[drivingpairs] training youngsters

When I was a kid we never dreamed of starting a horse before they were 4
years old.  In those years our horses grew up in pastures of several hundred
acres with hills and valleys, and water sources sometimes quite a distance
from feed or at least the "best" pasture.  They developed their strength and
coordination naturally from playing in the herd across varying terrain.

Now many of us do not have access to large areas to raise our babies.  There
are many youngsters here in CA born to mares that are kept in small runs or
paddocks and the babies grow up in small areas, sometimes even without the
benefit of playmates.  I am lucky to have some large runs and even a couple
of pretty large turnouts - but large for this area still means less than an
acre, and our ground is FLAT.  Since the development of bone density and
tendon strength requires concussion, not just time, babies left alone to
grow up until they are 4 or 5 years old in these conditions are vastly under
developed in both bone density and tendon strength. If training is not
started until they are 4 they can literally tear them selves to pieces with
their more mature musculature.

I start my babies (I don't breed, but buy young horses/ponies) at 2 years
old - but very carefully!  Babies are not asked to spin, jump, pull heavy
loads or hold a high level dressage frame.  They are led on long walks,
learn to wear a harness and/or saddle, walked and trotted over poles on the
ground, taught to go through water and over bridges, and are free lunged for
less than 20 minutes at a time a couple times a week in a very large round
pen.  I will also pony them for long walks and trots out through the desert.
When they turn 3, I teach them to drive/ride.  They pull a very light weight
cart and work mostly in straight lines.  Training sessions are usually 30
min or less unless we are doing a lot of walking and then I may stay out
with them much longer as long as they are relaxed and enjoying themselves.
They learn to accept the bit, be supple in their mouths, bend, and keep a
relaxed posture that allows freedom of movement.  With this schedule the
babies have enough exercise to develop proper bone density, tendon strength
and coordination to be ready to start a regular course of training when they
are 4, or for the big slow growers 5 years old.  They also have enough
variety and intellectual stimulation in their lives that they do not develop
vices like stall walking and cribbing.

Merrie Morgan Stevens


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "kathy robertson" <goodhors@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <drivingpairs@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 10:07 AM
Subject: [drivingpairs] CDE Competition Ages


Just a note for CDE competitors, your horse is
supposed to be somewhat mature.  I think the age of
any horse in a CDE is supposed to be at LEAST 4 years
of age.  I can't lay my hands on the rule book at this
moment.

There has been a lot of ADS discussion about the age
of horses, but the rules folks feel that horses any
younger are not up to the job.  Their young bones and
untrained minds are not ready for such hard work.
This is why Training is supposed to be easy, just
beginning to build a horse.  I may be wrong, or the
rule used to be age 5 years.  I do know there is an
age limit to prevent such hard use for babies.  This
is old school thinking that I totally agree with.

  Modern horse users follow a trend of starting horses
very young, see a great many people of all breeds
doing it.  I am sorry, but there in NO BREED, FAMILY
or STYLE of horse who is "early maturing".  The
animals fed well, may gain their height early, carry a
good load of meat over bones, but they are not mature
at three.  This is both mentally and physically.
Bones take longer to get solid in all studies.  Back
to old style thinking of a horse being MATURE at age
of six or seven.  Big horses, 16h and up will take
longer, because bones are so much thicker.
  Dr. Deb Bennet has a good article on the
RuralHeritage site, about how horses grow and what
parts are the slowest.  I found it quite interesting.

Folks who are thinking of competing Junior might want
to check their rule book, for the details.  Breed
shows often have babies out competing in the ring,
driving, ridden.  Pleasure Driving doesn't (I think)
have age restrictions.  CDE does have age
restrictions.

We have had much better success with our older 4-5 yr
old being able to pay attention, progressing much
faster in training.  He is able to work a little
longer with his harder bones.  Still a baby for us,
but things are just a lot easier working with them.
  Our 3yr olds have the attention of a gnat.  5
minutes is a GREAT lesson.  He just is not ready for
the work.  They are much more willing, not a trial, if
we wait a year.  I don't have any problems with easy,
moderate usage, trail riding, walks down the road.  It
is just intensity, mileage, much ring work, bending,
that are cumulative on young bones.

  Starting later also makes for a longer use horse.
We see so many young horses, under 10 years, who have
the legs of an old Amish street horse.  Worked too
much after being broke out at two or three.  Just wore
out legs and joints.  They are not ready to die, but
pretty unusable at 10.  There are always exceptions,
but if you average them out, the longer usage horse
seems to come from them being started later or only
lightly used all those years.  We see some folks who
get a new horse every 2-3 years, trashed the previous
one.  Multiple breeds, all disciplines.

Think about what you are asking from baby, pulling
heavy loads, speed, deep going, hard turns, daily
mileage of conditioning for fitness, practice
dressage.  Going in a frame is very hard work, to
bones not conditioned by only doing a level a year.
It can add up to a great deal of work, stress on those
young bones.

Kathy Robertson


__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online.
http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html
_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to:
http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.html
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

_________________________________________________________
To Unsubscribe, change to Digest or Vacation mode go to: 
http://www.drivingpairs.com/dpmem.html
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Other related posts: