From: j_seymo@oz.plymouth.edu (Joyleen Seymour)
Subject: Re: How mature is a two year old? (was: advice needed on training)
Reply-To: j_seymo@oz.plymouth.edu (Joyleen Seymour)
Organization: Plymouth State College - Plymouth, N.H.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 92 19:21:37 GMT

In article <1992Jul30.090736.8699@aber.ac.uk> ckw0@aber.ac.uk (Carl Keri Williams) writes:
>Last year I visited a major training yard in Newmarket as part of a college
>tour.  We watched about 40 horses in training being walked around the paddock
>prior to being sent out on the gallops.  About 80% or more of these horses
>were two year olds, most of the rest were three years old and I don't think 
>there were any over five years old.  Just before they were sent out, they 
>were trotted up round the paddock so that any that were not sound enough to
>gallop would be noticed and withdrawn from the training session.  The trainer
>mentioned to us that we 'may be a little shocked' just before the trot up. 
>We were!  We reckoned that out of those 40 horses there were about two sound 
>ones, and the trot up was instantly christned the hobble up.  
>
>These horses are worth thousands of pounds and their training costs thousands 
>of pounds.  They have everything money can buy for them, except time to grow 
>up and grow strong.  I saw three year old ex-race mares retired to stud.  My 
>own mare was three years old at the time and in foal, but that was before she
>started her ridden career, not after it!  Train their minds at two by all 
>means, and let them run free in as much space as you can find for them with
>as much suitable company as possible.  Take them out for walks to let them 
>see the world and to strengthen their bones and tendons and joints.  If you're 
>too embarrased by all the comments thrown at you for leading them instead of
>'jumping on his back' then maybe you should have bought an older horse in the
>first place.  This isn't meant to be a flame to anyone, I just can't bear to 
>think of the number of racehorses in Newmarket that must be crippled each 
>year by impatient owners and then to hear people say "It must be ok to ride
>them at two, as the race-horses are!"
>
>Just my two pence worth...
>
>Esther 
>-- 
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>| "If God had meant for us to work, then I'm sure he  | ckw0@uk.ac.aberystwyth|
>|  would have given us jobs..."  ...                  | ckw0@uk.ac.aber.cs    |
>| "Sign on you crazy diamond" - Half man half biscuit |      tardis ?         |

  I believe that Bruce Davidson, an American event rider believes in
starting his eventers young, even to the point of sending to the track
for a year or so.  He has a lot of horses to ride, but it is interesting
to point out that not many of his horses are sound, and few of them stay
sound into old age.  I wonder if they take too much abuse as youngsters?
Give them time to grow up, and they'll last a lot longer.   

  BTW, I remember when the USCTA put in the age limits for the various
levels of eventing, giving four as the youngest age for Novice and
Training levels.  The reason this was done was because people were
actually eventing two year olds at Novice events!

  Oh well.

  joy  (and the menagerie, including Chuckles the rescued yearling, who
has gained 150 lbs in a month, and will not start under saddle until the
fall of his three year old year, and won't be ridden seriously until the
summer of his four year old year, and won't jump until the fall of his
fourth year.)

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