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Training a 2 yr old?!!

2K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  alexislauzon 
#1 ·
Just looking for your guy's opinions on training a 2 yr old. I just purchased one and she is already green broke walk jog lope sidepass ect. she has only been ridden for the past couple of months on and off, and should be turning three in the spring. how much riding can she handle? are there any repercussions? she's a pretty built horse for her age.. just looking for outsider opinions :) thanks:)
 
#2 ·
She's a long 2 yr old now. Don't push it, just keep handling, a few easy rides here & there if you feel you must, no loping or cantering, just walking & a bit of trotting. Nothing strenuous, just because she looks mature, their young minds can overload, you want everything to be stressfree at this point.
 
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#3 ·
The majority of stock type horse are started at two. If you do it right, the horse will be just fine. Don't ride them into the ground, but you don't have to tip toe. Work on getting them soft, exposing them to things, getting the buttons put on at the walk/trot, start working them up to the canter...It really just depends on the horse.
 
#9 ·
The majority of stock type horse are started at two. If you do it right, the horse will be just fine. Don't ride them into the ground, but you don't have to tip toe. Work on getting them soft, exposing them to things, getting the buttons put on at the walk/trot, start working them up to the canter...It really just depends on the horse.
Agreed. Get her desensitized to ANYTHING you think might scare her. BIG on the list is plastic bags, umbrellas, loud machinery, things above her head--you can use yourself and the fence for that. Get her grooming and ground manners perfect so she'll be quiet.
 
#4 ·
Just take it easy with her.walk and a bit of trot.Now would be a good time to do alot of ground work.I dont like starting horses till there 3 to 4.Because there legs are not fully dont growing and there bone is still trieing to fuses together. Some horses are not done growing tell around 5 .My horse was not broke till he was 6.Which is kinda old lol.But as long as your not canter/galloping runing barrls jumping or any thing like that she sould be fine.
 
#5 ·
I wish every "green broke" horse I got was already loping and sidepassing... lol...

Personally, I'd just do a lot of advanced groundwork and maybe even get her driving, then perfect little things like yielding haunches / shoulders in the saddle. Just work on suppling her up... I wouldn't do a lot of rigorous riding just yet.
 
#6 ·
I guess it depends on breeding but in the UK its not considered wise to break a horse until its joints are fully developed at 3+ and then no hard work until they are 4
A year waited at the start of its life can be a lot more years of sound healthy joints & back at the end of it
 
#7 ·
The only safe answer is to have your vet check to see if growth plates fused. However, hacks out of an arena at a walk are generally fine on joints, and great for a young horse's mind.
 
#8 ·
The only safe answer is to have your vet check to see if growth plates fused. However, hacks out of an arena at a walk are generally fine on joints, and great for a young horse's mind.
Absolutely right and IMO hacks out (trail rides) are way better for a young horses mind and education than endless boring sessions in an arena
 
#10 ·
Two is too young in my personal opinion, since their legs haven't finished developing (one of the things I hate about Thoroughbred racing). However, since she's already green broke you probably don't want her regressing (I totally get that...we're retraining my young OTTB and if he's not worked at least a couple times a week we'll be taking three steps back). A vet can probably give you more insight as to how developed she is and if she's far enough along that you won't damage her, but non-strenuous work probably won't hurt her.
 
#11 ·
thanks everyone! this helps a lot:) she's already great with her ground manners, and doesn't flinch when a semi-truck drives by! but i also believe that ground manners is key with any horse, any age, any ect. so i will continue to work on that with her. as for the riding, i will get a vet to check her, and talk to me coach/trainer as well. because i definitely don't want to regress with her:)!

thanks again everyone!
 
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