What would be your next step?

[HuntJumpSC]

It's been several years since I broke a youngster, and I now have a lovely 2 year old filly that I've had for 2 months now. She is very easy-going, and has a great attitude~ she's like a little sponge, she absorbs and retains everything. She turned 2 at the end of April and is already just under 15.2. I am not wanting to rush things with her, and am in no hurry to back her, looking at around September to actually do so. (and only very lightly at that)

She is doing great with her ground work: grooming, baths, clipping, very light lungeing (walk, trot & whoa), etc. I am wanting to introduce her to bridle & saddle or surcingle soon. This is my question: I no longer have a surcingle~ I gave mine away a couple of years ago thinking I'd never need it. Would I do better to get another one, or should I just use my old PDN without stirrups to introduce her to girth pressure & having something on her back? I'm leaning towards just using the saddle, instead of investing in a piece of equipment that will get limited use. I don't foresee her being a problem accepting the next step, just wondering if a surcingle first would be the better choice. WWYD?

[SLW]

I'm in the same boat as you, I unloaded all my training stuff years ago. A colt out of one of our mares is now 2 1/2. :) I've been using a Wintec on him for his longing and ponying. Works fine for what your goal is.

Good luck!

[2DaPoint]

Go for the saddle. It's what she will have to wear eventually anyway.
MIGHT want to find a way to keep the flaps from flapping at first. Tie them down?
That would be the biggest difference between the surcingle and the saddle. Surcingles don't have "wings of death" trying to attack the baby horse as they trot! :D
Good for you for starting with everything NOW.
Recently had one in for training that got started much too late.
Much harder.... not "spongey".
KD

[HuntJumpSC]

Thanks~ I'm thinking the saddle may be the way to go. She's laid back enough I don't see saddle flaps being an issue for her. Of course, stirrups & leathers won't be introduced yet. Quiet walks around the farm with a stirrupless saddle and a halter over bridle should be fine for now. My old classic PDN is in great shape and is begging to be used. Who knows? Maybe I'll let my Pessoa have a break and go back to the flat pancake C/C's for awhile. I'm a sucker for old school. :)

[shakeytails]

I'd just use the saddle. However, I'd use a POS saddle that I didn't care about in case baby has a fit and flips/rolls/falls on it. I have a couple of saddles I keep for just that purpose.

[HuntJumpSC]

Hmm...not a bad idea. I used to have a tack room full of saddles, now just down to my A/O & PDN. May be a good time to get an old knock-around off of Ebay for cheap! :cool:

[bort84]

A saddle can work fine, but you can find some very nice surcingles for under 50 bucks, and they are very useful to have around. I find they allow a bit more precision in long lining work and that they are less likely to get hurt by being knocked around by a youngster = ) So if you go the saddle route, I'd use one you really don't like. Those are always the pieces of tack that never get stolen or broken... *sigh.

[VCT]

My young horse was started under saddle before he wore a surcingle and side reins. Didn't do him any harm.

He never had a problem with wearing a saddle when he was younger. Was very "yeah, whatev" about it. Was like that about being started under saddle at 3.5 yrs too. And is basically still like that about most everything.

He is bum high again right now and so I am using the surcingle and lunge a few times per week to help him get stronger through his topline without carrying a rider. His under saddle work is a lot of moving over from leg at the walk, walking over poles and such... a little trot work, etc. I don't want to push him physically while carrying a rider until he stops going through these big growth spurts.