|
|
Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1849
   
| I bought this colt back in october, he was 2, he is turning 3 here in a few days. He had 60 days on him over the course of a 6-9 month period before I got him. (the guy just rode him when he could it was pretty inconsistant, however the horse was started real nice and quiet) So when I got him I put another 30 days on him more or less. then winter hit among other things and I haven't rode him since november only twice. I have not had this situation come up before, I've always been able to ride.... my question is: can he go this year off (his 3 yr old year) and be restarted in 2015 when he is 4? I mean mentally I know all horses are different, but I'm worried that with all that time off that he will not turn out a good riding horse,.. maybe I am just paranoid or over-thinking the situation.?? I am the kind of person that would just sell him rather than risk him not turning out. But he IS only 3 so maybe that is ok to let him mature?? I'm not sure what to do... need some opinions. |
|
| |
|
| He absolutely can go this year off and it may be a good thing actually. Not to worry, you should be in good shape when you get back to riding him...especially if he's a good minded and smart colt. There are some people that don't even like to break them until their 4 year old year. Or some like to break them at 2 put 60/90 days on them and turn them out for a year.. |
|
| |
|
Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1849
| ok that makes me feel better  I actually thought that he started him a little young/small... he is a mr gunsmoke/peppy san badger colt and the guy that I bought him from was his breeder/owner who used to ride cutters. so that is how he started him and he rode him out on the ranch alot. he started him pretty slow though, so that is good..... I've not let a horse have that much time off.... i am just too OCD about it LOL, so I didn't know what to do! |
|
| |
|
 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | Heck no it isn't too late!! I sent one off as a SIX year old to "re-train" him and he's turning out to be a pretty cool dude! |
|
| |
|
 Husband Spoiler
Posts: 4151
Location: North Dakota | It's never too late. I've started a retired broodmare that was 12 years old and she turned out great. |
|
| |
|
 Veteran
Posts: 173
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow | I have started two horses that were over the age of ten. They were easy to start, nothing stupid. They kind of spoiled me. It's never too late. If you were going to futurity that would be a different story. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2457
| runs4fun - 2014-03-31 2:44 PM
He absolutely can go this year off and it may be a good thing actually. Not to worry, you should be in good shape when you get back to riding him...especially if he's a good minded and smart colt. There are some people that don't even like to break them until their 4 year old year. Or some like to break them at 2 put 60/90 days on them and turn them out for a year..
^^ THIS!! You'll be fine with a good minded horse.
I took my filly at 2, put maybe 15 rides on her total - just enough to really get her moving out nice in an arena on a loose rein in a side pull. Then put her up to grow up and become a horse. I can tell you that this last Saturday was the first time in a full year that she had even been saddled - yes she was messed with, brushed, worked on ground manners, and all but no saddle, no riding, and nothing consistent by any means. Anywho - she was great! Literally when I stepped on, it felt like I was picking up right back where I had been the previous year!
It can be done! Don't give up and Good LUCK! :) |
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Not too late at all!!
I actually like to do that with my colts. Get a good 30 to 60 days on them, then let them "be a horse" for a while before getting put to work. |
|
| |
|
  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | My now four year old had his entire three year old off. I just started riding him this week. He's doing better then I could have ever thought for just starting back. Nothing wrong with it. You would be surprised at how much some horses can retain from the 60-90 days they were given.
My guy was off because of a fractured face. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 185
| I wouldn't worry bought my gelding as an unstarted 6 nearly 7 year old - I know I'm crazy - but thats another story lol .
Most people are surprised I could do anything with him. His training has been crazy inconsistent too due to terrible winter. Its still winter here :(.
Where there's a will there's a way. I think he is going to be ok. He has a better mind then many horses I've worked with. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I had a client bring me a horse that was in this exact situation. The filly was working horse bred, had 30-60 days on her as a late 2/early 3yo, turned out for over a year, then brought to me as a 4yo. I had absolutely no problems with her.
Your baby will be fine! |
|
| |
|
 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | One of mine was sent off for 60 days when she was 3. I rode her 2-3 times a week through the summer and early fall, then she was off for 6 months. Came back better than she was. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I think that is a realizable goal. We've started them and turned them ouf for a couple months after starting and over the winter and they came back fine. Just depends on the horse. |
|
| |
Folks on-line