TRAINING A YOUNG HORSE

TRAINING A YOUNG HORSE

I am looking to buy a young pleasure prospect. A two year old quarter horse filly with very little handling. She is just now learning to longe. Is it too late to start a horse at this time? How much time do I need to spend with her and a trainer?

It is never to late to start teaching a horse about the human world. Although a young horse should not be your main horse, instead your second horse. You should have a " faithful horse" available for riding. This way you will not rush or be placed in a bad situation exceeding your young horse's training level. A young horse has not seen or done what an older horse has so do not expect the same behavior. You will have to spend a lot of time teaching a young horse how to act properly. Keep in mind a two year old horse has only been alive for two years. This may seem to be a strange statement but people do fail to understand this. Horses are not any different, "the older the wiser is usually the case".

When riding a young horse it is important that you have experience and are very comfortable with riding and handling horses. Above all your first horse should not be a young one! When working with young horses there is very little room for making mistakes. Where an older more experienced horse is more forgiving. Many people have the dream of training a young horse without knowing how to even begin. Training a young horse can be one of the most dangerous endeavors for a horse owner. Learning to train a horse to ride requires more knowledge than learning to ride or maintain a trained horse. Working with a trainer would be a great idea even if you are an experienced rider wanting to learn how to train. How long you will need to work with a trainer will depend on your experience and physical abilities. If the challenge of training a young horse still interests you it can be a great satisfaction. Read a lot and take your time while utilizing a good training program.

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Gordon Adair is a professional horse trainer and riding instructor with over thirtyty-three years of experience. Gordon's specialty is instructing owners with their horses, the philisophy of teaching and communicating. The ability to teach and communicate can then be used with the owners own discipline and personality. Visit Gordon's web site on the Internet at www.adairmag.com/gordonadair for more informtion.