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| I have a filly I've been working pretty hard she is coming up on 3 years old, I was wondering if sometime in the future she would need time off? And if so how much?
Thanks! |
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 Expert
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| barrelracer084 - 2017-03-15 11:27 AM
I have a filly I've been working pretty hard she is coming up on 3 years old, I was wondering if sometime in the future she would need time off? And if so how much?
Thanks!
I have a coming 3 year old as well. Rather than give total time off I just don't ride him but maybe 2-3 days a week for no more than 30 minutes each time. Nothing strenuous just few of the little basics. I don't want to pressure those young joints. I don't really plan on riding him real consistent until fall. |
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    Location: Deep South | How long have you been working her hard? If I get my 2yo's to the point where they're pretty solid, riding good and I know some time off won't send them back to broncing heathens (usually around the 90 day mark) then I'll let them have about 30 days off. I do that 2-3 times throughout their 2yo year just to give them a mental break because I'm really not riding them hard at 2 anyway. During their 3yo year I don't really give them any deliberate time off, by this point they've been brought along slowly for a whole year. |
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| If they are doing great, I have checkpoints that I give them time off once they get to a certain point in training. I don't do much with a 2 year old but get them solid broke, and then they get a month or so off, then I get them maybe loping the pattern solid(this can mean a lot of different things to every rider) but then they get at least 2 weeks off to just chill, then I will start slowly working them back into the pattern and then after that its really up to the individual horse. Some need breaks after that and some don't. But listening to the horse is the most important thing. If they start to lose focus a lot or start getting really hot on the pattern or something, they need a break in my opinion. It doesn't have to be a month off, sometimes in that case they just need to do something else for a while.
Hope that helps and I don't sound like a crazy person lol |
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 You get what you give
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     Location: Texas | Both of my three year old have kind of an easy life right now because I am so busy with my last few months of vet school. They get 2 weeks off sometimes just because I can't get to them. Thankfully, I had a good foundation put on them by the lady who broke them, and they have done a lot of slow work on the pattern, so they haven't forgotten anything. My little FDF filly you could stay off of her for months and get back on and she rides off like an old pro, never acts silly or colty. My FWTF can sometimes get fresh if he gets a lot of time off, but it only takes one ride of him acting goofy for him to settle back in to the routine.
As much as it bothers me that I can't ride them as much as I am wanting to, it helps that at least I think I'm helping them out by not hammering on them all the time. I still think both will be ready to run as 4YOs, I just need to start hauling and exhibitioning them. |
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 Georgia Peach
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       Location: Georgia | Working a 2, coming 3 year old hard? I don't particularly like the sound of that. But thats just me. Anyway, with that in mind, yes....give her some time off. |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
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| Hailey Kinsel, who won the American on a young horse, gave an interview that the mare was coming along great so she gave her several months off. She said she wanted her to continue to like her job. I have heard so many trainers say that is how so many good young horses get ruined, pushed too hard too soon. The rider feels them coming along, feels the talent so starts asking for more when they are not ready to handle the pressure. Time is usually your friend. |
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| Runninbay - 2017-03-16 10:05 AM
Working a 2, coming 3 year old hard? I don't particularly like the sound of that. But thats just me. Anyway, with that in mind, yes....give her some time off.
To clear it up, shes going on her 10 or so days under saddle, but gets extensive ground work. I was just wondering for future reference in her late 3yr old year for how much time off.
Thanks! |
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| BamaCanChaser - 2017-03-15 3:30 PM
How long have you been working her hard? If I get my 2yo's to the point where they're pretty solid, riding good and I know some time off won't send them back to broncing heathens (usually around the 90 day mark) then I'll let them have about 30 days off. I do that 2-3 times throughout their 2yo year just to give them a mental break because I'm really not riding them hard at 2 anyway. During their 3yo year I don't really give them any deliberate time off, by this point they've been brought along slowly for a whole year.
She is going on 10 days or so under saddle, but have done extenisive ground work everyday for a few months. Thank you for helping me! |
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| i have a 2 yr old.. (actually turns 2 tomorrow!) and she had her first day under saddle today! actually sat on and rode for 3-5 mins. walk turn around that kinda thing. mine has had ground work but shes been real easy from the get go.
i try to keep it easy for her, when she does what i ask i kick her back out. once i get her actually riding around decent, i'll kick her out for a month then send her to get some miles put on her. im not in a hurry, but not not in a hurry either. i want her BROKE, i could care less to start her on the pattern this year tbh thats the easy part!
give her time off whenever you feel like it. or only play with her for 10-15 mins a day |
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