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how young is to young

4K views 26 replies 16 participants last post by  ZackLover1 
#1 ·
Ok i need advice..i am a competive trail rider i have a three year old paint in training and he will be home in two weeks and my plan is to slowly start getting him ready to compete in rides end of next summer or beggeing of summer after that so two years.. my friend tells me i should not even start conditioning him tell he is 5 or 6 cuz he is to young.. i have done lots of research and talked to alot of ppl but still am unsure..so is three to young to start working up to our dreams? :oops:
 
#2 ·
I think so.
In Aus, you are not even allowed to compete until the horse is 5, and even then at restricted distance and pace. I would be very suprised if they dont have similar regulations where you are.
I honestly dont think you need to start conditioning any sooner than 6 months prior to the first ride, and this conditioning should be done in a progressive manor. This will give you more than adequite time to get your horse ready.

Spend the time between now and then giving your horse a good education on the flat, coupled with very easy rides out.
 
#5 ·
The age here is four but i am not concerd with the rules at the moment just what is best for my horse and i to be safe and make a great team..Thanks for the great advice

I think so.
In Aus, you are not even allowed to compete until the horse is 5, and even then at restricted distance and pace. I would be very suprised if they dont have similar regulations where you are.
I honestly dont think you need to start conditioning any sooner than 6 months prior to the first ride, and this conditioning should be done in a progressive manor. This will give you more than adequite time to get your horse ready.

Spend the time between now and then giving your horse a good education on the flat, coupled with very easy rides out.
 
#3 ·
find a friend, or someone you get along with and hit the trails. don't over do it. you and your horse need to work up to longer rides. don't compete 'til you are both ready. horses need to grow up in body and mind. you will need to learn a few things too if you don't already compete. there is no substitute for experience of the trail for your horse. it's how he will learn to be a good trail horse.
 
#4 ·
Hmmm

I have beed doing endurance rides for ten years he is just a new mount.. my last horse was 8 when i got her and already trained and been in this sport for 2 years so we just had to learn to work together and see how each one of us did our things lol so i never went in with a "green horse" so this process is diff for me.. So than i should just do some pleasure rides for this year and have fun getting to know each other and working out the kinks and desantizing (sp?) sounds good to me thank you for the help
 
#6 ·
As long as he is a good size it should be ok to do short sessions and not over do it...they are still growing till about 5. My colt was very small and didn't fill out or grow much until he was 4 so I started him at 4.5...depends on the horse just don't do too much on him or you will hurt his joints. Do you have a picture of him you can post?
 
#7 ·
Yes i do but right now i am still haven a hard time fig out this site lol. I set a pic of him as my profile pic and it says it is . but when i look at my posts there is not a picture there lol. I will get one up of him some time today. He a big stocky boy for his age 15.2 and solid..Any tips on how to use this site easier would be great. How do i play the carrott game and how do i set a profile pic and i do i post pics of him in a thread ...HELP lol
 
#10 ·
mls= thank you that is gread advice. we have a vet that comes in our barn every month and she said he was solid and ready to be worked..so i will slowly work him and have her keep checking him and talk to her about our process. This summer will just be him and I getting that trust and relationship with each other.. My boyfreind has a amazing off the track Tb that is a great trail horse so they are my riding parteners hoping that her cool and calmness will help him adjust to the new "scary" things. I just want to do this the proper way and the best way for him.
 
#11 ·
You can do plenty with a 3 year old that will help its future career. Slow trail rides of medium length introducing it to various things is a good start. Make sure the horse is comfortable with cars, random dogs, people and other horses on the trail. Work on balance under saddle, perfecting a side-pass and seat cues needed to go around obsticles, etc. 3 is a good age to focus on perfecting the basics that will help with your future distance trail riding.

Then as a 4 year old start the true conditioning with long slow rides, hill work, etc.
 
#12 ·
If you are worried about the physical conditioning through riding, why not start conditioning the mind. Can this horse become a pack horse that you could pony him off your experienced trail horse with. He can get out in the world, learn a little footing, maybe carry a little weight(if you go the literal pack horse route), and get some good exercise in the meantime. Only of course if you are comfortable with that.
 
#15 ·
I think your vet knows best and you should take her advice. If she says he is solid enough to begin slow training than by all means begin working with him. Three is a wonderful age to get him exposed to new and "scary" things out on the trails. Listen to him, he will tell when he is working too hard. If the vet is going to continue monitoring him that's even better because she'll be able to gauge whether you should slow down his training further or continue along at the pace you're currently at. By the end of three year old year he should have been exposed, at shorter distances, to a number of obstacles and types of terrain he will encounter during a long distance ride. As a four year old you can than continue his conditioning with longer rides, and begin to build on his ability to complete long distances. :)
 
#18 ·
He is still there for another two weeks. He will have had 60 days when he comes home. he is coming along nicely. We still have TONS of work ahead of us lol. he will be coming home for the summer and going back in to training in the fall for more detailed training
 
#20 ·
Here the minimum age for a Level I distance ride (25-39K) is 5 years old. If you have been doing endurance for ten years then I am sure you must be familiar with the rules and regulations of the sport. LSD conditioning is great for a younger horse who has the ground and saddle training basis that makes them safe to ride on a trail. A few years of the correct trail work can prepare them physically and mentally for the stresses of a distance competition. You should check out a great website for lots of valuable information on the sport of endurance.
Endurance.Net
 
#21 ·
Here the minimum age for a Level I distance ride (25-39K) is 5 years old. If you have been doing endurance for ten years then I am sure you must be familiar with the rules and regulations of the sport. LSD conditioning is great for a younger horse who has the ground and saddle training basis that makes them safe to ride on a trail. A few years of the correct trail work can prepare them physically and mentally for the stresses of a distance competition. You should check out a great website for lots of valuable information on the sport of endurance.
Endurance.Net
Yes i am aware of the rules and the age here is four..But the rules are not my concern now..but the actual well being of my horse and how i should start to prepare a new horse for the sport my last one had already been in the sport for two years. But i have gotten so much great advice i know where to start and we will slowly. i will check out that site thank you so much for the link
 
#23 ·
Four year old can not do any ride over 15 miles..it for begginer horse or rider.Most of them are 5 to 10 miles..I do not plan on doing any endurance rides till summer of 2011 he will be six..I am just trying to get tips and advice on how to work with him to make him and i a steller pair on the trails :)
 
#27 ·
I say do lots of lunge work for fitness, a nice flat work out using excercisis that will help make her focused and sharp with her feet as well as build muscle tone (ie-lots of lateral work as well as lengthening and shortening or strides). Then use trails as a coolout. As she gets more fit start to make your trail ride longer and your longing shorter...however i would personally always do a warmup ride with stretches, etc. before hitting the trails
 
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