It’s not wrong to wait till a horse is 4 or later to start it at all, provided you still take the time to go slowly for the first couple years. There’s no evidence it keeps them sounder, all other things being equal, and I’m not convinced it’s kinder or better horsemanship, but it’s certainly not bad or harmful. Do what works for you and your horses.
But your personal preference doesn’t mean that everyone who starts a horse at 2 or 3 is cruel or money-hungry.
The running martingale should have been a clue if the auctioneer wasn’t, 
I never said cruel. And greed can also be greedy to get the horse started, get to a show, etc, not just money.
There is still absolutely no reason to sit on a 2yo. I will die on that hill.
By that logic, there’s also no reason to ever get on any horse of any age.
And eventers run their horses literally to death over cross country fences, dressage riders ride with the horses so tight in the neck that have are sore and mentally stressed, hunter riders drug horses so they are “quiet” in the show ring and jumpers use 27 pieces of equipment on their horses faces because they are like cracked out barrel racers….we all have our issues……I’ll take riding a 2 year old over those…
Not at all. Lots of properly started horses enjoy their time under saddle and their time in their chosen discipline. We don’t have to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Well good thing I don’t do any of those things you mention and don’t start mine at 2yo. 
Training abuse stays with a horse, I should know. I own one of Andy Kocher’s “electrified” horses. It has taken well over a year for this mare to become more trusting of the leg in her mind and body. Some horses are more resilient than others. It is so sad, and inhumane for so many reasons.
Can you post a screenshot? I don’t think the post is public. At least, I can’t see anything.
I can’t imagine Heather Bliss is condoning the pony club kick with spurs or the covering of whip marks with blankets and spur wounds with shoe polish or the rolkur , but she could have made that more clear.
Helgstrand has had to publicly face up to it;
When asked about Danish Animal Welfare reporting him to the police, "Helgstrand replied, “we are of course sorry about that, and Helgstrand Dressage is of course cooperating with the authorities in that matter. I would like to state that TV 2’s recordings make a big impression on us. The way we train our horses is not right. This is bad and too hard riding, which does not live up to our guidelines and values toward our horses.” Bolding mine.
Bless you! I do not understand how anyone thinks electric anything is good on a horse.
Agree. I don’t longe my young stock because I don’t want them doing circles, but see zero issue with long lining them. I have a weanling now who “works” once a week or so going on hand walks around the farm, seeing things and learning manners like not invading my space. I carry a dressage whip, handle toward him, so if he spooks and gets too close he bumps into it (he lacks a natural inclination for personal space, lol). He’ll learn to load, walk over poles, get baths, etc. I’ll probably teach him to long line next year and take him farther afield.
Daily I halter him, run a brush over him and pick his feet.
there is so much you can do to make them good citizens young without stress on their bodies. He lives in a big 8 acre field with a hill, so he doesn’t need exercise.
He’ll start under saddle at 3, and by then it should be no problem whatsoever.
These young horse mills don’t want to put them time in, they want efficiency/not to have to spend the time to make a good horse. It doesn’t work that way.
So glad to hear that you do this! Mine also get the hand walking all over/loading/manners education. It takes way more time but they are so much better adjusted and happier as adults!
I don’t see any post?
It appears she has either removed or made her profile private. It previously was a public post on her business page.
Oh OK. Thanks.
Sorry. I didn’t know it was gone.
Or we could choose to start horses later and not do any of those things. It’s not either/or
15 to 20 minutes walk on the buckle for us too. And preferable on a surface other than what you have in the arena. Every sport vet we’ve had at the yard believes it is one of the pillars for long-term soundness.
She took it down…DH went after her in her usual over the top way. I think Heathers rant was a bit unreadable and all over the place anyway.
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