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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
 
Location: Millington, TN | I didn't get my three year old broke this spring because he was small for his age, but now I feel like he is ready to break. He a had a big growth spurt this summer. I am just scared I won't have the time to ride him enough this winter. I don't get off until five and I have a 20 minute drive to the barn. So by the time I get to the barn, it is pitch black out. He retains information so well. While I was pregnant, I did not touch him. He was in the pasture for about ten months. The minute I put a halter on, it was like we never stopped. I had taught him to load, tie, round pen, trim and clip. Basically he was ground broke at that time. Should I spend the money to have him broke now or just wait until the spring? I am not looking to futurity on him. What would yall do? If I did, I know I could ride him at least once a week, maybe twice.
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| Most mine are broke in the fall and given the winter off. If they have a good foundation they usually pick up were they left off. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
  
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i started my 2 yr old a week ago....should be ready to climb on saturday.....i will put a month on him and then turn him out til spring...nothing hard or fast just the basics and manners..................
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 928
Location: Northern CA | 30 days now and then off until spring. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | He has a great foundation on him. I will get him broke now and give him the winter off. I am glad a asked! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1119
| I have a 7 year old mare that is not broke yet (no fault of hers). I am sending her for 60 days hopefully either this weekend or next. I figured I'll get her back at the beginning of January (unless I keep her there an extra month) and she'll be ready to roll beginning of March and I can finally get her going. I thought about waiting till spring, but I've already put it off long enough! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 547
Location: Millington, TN | Right, I don't want to put it off anymore and I want it done right. I really feel like he is going to be a good one! |
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 Gotta Have a Gray
Posts: 899
Location: Tex. Panhandle | I have a 3 1/2 yr old that i purchased 5 weeks ago. He had been round penned and saddled and that was it. He is riding decent (stops, picks up leads, bends/flexes, breaks at the poll) working on starting to move specific body areas (hips, ribs and shoulders) i'm just taking my time. With winter and the time change he will get round sev times a week. If i'm short on time, i climb on and just reinforce basics. Granted i havent broke a colt out in years. Everything is new to him so just being saddled/tied when the guys are roping is good for mine. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Put 30 days on his this fall and then let him "be a horse" until spring.
I do that a lot with my colts. They always retain it really well and the mental break seems to do them good.
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 I am Woman hear me Roar
Posts: 3395
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma | I'd start him. That's what I'm doing with mine! He gets the saddle put on next week. I'm planning on starting him and letting him sit till spring. He will haul with me in the mean time. |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | work with him on the weekends all winter. there is no hurry and you will be surprised how far he'll come along. |
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Regular
Posts: 51
| I'm in a similar situation with my two year old and have been trying to decide that for myself. Why do you all reccomend sending one off, turning them out and picking back up in the spring? I would think you'd want to send one off when you could continue to work with them consistently. Thoughts? |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Let 'er Buck - 2014-10-29 6:16 PM I'm in a similar situation with my two year old and have been trying to decide that for myself. Why do you all reccomend sending one off, turning them out and picking back up in the spring? I would think you'd want to send one off when you could continue to work with them consistently. Thoughts?
I was wondering the same thing!  |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Most of the ones I've broke I've put about 3-5 rides about this time of year and then give them the winter off. They always come back in the spring just fine but then they're pretty much broke before I step up anyhow and riding is almost a formality.
You can maintain a lot too by doing just a few seconds of ground work when you turn them in and out. |
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 Playing the Waiting Game
Posts: 2304
| I feel with a young horse that if you put 30-60 days of intense training on them in the fall, the winter break gives thier little brains a break and are less likely to have a melt down in the future.. My personal opinion is that, by giving the horse the break and starting again in spring will show me how the horse will behave in the future if left out to pasture for a month or two... All my horses have been able to stand for months without handling (I've had many of my own health issues.) and come right back to where they were, No buck or barn and buddy sour. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1087
Location: Midland, MI | I always break mine out in the fall, for several reasons.
One is because in the spring I am legging up my barrel horses and showing all summer long. I don't want to risk getting hurt on a young horse during my rodeo season.
Summer is usually hot, and some days you have to make a young one sweat A LOT, and that combination just isn't good for either one of you. After show season is done, September/October is here and it's cooling down and I will start the young ones.
It's also the perfect time for trail riding and every horse needs that! There's even a few shows here and there still going on you can haul to for some initial experience.
If you get hurt, you have time to heal before the next show season.
Training is also a lot for a horse to handle, so many things at once! So much learning! Once they're riding good after a couple months I will put them up for the winter and bring them out in the spring and start again, usually on the pattern after brushing up on the basics some more and start hauling. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1258
Location: MN | MRM27 - 2014-10-29 2:39 PM
Most mine are broke in the fall and given the winter off. If they have a good foundation they usually pick up were they left off.
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Breaking a horse now or wait til the spring????