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Company
Profile: FLOWTECH
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Maureen
wrote to us with the following query
I have recently purchased a 2yr old Arab Gelding & would
like to know what kind of things I should be doing with him,
can I start mouthing him yet & If so how do I know what
size bit to use, also would like to know what age does he
have to be before being backed as he is 14.2hands now &
quite a handfull, please help any advice welcome.
Thank you,
Mandy
James
Loffett from Moreton Saddlery replies.
Is his second birthday this year or was it last year? If
he is two this year then I think you should just be thinking
about getting him used to being handled. Is he good to be
led in a halter? This is very important, at this age he
should be well behaved when being led around, if you train
him well in this sort of simple thing then breaking him
should be much easier. If he is not very good, say he pulls
you along and won't go where you want him to then you could
try using a Be Nice halter or similar to teach him a few
manners.
I don't know how experienced you are with youngstock but
get the help of someone who does know what they are doing
if possible, don't put yourself in a situation where you
could get injured.
Once he is getting good in a halter you could start introducing
him to a bit. Use a mullen mouth rubber or nylon bit or
a french link to start with. You will probably also need
a breaking roller. Let him wear the bridle in the stable
for a while first to let him get used to the bit, don't
have any reins on it as he will get tangled up in them!!.
When he's ready you could start long reining him gently,
but if you haven't done this before do please get some help
from someone who has experience. Don't do too much with
him at this stage, he is still very young. Do a few days
and then stop and just turn him out in the field. He will
remember what he has been taught when you start again later,
but keep on with the halter training by catching him every
day for a small feed or whatever.
If his third birthday is this year you could be doing more
long reining and lungeing and even back him gently if he
is physically ready to carry your weight. Don't go too fast,
he will still be growing and maturing and he doesn't really
need to be doing much work at all before the end of the
year or the start of next. Racehorses may be raced at two,
but remember that they are often finished by five and not
much use thereafter.
Good luck.
James.
http://www.moretonsaddlery.co.uk
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