What is the earliest age I can ride my horse?

If I had a young horse say 1 years old what is the earliest I can ride him?

Depends on the breed, but usually for a paint/qh around 3ish.

Just looked at your signature lol
For a national show horse?
Hmmm
I'd wait to at least 3, and when your vet comes out to give him his spring shots, ask his opinion.
That's what I'd do at least.

Some start them as early as 2, but I prefer 3.

Typically it depends on the horse, how their breed typically grows, and how that particular horse is growing.

But normally I start to saddle them at two, and back them. That is about all I do.

By the time they are three, I walk around on them and introduce them to riding, aids, and how to respond to me.

At the age of four is when I would really start their training. I don't do much jumping until they are five.

Then again, it depends on the horse.
The 4 year old Dutch I am working with now I am putting her over 2' fences only twice a month, and even showing her in those divisions now. But she is very solid and very well built for her age. Even so, I still don't push her.

Better to be safe than sorry with a baby!

I agree with everyone on this.

Starting horses, in my opinion, is something not to be rushed. I am not very experienced with it, I am going to be getting my 2year old (before I even think of sitting on him), examined by my vet first just to be on the safe side.
I know that may seem a little extreme, but I've heard some horror stories about horses being started to early and basically having a work overload breakdown. If that makes sense? LOL

And of course as everyone else already stated, it pretty much depends on the horse itself, and breed etc.

Would everyone believe me if I said. "It does not matter the breed. All horses skeletons mature at the same rate."

Sorry I don't believe that, only because if horses skeletons matured at the same rate, there wouldn't be many conformation flaws in the horse world.

And if I'm not mistaken horses develop differently depending on their feed, what the ground of their turnout is like, etc.
Anyone can correct me if i'm wrong on that.

Nope, I don't agree either. Or all horses/breeds would live to the same age, grow at the same rate, grow to the same ratio... you get the idea.


To the OP:
I wouldn't get on a horse's back until 3 at the earliest and then only for short periods of time. 15 minutes or so a couple of times a week. I agree with the poster that said 4 yrs old. Anyone that's in a hurry (am I'm not saying you are), should not have a foal to train.

It depends on the horse. But I would say around 3-4yrs old. You can start some training at around 2yrs old, but actual riding, I wouldn't.

According to Deb Bennette PhD

"All horses of all breeds mature skeletally at the same rate."

So, for example, the quarter horse is not an "early maturing breed" and neither is the Arabian a "slow maturing" breed.

Please visit this link if you have a questions: http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_..._2008_pdf1.pdf