a month- 2 months of ground work at 2 before waiting 3 months to a year to begin more riding work.
I am not trying to dictate your actions, simply stating facts I have learned from working with young horses. So please, I hope you don't find me bossy.

Not at all, you clearly didn't understand that the whole reason I want one so young is so that I can have a whole 2 years to do groundwork with it so it will be ready to be ridden when it turns 2. You don't have to wait until they are 2 to start groundwork. I want to start as soon as I get mine.

 

[Quinn4321]

[bAlso, as a note, I would like to say that racehorses started at 2 are started then because it is hard to make a profit sometimes without starting them in their year old year. However, some of the better trainers will wait if they believe the horse needs it.

Breakdowns do occur more often in horses worked at that age, and they are often really bad ones.

I could show you a picture of a 3 year old mare who did a lot in her 2 yr old year, was breezing, and broke both front legs-- the bone came out. She also kicked her rider in the face a bunch when she was trying to get up, breaking most of her teeth, her nose, her cheek...

But I could also show you the 12 yr old world class gelding who just retired last summer. He had been racing in been races since 2 yrs old.

So it's not just the age, it's the horse. But then, age DOES play a factor.

So, I guess my point is, Every horse is different, they all react differently, grow differently, etc.

" The best horseman always makes decisions regarding his horse's health and future, even if they are difficult decisions, like putting down that lame horse who could end up knee-deep in mud, or just making sure you reinforce the rules to your horse so he doesn't get labeled as bad tempered. Do what's best, and don't let your own ambitions interfere."

Also, if your working with a young horse, remember they are unpredicatble and certaintly not bulletproof. Your sweetie may not want to hurt you, but they definately are more liable to accidentally do so, especially in new situations. Just because they are good when your in the stall doesnt mean they willl be that way when you get on-- always be prepared.

ANd one last thing; don't blame the racehorse trainers. They may be pressured by their owners to bring in the cash, and other reasons also. But still, many of them try to do what's best for the horse. Example: the market last year was so bad, people had useless horses, but instead of passing them off to others, they made the difficult decision to put the horse down. Still, it was better than what probably lay on their future. My mom put down 10 horses in 1 week last year, during this time...

.

Good luck to all!

 

[Quinn4321]

Quote:
The horse can learn plenty from lot's of ground work.

It also will depend on how the horse fills out....
My paint filly is 2 1/2 right now.... and because of her warmblood bloodlines she is quite tall rather than filled out. So we are just now starting ground work. Many people often recommend a month- 2 months of ground work at 2 before waiting 3 months to a year to begin more riding work.
I am not trying to dictate your actions, simply stating facts I have learned from working with young horses. So please, I hope you don't find me bossy.

Not at all, you clearly didn't understand that the whole reason I want one so young is so that I can have a whole 2 years to do groundwork with it so it will be ready to be ridden when it turns 2. You don't have to wait until they are 2 to start groundwork. I want to start as soon as I get mine.

If you get the filly, I would wait until she gets a little more weight on her before doing any groundwork. I don't think you got what I meant by groundwork.... I meant lunging, bridling, saddling, round pen stuff, and trust games. Anything else such as loading,trailering, clipping, brushing, rubbing, bathing, hoff-picking, mane-pulling, etc, is better done before so you don't encounter problems when you get to the actual training.

Oh, and BTW, you may not appreciate this tidbit of information, but...
I forget where you live, but If it snows heavily sometimes where you are, then that is a GREAT time to get on your baby for the first time.
If you fall, it's a soft landing, and they cant run too fast or buck well. It's hard sometimes to predict what babies will do their first time.
Just wanted to share

 

[Quinn4321]

Quote:
Well, that didn't really come out as I hoped

 

[SisterChickens]

I don't have a horse but I plan when I grown I'll breed Freaisans!

 

[horsecrazychicklovingkid]

Quote:
Not at all, you clearly didn't understand that the whole reason I want one so young is so that I can have a whole 2 years to do groundwork with it so it will be ready to be ridden when it turns 2. You don't have to wait until they are 2 to start groundwork. I want to start as soon as I get mine.

If you get the filly, I would wait until she gets a little more weight on her before doing any groundwork. I don't think you got what I meant by groundwork.... I meant lunging, bridling, saddling, round pen stuff, and trust games. Anything else such as loading,trailering, clipping, brushing, rubbing, bathing, hoff-picking, mane-pulling, etc, is better done before so you don't encounter problems when you get to the actual training.

Oh, and BTW, you may not appreciate this tidbit of information, but...
I forget where you live, but If it snows heavily sometimes where you are, then that is a GREAT time to get on your baby for the first time.
If you fall, it's a soft landing, and they cant run too fast or buck well. It's hard sometimes to predict what babies will do their first time.
Just wanted to share

I do. Groundwork is round penning (doesn't matter how old they are to round pen). Even though she is young, I can already begin preparing her for weight on her back, getting her used to having light-weight things like blankets and towels on her back, halter-training, I have to train her to lead (and by training to lead I don't mean me dragging her around). I have to teach her to pick up her hooves (you may not think so, but getting her to willingly lift her feet is very important, if she learns it at an early age then it could prevent me or somebody else from being kicked in the future). I can do desensitizing exercises with her using a stick, a sack, a flag, etc. Which might save someone from being thrown someday. Groundwork is more than bridling and saddling and lunging. There are lots of things to do with her.


About the race trainers, the TB mare I used to have was skinny as a rail at an auction when the people we got her from got her. She was raced and bred. I guess they didn't have any use for her anymore so they sent her off to an auction, where she clearly didn't get enough food. It was several months, a year even before she filled back out. She was treated pretty cruelly. I don't blame those trainers.

 

[Quinn4321]

Quote:
If you get the filly, I would wait until she gets a little more weight on her before doing any groundwork. I don't think you got what I meant by groundwork.... I meant lunging, bridling, saddling, round pen stuff, and trust games. Anything else such as loading,trailering, clipping, brushing, rubbing, bathing, hoff-picking, mane-pulling, etc, is better done before so you don't encounter problems when you get to the actual training.

Groundwork, but for me, done before the afore mentioned things.
Oh, and BTW, you may not appreciate this tidbit of information, but...
I forget where you live, but If it snows heavily sometimes where you are, then that is a GREAT time to get on your baby for the first time.
If you fall, it's a soft landing, and they cant run too fast or buck well. It's hard sometimes to predict what babies will do their first time.
Just wanted to share

I do. Groundwork is round penning (doesn't matter how old they are to round pen). Even though she is young, I can already begin preparing her for weight on her back, getting her used to having light-weight things like blankets and towels on her back, halter-training, I have to train her to lead (and by training to lead I don't mean me dragging her around). I have to teach her to pick up her hooves (you may not think so, but getting her to willingly lift her feet is very important, if she learns it at an early age then it could prevent me or somebody else from being kicked in the future). I can do desensitizing exercises with her using a stick, a sack, a flag, etc. Which might save someone from being thrown someday. Groundwork is more than bridling and saddling and lunging. There are lots of things to do with her.


About the race trainers, the TB mare I used to have was skinny as a rail at an auction when the people we got her from got her. She was raced and bred. I guess they didn't have any use for her anymore so they sent her off to an auction, where she clearly didn't get enough food. It was several months, a year even before she filled back out. She was treated pretty cruelly. I don't blame those trainers.

-- I am glad you don't, it's too bad there a some scumbags in the business.


From what I know about you, I know you wouldn't do that. It just breaks all the kindness you've taught a horse.

I do, actually. ALL manners are extremely important in young horses, otherwise they may grow up rude with bad manners which means more trouble in the future and a very hard time getting her to a good home.

Thats what I meant by all the stuff done before lungework, etc.

 

[NatureFreak]

Quote:
I do. Groundwork is round penning (doesn't matter how old they are to round pen). Even though she is young, I can already begin preparing her for weight on her back, getting her used to having light-weight things like blankets and towels on her back, halter-training, I have to train her to lead (and by training to lead I don't mean me dragging her around). I have to teach her to pick up her hooves (you may not think so, but getting her to willingly lift her feet is very important, if she learns it at an early age then it could prevent me or somebody else from being kicked in the future). I can do desensitizing exercises with her using a stick, a sack, a flag, etc. Which might save someone from being thrown someday. Groundwork is more than bridling and saddling and lunging. There are lots of things to do with her.


About the race trainers, the TB mare I used to have was skinny as a rail at an auction when the people we got her from got her. She was raced and bred. I guess they didn't have any use for her anymore so they sent her off to an auction, where she clearly didn't get enough food. It was several months, a year even before she filled back out. She was treated pretty cruelly. I don't blame those trainers.

-- I am glad you don't, it's too bad there a some scumbags in the business.


From what I know about you, I know you wouldn't do that. It just breaks all the kindness you've taught a horse.

I do, actually. ALL manners are extremely important in young horses, otherwise they may grow up rude with bad manners which means more trouble in the future and a very hard time getting her to a good home.

Thats what I meant by all the stuff done before lungework, etc.

Scumbags they are, if I may put in. It's awful that somebody would do that. The forcing way is so NOT the best way. If those people would try being less harsh, their horses would respond better and they wouldn't have to be so harsh.

 

[Quinn4321]

Quote:
-- I am glad you don't, it's too bad there a some scumbags in the business.


From what I know about you, I know you wouldn't do that. It just breaks all the kindness you've taught a horse.

I do, actually. ALL manners are extremely important in young horses, otherwise they may grow up rude with bad manners which means more trouble in the future and a very hard time getting her to a good home.

Thats what I meant by all the stuff done before lungework, etc.

Scumbags they are, if I may put in. It's awful that somebody would do that. The forcing way is so NOT the best way. If those people would try being less harsh, their horses would respond better and they wouldn't have to be so harsh.

I was talking about racehores.... they dont really so much force stuff, but often do stuff too early.