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How far is too far?

3K views 33 replies 10 participants last post by  MissKatie 
#1 ·
I have a 2 year old who I want to start doing things like teaching basic dressage movements on the ground to give ourselves something to do while he is still maturing, and to get some education under his belt. I understand many people desire to teach a young horse dressage movements on the ground such as yielding, etc. But, how far is too far to teach a horse of such a young age? Is starting to teach things such as the piaffe and quarters in etc too difficult/strenuous on a young horse (on the ground only)?
 
#5 ·
Horses should be let to enjoy their childhood...
I think they should be allowed to enjoy their whole life & enjoy the training & 'work' we require of them too!:wink:
 
#4 ·
Hi,

Weightbearing, hard work & high impact stuff should be avoided or kept to a careful bare minimum at that age, but anything else is fine pretty much.

I'd start with the basics, which should keep you busy for a while at least anyway. Manners, yielding, etc. Taking him for walks, out & about to various places is great for the exercise factor & for desensitising/getting him used to stuff, as well as developing a good relationship with you.
 
#6 ·
Yes I understand that there isn't heaps you can do in the way of more complex training with a bubba. But, I know things like yielding etc can be fun and beneficial to teach, but what else is there?? Stimulation of the mind is healthy, and he has a good work ethic :)
 
#10 ·
It's not complex training that's a problem(although of course you have to start at pre-school & work up), but physically damaging stuff as stated. There's nothing wrong with dressage maneuvers or otherwise that are 'complex' but not physically stressful. What else is there?? Imagination's the limit!
 
#11 ·
I'd still wait until he's older. You're not going to miss the opportunity to teach him those movements when he's matured more, so why not wait... His body is not ready for any dressage work yet. Those movements are not just movements, they need muscle and joint development, too. I, personally, would wait for it until a horse is about 4 years old. But, if he will be let to mature, then he is more likely to live a long, healthy life with many years of training ahead.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to bash anything here, just my opinion. :)
 
#12 ·
Oh of course each is to their own. Some owners don't break until 5, some break before 2. Some horses 'break down', some horses are untrainable because they were left to break too late. Or is that not the reason? There is nothing worse than to make assumptions. But instead of opening a can of worms, I believe teaching him movements un-strenuous is beneficial. He loves learning. I just want to know what some of these movements may be! :)
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#15 ·
Oh of course each is to their own. Some owners don't break until 5, some break before 2. Some horses 'break down', some horses are untrainable because they were left to break too late. Or is that not the reason? There is nothing worse than to make assumptions. But instead of opening a can of worms, I believe teaching him movements un-strenuous is beneficial. He loves learning. I just want to know what some of these movements may be! :)
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I get what you're saying but the reason why many don't really start a horse until 4 or 5 is that a horse isn't physically mature before the age of around 5.5 yrs (some later than this). Some light ground-driving should be fine but really, start with the basics like building respect and trust, teaching to yield to pressure, teaching to stand tied, and maybe introduction of a saddle and bitted bridle (without riding, obviously) to let them get used to the idea. You don't want your horse getting arthritis at 10 - apart from the risk that they will no longer be sound, arthritis is an expensive problem to manage!

I will also add, many horses are not mentally ready to be trained (however quickly they seem to learn) and can get sour very rapidly with a regular training schedule.
 
#13 ·
Well, does he walk, trot, stop, back up on a loose lead? You could also teach him to square up, it will be beneficial when he has to start squaring up under a rider in dressage shows. :) How about working/playing at liberty? That would help you both to bond, which will also help if he trusts you completely, when you start to ride him. Walking, trotting and backing up along groundpoles also could help him to learn moving straight.
 
#20 ·
No, yielding is fine! I guess I wouldn't term any of that sort of basic work "dressage". Or "movement" either. More fundamental building blocks. Keep sessions short and sweet, though. Liberty work in a small arena (not a roundyard) is a good idea too - get him following you obediently off a lead even to the "scary" spots and doing walk, trot and whoa through voice commands. Also get him used to ground poles, cones and other common arena objects - try getting him to lead between two poles, over a pole, around a cone etc.
 
#22 ·
Yes sorry if I was unclear that is what I meant (later corrected myself in a comment saying "flatwork". Anyways the cones etc I am yet to try! Have turned on a radio once but need more of that - got to get him used to loudspeakers at shows :)
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#23 ·
At 2 I would be doing mostly desensitising work. Things like the radio being on, tarps, balls, plastic bags, hand walking him beside roads, etc.

Otherwise, as far as "dressage" training goes he's too young for anything serious. Look at your training scale. Your first two things are rhythm and relaxation. If you want to work towards a dressage horse, work on them.
 
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#26 ·
Teach him to yield his fores, his hinds, side passing any backing up. Make sure he knows how to walk quietly and respectfully, changing direction with you, backing and stopping when you do. Solidify his whoa. Teach him to cross tie, ground tie and to be tied to things.

I don't think what you're asking for is too much - most people hear Dresage movements and think you want your baby to start piaffing around the barn so you're going to have to repeat yourself a lot.
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#31 ·
I like to start young with our horses. We pony them at a walk on simple trails and such, over small logs, through water etc. If possible I would like them to experience as much as possible by 2. I’ve taken light weight Abetta type saddles and put them on them as well (not cinched up) but just to know it’s okay. I’ve leaned over them but not my full weight (125lbs) and my 2 year olds know how to walk trot canter on the lunge line by then. I have found that experiencing them to as much as possible before riding will make a drastic difference and it is much smoother. I do vertical flexing starting when they are under 1 year old, moving shoulder over and engaging hind quarters. All the horses we have broken out have been a piece of cake by doing all this.
 
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