Site Menu:
This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below: |
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavior and Training » Beginning the Two Year Old » |
Discussion on New 3 1/2 year old | |
Author | Message |
Member: adriaa |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 10:33 am: Hello HA folks,I haven't been on in a bit since working with my mare Rosie. She's doing well and I've gotten a lot better with my hands I have recently purchased a most fabulous Appy/Holsteiner cross 3 1/2 year old. He will be 4 in May. He is an incredible mover, and I wasn't even horse shopping. He was started under saddle at three, she had been working him on the bit (as you'll see in the video) but all opinions seem to show that is too fast a progression and that I should just be keeping him forward, relaxed, working on balance, he is very balanced. I also don't know how much is too much to work him, I had been doing 4 days a week for a half hour, mostly walk, little trot, also for me since he is so different from my mare and he is a real workout! I have only had him 3 weeks now. I really don't want to mess him up, by pushing him. I have plenty of time so why should I. He is a super friendly horse, loves people and tends to be low man in the herd. He is not spooky, but can be a bit nervous under saddle, he rushes at first, with a high head, but he will relax, start to lower his head and find his rhythm. He seems to be annoyed sometimes, a bit disrespectful, but from what I've read he's about 14 in human years (lord help me) and he's going to be testing, for a while. He half-heartedly tests, after one try he usually figures it's not worth it, so he is not strong willed. I would love any suggestions for working him, we do some ground work, I take him on some walks etc. I'm enclosing a link to his video form his former owner, she is not riding him she is the one on the ground coaching and it's not me riding either. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj4EPWZ9u0M Thanks Adria |
Member: terrido |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 12:19 pm: Hi Adria,Congrats on the new boy! I would back way up with him. His 'nervousness' is due mostly to his age and confidence I am sure. As to training I would keep the work to no more than 3 days a week only under saddle, and at that no more than 20 to 30 minutes. The rest of the week should be spent on ground and at least one day of fun and one day totally 'off'. With a horse this young, you do just want to encourage forward. He shouldn't be placed in a 'frame' at all, at least not ever forced "on the bit"!! He is way too young and 'undeveloped' for that. It's one thing to show this in a sales video, as potential for the future, it's quite another to expect to ride him this way right now. You say he is well balanced and that's great so you are already ahead of the game. Now your job is to keep him that balanced at all times. He will need to 'rush' into a transition, allow him to rush as much as he needs. This rushing is where they find their balance. Plus the rushing forward, say in trot, will help to activate the hocks, this is what will help him lower that neck and relax. This may take all of the work session, but that's ok. He first has to learn to relax into the movement. Rushing is what they have to do to get there. At this age, personally, I would only be doing work in walk and trot - no canter, and the trot work would be super short yet intense and only begun after he offers the transition. When in walk he "asks" to trot just continue in walk a bit and then the second or third time he asks to trot allow him to trot on out. When they learn to relax and move well forward in walk they are ready for trot. ;) Too many people forget walk, yet it is the most important gait. In a typical 20 minute work session, you may walk for 18 minutes, and that's just fine. You do want to have that walk that is just under a trot though, that's where the "work" gets done, but again keep this short, allow lots of halt breaks, or much slower walking. Anyway I wouldn't even entertain canter, even if he 'asks' under saddle, until he is late age 4 almost 5 and then again it's just allowing him to canter when he asks, and riding it. Allowing him to "rush", allowing straight lines no small circles, 'going large' if you will. Introduce half halts on longe first, then lightly under saddle. Forward is the most important piece, you don't want to "stunt" that, but you do need a soft "brake" too. haha Anyway this is my basic formula. Keep work sessions super intense and super short, especially on longe (very large circles only!!). Meaning once he is moving through his back in walk only ask him to continue for a few minutes to begin with. When he chooses to halt or break to trot allow it, as that's a break or a rest for him. Do these short intense sessions during work out but keep them to only a few minutes at most each, but if he can handle doing both walk and trot do one intense session in each gait and each direction. Keep in mind that when he is trotting he may break to canter instead of slowing, this is a break for him, as it is the hardest to trot using that back, but it is the best place to build it too. ;) Let him tell you a bit what he can and cannot do, and allow it. Some horses can do more a bit faster, so you have to hold them back even when they tell you they can do more. There is always time later when they are mature and have the strength to do more, not when they are this young. You are his physical therapist now, it's your job to help him build muscle and strength (and balance) and not get sore in the process. Begin short and small in the actual 'work' and build it up from there. Just as you would start a new exercise routine and build on it. Also keep in mind that the horse's skeleton is not fully "done" growing and hardening until age 6. This is true of ALL horses. The legs and back can be damaged from too much work and weight too soon. |
Member: terrido |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 12:25 pm: Ok, just looked at the video. Sorry guess I should have done that first. ;) He is cute! So if I ignore the riding, I see a nice little guy trying. His way of going in trot when she doesn't have him "held in hand" quite so much is lovely, yes his head is 'high' but he is trying to use his back, I don't mind a higher head, they need to find their balance. Plus he isn't fully relaxed, obviously. That will come and his neck will lower.Adria just please keep in mind that to work a horse "hard" does not mean canter them around until they are sweaty. That's not what it's about. I can get a horse foamed in walk quite quickly, but the sweat will be where it should be for good muscle strength building. It's not at all about the gait or the speed, it's about the quality within hat matters to build him the right way. Have fun with him, he is gonna be very handsome as a mature boy. |
Member: canter |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 1:08 pm: He is lovely, Adria. Congratulations! I see a handsome young horse that shows a lot of potential. I agree that at this young age, a lot can be done to teach the basics from the ground and at the walk with some trot. You can help him find his balance and build strength by simply getting him out of the ring and into open spaces and trails (great exposure / confidence builder). If you have some mild hills, that can help him work correctly as he has to learn to use himself to go up and down those hills in balance.Enjoy! |
Member: dsibley |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 1:29 pm: Gorgeous boy! I totally agree with the above. He's telling you what he's ready for and what he's not ready for. I imagine if you back off just a bit, his 'testiness' is going to disappear. He is going to be spectacular! d |
Member: vickiann |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 7:32 pm: Pretty horse! |
Member: leslie1 |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 8:45 pm: Hes is soooo cute adria!He is going to make a wonderful partner for you...congratz and best wishes Leslie ps what holsteiner line is he? |
Member: leslie1 |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 9:36 pm: BTW...he has that nice holsteiner canter |
Member: adriaa |
Posted on Tuesday, Feb 9, 2010 - 10:33 pm: Thanks so much! That is everything I wanted to hear! Terrie, yes the video is basically a sales video and he is being "held" and I know that he had been worked for a while to get there, all this said, the woman I bought him from was honest, and really loved him. She bought him as a yearling to be an upper level horse, but I think finances forced his sale. I think she started him well...He does rush, at first at the walk then he starts to lower his head and relax, at the trot he rushes with his head high, but after a few minutes with a loose-ish rein and also me regulating my posting he does settle into a nice balanced trot, clearly relaxing. She did have him cantering, but when I went to try him, the girl who rode him first, just to show, had difficulties getting him into canter and he was clearly, confused and not happy... so I hadn't planned on any canter until we are consistently relaxed and balanced, I understand waiting until 4 or 5. Leslie, he is from Cor de la Bryere, Caretino, Caletto II, Calibur. His sire is Cris Kringle, registered with the German Verband. Dam is foundation Appy, Wapiti bloodlines. Here's a link to where he was bred. I feel truly honored to have this guy!! He is such a gentleman, sweetie. Thanks for the great advice, it's what I thought I should be doing, but she said she could show him Training Level in the summer which seemed like pushing him too fast. https://www.appyholadayssporthorses.com Adria |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 - 7:24 am: I am no expert by any means but I see a beautiful young horse with a very willing attitude and lots of potential.I am not an English rider so I cringed at him seeming to be "held" together and agree with those above who said to back off. I would not be cantering him yet, and would take it very slow at his age. He's a keeper! |