If you need more information on choosing a horse, you can check out the article I wrote on 10 Expert Tips for Choosing the Right Horse. When you get a new horse it can be tempting to start riding them straight away, but an important consideration you must make is whether or not they are grown enough to be ridden without resulting in any negative physical side effects.
While some believe that it is safe to ride a horse as young as two years old, the facts show that horses this young should not be ridden because their skeletal structures are not developed enough. Many thoroughbred racehorses are ridden as young as one or two years old, but they often retire by the age of 6 or 7 because of health problems. If your goal is to have a horse with a long, happy, and healthy life, my recommendation is to wait until the horse is at least 4 years before riding them.
This might seem like a long time, but there is still a lot of groundwork training that you can start with them at around 2 years old while you wait for them to grow stronger. For instructions on some groundwork you can do, visit my article on the 5 Best Groundwork Exercises. If you have any doubts about when to ride your horse, always check with a veterinarian. They will be able to determine whether or not the horse is developed enough to be ridden and if it would be wise to wait a while longer.
This is due to the fact that their joints and bones are not fully developed, and are therefore not prepared to bear the additional weight that they will put on so quickly. It is better to feed your horse with their long-term health in mind. You will put the base of the tape measure on the ground beside the horse, and then stretch it straight upwards until it is even with the height of their withers. It can be helpful to hold something on their withers as well so that you form a 90 degrees angle that will easily show you how many inches tall your horse is.
Horses are typically measured in hands. Once you have your height measurement in inches, you can divide that number by 4 to determine how many inches tall they are. The bones of horses have cartilage on either end of each bone in their body, and as the horse ages, the bones fuse, creating a bond. The bones are used to determine the stages of horse growth.
Owners and trainers usually check a horse to make sure their knees are fused before breaking him to ride. Bones in the neck and spine of a horse continue to grow until a horse is close to six years old. Once the vertebrae have developed fully grown, they will fuse with the other vertebrates. And the horse has officially stopped growing. Click on this link to view an interesting bone growth chart. The chart provides a picture of a horse skeleton indicating the particular age bones develop.
From two to three years old, a horse is considered to be an adolescent. They are still growing and playful. The much-anticipated foal has arrived. The baby is a healthy colt that stands easily within the first three hours of birth. So what markers can you expect your horse to reach in the different stages of his growth? You can literally see them change from one day to the next. Steady growth is optimal to avoid developmental problems associated with bone growth.
When a yearling reaches eighteen months old, he will be ninety percent of his mature height and weight. Concentrated feeds or pellets should always be weighed before feeding to a weanling. Specialized feeds are commercially produced to provide a proper balance of minerals and vitamins for growing horses.
Click here to shop for feeds on Amazon. Amazon is convenient; however, commercial feed is much cheaper at your local feed store or Tractor Supply Company. During this growing stage, as in the first stage, it is vital not to overfeed your young horse. Overeating not only leads to overdevelopment of bones but can also cause long term gastrointestinal issues. Between eighteen months and twenty-four months, a horse reaches ninety percent of his mature height, by two years old he will have filled out and have a mature looking body.
However, he is still developing, both emotionally and physically. Diet is still essential and overfeeding an issue to be aware of. Provide good quality hay and feed. It can be helpful to compare them to their breed standards though. Horses that are started too aggressively under saddle may suffer damage to the legs and growth plates, though this is usually rare. Later in life, these horses are at an increased risk for needing joint injections. Their backs could also suffer damage.
While horses have unique personalities and demeanors, most reach a mature level at five to seven years old. This is especially important when planning your training sessions.
Young, immature horses may struggle to focus. They may also be playful and have an abundance of energy. It can be fun watching your horse grow and develop both physically and mentally.
Take time to enjoy these moments and not rush your horse. There will be plenty of time to train and ride! Emily Fought discovered her passion for horses early on in life.
When she isn't writing about them, you can find her in the barn riding. Although Emily's background is in dressage, she enjoys cross-training and is an avid trail rider. She resides in Northeastern Ohio with her husband and small dog. Together, they own and operate Humblewood Farm.
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