tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post1146341112739998810..comments2024-03-01T06:49:59.106-05:00Comments on Behind the Bit: Riley ain't on the honor roll, but he likes to roll!Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-37269468077536452092009-05-29T08:07:35.008-04:002009-05-29T08:07:35.008-04:00Increased strength is a response to a stress-rest ...Increased strength is a response to a stress-rest cycle. The only way to prepare bone for performance is to stress it to trigger remodelling during a rest period. The process is severely limited once maturity is reached. Early life in the pasture only prepares the horse's structure for life in the pasture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-12230128891911507252009-05-26T16:00:34.712-04:002009-05-26T16:00:34.712-04:00Agreed, it completely depends on the horse. My li...Agreed, it completely depends on the horse. My little appy was started 3 weeks ago undersaddle and is loving it. He was completely non-chalant about having his trainer mount him and everything has been pretty smooth since, no bucking or anything naughty besides getting startled on occasion at random things. He seemed 100% confident and 'ready' for lack of a better explanation about how we Nicku Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07006911603623063201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-50870671825113365962009-05-26T09:55:55.154-04:002009-05-26T09:55:55.154-04:00I think taking a youngster to shows is fine, for e...I think taking a youngster to shows is fine, for experience. But I would never work one for too long or too regularly until they were physically ready. I would not want to push for just a few young horse awards, and set them up for unsoundness. Not speaking specifically about the horse in your post as I don't know them, but I think some people may push too hard, too early. <br /><br />Intro with A Bay Horsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519878838113259362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-16994411091085314452009-05-26T09:53:24.029-04:002009-05-26T09:53:24.029-04:00My daughter had a hard time learning to read when ...My daughter had a hard time learning to read when she was 6. It seemed to fry her brain. Then all of a sudden in clicked, and by the time she was 9, she was reading on an 8th grade reading level. So yes, it all depends on the horse, like children.Kitty Bohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11993868991117800584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-31642561615335972632009-05-26T05:32:23.844-04:002009-05-26T05:32:23.844-04:00They didn't break the horse I am leasing until he ...They didn't break the horse I am leasing until he was 4 and a half years old. Now, only six months undersaddle in I have dragged the poor thing to a few shows and he has been a total rockstar. And I think a lot of that has to do with his age. Since he is older I have found him to be much more sensible then the 3 year olds I know. He is also a very fast learner. Those people probably want to show OnTheBithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07688127613313016544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-21405458191569993872009-05-26T01:13:55.695-04:002009-05-26T01:13:55.695-04:00I am not sold 100% on the 100 day stallion test fo...I am not sold 100% on the 100 day stallion test for three year olds. It seems like too much too soon for young minds and young bodies. I can understand the rush, horses require a lot of money and they may be looking for a return on their investment. I think in the long run it would be better on your baby's joints to wait.PhunnieOnenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-16583992485323383702009-05-25T23:37:30.854-04:002009-05-25T23:37:30.854-04:00All the Thoroughbreds I had were started at 2 and ...All the Thoroughbreds I had were started at 2 and all had long, productive riding lives. I think it's a matter of "work" as opposed to basic training. As I've mentioned before, long lining is super for starting a young horse as he learns all the rein aids before you do a lot of riding. <br /><br />Riley looks to be a well developed boy and short riding sessions should not be too much for him. Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10029423500476995817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-82292244357017525772009-05-25T21:51:10.715-04:002009-05-25T21:51:10.715-04:00IME, it (readiness to show) depends entirely on th...IME, it (readiness to show) depends entirely on the horse. We waited until May of my boy's 3yo year (he is a late June baby) before backing him, but he took to it like a duck to water and was doing W-T-C classes at recognized shows by September. We just started our dressage work together in February but I believe he'll be ready for Intro and possibly Training by July. He is just a worker by Fionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09797300562739988135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-71719784128029286312009-05-25T21:29:55.363-04:002009-05-25T21:29:55.363-04:00I think it all depends on the horse, and how the h...I think it all depends on the horse, and how the horse matures mentally and physically - I think where people get in trouble is in being in a hurry and doing things with the horse that the horse isn't mature enough to handle, either physically or mentally, or both. Unless it's all about money (which horses don't care about), there's no reason not to take your time, even a bit longer than Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com