Paints and Qaurter horses!

Well I start ground work early but never saddle a youngster till they are 4 or older. Yes its different then most people but then im different so it works for me. I got doing it when they are more mature when I was youngster on the farm, and watched my grandfather cripple horses starting them working when they were young so I swore then id never start on till at least 4yrs old . Dave

I start my horses at 18 months with just a saddle on and get them used to the bit and wearing a headstall. The earliest you should get one a horse of any breed, IMO, is 2 years (24 months). I sold both of my horses prior to that mark but they're both broke to ride at this point and they're 2 1/2 and 3 now.

It's like the question of "when to wean a foal"....it's ALWAYS going to be a "to each his/her own" answer. The "hot" new thing now is people who think it's ok to ride a horse around 18 months. Those horses don't stay sound and show up with horrible cases of sway back in sales pens. 4 is a good age to start.

My paint mare is very mature--physically and mentally.

So I got her right before she turned three and I started training her as soon as I got her.

...depends on the mental maturity of the youngster, too

Agreed