Actually they are not. The horses on Last Cowboy are older horses. They are showing that these horses are still competing at high levels, contrary to popular belief…
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That’s correct. Didn’t mean to imply that they are competing at that level so young. This year’s winner was 6. So when was he started to get him to this level? That is the point I was trying to make.
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False……futurities do not start until fall of their 3 year old year. There are zero western performance classes for 2year olds. I think western pleasure might have a two year old class but not 100%
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Started in training at what age? (not competing)
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There’s a horrific thread in the HJ forum about the use of electric spurs by an abuser named Andrew Kocher. Any time there’s money to be won, some horses will suffer.
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Probably as a long yearling. I do agree they are started a bit young but, most do not start maneuvers until later in their two year old year. They are mostly given very short rides or lunged then maneuvers put on. Are there crappy trainers that push too fast….absolutely! But I think we can point to those in every sport. I saw on another thread of a three year old jumper class? Also, a quarter horse matures differently than a warm blood. I think you would be surprised at the amount of older ones still competing! Mine is 19!
A lot of the top ones are also not competed tons. They save them for larger shows. As far as cowhorses(my discipline) many are still used outside of the arena too. I wish more people would find out more about us before they point fingers…
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THIS is the point I’m trying to make across disciplines. Big money leads to corruption. In more than just equestrian sports.
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Agree……100%
Thankfully, there are always people like you who are doing it the right way, unfortunately my experience has been with the other types.
Reined cow horse is something that makes more sense to me. Working cattle is a real skill and it’s amazing to watch the horses that are bred for it. Talk about versatility!
Ranch horse competition is also something I find interesting. Much more so than the artificial gaits of the WP horses.
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It’s pretty fun! A good one is a truly amazing experience! I do have a colt that will go this spring for training, he will be two. However, he is a good size and seems mentally mature. I have told my trainer that my goal is for him to replace my bridle horse. If he is ready to futurity, then that’s fine but I do not want him pushed to do it.
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Not false. I didn’t specify futrities, QH can and do show as 2yo. As well as plenty of other breeds. Don’t agree with it personally but ira true. The horse in the video I shared is 2, while not a show but an auction, how old do you imagine it was when started?
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With the exception of WP, I think, cutting, reining and cowhorse have zero shows for two year olds. Zero……most are started as long yearlings as I stated in the post above. They are ridden lightly and most trainers do not start maneuvers until later in their two year old year. Cowhorses will track cows but that’s about it.
The video you posted was the NCHA sale at the Futurity. The sale is in December. He was most likely started in November/December of his yearling year. Depending on the colt starter, he was introduced to a saddle and trotted for 10-15 minutes. The colt starter may or may not have introduced him to cattle. As far as his moves, you realize that was bred into him. My yearling will stop, suck back and turn on my pigs. He also naturally works off his hind end and I find 5-10 ft slides in my pasture regularly. When he or horses like him are started, you do not have pound them into the ground because they are built in.
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I’m just never going to think that starting a yearling of any age is ok.
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In all honesty, I do agree. Mine will not go until he is two and my trainers are instructed not to push him. However, I can attest, most get 15 minute rides. Also, the amount still competitive at older ages is more than you think. My 19 year old was started young, went to the Futurity and shown throughout his life at the professional level. I bought him at 14 because the opener was ready to get out of horses. He was injected at 17 for the first time. At 19 he is still highly competitive and getting ready for the world show. He is happy, sound and competitive. He is not an anomaly either… there are tons like him.
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Aqha has longe line classes where babies are longed (and longed and longed and longed) to show the prospects. Then there’s the junior classes where they can be 2. So yeah, they start them young.
https://www.aqha.com/-/a-horse-showing-how-to-the-longe-line-class
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Yes, that’s in the western pleasure area. I am in the performance area, reining, cutting and cowhorse. I could go on and on about the pleasure side 
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Starting training early is today known to be best if you want to be at your best once you are competing, horses and humans also, is how growing bodies do best, training early for whatever task they will have later.
That has been known now for long time, the old waiting until mature is not any more thought to be the best, with the caveat that you have to know what you are doing and do it properly for each horse you train, not all are the same:
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I’ve read about this theory too. And part of me agrees with it to an extent… but as with everything we take it too far.
There ain’t nothing good about longeing yearlings to death.
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Apparently, the training in wellington has gone the route as Hell-strand’s european training since Lars came to run the barn in US. Have spoken to multiple people who quit because they could not stand the methods.
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I really wonder if it’s just naïve not to assume that all of the big time operations are just as bad as Helgstrand. He’s the one who got caught, but do we really think things are any different at Kasselmann/PSI etc?
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