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jos
Member
Username: paardex
Post Number: 525
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 - 4:53 am: |   |
Perhaps this is not the right place to post this question but couldn't find a better one.
I got 'stuck' with an 'accident. Mother Arab xx visited neighbour Arab x Standardbred result is now almost three years old.
Reseda[her name] arrived at my place in a deplorable state [2 on the weight scale?] not trimmed[ever].
The last four weeks I've been feeding [as in article malnourished horse] deworming [ditto] and had the farrier trim her[NO problem at all]
Then the owners gave her to me to train and then sell her [I do have enough horses of my own ]but we decided she would have a better chance in life if she was trained and well fed and they didn't want/have the money to pay the foodbills.[I know bad idea but the poor horse...]
Here comes the question [finally] with her bloodlines is she a horse that can be started early or late? Standardbreds usually do a little work at two over here what does an arab need?
She is gaining condition VERY fast I am not going to overwork her but do I do only lungeing and groundwork or will she be able after being trained adequately to make small calm trailrides with an older horse[and light rider?]
I have nearly no trailride experience so no idea on how much 'work' this is for a horse but as that will be her future perhaps taking her out as soon as possible is a good idea?
Thanks as always |
Robert N. Oglesby DVM
Moderator
Username: dro
Post Number: 19878
Registered: 1-1997
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 - 11:27 am: | |
Hello jos,
Most folks start their Arabs a little later rather than a little sooner and much depends on appearance. The past nutritional deficits might have slowed development: does the horse look mature or still have foal like characteristics? Is she continuing to grow?
At this time ground work like long lines would be appropriate with minimal lunging might be appropriate but how much more depends on how well developed the horse is. I would certainly be lightly riding an average 3 yr old Arab, if I owned one. You see some folks who wait till 4 to 6 years before riding their Arabs. I personally do not see the need for that.
DrO |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: mrose
Post Number: 3413
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Jan 19, 2008 - 7:47 pm: | |
Hi Jos!
I always worked with our Arabs from the day they were born but just conditioning them to things like having their feet picked up, clipping, loading, blankets on and off, etc. Then, at about a year we start ground work, just for about 10 mins. at a time. By ground work, I mean learning to give to pressure, back, stand, trot on the lead, etc. I don't usually lounge them at that age, although a lot of the halter trainers do. I'd rather pony them to condition. At two I get them used to a snaffle bit and having a saddle on. I also do things like stand on the fence rail so I'm taller then they are, put one foot in a stirrup..just beginner steps in getting used to weight and the bit. I also will start ponying them with a saddle on. At three I start light riding, but only walk and trot, and again doing a lot of bending and giving and making lessons very short. At three and a half or four I actually start riding them, but no long trail rides and nothing too stressful until they are four. IMO some of the Arab strands mature more slowly than others, and Arabs in general more slowly than some of the other breeds - Not just physically, but mentally. A horse that will be a total dingbat as a two and three year old, will suddenly become quiet and seem to want to learn when it's older. AJ, whom you know, is doing much better lately than when you were here. I don't, however, recommend waiting until a horse is in her teens, like we did with Maathys! However, I do have to say, she has been the easiest horse I've ever seen to train!
For the rest of you; Maathys is a broodmare in her mid-teens that we just decided to throw a saddle on one day to see what she'd do. She acted like she'd been ridden all her life, and with just a few days in the arena, we began riding in the fields, and soon taking her on the trails. Maybe she's an argument for waiting until a horse matures! |
jos
Member
Username: paardex
Post Number: 526
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 - 4:36 am: | |
Thanks Dr.O. Looking at my own arab I would have said an arab is a late horse [like my Holsteiners] funny but they keep that appearance of a 'filly' for a long time.
The new one is different she was very hungry very thin no force in her movements at all, strange thing is she IS looking rather adult well proportioned just badly cared for.
She is growing so fast and getting so 'bold' I decided to get her to work earlier then expected.
I suppose groundwork and following the scheme you described Sara is appropriate and yes I suppose when she doesn't 'get' it anymore it will be time to take a step back.
As I promised myself I will sell Reseda[the victim I am talking about]as soon as I can find her a decent home Maathys's trainingprogram seems not a good idea, but you are right she is the example of a horse that has been trained just by looking at other horses being worked I'll wait with Margot til she is mid twenties....
Perhaps AJ got upset because he got the impression he had to go with me to France?
It is funny though my gelding Cascade has recently been sent to a trainer, at 7 years totally green except for being handled from the time he was born, and to our surprise he is picking up much faster then the group of young ones.
All in all I seem to have talked myself in : groundwork handling and wait and see.
Thanks for helping to make a decision.
Jos |
Melissa Boschwitz
Member
Username: amara
Post Number: 430
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 - 10:36 am: | |
I'm all for the later is better myself... i think its easier to deal with a mature horse than an immature one, tho i know some people who like to start them lightly when they are younger and dont know there own strength, then let them off for a year or so till they are ready for real work..
the easiest horse i ever broke was a 9 yr old Arab mare. she was halter broke, but that was it, and hadnt been handled much at all...she picked it up like she was born to it, much faster than her younger siblings.. and once broke she also progressed much faster in her training than a lot of others i've worked with.. we would start a movement one day and she'd be all fumblehoofed, but the next day she'd have it all figured out.. |
Sara Wolff
Member
Username: mrose
Post Number: 3417
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, Jan 20, 2008 - 2:16 pm: | |
Melissa, I love the term "fumblehoofed!" It's perfect. |
jos
Member
Username: paardex
Post Number: 527
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 7:09 am: | |
Fumblehoofed hmmm yes that's exactly how these young ones get from time to time.
I'm more and more convinced 'early' is almost equivalent for 'most economic'.
Still there will be a limit for for example dressage horses I suppose because their training takes so many years, they won't reach the goals if not started between three and five.
Well Reseda is going to be a 'cheval the loisir' so we can take our time she will understand that fast enough.
Thanks all
Jos |
