Mr Lavery-

Hi, I am 16 years old and I have been riding and showing Saddlebreds since I was four years old, and hope to be involved with Saddlebreds as a career in some way.

In my Honors English II class, I have been assigned to write a paper on a certain opinion I have, and to support it with factual information from credible resources. Of course I chose a topic relating to Saddlebreds--the showing two-year-olds debate. My stand point is that since the rate of physical and mental development varies from horse to horse and some two year olds are just ready for the show ring sooner than others, showing two year olds shouldn't be completely out of the question, but the show schedules of two year olds should be less intense than that of a mature show horse.

It is a five paragraph essay, and I need three internal paragraphs with one point to expound on in each. I plan on these paragraphs pinpointing the mental, physical, and safety reasons that two year olds should be shown on a less intense show schedule.

Have you ever known of anyone to be seriously hurt by a two year old? Are there any health issues that can show up later in horses that were shown consistently as two year olds? Can it be harmful to expose two year olds to the stress of a horse show, and more specifically, the show ring?

Any input would be greatly appreciated for use in my paper. I am on a bit of a time constraint, so I ask that you email me back as soon as possible, preferably before Saturday, the 11th. Thank you so much for your time, I look forward to hearing from you!!! :)

Thank you for your questions. They certainly "cut to the chase". To begin, let me say that I pretty much agree with your theory, every colt is different in maturity both mental and physical. I have been to farms and seen some great trainers teach yearlings, that were big enough and strong enough, to ride in the late fall. This of course was not a "grueling" training job, just for a few weeks before being turned back out, enough to ride some of the rough off of them and to get a little edge and head start on the spring of their two year old year. Remember these were only the really stout colts. Many colts are still not candidates for riding let alone showing even at two years old.

Having said that and knowing there are exceptions to every rule, I see nothing at all wrong with the prudent showing of two year olds strong and mature enough to handle it. Strong and mature should not be confused with tall. Height, at this age has nothing to do with strength and maturity much like the 6 foot tall 5th grader. He should be able to play basketball someday in the future but he sure can't play well now.

As for your questions,:

I have seen people hurt by horses many times but I can certainly assign no particular age to the horses. Horses are large animals with teeth and hooves and we ask them to do things they would not normally do in the wild. People can be hurt.

In my opinion, the hard campaigning of a two year old from spring to fall is certainly not in most colts best interests and can have a profound negative effect on future soundness and attitude. You might let an 8 year old little boy play at being a Fireman but you certainly wouldn't expect him to hold the fire hose, put out the fire and rescue your mother-in-law from a burning building.

Years ago I can remember showing in a class of 31 two-year-olds and I certainly felt the stress. Now a days, with all the "split" rules (which I do not agree with - will explain if someone is interested ) that possible stress has been tamed. Again, as you pointed out, mental maturity comes in to play at this juncture. I feel if a 2-year-old is mature enough to ride and mentally mature enough to have been trained to wear a curb bit and perform the correct gaits, he is ready to accept the challenges of the show ring none the worse for wear.

I hope I have been of some help to you and I wish you great success on your project.

Please let me know, in the Guest Book, how you did. Good Luck and Good Riding.

LF Lavery

Hi Lonnie,

I'm wondering if you have any advice for me. I am breaking a rescue horse that I have had for 6 months. I'm finishing up working with the bit and stopping at a fast trot. He is almost ready for a canter with him finally becomming balanced. The problem I am having is that when I try to get him into a canter, which he does fine on a lead rope, he starts to buck. Do you have any advice you can offer.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for your question. Stopping at a fast trot is quite an accomplishment but being "ejected" at the canter takes some of the pride away, I am sure. I wish I had a little more information to go on. If I had the opportunity, I would ask you several questions:

How old is he? - It would make a big difference if he were three rather than ten.

How often do you ride him?- If you are a "Week-end Warrior" and not working him every day, that could explain a lot.

Please describe how you ask him to canter?- Are you to the point where you ask him subtlety or are you trying to kick, gouge and run him into it. How you ask makes a big difference.

At what point during your "workout" do you ask him to canter?- If asked before he is warmed up, tight muscles etc. can cause him discomfort.

What type of equipment (Bridle, etc.) do you wear on him when you ride?- The type of bit, martingale and even the saddle can have an effect on this issue.

Are you working inside or outside?- Where you are cantering including the footing can have an effect as well.

Since I have none of these answers, let's just wing it. When dealing with a behavioral problem as you describe, we should eliminate several probable causes, i.e., Soundness. If he canters fine on a lunge line and shows no lameness he could be sore in his back. If he drops down when you mount..he is sore. Short of palpating his vertebrae, it would be difficult to tell for sure.

A flawed or incorrect training program in his earlier years is often the culprit. Going back to the basics is the remedy in that case.

Is the behavior a willful action done because he can do it? Like used cars, horses and very often rescue horses come with a bit of "baggage". It is very possible that this issue is why he ended up in the rescue program. If he is practiced at this, he will need a serious rehabilitation program, usually conducted by a professional trainer.

I would suggest these things to you.

1. If he is not being worked every day, make sure he is turned out every day.
2. Cut back or stop feeding any grains for a while and give him more hay.
3. Lunge him 5-10 min. with tack on before you start each riding session.
4. Long lining, with a crupper can be useful.
5. When asking for the canter, be as subtle as possible. Trotting him into it will only cause problems.
6. Remember, it is very difficult for a horse to buck unless his head is down.

As you certainly do not hold the patent on this behavior and I have dealt with it many times here, I have included some homework that may help you better understand how to accomplish your training task.

• I want an ASB not a PBR!
• Country Pleasure Mare That Leaps into Her Canter
• He Was a Crabtree Student, Once!

Thank you once again for your question I hope I have been of some help. I look forward to hearing of your progress in the Guest Book.

Good Luck and Good Riding.

LF Lavery

the first trainer i had for my 3year old qtr horse broke him with no issues, but proceeded into reining, a tie down, and a wire bit, my horse started to show resistence i.e. kbacking into a wall, running thru the bit etc.

and i told her to use just a plain snaffle, as in John Lyons training. she was resentfull and told me that i was telling her how to train my horse, we parted ways and i found another trainer and thought that pulling a cart would be good work for a young horse to desensitise him to road etc. The trainer called me and told me my horse had reared and gone over backward in the harness, and has a double halter on him because he had reared and resisted solid tieing by going thru the safety halter i had for him, when i suggested the saffety tie blocker the trainer seemed very resistent to the idea and said my horse had to unlearn that training and to be solid tied until he learned not to pull. should i pick my horse up tomorrow? i feel that this trainer has not used in Parelli's words "proper and prior preparation" what do you think i should do?

Thank you so much for your question. The three behaviors you describe are, of course, all unacceptable. With the exception of the rearing in the cart, they were all "taught" to him. Resentment to new things at that stage of training, is quite common but obviously your trainer did not have a chance to work through it as you moved the horse. Your horse has learned how to not wear his bridle.

A horse that is to be tied but pulls and then is rewarded for pulling by the a safety halter is indeed a problem. Your horse has learned to have this problem.

Although certainly not acceptable, the rearing issue would worry me the least as there are a myriad of things that could scare a young horse into doing this. If we put together the resistance you mentioned in reining training and the problem driving, however, I could easily think these problems have a connection with the 3 yr old's teeth. Wolf teeth, loose caps, sharp molars often are the culprits that cause this kind of behavior.

While I am an admirer of the two gentlemen you mention and their teachings, I think even they would want to see the horse before passing judgement on a training program because of the number of issues. I feel likewise. I will, however, tell you some things I would do.

Have his teeth checked by an Equine Dentist. 3 yr olds should be done twice a year because of the rapid changes in their mouths.

Decide exactly what you wish this horse to do, Reining? Driving on a road? Trail horse? Show horse? When you figure it out discuss your desire with your trainer and see if he or she thinks this is a reasonable request for your horse's ability.

Of course, you need to go back to square one as far as riding. (after his teeth have been floated) And realize there is no "express lane" for training a young horse. Rushing can cause serious problems that may even materialize years later.

Driving should be started over as well, but back to ground driving, rather than the cart, until he is perfect at it.

As far as changing trainers, if you feel it is an untenable situation, it is entirely up to you if you wish to move. I would be more than happy to recommend someone in your area if you decide to move. Personally, I think your horse has had enough changes already here in his formative years. Usually, every trainer has his own way of doing things. If it has worked for them they are reluctant to change, but then they are not giving clinics or hosting TV shows, they are just trying to be successful in the show ring and in running a public stable.

Once again thank you for your great questions, I hope I have been of some help to you. I look forward to reading of your progress in the Guest Book. Good Luck and Good Riding.

LF Lavery

Hi,

I have a 5 year old TB mare I purchased one year ago. She did not have a lot of ground handling and, consequently, has some grooming issues. She is a passive aggressive mare. She HATES her mane pulled. I have been diligent to desensitize her spending a little time each day for many months brushing it, grabbing and squeezing her crest, even using Vetrolin on her crest. Even sedated she is a real pill about it. If I pull one hair she becomes suspicious and keeps her head up and will set back. The other area she is difficult in is when I want to clean her teats. Again I have taken time, patience and small steps to desensitize her to the process. She picks up a leg to kick, but I use a strong short vocal to stop her. Even with experienced help, a twitch and sedation, she can be a real pill. I am beginning to get discouraged. She is a pretty mare a really good about most other thin gs. Any suggestions?

Discouraged in Tucson

P.S. She is training for a career as a hunter and needs to be able to be braided, so roaching or cutting the mane is out. Unfortunately, she has enough mane for 2

Thank you for your question. I can imagine how frustrating this behavior must be for you. Not to mention how difficult it is to hit a moving target. It is hard for me to even think of a place to suggest you start short of pulling her teats, cleaning her mane, picking up the twitch and drinking the Vetrolin! Seriously, you have tried most all I could suggest and if you cannot achieve success with the miracle of modern medicine (ie Rompun or Ace ) it is going to be a difficult fix. Let's take a stab at it.

First, understand this issue started initially as a reaction. The act of pulling a horse's mane can be uncomfortable and even painful. I would imagine this mare is very sensitive to the point she could probably shake you off her back should a fly lands on her. Thoroughbreds, in general, have very sensitive skin. (in fact, finding a currycomb in a TB stable can sometimes be impossible) This does not make her behavior right but as you can see it does explain a good deal about it.

Here are some suggestions that might help you:

Braiding

Knowing that a horse cannot do two things at once,

1. Put a bit in her halter so she can chew while you work
2. Let her wear a feed bag with feed while you work
3. Have a helper "tap" gently on her forehead while you work

Knowing that restraining a 1000 lb horse takes cunning

1. Have your helper put a lip chain on her and keep it gently moving while you work. (it commands more respect than a twitch and is less painful when used properly)
2. Have your helper hold one ear while you work
3. Try doing it by yourself with no restraints just a shank
4. Put a pair of "blind" blinkers on her

Knowing that it helps to be smarter than the horse

1. Don't try to restrain or fool her. Just get along. Stand on a stool if she raises her head. You will never win a fight with her!
2. Ignore movement and just be patient no matter how long it takes.
3. Reward, by stopping, any suspension of the wrong behavior no matter how brief a period of time. If it takes three days to pull the main..then it takes 3 days.

Creative thinking

1. Probably 2/3 of the Hackney ponies showing today have roached manes and glued on braids. Done right, it is very difficult to tell the difference.

1. Have your helper hold up a front leg while you clean them

I hope I have been of some help to you concerning these issues. I look forward to hearing of your progress in the Guest Book. Good Luck And Good Riding,

LF Lavery