Horses!

[ShrekDawg]

I say starting them getting used to the saddle and tack around 3 or 4 but I wouldn't get on or put weight on them(besides the saddle) till 5

This is what I meant with my answer lol

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Based on my very little knowledge lol I would say four or five. But if it was my own horse I wouldn’t want to risk anything so I might even wait until 6 or until my horse seemed to be ready. I still need to do way more research about this though! What do you think?

I think starting lightly starting at 3 depending on the horse and not riding until 4. I plan on starting ground training and ground driving when my yearlings turn 2. When they turn 3 I am having the vet do radiographs to see if their growth plates have closed or where they are at. At that point I will start working with a saddle on them and depending on their radiographs most likely starting them with some cart pulling. At 4 is when I plan to actually start hopping on and doing some easy shorter rides. Nothing endurance/jumping or overly strenuous. By 5 I would feel comfortable with serious riding for them. I read a lot of studies (as in every day I am reading at least one study on something) and all of the studies I have read show growth plates in both the legs and spine closing by 2-3. I feel most comfortable giving them an extra 1-2 years after the plates have closed before any serious riding.

Some good reads:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8698045/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar...cate that, in,growth in the horses' vertebrae.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1950711/

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I think starting lightly starting at 3 depending on the horse and not riding until 4. I plan on starting ground training and ground driving when my yearlings turn 2. When they turn 3 I am having the vet do radiographs to see if their growth plates have closed or where they are at. At that point I will start working with a saddle on them and depending on their radiographs most likely starting them with some cart pulling. At 4 is when I plan to actually start hopping on and doing some easy shorter rides. Nothing endurance/jumping or overly strenuous. By 5 I would feel comfortable with serious riding for them. I read a lot of studies (as in every day I am reading at least one study on something) and all of the studies I have read show growth plates in both the legs and spine closing by 2-3. I feel most comfortable giving them an extra 1-2 years after the plates have closed before any serious riding.

Some good reads:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8698045/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8698045/#:~:text=These data indicate that, in,growth in the horses' vertebrae.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1950711/

I’m sure you know more about it than me as I haven’t needed to research it yet. How are your horses doing?

 

[ILoveDaffy]

Good morning everyone Hot topic question in the horse world. At what age do you think a horse should be started in the saddle?

About four or five years old, when their brains and bones are fully developed. You can't expect them to learn as well before their brains are developed completely. We did work with our thoroughbred cross at four, but mainly ground manners and tricks. I think he might have been hopped on bareback and just worked on walking, turning, and stopping, but no riding in saddle until 5.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I’m sure you know more about it than me as I haven’t needed to research it yet. How are your horses doing?

They are doing great! I am debating whether or not I want to cut the rusty orange out of Drago and Ronin’s manes and tails. You can see how much their mane and tails have grown based off of the orange they arrived with and the nice black that has grown in since arriving. When the wind isn’t blowing it’s like a straight line of orange and then black

 

[Farmgirl283420]

They are doing great! I am debating whether or not I want to cut the rusty orange out of Drago and Ronin’s manes and tails. You can see how much their mane and tails have grown based off of the orange they arrived with and the nice black that has grown in since arriving. When the wind isn’t blowing it’s like a straight line of orange and then black
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They are so beautiful! Is Drago the blue roan?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

They are so beautiful! Is Drago the blue roan?

Yes he is

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

They are doing great! I am debating whether or not I want to cut the rusty orange out of Drago and Ronin’s manes and tails. You can see how much their mane and tails have grown based off of the orange they arrived with and the nice black that has grown in since arriving. When the wind isn’t blowing it’s like a straight line of orange and then black
View attachment 3932390
View attachment 3932391

They are gorgeous!

 

[HollowOfWisps]

They are gorgeous!

Thank you!

 

[ShrekDawg]

They are doing great! I am debating whether or not I want to cut the rusty orange out of Drago and Ronin’s manes and tails. You can see how much their mane and tails have grown based off of the orange they arrived with and the nice black that has grown in since arriving. When the wind isn’t blowing it’s like a straight line of orange and then black
View attachment 3932390
View attachment 3932391

I love them!!!!