I guess you have to look at the horse. In the reining world, there horses are fully finnished at age 3. While they don't even take some dressage horses out of the barn till there age 6.
This looks like a recipe for disaster. Very controversial. I think we all know each other's opinions from the Jumping Age thread. I feel very strongly about this topic, but will keep my mouth shut because I know it'll start a fight.
completely depends on the breed. qh's are mature around 4 so you can start them a little earlier then say, a warmblood that's mature around 6. Most of my horses are in a training program by 3.
It doesn't matter. I think that this is a controversial topic, much like the jumping topic. I personally don't like to see ANY horse started before 3. I think it's completely unnecessary. And some of you are going to say "no no it's fine for the horse" but I don't think it is.
And we've all been over this before. I completely agree with Sara - this topic has been covered countless times, can we all just agree to disagree on this one and put it to bed? Please?
As well as the jumping topic, there was also Delete's thread on when to start riding. So all in all I think this topic is already being well covered on other threads. So far it has stayed civil, so i don't think there's a need to tempt controversy even more.
And usually I'm all for a good debate - it's what I comes to forums FOR - but this particular one is getting to me. For the most part, no one is willing to listen to any disagreement to their own view, probably because no one wants to admit that what they've been doing has been damaging horses/a display of greed.
It is true that this particular concept has been covered in length on the jumping and when to start threads....they are still ongoing if anyone wants to continue the debate there.
Maybe to keep things from getting out of hand...make the focus of this thread about answering the poll question so that we can all see the stats on our different opinions. That would be an interesting, and not so heated angle to look at this from.
Because backing a horse LATER isn't going to damage it. EARLIER does. Nor is backing a horse later in its life a sign of greed (though it is good business sense since that horse is liable to stay sound for longer).
Besides, I've never been responsible for the training of a young horse, so I have nothing to feel guilty about either way.
And also, science.
And now I'm leaving, because this is the same thread all over again.
And guys don't get so worked up about this. If you go back and read, how has it gotten out of hand? We have all been mature about this.
Whats a forum when everyone agrees on the same thing? :wink:
I understand ALL of your opinions on this. But like I said it's more than likely what your used to. Like maybe if someone was raised on a Quarter Horse farm they most likely started colts at age 2, when if someone grew up doing dressage they might start them at age 6.
I heard Warmbloods mature alot younger? Is that right?
Growth plates mature at the same age in almost every breed. TBs and stock horses are just bred to LOOK like they're more mature at a younger age.
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