Young Horse Training
January 18, 2010
When is the best age to begin training your young horse?
Question:
I have a coming-on 2-year-old colt. When is the best time to start training a young colt? I have handled him since he was born.
Thanks, Rick
Answer:
Twenty years ago, we routinely started 2 year olds under saddle, but thankfully, this routine has changed over time. If I had a very compelling reason, like early competition, sales or because the colt was very rambunctious, I might start a horse in the fall of his 2-year-old year. Otherwise, I’d prefer to wait until the horse is 3 and more mature. The size of the horse and the size of the rider is a factor here, too, especially for a 2 year old.
The difference between a 2 year old and a 3 year old is huge, and the same could be said between a 3 and 4 year old. A year later, the horse is much more mature physically and mentally, and his attention span is much greater. So he is better able to handle the training — and the training goes much faster. Three and 4 year olds are still quite malleable in their mind and behavior and easy to train, but once the horse gets to be 5 and over, he may become more set in his ways and not take to training well (“I’ve never had to do this before, why should I now?”).
I wouldn’t get in too big a hurry to train your young horse under saddle. Work on ground manners and getting him as much exposure as you can (hauling him to different places; getting him used to standing tied; ponying him with an older horse, etc.) but hold off at least until the fall of his 2-year-old year to start any mounted work. Then, I would only ride him lightly for 30 days or so and turn him out for the winter and start again in the spring of his 3-year-old year. If it were my colt, I’d prefer to start him in the spring of his 3-year-old year. I know you are eager to get started, but remember, he is really still a baby and needs time to grow up, both physically and mentally. There is lots of time left in his riding career! Good luck.
– AQHA Professional Horseman Julie Goodnight, spokesperson for the Certified Horsemanship Association
Comments
13 Comments on “Young Horse Training”
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January 20th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
GREAT ADVICE!!! THe horse industry needs to make significant moves to discourage over working 2 year olds (racing included).
March 30th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
My horse will be 2 in May. She has been halter broke and lifting her feet at 1 month. She ponies with her mom or with one other horse when we go trail riding. She accepts a bit (for young horses)and saddle gear. She is very used to me sitting on her for short periods of time when she is eatting her food and tied in the barn or when she is laying down outdoors. (I am a 125 pound female.)When working with her in the round pen, she rarely objects to anything as is her nature. however, I have noticed that what you say is true about attention span. So far we have only had good experiences with her and I don’t want to push it. My husband wants me to try my first ride with her this summer. Thank you for your article as I can see that there is no reason to rush.
May 31st, 2010 at 9:38 am
[...] Master ponying your horse as you ride another – it is a great skill to control two at a time. [...]
October 4th, 2010 at 4:01 am
[...] your expectations and go back to basics (stop-start-steer). Often when I go to a bigger pen on a young green horse, I’ll ride him for a while in a small area near the gate or near the barn (a safe place for the [...]
November 1st, 2010 at 4:02 am
[...] on, but she was able to recognize that it wasn’t the horse that was at fault. It was his previous training and her greenness combined that hurt the duo. Sandy listened to too many different people on what [...]
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Hi! I have read the article and I have a half arabian male horse that is almost 4 years old. He had been ridden a little over a year now by his old owner who weighed less than 100 pounds at the time around 2 times a week. It was walk/ trot until he was a little over three then she cantered him. I just bought him in April and have been walk/trot/cantering on him about 3 times a week (I am 110 pounds). He doesn’t seem to have any pain in his joints or back but I am worried about lameness in his later years. I would like to know if there was anything I could do to preserve his joints and back.
Thanks, Sydney
December 14th, 2010 at 4:02 am
[...] setting the strides, we work off a 12-foot stride, allowing 6 feet for takeoff and landing. With a green horse, it is sometimes nice to snug-in the line so it is comfortable for him and he doesn’t feel [...]
February 1st, 2011 at 9:17 am
[...] other training aids, has no drawbacks when used correctly. Besides using long lines to prepare a green horse for riding, we use them for horses who need exercise but cannot carry a rider due to physical [...]
February 21st, 2011 at 4:02 am
[...] averaged eight to 10 head of colts each at a time. They’d spend a week or two working with the green colts, depending on the circumstances. The brothers’ horsemanship toolboxes were well-stocked, [...]
April 20th, 2011 at 7:52 am
[...] underlines that the feed must be designed for the horse you are feeding: Young, working horses, for example, have different requirements than elderly, retired ones. Once you [...]
August 2nd, 2011 at 8:57 am
Thought I was waaay behind since my Qtr filly is 4 already! Have ponied her everywhere with Mom & Auntie….bridges, creeks, rivers, up/down the mountains. Now have 12 or so rides on her w/o a buck! If only her attitude could be changed. Ponying has paid off & Prize is very brave about so many things.
August 19th, 2011 at 6:55 am
do u train horses before they eat or after, like after breakfast or before, could they get sick on a full tummy when running hard
April 20th, 2012 at 9:51 am
I am so glad to have read this and how people are learning 2 year old are not always ready Neatly and physically ready,there knees are all open and with my filly’s and mainly my colts and stud colts they all very tall babies and riding one that is growing so raptly could cause knee,leg and back problem inn there future. My oldest colt is just know 3 his legs are more sound but can still see he is growing,funny how some horses grow oddly and some grow more beautifully,My two colts have the same Mom and Dad but the first one has been growing like a ugly duckling,the younger brother has grown more evenly,Neither are ready to ride there sire is very tall and the legs are still growing like weeds. I am very excited to ride and show both but want them to be ready I am not pushing them,I am watching and waiting for them to be totally sound. I so wanted to show the oldest IM HOT N BLAZING in Halter but he hasn’t grown into his head,loll,he is my ugly duckling he must be going to be big like him grandpa,Im Chocolate flowing. My Sweet Stud, Im Blazing N Hot will ready for Halter as soon as I make sure he will be a good stud around others. They both will shine in the ring when they are old enough. Can you help me find the Foundation origination to register all my foundation horses in so I can show them in the show in Oklahoma.Glad you guys are seeing some horses are not just ready at 2 to have someone on there backs, out of my 7 I am learning this also. Thank you Becky