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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | I have a 3 y/o that I'm just getting back to riding this spring, and right now most of our work is either at home or in a stubble field until she gets her handle back (and she is doing pretty good! just feel controlled environment is better for now...at least for me, LOL). But I'm worried about working my young one too much or too little (too much and hurting her, or too little and she'll get too fresh) plus I want to keep things interesting so she doesn't get bored and burned out. My old mare I can judge pretty well how much to work her, but I've had her since she was green so its been a long time now since I've really worked with a young/green horse, so I was just seeing what you guys do. :)
Throughout the spring and summer I can usually ride about 4 days a week, if that gives you an idea. :) |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | The 4 year old I have is Clinton Anderson trained through the intermediate level. We do a lot of the fundamentals and intermediate ground work. I don't have an arena, so we work out in a 400 acre field. He still has a few baby moments, but we do lots of serpentines, figure eights, side passing, etc... all moving feet and making the brain work |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | TwistedK - 2017-03-24 5:59 AM The 4 year old I have is Clinton Anderson trained through the intermediate level. We do a lot of the fundamentals and intermediate ground work. I don't have an arena, so we work out in a 400 acre field. He still has a few baby moments, but we do lots of serpentines, figure eights, side passing, etc... all moving feet and making the brain work Thank you...I've been doing some figure eights, a few serpentines, I haven't done much side passing (I don't think of it) but some starts on spins and giving in the ribs/bending around my leg. Mine came back from the trainer with 60 days riding in December, and I'm trying to get her back going good again and in shape. It sounds like my routine is pretty standard and good for a young one with fundamentals...it has been a while so I'm trying to do the best I can. My mom says, and I agree, that consistency is the key...I just like to make sure we are heading in the right direction. 
Edited by mtcanchazer 2017-03-24 10:44 AM
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Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | I do a lot of basic dressage moves with mine too. Moving all parts of the body, etc. For as young as he is, he's BROKE and sane. He can sit for a week and ride off the same. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | TwistedK - 2017-03-24 9:49 AM I do a lot of basic dressage moves with mine too. Moving all parts of the body, etc. For as young as he is, he's BROKE and sane. He can sit for a week and ride off the same.
Mine you can't quite leave a week and step on and have no funny business, yet, but she has had a lot of time off this winter. No buck or anything like that, just fresh and frisky. The more I ride her, the better she gets, though. I think she will be that way eventually, but she's just a 3 y/o. Thankfully, she's actually taking on some of the personality characteristics of my old mare (who I love!) that she is pastured with. :) |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| I'm like you on not wanting to hurt one. Their knees are not even closed at 3 etc. I just do a lot of GENTLE trail miles. Keep them out of the arena. I will prepare and make them turn a bush, a tree, a rock, anything that keeps them listening to ME and thats not a barrel. Working a barrel in the arena would get pretty old pretty fast. But its amazing how much " Barrel" training you can do when there is no barrel in site. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | Mine depend on how big and developed they are, I had a small 3 year old 2 years ago I bought to futurity but physically and mentally she wasn't ready yet so I waited until her 4 year old year to enter, meanwhile I just rode her 3-4 days a week and hauled/walk-trot exhibitons.
I trail ride my colts as much as I can and while on trails I work them in circles around trees or any objects I can circle and make them do lots of lateral flexion work no matter where I am. I try not to spend every day in the arena, they get bored with that fast! Make it fun for you, different and interesting for colts.
My colt now was dayworking his 3 year old year in the woods, pushing cows and walking miles and miles of trails, he's the most broke 4 year old I've ever had.
Edited by RnRJack 2017-03-24 12:41 PM
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I wish I had cows to push! That would be so good for this filly. I like to do trails too, but am a little limited on where I can go and what I can do right now...hopefully later on in spring and summer that will change. She's a futurity prospect, but she won't be futuritied until her 5 year old year, so there isn't a huge rush on barrel work (she hasn't seen a barrel other than sitting out in the pasture, LOL) and I already have a trainer in mind to send her to, to get her start on barrels...she trained my other mare. Just right now I'm trying to get her handle back and back in shape after her winter layoff, and I was trying to think of other things to do with her than the same old routine. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Ranch Work
Arena Work
and trail riding when I can with my friends.
After rattle snake breeding season I'm going to take my new colts out to pasture, they really learn how to move their feet when you push a cow/calf or set of goats. |
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