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It's all up to the horse, IMO. I started putting a saddle on Chopper and letting him wear it when he was about 20 months old. I also hand walked him all over the place while wearing it, and started lunging a little after that. Then I introduced the bridle, and did the same thing. I got on him bareback for the first time in April of his two year old year, and started riding him with a saddle and bridle that June-ish. I rode him a few times, walked, trotted, cantered once or twice. Then he got the entire winter off to be a baby and grow up some more. This year I rode him more, took him on his first trail rides, and started introducing harder work. Again, he has the winter mostly off, with a few rides here and there for fun. This spring as a four year old he starts his real work and will be introduced to the barrel pattern.
