Young horses on the trail

[OdieJump]

Yesterday I took my QH gelding on a trail, it was two hours and the terrain got to be tough at some point, we were running up hills, cantering through water, all that stuff. This horse is physically and mentally able to handle the work load.

I have a three year old filly who id really like to start trail riding but I don’t know if she could handle the work because she’s so young. I ride her consistently and we’ve been working up to more endurance so she’s not in shape to ride like I did but I can continue working on that. My question is can her body handle it even if she’s in good enough shape?

shes still growing and I don’t know if riding her hard like that will damage her and I’d rather be safe than sorry! I do still plan on taking her out to the trails and going on the easier paths though!

[tabula_rashah]

For my guys, at 3, I generally wouldn’t be on them yet or at most a little walk, trot, stop, steer work and that’s it. But if you want to do some trail work- I’d keep it at a walk (I follow some old and sound advice of 100 walk miles on trail before introducing any speed), under an hour and stay off of anything really steep that will overstress joints.

[Garythesquirrel]

And to add to the above - ponying a young horse on the trail is an excellent way to expose them to the world and get some exercise and conditioning without the weight of a rider.

[normandy_shores]

I’d suggest ponying as well… then your young horse also has the confidence reassurance of following a confidence lead horse.

[joiedevie99]

3 is young. Ours aren’t in work until 4. I don’t see any harm to some gentle walking trail rides, under an hour - either with you on her or ponying her off your other horse. I wouldn’t ask her to navigate tricky terrain with a rider, or do any speed work yet.

The amount of work you’d need to put on her to build the fitness she’d need to do what your other horse is doing is more than I would ask of her at this age.

[GramV]

I would not ride a three year old. Google the Ranger study on bone growth.

But, as everyone said, ponying is a great way to get them in condition. I have done it with multiple horses. The babies follow us on trail, and when they are older, I pony. It not only gets them on condition, but makes them confident.

I actually had a horse in for training once who hadn’t really done trail. I took her out riding on the trail with my 8 month old being ponied, who was a super confident baby from doing it all. The horse I was riding was hesitant to walk over a bridge, but when the ponied baby confidently went forward, so did the horse I was riding.

[beau159]

I don’t think there is anything wrong with short easy trail rides on a 3 year old.

I think 2 hours would be too long. I like to keep the rides short and easy for the young ones. I don’t do it to “get them in shape” but just to start exposing them.

[Pocket_Pony]

I’d start with hand walking on the trails. I’d move up to ponying only after practicing in the arena at home and then out in the open at home just to make sure both horses are good at it and you learn how to handle two together.

Hand walking on the trail is a great way to build up trust and relationship with your horse as well as fitness.

When starting down the trails mounted on a green horse, I’d start with very short rides…15 minutes, easy loop or out and back. Nothing tricky or strenuous. Gradually add time. You either increase speed OR distance, but not both at the same time.

Set your young horse up for success and be thoughtful about what you are doing. For example don’t let him increase speed on the way home. Don’t present him with a challenge you know will be a fight. Don’t go when it is feeding time. Go on trails you know so you don’t get lost, etc… I prefer to start alone so they don’t get bonded to other horses as a matter of course.