This message is from: "Dave and Patti Walter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>From a trainer's perspective, starting a horse to ride depends a little on the horse and is always MUCH easier when they are physically and mentally ready. When is this??? well.....it is different for each horse. I've sent horses home to mature for a year, when they have come in for training and are not ready for it. Many can handle it at age 3, some are not ready until age 4 and some not until 5. Now....should you just let them sit and not do anything with them until they are ready to have a saddle on them NO!! please NO, especially if you are gonna send them out to a trainer. Nothing worse then working with a 3, 4, 5 yr old horse that has not been handled much. Not fun at all, and let me tell you, i've had my share of Fjords come in this way. No other breed could get away with it like the Fjords. I think they come around easier, but man are they a pain to work with, when they have had little to no handling. I will give my hats off to the owners and the education of the Fjord world. This is getting better. When I started training, more Fjords came in then not, that were unhandled. Now...it's the other way around and WHAT JOY IT IS to get a horse in that has great ground manners, already was taught to do turns on forehand and haunches and side passing from the ground. So...owner's keep up the good work.It really does pay off! I have 2 FULL SIBLING Fjords in for training, one is a coming 5 yr old mare, the other is a coming 4 yr old gelding. The mare is VERY balanced, VERY matured, really a nice ride -right from day one. She has 4 weeks under her now. The gelding is ready but he is not as matured, is not as balanced and will not get as far as the mare most likely in the training. She just is balanced so most everything is easier for her. The gelding is quieter and more relaxed so in some cases he "knows" more what you want and is very willing to try he just doesn't do it as well. You want to get the most out of your money from training, do the ground work and start them later then sooner, you will not regret it. There is lots you can do from the ground. Patti Jo Walter Francis Creek Fjords Two Rivers W------ where I'm gonna be a GRANDMA again, my daughter is having her 2nd baby as I type. So....excited I could not sleep, so went on line to email everyone!! Will let you all know what she has soon!!!! www.franciscreekfjords.com The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
