horse backing - The Horse Physio

Are you in a hurry?

By Sue Palmer on January 23, 2024

It’s an age-old debate. The vast majority of younger horses are backed (‘broken in’) at three or four years old. At this age, the growth plates have not fused, and many horses are unable to function optimally into their teens, potentially through damage that occurred in relation to starting ridden work too early. The usual comment (in the circles that I move in) is that we start our horses too young, and we should give them more time to grow before we ask them to accept the weight of a rider and the pressures that we put upon them as a ridden horse. I want to suggest an alternative viewpoint. We know that the body grows in response to the stresses placed upon it. Bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments develop in response to the stresses placed upon them. If we want health, longevity, and soundness in our horses, then I believe that we should be introducing their bodies to milder versions of these stresses early on. Certainly as early as two years old, and perhaps even as a yearling.

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Tag: horse backing

Are you in a hurry?