Training young filly

Well, it has been awhile since I trained a young horse and now I am getting a chance to work with a young filly that a friend of mine owns. We kinda made the agreement that we would work together on training this filly. I kinda had the background and she had the place.

This filly is out of a Pony/QH mare that is about 14 hands tall, and a Paint stud... background on the stud is unknown as it was a not really a plan breeding... but got a beautiful buckskin filly. The filly is 1 1/2 years old, she will officially will be 2 in June of this year. She is a little more refined in her make up then her mother and slighly smaller, but has a better attitude.

The following ground work has been done:
- Lunging, stopping at the "Whoa" command, changes directions with a cue
- Worked on despooking
- Can stand tied
- All four feet can be picked without trouble
- Pretty easy to catch
- Can be saddled with a tighten cinch, both with a large and small saddle.
- Has been ponied around with a rider leading
- Can load in trailer with no problems.


Well, I wanted to get some opinions on working with young horses on the ground with a hackamore or a bridle. I have been able to get a hackamore on the filly and use a set of draw reins. The filly can turn and back okay. However, how far does some take this type of training before they actually get on the horse? Yes, I do believe that the filly will be just fine on the first ride, but that is not planned for another possibly 6 months. Reason is because we want her to mature in size and weight a little more before someone rides her.

The trainer I work with will put them in an alley and just get on after about their 4th time being saddled and lunged and driven. After about the 7th he starts moving the colt around w/ cues. Then moves to a snaffle bit and does the same thing. Then when he is comfortable with the horses abilities in the alley will move into a small pen

Hope that helps, but it comes down to how comfortable you are with her

Usually at 1 1/2 years old I just make sure the filly can turn left, right, stop, back, trailer load, pick all four feet up, have them used to the saddle and walking/lunging with it on. After that I just wait till they are about 2 years old and get on to see what they are all about.

I agree with Peace, love and paints. After they can be ridden at 2 where you can at least say they are broke, we throw them back in to the pasture until they are about 3 and they are fully grown, then we put them to work as green. Jumping and such where the work will be hard on their joints, I'd wait until closer to 4.

There are always exceptions to every rule, but this is a basic guideline of "what I'd do"

I believe that groundwork should be done but no riding till the age of 3 years old at least. Their bones need plenty of time to develop. Many young horses minds also cannot control the pressure and get bored and start picking up bad habits. Lots and lots of groundwork, but keep it interesting for them, lead them over poles, practice getting into the trailer different ways like walking in and backing out then backing in and walking out.

Take things slow since she is so young. I'd just do as much light ground work with her as possible. And unless your hackamore is a TRUE hackamore I wouldn't use one, and I certainly wouldn't use draw reins. Going to a snaffle is a good move when you are ready for a bit.

I agree with Spirithorse. Why the need for draw reins? In my opinion, and I may be asking for trouble, I would never use draw reins. I have ridden some horses that have been pretty terrifying to ride after draw reins. My new horse was ridden in draw reins and it has taken quite awhile to fix her. If there isn't a problem, why fix it?
Alot of our young horses earn a break after they have been in x amount of training. Especially if they are as young as your filly. Get to a certain point, then allow her out to pasture and mature and age and be a horse. Like stated before, don't do too much too fast. She's just a baby. :)