Training a three year old mare?

Question

On thursday I'm going to pick up a three year old, Paso Fino mix mare. She's only been halter trained, and is said to be very attatched to her mother still. The guy who currently owns her says that she is very friendly and sweet.

I want to saddle break her, and eventually start hunter jumping her.

Does anyone have any advice on the best way to train her? What should I start with? How do I go about saddle breaking her? Should that be the last thing I attempt to do, or the first? I'm not sure if she's ever been lunged before. The guy excersizes her by pulling her alongside her mother when he rides the older mare (I'm buying the mother too). Should I try lunging her?

Help!

Answer 1

Hi,I'm not a big horse professional, but i do know that three yo is quite young to start a horse, give her some time to grow up and you'll enjoy her much longer. The 'best' age for a horse to really start riding is 4 yo, from 3yo you can start learning her to pick up her hoofs, get used to traffic, get used to the saddle and bit, but the rides itself should be really short! this way you will enjoy your horse much longer and she'll have less cripple related issues. Nowadays people start 'braking in' (i hate this term) a horse at 3 yo, but that's because everything has to go faster and faster lately, which is on a long term not very good. At 3yo they are still 'teenagers' and still in search of a good balance, which is more difficult with a rider on top of them. i think the previous owner did well by talking her together with the mother for a ride, horses learn best by copying another horse they trust. also this way she learns traffic well. be very careful with lunging! first of all it's very boring for a horse to run along in circles if you don't know why you are doing that. also it's quite heavy on the joints to run in circles.  If it's only for excercising her take her out on a walk!

I would definitely leave them on the pasture, since they can loose some energy and be fully horse. first show them around to look where the fences are so they don't run over some part of the pasture.

good luck and enjoy!!! Try to find some more experienced person who can guide you through the whole thing. Horses are great.

Answer 2

This is in the horse racing section.

Answer 3

By saying that this is mare you are saying that she has already given birth to a foal. I will assume that you mean she is a 3 year old filly.

Answer 4

I would suggest finding a local trainer to help you..training a horse is not easy, and you want to be sure you are doing everything right.  Good luck!

Answer 5

Frist give her a few days to a week to ajust to her new surroundsing nosie, people Ect,Ect, then every day if you can go to corral, talk with just be around her let her know your voice! see if she will come up to you, talk with her a little  and pet her! And if you can go in the corral, clean a little, once she knows she trust you, you can begin things! Remeber ever thing is new to her too!