Now Heather Blitz has chimed in
“In young animals, the optimal amount of exercise which is ideal for musculoskeletal strength and performance of function during maturity is not entirely known. Given that this optimal amount of exercise is not yet determined, prescribed exercise during growth is controversial to many. However, it has been shown in numerous studies that confinement and the subsequent lack of loading, lead to weaker tissues and potential loss of function of bone, articular cartilage, and tendons and that exercise during growth aids in the longevity of animal health and performance.”
This is not “ride horses at 2yo.” This is “turn your horses out and make sure they move/run around.”
Stop riding yearlings and two year olds.
33 Likes
I knew of a breeder of endurance horses that fed his broodmares and foals in one place, the water source was 7 km away.
He said it was how horses lived in the wild.
Horses went back and forth all day long.
We raised many foals we started at two and they lived and worked their whole lives healthy and sound.
Is not the calendar age that is best management for horses, is how you train for whatever your horses will be doing, at any age.
18 Likes
Foals grow up to be adults. What do you think happens to the unwanted, excess horses? There are more horses then there are buyers who want to keep a horse for pleasure, competition, or as a lawn ornament.
Wait, what? You mean started under saddle as in yearlings are being ridden? Yearlings. How is that remotely ok?
I know a few people who start the 2-year-olds under saddle, put maybe 10 or 15 rides on them, and then turn them back out until they are 3. And that generates plenty of negative commentary. But a yearling? I can’t even imagine sitting on a literal baby. Why?
11 Likes
This is the most important part of the question of when to start a young horse. We know the answer is money, but if you/your trainer is putting money over horse welfare, then that’s a different conversation you need to have. The conversation isn’t “how old” the conversation is “why is money more important than welfare?”
10 Likes
I agree with her that with horses sometimes crap happens. I have left spur rubs by accident, and I have seen horses bite their tongues or their lips, resulting in blood in the mouth. But crap doesn’t happen repeatedly and predictably unless something is wrong.
I also agree that horses are often BTV because they haven’t yet developed self-carriage. Dressage is a process and not every moment is perfect, and that’s why I hate those “gotcha” photos of a horse with its chin to its chest. But again there is a huge difference between a horse who tries to evade the bit or tries to balance itself by going BTV and one who is forced into that position and held there.
IIRC Heather was a favourite target of the dreadful Dressage Hub lady for a while, with several very unflattering videos of her riding being circulated. So I see why she would be very sensitive about this issue. Still, I think she could have articulated her position in a more thoughtful way.
14 Likes
This is a 2 yo
https://downunderhorsemanship.com/success-at-the-srcha-pre-futurity-for-clinton-and-karma/
1 Like
Nailed it.
11 Likes
No, she is three. She also just sold for $160k
Again, I do not agree with it. However, depending on the colt starter, it happens. I think in all our industries there are things we do not agree with. Mine will not be started that young. However, there are far less breakdowns than y’all like to imagine. So many show into late teens and early 20s. Many mares become broodmares if they are well bred. Our stallions will show and breed but depending on the owner, some will retire the stallion for breeding only. Many of the organizations have realized the incorrect assumptions that our horses are crippled by the time they are 6 and starting to offer more money to the older horses. The Run For the Million, Worlds Greatest and American Horseman are showcasing them at very high level.
There are studies that show riding them young helps long term soundness, there are studies that show it damages them. Most are inconclusive because you have to PROVE either helps or hurts. So much goes into injury, training, genetics, footing, shoeing, amount of shows, nutrition etc… I think at the end of the day, stick to your ideals and clean up the dirty areas in your house before you attack others. As a horse industry, we all have them….
3 Likes
I think horsepeople can be concerned about mistreatment and unethical training methods in ALL disciplines, not just the one we ride.
27 Likes
Wrong. Starting horses (fairly) young is not always about money and greed.
I may get flamed for admitting this, but I personally think it’s better to start a young horse at 2 or 3 and give them a couple years of quiet riding, tootling around and going on trail rides, learning the very basics and building a solid foundation and letting their body adjust to carrying a (lightweight) rider in a low-stress way, than it is to start a horse at 4/5/6 when they’re physically close to maturity and then put them straight into a “program” after being pasture puffs for their first several years.
This is just my opinion, and I’m not at all a fan of futurity stuff that requires them to work hard as babies. But I’ve never seen a horse ruined or crippled by quiet, light work at a young age, and waiting as long as possible to start them is not necessarily superior horsemanship.
25 Likes
1 Like
There is a lot of research coming out that supports this….
3 Likes
No its not. You cannot show a 2 y/o in NRCHA competition.
2 Likes
That’s not a horse show. That is a sale for 2 y/os in training. And that horse is far from finished at that time.
3 Likes
The first issues of Equus featured a gray Arabian colt by the name of Equine that his owner was raising and conditioning him by longing and long lining him. The premise behind their program was that early conditioning improved bone density.
Here’s the thing: you can do everything you just said with a 4yo. I also do not start horses and put them directly into a program after being a pasture puff. That’s just irresponsible. My 4 year olds tootle around on the trail for a year with minimal (2-3x/week for 20-30 min) arena work. It isn’t either or. There is absolutely no reason other than people’s greed (for money or ego/showing earlier) to sit on a yearling or 2yo, and IMO, not even a young 3yo.
ETA: I absolutely “work” the horses younger. They learn to longe as yearlings, then do that 3-4 times a month for short sessions, they learn to pony and long line at 2yo, and work increases to 4-6 times a month, and they get started under saddle in the fall of their 3yo year. I’m not against giving them exercise, I’m against sitting on them and riding them that young.
6 Likes
Do not get me started on that guy. I wouldn’t trust him with a Breyer horse.
6 Likes
