This message is from: Julia Will <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This topic was discussed in depth awhile back, and from what I remember there were a lot of opinions about what age to start a young horse, but I think everyone agreed that it is best not to ask much from a young horse...short, simple lessons. We often give our yearlings a taste of ground driving in the fall of the 1st year, and pick up the driving training the following summer...short lessons, light cart or something to drag around. In the fall of the 2nd year, if the horse seems ready, we will put a small person on them, and do small amounts of walking and a bit of trotting, turning, stopping, etc., things they have been introduced to from the ground. Again, SHORT lessons, never asking much or letting the horse get upset. Further training is a gradual progression. The danger is always in expecting too much at too early an age, not too little, too late. If in doubt, WAIT! I think youngsters benefit from these minimal expectations, if done properly.
It is often said that Fjords mature late. Will you vets out there comment on this? Do you see a difference in the maturity of a Fjord and say a Q horse at age 2 or 3? I am thinking that all horses mature later than we people realize, and that it is just more "acceptable" in some parts of the horse world to ask a lot of a youngster, such as the racing industry. (I'm not saying I think racing young horses is acceptable...but that a large industry apparently does!) Julie, on a cold NY night...but nothing like Alaska! : )
