I know this is a while back, but I think 4 and a half to 5. Mostly depends on the horse for me. At 2-3 I start introducing the saddle, around 3 I start putting weight on and off. Then 4 I see where there at, if there good then I would start but if not I would give time. At 5 and a half I go full force. Hope that makes sense lol!Good morning everyoneHot topic question in the horse world. At what age do you think a horse should be started in the saddle?
Pretty good, except one recent mishap where a backup hay supplier tried to sell us an alfalfa mix that really isn't horse hay. Or good hay at all. During some research, on another message forum, I found a post from a bit more than ten years ago that said it is a thing that people bale their too tall, 2nd or 3rd cutting alfalfa, crimp it and bale it wet and sell it to "horsey people" because "Horsey folks for the most part don't know the difference between good and bad hay." And they mark it up like crazy.
Oh wow that’s terrible!!!
i know a like 40 year old appy (possibly cross?) gelding who, last I heard, is still doing beginner lessonsJust curious, what’s the oldest horse y’all have ever known/owned? There’s a paint at the rescue I go to, Sparky, who’s around 34 and still going strong.
Sounds like a lot of work! Let us know how his under saddle training goes!
Ginger and I went out walking on the trails and then loped and jogged around a field for a bit while we had some dry ground before it rained again. It's been raining so insanely much here everything is just one big mud pit. 
Thankfully she did good and never spooked! We're hoping to show her for the first time this coming fall/winter.
Awesome!!!!!!Hey! How is everyone and their horses?
I went on a bareback ride last Thursday, and boy I have not ridden bareback in forever and my inner thighs aren't thanking me.
Also, I'm learning being near a racetrack / racehorse training facility is a big plus for prepping horses for shows lol. (our riding space is right next to the racetrack) I'm riding my trainer's 4yo, and yesterday there was SO much going on -- jockeys practicing running out the starting gate, golf carts, and Jett's biggest fear: the big terrifying tractor rumbling around.
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