Any harm?

horsey-gal · 08-29-2008, 09:16 PM

Will it hurt Lil Bit for me to just sit on him? He turned 2 years in April of this year. I am NOT going to be doing this anytime soon, but maybe closer to winter if he was getting ready, I was going to sit on him, nothing more. Will it hurt him?

mustang_hope22 · 08-29-2008, 09:21 PM

i wouldn't think so. don't sit on him long though because his spine still hasn't fully developed yet so it would be good for him in my persepective. I hope i can help!

breburtch · 08-29-2008, 09:23 PM

No sitting on him shouldn't hurt him aslong as you don't weigh over 170 pounds and your not bouncing around up there

EquineAlberta · 08-29-2008, 09:29 PM

I wouldn't do it. Maybe straddle him in the paddock when he is laying down so he gets used to seeing you on him, but I wouldn't put weight on him just for the sake of it.

Here is why: at two they have an underdeveloped spine, and aren't ready to carry weight, so they tend to tense back muscles to support the weight. This can be a hard habit to break once they are ready to ride. So it might not be that you are damaging his spine, but that you are predisposing him to carry weight incorrectly.

The futurity trainers that start 2 year olds usually do enough prep work that the horses have some back muscles built up to help them carry the weight, and are usually only looking at the short term soundess/health of the horse.

Karen

horsey-gal · 08-29-2008, 09:30 PM

No, I don't weigh 170lbs. This is something I may or may not do. It all depends on him. I am getting really excited to be actually able to ride him, but I will not let that interfere with him as in his growth & development. I just was thinking about it tonight and thought I'd ask more knowledgeable people other than myself.
Even if I do sit on him, that's all it will be, just him getting used to me sitting. I ride western, would an english saddle be better for this?

Edited to add - EA, I didn't see your post when I posted this. So, even if I waited a few more months it would still hurt him, or could hurt him?
If that's the case, I will wait for sure. He means too much to me to risk his soundness. He won't be starting "official" saddle training until next year, around May.
Glad I asked

mustang_hope22 · 08-29-2008, 09:34 PM

english saddles are lighter so i would use that....im sure he would be fine but just do it around 1 a week....

horsey-gal · 08-30-2008, 08:55 AM

What are some exercises I can do to build up his back muscles?

A J · 08-30-2008, 12:39 PM

Personally, if there is no need for you to hurry, I'd probably just wait until he was a solid three years old. For my own horses, I would much rather very lightly start sitting and riding at three, a little more at four, and not really into full training until closer to five or six. It seems that most horses are physically and mentally much more willing to work steadily at that point.

Here lately I've started a 7 year old that had been lightly started previously and am also working with a 6 year old that was very lightly started about a year or so ago. Both horses seem much happier to be working, and don't mind having a job, and mentally respond much better - and these two are opposites of the spectrum when it comes to their basic personalities! Honestly, after working with horses of this age range, I would prefer to wait if possible.

Granted, if it was my only horse, ya I'd probably be wanting to ride them sooner than that, but in reality I'm really enjoy working with these slightly older horses as opposed to younger ones - just mentally and physically there really is a huge difference.

horsey-gal · 08-30-2008, 03:09 PM

I am willing to wait as long as it takes before ever getting on his back. I was fully aware of the waiting period when I bought him.
I will wait until next year before going that far with him. I have tons of other things to do on the ground while I wait

Logan-24- · 08-30-2008, 04:06 PM

I got on my two year 5 month old a few days ago just for the feeling. However, I don't plan on starting her on the regular until she's 3 years old. I was assured there would be no harm done if I just sat on her and did a little walking. I really couldn't explain why I did it, just felt since I was assured it was fine--no harm done if I didn't plan to do it regularly.

EDIT: Part of the reason was I have nothing else to do with her, literally.

08-29-2008, 09:16 PM
horsey-gal Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valley, N.S Posts: 1,650	Any harm? Will it hurt Lil Bit for me to just sit on him? He turned 2 years in April of this year. I am NOT going to be doing this anytime soon, but maybe closer to winter if he was getting ready, I was going to sit on him, nothing more. Will it hurt him? __________________ " If God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself. "

08-29-2008, 09:21 PM
mustang_hope22 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 138	i wouldn't think so. don't sit on him long though because his spine still hasn't fully developed yet so it would be good for him in my persepective. I hope i can help!

08-29-2008, 09:23 PM
breburtch Coming two Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 1,905	No sitting on him shouldn't hurt him aslong as you don't weigh over 170 pounds and your not bouncing around up there

08-29-2008, 09:29 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,470	I wouldn't do it. Maybe straddle him in the paddock when he is laying down so he gets used to seeing you on him, but I wouldn't put weight on him just for the sake of it. Here is why: at two they have an underdeveloped spine, and aren't ready to carry weight, so they tend to tense back muscles to support the weight. This can be a hard habit to break once they are ready to ride. So it might not be that you are damaging his spine, but that you are predisposing him to carry weight incorrectly. The futurity trainers that start 2 year olds usually do enough prep work that the horses have some back muscles built up to help them carry the weight, and are usually only looking at the short term soundess/health of the horse. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

08-29-2008, 09:30 PM
horsey-gal Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valley, N.S Posts: 1,650	No, I don't weigh 170lbs. This is something I may or may not do. It all depends on him. I am getting really excited to be actually able to ride him, but I will not let that interfere with him as in his growth & development. I just was thinking about it tonight and thought I'd ask more knowledgeable people other than myself. Even if I do sit on him, that's all it will be, just him getting used to me sitting. I ride western, would an english saddle be better for this? Edited to add - EA, I didn't see your post when I posted this. So, even if I waited a few more months it would still hurt him, or could hurt him? If that's the case, I will wait for sure. He means too much to me to risk his soundness. He won't be starting "official" saddle training until next year, around May. Glad I asked __________________ " If God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself. " Last edited by horsey-gal : 08-29-2008 at 09:35 PM.

08-29-2008, 09:34 PM
mustang_hope22 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 138	english saddles are lighter so i would use that....im sure he would be fine but just do it around 1 a week....

08-30-2008, 08:55 AM
horsey-gal Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valley, N.S Posts: 1,650	What are some exercises I can do to build up his back muscles? __________________ " If God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself. "

08-30-2008, 12:39 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,356	Personally, if there is no need for you to hurry, I'd probably just wait until he was a solid three years old. For my own horses, I would much rather very lightly start sitting and riding at three, a little more at four, and not really into full training until closer to five or six. It seems that most horses are physically and mentally much more willing to work steadily at that point. Here lately I've started a 7 year old that had been lightly started previously and am also working with a 6 year old that was very lightly started about a year or so ago. Both horses seem much happier to be working, and don't mind having a job, and mentally respond much better - and these two are opposites of the spectrum when it comes to their basic personalities! Honestly, after working with horses of this age range, I would prefer to wait if possible. Granted, if it was my only horse, ya I'd probably be wanting to ride them sooner than that, but in reality I'm really enjoy working with these slightly older horses as opposed to younger ones - just mentally and physically there really is a huge difference. __________________ Try not, do. Do or do not. There is no try.

08-30-2008, 03:09 PM
horsey-gal Coming two Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Valley, N.S Posts: 1,650	I am willing to wait as long as it takes before ever getting on his back. I was fully aware of the waiting period when I bought him. I will wait until next year before going that far with him. I have tons of other things to do on the ground while I wait __________________ " If God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for himself. "

08-30-2008, 04:06 PM
Logan-24- Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 470	I got on my two year 5 month old a few days ago just for the feeling. However, I don't plan on starting her on the regular until she's 3 years old. I was assured there would be no harm done if I just sat on her and did a little walking. I really couldn't explain why I did it, just felt since I was assured it was fine--no harm done if I didn't plan to do it regularly. EDIT: Part of the reason was I have nothing else to do with her, literally. __________________