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 Elite Veteran
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Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | How do you decide and once you start them do you give time off after say 30 or 60 days or keep riding?
I have a long yearling that I'm considering sending to the trainer right before his 2 year old birthday but just don't want to ask too much too soon. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | No one???? |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
 
Location: Oklahoma | I factor in many things before I decide when I'm breaking one. I'm not futuritying, so for me, I can afford to wait. I usually break mine at 2. I don't turn mine back out, but all of their 2 year old year is spent riding out on the trail and learing about the scary things outside of the arena. I can teach them many things out on the trail easier than I can in an arena and it keeps their minds fresh and doesn't make them arena sour. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | mine all get a month as a 2 yrold..usually late october november ish....and its nothing hard, a few easy rides and a lot of ground work..then i turn them out til spring and bring them back in..........
m |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 428
Location: God's country | I sent my 2 year old off for 90 days and am just riding her sporadically now. Letting her grow mentally and physically but riding her enough to remind her she is broke. We will really get after it next year. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | TwistedK - 2014-11-18 9:09 AM
I factor in many things before I decide when I'm breaking one. I'm not futuritying, so for me, I can afford to wait. I usually break mine at 2. I don't turn mine back out, but all of their 2 year old year is spent riding out on the trail and learing about the scary things outside of the arena. I can teach them many things out on the trail easier than I can in an arena and it keeps their minds fresh and doesn't make them arena sour.
I like this. I was sort of thinking along these lines. I am in no hurry for barrels. I want him to have a a really good foundation first.
Thanks for all the response and please keep them coming. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | mruggles - 2014-11-18 9:41 AM
mine all get a month as a 2 yrold..usually late october november ish....and its nothing hard, a few easy rides and a lot of ground work..then i turn them out til spring and bring them back in..........
m
this |
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Location: not settling | mruggles - 2014-11-18 7:41 AM
mine all get a month as a 2 yrold..usually late october november ish....and its nothing hard, a few easy rides and a lot of ground work..then i turn them out til spring and bring them back in..........
m
yup, exactly the same. |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | My deal is I hate to get back on them after they have time off, so instead of just having a few rides put on them as 2's and then turning them back out and struggling to get them back in to a trainer in the time frame I desire, I send them off as 3 yr olds and usually get 30 days. From there I can go right to using them steady and they do fine. I am even getting so soft that I plan to start sending them off for 60 days. I have 2 small kids at home and usually don't have anyone around when I ride. I want something more solid. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Send them off at 2. So long as they are healthy and doing well. Ride them easy into their three year old year. Using them more and more as they progress. I don't really like them doing anything harder until late 4. Not competing until 5. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | I start at 3 for about 3-6 months then put them back out and bring them back when they are 4 |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| oija - 2014-11-18 10:02 AM
Send them off at 2. So long as they are healthy and doing well. Ride them easy into their three year old year. Using them more and more as they progress. I don't really like them doing anything harder until late 4. Not competing until 5.
This is me, too. Even though I am doing futurities at 5, I want my horse to last. Right now my colt is 2 coming 3, and he has had about 60 days total. He's going back to the trainer for another 30, they may not even ride him, just get him out as I am almost 9 months pregnant and finding it hard to work him. I rode him for about 10 minutes a day until I felt uncomfortable. When I have the baby and I get him back we will be doing a lot of trails and desensitizing to "scary" stuff, as well. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | All the people I worked for were adamant about not even getting on one till the 3rd year. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| Each horse matures differently (mentally and physically), but all long yearlings at my house have all of their ground manners, will pony, and have been saddled and lightly ground driving before I turn them out until late spring of their 2 year old year. Then depending on their mental state, as well as physical maturity, I'll send them off for 30 days. Turn them back out for the summer, then bring them up and ride consistently, but nothing too strenuous. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 173
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow | Im curious about why people start them and then turn them back out? I've heard of a lot of people doing that but I am not sure why. Once you start why not keep riding them? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | BabyJ - 2014-11-18 4:57 PM
Im curious about why people start them and then turn them back out? I've heard of a lot of people doing that but I am not sure why. Once you start why not keep riding them?
Me too..... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| Cisco6340 - 2014-11-18 5:17 PM
BabyJ - 2014-11-18 4:57 PM
Im curious about why people start them and then turn them back out? I've heard of a lot of people doing that but I am not sure why. Once you start why not keep riding them?
Me too.....
Most 2 year olds, after their first 30 days, need a mental and physical break. They still are immature, they're still growing and their knees (among other joints) just aren't typically ready for continual, day after day riding. A colt's attention span typically isn't that long either, so if I can just get the basics on them, turn them out to grow up a little, then bring them back in and start riding again, I've found that they come back refreshed, more mature, and ready for a job. Obviously, this is IMO, but it's worked for my colts, so I'm sure not going to change anything. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | My weanlings learn to lead, ground manners, go through water, have their feet done, have a saddle pad thrown on them, follow on trail rides, fly spray, obstacle course type things, etc.
At about 1 1/2, they learn to take a saddle, be ponied, & wear a bit. I will walk beside them, hold my hands where they would be if I was riding & teach them to give to the bit, back, etc.
I get on mine at about 2 1/2. We learn to walk, bend, move off the leg, etc. I often use the barrels & poles to teach them to turn, move over, etc. I'm on them no more than twice a week & often give them a week between rides. When it's cold, I'm a wimp & usually get on them about once a month. I'll add light trotting toward the end of the year.
After their 3rd birthday, they learn to lope, but not tight circles. I will even lope between the barrels & break them down to a trot and focus on very correct pattern, moving over, etc. Toward the end of this year, I will haul them to a couple of fun shows & enter them. I let them pick their speed if it is not more than an easy lope.
4th year, I haul them & let them pick their speed as long as the pattern is correct. I will hold them back enough to keep the pattern correct & in control.
5th year, I want them competitive.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: In the wrong place at the wrong time | bowersk - 2014-11-19 9:36 AM
Cisco6340 - 2014-11-18 5:17 PM
BabyJ - 2014-11-18 4:57 PM
Im curious about why people start them and then turn them back out? I've heard of a lot of people doing that but I am not sure why. Once you start why not keep riding them?
Me too.....
Most 2 year olds, after their first 30 days, need a mental and physical break. They still are immature, they're still growing and their knees (among other joints ) just aren't typically ready for continual, day after day riding. A colt's attention span typically isn't that long either, so if I can just get the basics on them, turn them out to grow up a little, then bring them back in and start riding again, I've found that they come back refreshed, more mature, and ready for a job. Obviously, this is IMO, but it's worked for my colts, so I'm sure not going to change anything.
That makes sense. I was thinking of sending mine to trainer for 30 days then bring him home and trail ride once or twice a week, nothing strenuous, until he's 3 then send him back for another 30-60 to put a nice handle on him and see where he is then.
I appreciate everyone's thoughts and comments.
Edited by Cisco6340 2014-11-19 5:38 PM
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 Always Off Topic
Posts: 6382
Location: ND | long yearling
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Folks on-line