On 27/01/07, Karen Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>>>I would like some comments/suggestions on when you believe at what age > an Icelandic should begin under saddle. Also any comments/suggestions as to > an appropriate weight for an adult with the horse being under saddle for the > first time. Thanks,
Hi Kathy, hopefully the ones on the list with vast experience with starting babies will respond. However, in my experience of starting my Gusti, and now Dagur. They are two different horses. Gusti was a big boy and at four he was mentally andy physically ready. However, our training isn't a quick process and still at 7 there are things I want to cover with him. For Dagur we waited until he was 5 for many reasons (#1 being our summer last year was crazy and we never got to it)...however Dagur needed more mental maturity. AND now I realize from fitting various saddles on him, he needed more time to develop physically. He's far more muscled now at five than he was at 4. I might have done him a real disservice had I started him last summer. Then we have Solon waiting in the wings who will be four in August. That boy is ready now mentally....however he'll need at least another year to mature physically...maybe more. My daughter Cara has been giving the first rides and she's only 110 lbs soaking wet. When we felt that Gusti had learned the process to carry a human...than the fat old mama (me) got on...and I'm well over 110 ....though not anywhere near 200 lbs. Is that vague enough :) ?? Also, when you start a baby...worrying about what gait they are doing should be the last thing anyone worries about. There are too many other things (basics) that have to come first in the process. The gaiting thing is just icing on the cake later on down the road. Just my opion Wanda
