starting oung horses

Question
I have read so far that it really is not smart or in the best interest to start young horses under saddle until 4 yrs of age.

We have already done this and going very well at 2.5yrs on a filly, but I think we should stop and leave her alopne until another year passes.

I dont want to hurt her in any way...

If we continue, are there certain things tolookfor during training to make sure we dont hurt her.  She is small and won't be an adults horse, she is for the kids to ride.

Paula

Answer
Paula,

The primary reason for staying off a youngster's back is that they are still growing.  A 3 yr. old horse is the equivalent of an 18 yr. old kid.  Still has a lot of growing to do and depending upon the breed some grow more slowly than others.  Dr. Deb Benett did a study and determined that horse's skeletons are not fully grown until 8 yrs. of age.  

As far as your youngster, if you've been riding her at that early an age some damage has already been done.  But since she still has to grow some more if you stay off her for another year than at least no more will be done.  You won't see a lot of the problems caused by riding too early until later in the horse's life.  Arthritic problems are common, especially in the legs.  Often the horses have back problems as well from minor to as major as "kissing spines" where the spinal ridges jutting up from the spinal bones actually touch.  Very painful.  Plus problems in the knees and hocks.  I see a lot of problems in horses that have come off the racetrack where as you know they train the horses early.  

Doesn't matter what her future use is, I assume adults have been riding her now for training and that's where the problem lies.  A lot can be done on the ground to make a youngster good before you ever put a foot in the stirrup.  I like to train my youngsters to drive at 2 or 3.  No appreciable weight on their backs but I can teach them manners, set their gaits, put good mouths on them and introduce them to a whole lot of things!  By the time I actually get on them it's no big deal.  

So quit riding her, especially if she's small!  Let her grow for another year.  If you've done things right so far she won't forget what she's learned up to this point.  Keep up with some ground work if you feel you need to do something.  But remember, she is still a baby.  

Lyn