How old are your first year green horses?

[snaffle635]

Like the title says, how old are your horses who show in the 1st years?

My guy is starting the 1st years this year. He's six. Just wondering about his competition. Will they be younger, the same, or older horses?

[Rubs Not Pats]

I am going to be doing the 3'3 pre greens with my 5 year old this year. She did three shows in the 3' pre-greens and IHF this year. We are headed to HITS Tucson with her. She should be in the 1st years at 6. As my goal is ultimately not the first years and this horse looks to be a 4' horse, I'm just doing enough shows to get her over those green type mistakes. Be prepared for much older horses, who are from Europe and who have done the jumpers in the past. It's a sad thing. Most of these horses are very broke and know their job. Yes, you will have the greenies like mine too. It also depends on where you show. The bigger the show, the more made the horses in it.

[GingerCookie]

My horse that is going to start the 1st year greens in December is going to be turning 7 next spring.

[Go Fish]

My horse that is going to start the 1st year greens in December is going to be turning 7 next spring.

Same for my gelding. He showed two years in the 3' Pre Green. I'm not one to rush a horse, if they're not ready. Plus, I was showing him myself in the AAs, so I didn't want to move him up too soon.

OTOH, my mare showed last year in the 3'3" Pre Green and we will move her up to the first years this coming year, if she doesn't sell. She will be 7 in July. She's more of a pro ride, however. She jumps me out of the tack and needs a far better rider than I am! She also has a bit of a 'tude! :lol:

[Go Fish]

I guess I should also mention that I don't move my horses up until they are getting consistently GOOD rounds from show to show and are placing or winning. I tend to not rush my horses and sort of have the philosophy that if they are not winning at 3', then moving them up makes their job harder (generally), so what's the point of that? Sort of off topic, but that's the reason my horses may be a bit older before they move up.

[krfarms]

I'm getting a chuckle out of these posts. My mare is 6 and has not been in the baby-greens yet. Talk about not rushing!!! She has been in professional training with an "A" hunter trainer for 3 years. But I have to add she is 17-2, leggy and is almost out of that teenage gauk stage. She will definitely be a 4' hunter or a jumper (not the best at the hack but a fabulous jumper)... If we pushed her she could have jumped the best pro out of the tack and run away!! We have gone slow and quiet and I am sure it will pay off in the long run. She will stay sound, have a big career and then give me lots of bablies like her fabulous dam!!

[CenterStage123]

My horse will be doing the first years starting later this season. He will be 8. However he was started at 4, started showing at five in the pre-childrens(2'6"). When he was 6 we did half a season of pre childrens and the other half at childrens(3'). Last year we did childrens and next season we will do childrens until the spring. My trainer will only do a few shows on him in the greens to make sure he is confident, and then I will start showing him in juniors, which is our ultimate goal.

[TSWJB]

My horse will be doing the first years starting later this season. He will be 8. However he was started at 4, started showing at five in the pre-childrens(2'6"). When he was 6 we did half a season of pre childrens and the other half at childrens(3'). Last year we did childrens and next season we will do childrens until the spring. My trainer will only do a few shows on him in the greens to make sure he is confident, and then I will start showing him in juniors, which is our ultimate goal.

i like this schedule!

[nlk]

Mine's coming 7. I took advantage of our local circuit to build him up. this past summer we did 3'3" as a "Second year" and the year before he was a pre-green and a first year at 3'.

Granted this totals all of three shows, but It makes me feel more confident i my horses ability and mind set before we go out and wing the true first years!

[Rubs Not Pats]

The problem with not rushing them and letting them spend 2 years in the pre greens is that if you have a truely talented horse, with scope, they get bored. Then they look for evasions and don't do anything but canter the jumps. It's too expensive to do that. I have one that canters the 3'6 and lopes around the regulars. She was a an OK 1st year horse and could barely place in the pre-greens. She just didn't have to try. This taught me a huge lesson. So now, we are going to try some limited showing, see how it goes and keep changing things up at home. The problem is getting enough miles that they are made enough without sacrificing the jump, especially at the lower heights.

My bigger one who is 17'3 will sit out another 6-8 months before we bring her back and depending on how she feels, we will decide where to go. She has a monster stride so that in itself is an issue!

[hntrjmprpro45]

It depends on the horse for me (if they aren't ready then they just aren't ready) but..
usually age 3ish start undersaddle (some don't get started til almost 4)
Age 4-5ish baby greens or low pregreens
Age 5-6ish high pregreens or 1st year greens

You will see quite a mixed bag in the 1st year greens. I would imagine the majority will be 6 maybe 7. You will of course see some older ones and probably quite a few 5 year olds.

[ynl063w]

I'm getting a chuckle out of these posts. My mare is 6 and has not been in the baby-greens yet. Talk about not rushing!!! She has been in professional training with an "A" hunter trainer for 3 years. But I have to add she is 17-2, leggy and is almost out of that teenage gauk stage. She will definitely be a 4' hunter or a jumper (not the best at the hack but a fabulous jumper)... If we pushed her she could have jumped the best pro out of the tack and run away!! We have gone slow and quiet and I am sure it will pay off in the long run. She will stay sound, have a big career and then give me lots of bablies like her fabulous dam!!

Just curious, but how can one tell that a 6 year old will definitely be competitive in the 4' division when it hasn't even shown over 2'6"?

[au_panda]

I have one that will start the 1st years next year as an 8 year old. He could have progressed to 3'6" sooner but is hindered by my limited budget.

[cantercutie]

I 'know' a couple horses that did the first years this year.
One was nine because he had been doing the adults before my trainer's client bought him and the people who had him never saw a reason to do him in the 3'6.
One was eight, two were seven, and two were six.
For the record, the six and seven years olds regularly beat the eight and nine year old because they were nicer horses.

[Texan By The Grace Of God]

My guy will be 8 or 9 depending on if we do a 2nd pre green year. He is an ottb and showed this past year in the baby greens.

[oharabear]

My horse that is going to start the 1st year greens in December is going to be turning 7 next spring.

Ditto! But mine's a pony. :D