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If you wanted a horse to go upper-level dressage, what’s the latest age you should start them?
Comments(6) | Undedr: dressage horse
That is, when should you begin to teach the horse dressage? Some people debate over this. Some think that 3-5 is too early for a horse and should be taught when they’re 6 or 7 so they have the proper maturity. Others say that you have to teach it to them when they’re younger.
What’s your opinion?
http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf
The summary of a study done on the growth of young horses. Enjoy the read and draw your own conclusions 
December 4th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
http://www.equinestudies.org/ranger_2008/ranger_piece_2008_pdf1.pdf
The summary of a study done on the growth of young horses. Enjoy the read and draw your own conclusions
References :
December 4th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Well, dressage is ground work, so younger would be fine. You could start them at four with light work.
But, for heavier riding, waiting until they’re six would be best.
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December 4th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Any athlete, including the horse, achieves their maximum prowess when started early in life.
Just one example – Gymnasts are strenuously trained and conditioned starting as toddlers. Wait until they’re in jr. high (still not by any means mature) and you’ve missed your opportunity for world class performances. It’s just too late.
A horse, similarly, should begin early. This doesn’t mean overstressing them, jumping before their knees are closed, or anything like that. It does mean working on the beginnings of collection, flexion, obedience, and so on from an early age. This can be started from the ground, and tailored to the individual horse’s maturity and capabilities.
You can teach the elements of dressage from the very beginning of training. Things like stopping squarely, turning correctly, bending in the direction of the turn, and so on, are all key in training dressage and do not unduly stress the horse. You start small and build on it.
It probably takes 10 years for most horses, even the really talented ones, to master the training of upper level dressage. If you wait until they’re 6 or 7 to even begin, you’ll be peaking at 16 or 17, then have only a few short, short years at the top.
I think you have to start when they’re younger. I also think you have to make it age appropriate. But that 6 year old who’s done nothing but grow is going to need more work and more conditioning than the 6 year old who has been gently started under saddle and has learned to correctly use his muscles at an early age is. The just starting 6 year old may never achieve the flexibility and work ethic that the earlier started colt will.
Just my opinion.
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December 4th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Lower level dressage can start as soon as the horse is saddle broke. After all, lower level dressage is just flat work.
If you are planning to take a horse upper level, you don’t want to wait too late to start training the upper level movements as it will get harder for them to build the musculature if they are older. So, you probably want to be starting the upper level movements by age 10.
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December 5th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Dressage work is like ballet: It needs to be built upon. As soon as your break in your horse you can start teaching in the fundamental basics of dressage, such as engagement of the hindquarters and getting him to begin working over his topline. This will be the beginning of the foundation of training and muscular strength your horse will need to do some of the more complicated movements you will need to preform at the upper levels. You can’t just teach a horse tricks- upper level dressage is a long term project!
There is no "latest" age you should start a horse. It depends on the horse and its training background. You will have an easier time if the horse is started on the basics early, however, because he will be a cleaner slate and will be more physically capable of preforming the movements later in life.
Just my opinion based on my experience with horses! Hope that helps!
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December 5th, 2009 at 1:05 am
Many people have different theories about breaking horses. These usually change and evolve over time as we learn more about the scientific aspect of a horse’s body. Most horses are broke around 3-5, depending on their breed/health. If a horse is started to young, their bodies aren’t developed enough to support the weight of a rider. Every horse should be taught solid basics in dressage, no matter what its intended discipline. To not teach a young horse dressage is depriving them of learning how to accept the contact and use their body fully. Even if your horse isn’t destined for dressage, he will learn balance and will gain the ability to hold himself in a way as to properly utilize his body. Say you have a horse who has mastered the basics (responds to simple leg/hand aids) at 4/4.5. Depending on the horse’s ability to learn and use it’s body properly, you will be able to move up the levels of dressage accordingly, encouraging further rhythm, relaxation, connection, impulsion, straightness, and collection. I’ve known some very talented horses that were showing Fourth and schooling PSG at 7/8.
Teaching a horse dressage (proper, classical dressage, that is) will only have benefits. As long as you are careful not to pound and overexert your young horse, taking care to be sympathetic to any confusion and possible frustration, dressage will improve your horse’s gaits and overall muscle tone.
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