how old should a horse be to start braking them

[farmgirl88]

and just how is she not presenting my horses well?

[harvestmoon]

i wasn't planning on agreeing with you, im just stating that it apauls me that you so called "adults" are being so immature and rude to a poor girl who just asked a simple question. and you all just pounce on her for no reason

Please. I did not pounce on anyone. I hadn't even read past ExJumper's first post when I responded. I wasn't laughing at the OP, I was laughing at the response. Not because it may have been poking fun, but because of the fact that I was reading it as a serious response, when I came upon the troll comment. Relax. Jeez.

And, to the OP, I agree with the poster who said do a search. You'll get a lot of info that way.

[gubbyz]

Wow! can anyone just answer a freakin question without beating up on the poster? You all need to get hobbies besides being rude to a child on here. Sorry, but just my opinion. Whats the old saying... pick on someone your own size. (or age!) Maybe one of you guys should start a post just to slam each other. Oh, so I think 3 yrs is a good age, and good luck out there.

(this poster isn't HarryJohnson in disguise, is it? Just a thought.)

[roastedtoasted]

I see......


psssst
ExJumper, I'm with you.

I'm with you too. Reading this gave me a headache. Do people really write phonetically to communicate now? The poster needs someone to gift her a dictionary. It is truly amazing that someone her age can operate a computer (and probably a cell phone) but doesn't know how to spell. Sweetie, do you realize that people are making fun of you? A 4x4 is an automobile (car) with four wheel drive. Braking is what you do to a car to stop it. Breaking is what happens when a glass shatters on the floor or a horse learns to carry a rider. No one is trying to be mean, but you seriously need to concentrate more on your education. You sound very sweet and honest, so I'm being up front with you. Best of luck to you.

[Guin]

I'm with you too. Reading this gave me a headache. Do people really write phonetically to communicate now? The poster needs someone to gift her a dictionary. It is truly amazing that someone her age can operate a computer (and probably a cell phone) but doesn't know how to spell. Sweetie, do you realize that people are making fun of you? A 4x4 is an automobile (car) with four wheel drive. Braking is what you do to a car to stop it. Breaking is what happens when a glass shatters on the floor or a horse learns to carry a rider. No one is trying to be mean, but you seriously need to concentrate more on your education. You sound very sweet and honest, so I'm being up front with you. Best of luck to you.

GEEZ, will you people back off this poor girl? She has a dyslexia issue, said so herself!!!

To the original girl, if all these nasty "grown-ups" (HA) haven't scared you off. Three is a good age to start backing a pony. Make sure you take it very slowly! Just walking around a ring for about 10 minutes a day for a couple of weeks will be just fine to get the pony used to having a rider on its back. Again with trotting - 10 or 15 minutes in the ring. Take it slowly so the pony doesn't get confused or scared. You sound like a good horsewoman already! Remember to ask a trainer for help if the pony gets scared or doesn't seem to respond. Good luck with the pony!

[jn4jenny]

GEEZ, will you people back off this poor girl? She has a dyslexia issue, said so herself!!!

Dyslexia issue aside, we've got a young lady has said that breaking a 3-year-old pony is a job she intends to take on without the assistance of her trainer. When questioned further about why, she says that the pony is "too special" and that there are too many different styles of trainer to choose from and that the owner doesn't "like" her trainers.

Sorry, but in my world, unless you are a professional and highly experienced trainer, you have no business breaking a 3-year-old without the careful supervision of a trainer. If the owner doesn't like the trainers that you have available to work with, I'd say "Sorry, but I don't feel comfortable working with your pony unless there's a professional involved to assist me." To do anything else would be dangerous for this young lady, could potentially injure the pony or create serious training problems that could affect the pony's future career, and upset the owner.

[anthem35]

People....

She's 13!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why can't she have dreams and aspirations withouht being told by some 'adult' that she is completley incompetent in every way? How is that going to help out the youngers in the sport that look up to the adults for guidance?

She just asked for help.

[Steal-A-Fred]

GEEZ, will you people back off this poor girl? She has a dyslexia issue, said so herself!!!

Whoa, whoa, whoa! At no point in this thread did she once say that she has dyslexia. All she mentioned was that she is in special ed (and offered it up quite unabashedly). That could mean anything! She could have ADD for all we know, and honestly just be a bad speller. So let's not make assumptions about people's disabilities...

[Rubs Not Pats]

WOW, some of you are just downright mean!

FWIW, I know a lot of amatuers who break their own horses. So what if this girl is 13? Instead of ripping her apart and reporting her to her trainer, we should be providing support and guidance. Then maybe she would understand WHY she should have help.

OP, I break mine at two years old, but they really don't work until they are 3-4 years. By 4 years, they are in the ring with the trainer. There are some things that you can do on the ground to prepare your pony for being backed. Bridle work, saddling, wrapping, lunging, circingle (my spelling is awful too) work and many other things. I would however leave the actual riding to the trainer, at least in the beginning. You can get very hurt. Beyond that, if they are started incorrectly, you can have long term problems with things like changes.

Good luck with your pony and good luck in the Jr's. That's quite an accomplishment! Most of those who are ripping you apart here, probably can't do the 3'6 anyway!

[justridin']

a little initiative is not a bad thing...

You know, when I was 13, and my mom taught me, I was *itching* to do some adventurous stuff. And I didn't go to the trouble of asking around.

to you, Original Poster, do the other trainers do much of the "starting" horses? ("starting" is a nicer way of saying giving them their first rides) If they don't, I can see your interest, and why someone might ask you. I have two suggestions for you:

1. Read the book "the man who listens to horses" by Monty Roberts. It's a strong story about life and about a person who loved horses and stood up for them at a time when "breaking" was an accurate term for starting horses.

2. Be careful about people who ask you to help them, instead of asking one of the other trainers that they just don't know yet. They intentions may not be perfect. A good situation might be if there was a trainer who liked starting horses, and who might let you work with him or her and help start the pony, or help you start the pony.

Good luck, have fun, but....

BE SAFE!!!

as to you other posters- is this an object lesson in what can happen, and how a young person out in the horse world is treated that is being covered on that other, awful thread?

[BelladonnaLily]

FWIW, my 13yo daughter has done most of the training on her pony. The pony had 30 days (at age 3, btw) and my daughter, then 12, then took over with very little help. Pony just got reserve champ. last week at his second ever show (he will be 4 on 4/23/07). If the pony has a brain and the kid can ride, she probably CAN do a fine job with the pony.

I doubt this kid is totally unsupervised either. I suspect she was just curious and wanted to have a conversation with those who supposedly are more knowledgable.

[pintamino]

i no im a really bad speller im in special ed the one thing i live for is horses its the only thing i understand

Is there a more excellent oppourtunity for you to gain a better use of the written language than writing about horses on a forum like this? =) Unfortunately today's public education system will not prop you up forever with special help and "special" multiple choice tests =/ Which means ultimately you will need to learn to function on your own, which includes proper spelling and grammar. When I was 12 (before internet child-protection laws and such) I was able to express myself. (to clarify -- yes, I do go to a public school and this post is based on PERSONAL experience)

How old should a horse be? Depends on the horse. A fast-maturing breed like a Thoroughbred might have very few problems being backed at two in relation to a Warmblood that doesn't mature until 5. We waited until my pony was 3 simply because she wasn't mature enough. You need to carefully look at the pony, her mental condition as well as her physical condition, before you can make that decision. There is no hard-and-fast rule as to what age to break a horse.

[ALaCarte]

FWIW, my 13yo daughter has done most of the training on her pony. The pony had 30 days (at age 3, btw) and my daughter, then 12, then took over with very little help. Pony just got reserve champ. last week at his second ever show (he will be 4 on 4/23/07). If the pony has a brain and the kid can ride, she probably CAN do a fine job with the pony.

I doubt this kid is totally unsupervised either. I suspect she was just curious and wanted to have a conversation with those who supposedly are more knowledgable.

I agree wholeheartedly with this! I remember starting my first horse at around 13 and what an amazing experience it was. There is no better feeling of accomplishment that winning on a horse you trained yourself! I applaud the OP for asking questions so that she can do the right thing by this pony, and hope more people will give her constructive imformation rather than criticism.

[skrgirl]

FWIW, my 13yo daughter has done most of the training on her pony. The pony had 30 days (at age 3, btw) and my daughter, then 12, then took over with very little help. Pony just got reserve champ. last week at his second ever show (he will be 4 on 4/23/07). If the pony has a brain and the kid can ride, she probably CAN do a fine job with the pony.

It must just be our area that kids work green ponies. I wonder how people get their smalls and mediums started. Must have a bunch of teeny tiny adults running around.

The age really depends on the pony itself. All of ours can be fully tacked with bridle and can hand walk and trot around our ring quietly by age 2. Then we move to laying over them and just standing. We have the vet check them out before we ever do any riding. The most important thing is that their joints are closed. However, sometimes even though their joints are good, their brain isnt ready yet. Some of ours get started as early as 2 1/2, some at 4. Your vet should be able to come out and tell you if they are ready or not and you should be able to decided from handling the pony daily if his brain is ready.

[harvestmoon]

Must have a bunch of teeny tiny adults running around.

Hey, I resemble that remark.

[Giddy-up]

Oh yeah, I know your trainer so I'll make sure he sees this thread.

That seems a little harsh. Why do you have to run to the trainer squealing about her posting here?

If you want to start/break the pony yourself, then I suggest you have a back-up plan (like a trainer to help you or another rider to take over). The second you think you may be in over your head or feel overwhelmed or scared or unsure, put that plan into action. Young horses/ponies can learn bad things quickly & it's harder to fix that "wrong" training later down the road.

[Twix04]

As for the spelling...

I just wanted to say how heinous those of you are for making fun of ANYONE's spelling. You do NOT know their circumstances. It's people like you who make others feel insecure about themselves and ashamed of not being able to spell. My husband has a learning disability as well, and he cannot spell to save his life. But he's gregarious, social, and everybody loves him, but no one would be the wiser to how insecure he is about his inability to spell. He's very self-conscious of it, and is very adversely affected when people make fun of him for it. I fully believe it is why he won't admit to any aspirations or dreams in life, only because he does not believe that he is 'good enough' or 'smart enough' to acheive them. All because of people like you. Do you realize how deplorable that is to cause someone that kind of unnecessary grief?

Making fun of the OP makes it glaringly obvious how pathetic you are. You understood perfectly well what she/he was trying to say. It never ceases to amaze me how many people waste their time lecturing other's on their spelling on this ONLINE BULLETIN BOARD!! We are not composing college-level essays here. Adults my A%#!!!

[justridin']

I just wanted to say how heinous those of you are for making fun of ANYONE's spelling. Do you realize how deplorable that is to cause someone that kind of unnecessary grief?

Making fun of the OP makes it glaringly obvious how pathetic you are. You understood perfectly well what she/he was trying to say. It never ceases to amaze me how many people waste their time lecturing other's on their spelling on this ONLINE BULLETIN BOARD!! We are not composing college-level essays here. Adults my A%#!!!

go girl!

and as for the one who will "report this girl to her trainer", gee, lemme tell you. We trainers may thank you politely. For adding more drama to our lives...

GEE THANKS. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ALREADY, I CAN ALWAYS USE SOME MORE... NOT!!

[Release First]

You are one brave young lady. You can usually start a pony at three. Remember that young horses can't take a lot of work in the beginning and that it is all about being patient and taking baby steps.

I was 13 when I started training my first horse (3yr) although she was an OTTB and not unbroke. I went on to start many horses and the most important thing that I learned was that even though I made mistakes if I taught the horse wrong I could always re-teach it. The only time that this was not true was when I lost my temper. That did long, permanent damage. When frustrated get off!!

Without knowing you, I think that you can do this yourself although you can never get enough advice from a good trainer/instructor. They can see mistakes as they happen and help you short cut the training time and even make it more enjoyable for both you and the horse. If the horse is doing something wrong, you are better off thinking that you did something wrong in the training and take some steps backwards rather than think that the horse is purposefully doing something wrong. I find that it is the very rare horse that does that.

I am also a special education teacher. Having a special ed. problem is nothing to be ashamed of but it is also not an excuse. You can get spell checkers which will spell check your posts on this board. Having a learning problem just means that you have to work differently and probably harder.

Good luck,

[Release First]

Is there a more excellent oppourtunity for you to gain a better use of the written language than writing about horses on a forum like this? =) Unfortunately today's public education system will not prop you up forever with special help and "special" multiple choice tests =/ Which means ultimately you will need to learn to function on your own, which includes proper spelling and grammar. When I was 12 (before internet child-protection laws and such) I was able to express myself -- heck, I had two-page papers due at the private school I went to! ......

Well, aren't you just special. Yes, most of us could or can do this even if we are taught at just a public school. Why, because we are blessed not to have learning problems. Your knock on public education is unwarranted and not accurate. Your private school probably doesn't allow these students to attend so you may not have seen how much harder they have to work to achieve the same outcome that you get. But be aware that the great work ethic they are learning might just take them farther out there in the real world. Many famous and successful people have a learning problem and that does not restrict their success in life.

Just for your education, special education students have to pass exit exams, take state tests, and apply for college etc. just as you did. The accommodations that they get are small and just help even the playing field. It is not a different test. If you can't develop compassion then at least get the information.

If you can get a copy of the movie "Fat City", please watch it. It might help you understand.