Young horse training?

Question

If you start training a horse when they are 2 do you ever have to stop riding them and let them fill out?

Answer 1

I have a 2yr old Paint stud colt that Im training right now.I ride him all the time.No,you dont have to stop to let him fill out because if you stop for to long,he/she will forget what you have taught him.Hope this helps a little!

Answer 2

This depends upon whether or not their knees are closed.  That means that the growth plates are finished.  Growth plates finish on a horse in varying stages with the spine being the last.  Most people that do not get their horses xrayed to determine this, simply START a horse at 2 with light saddle work and let it lay up until 3 when the horse is more mature and the likelihood of the growth plates being finshed is pretty solid.   Working a horse hard at age 2 is like asking an 8 year old child to run a marathon.  Physically and emotionally they cannot handle it.  

Many breeds have futurities for young horses and this is a huge issue with developing lameness and fractures.   The Paint Horse Assoc.  just changed their show dates to let 2 year olds not show until late fall of their second year, allowing for more maturity.  It isn't so much filling out, it is bone, cartilage, tendons, etc.  

If you have that youngster in to get a saddle on him and some light riding, he will not fall apart on you if you wait to put serious work on him next year.  That is a myth.  Ranches do exactly that.  They start the youngsters and then turn them out for the rest of the season and start serious riding work when they are 3.   Some trainers actually prefer a 4 year old because mentally they are more with you and can focus.  

Now, if you are simply walking around with that youngster and teaching him to yield and ground manners, you can ride him.  If you are starting serious cantering and other impact work, he needs his growth plates finished so he will last you a lifetime.