Distributing weight in the saddle evenly

Keatley7119

New Member
Mar 22, 2016
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South Australia
Hey guys, I'm 15 and this year I would have been riding for 12 years.

I have 2 pleasure horses at the moment (one of them I used to take to pony club) and I don't go anymore. I now have 3 (the young one). I'm riding by myself all the time Im not sure if I'm balancing myself in the saddle or not. I've just broken in a 2 year old horse that I was given at the end of last year and I am hopefully going to do hacks, dressage and eventing (when she is older) and to get her working on the bit I have to be balanced and distribute my weight evenly on her without putting my weight in one spot the whole time. Does anyone know what I could do to even my weight out?

thanks :)
 
I think to be honest personally speakING 2 is to young to be riding. The horse itself will be very unbalanced and still growing however balanced you are its going to be very difficult for it undersaddle. I would be working on ground work/manners etc in order for the horse to find its feet before progressing to anything under saddle.
 
Sorry but I have to agree with the others I would nit even back a 2 year old let along ride it. IMO I would turn it away again for another year at least before backing the turning away again for a couple of months
 
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I agree 2 is too young. This is a cultural thing. You are on a mainly UK forum and horses are often ridden younger in USA. Horses are ridden at 2 in UK but raced by professional trainers with professional jockeys. If it is normal where you live to ride 2 year olds, you really need to get guidance from a professional experienced in this work with such young horses.
 
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I am in Australia and generally go against the norm as i dont like seeing 2 yr old broken in either.

However having said that - i dont mind if a youngster is lightly backed and then put out for 6-12months to continue maturing. I'm talking 1-2 weeks ofvery light riding, that's it.

If i were doing this with a 2 year old all i would be looking for is acceptance of tackand rider. Moving forward willingly at a walk and trot (not canter). Turning left and right and stopping. I would do this in a round yard, arena and paddock and then put her out and not touch her again for 6-12 months, whereby she might come in for another week of the same, then out again for the same period. When she is closer to 4 yrs is when i would very slowly bring her into a decent level of work, again over several weeks before even thinking of cantering. I would start to ask for bending and flexing and starting to accept a contact but really i wouldn't be expecting much in the way of holding a frame and being "on the bit" until she is properly in work. It takes time for her to find her own balance, and then time for her to figure out how to balance you as well. As for your part, remaining consistent, keeping an independant seat and not asking her for more than she is physically or mentally capable of is very important.
 
I am from Australia and I was told by her old owner (who has been riding for over 50 years) and she said that i was to start breaking her in. We only go on half an hour rides every weekend if that and she has established her walk, trot, canter and gallop. she has very good brakes and turns very easily. She is three in august, and she is about 16-16.1 hands.

She loves going out riding so I don't understand why I couldn't ride her. I was thinking of turning her out in our 100 acre paddock but I don't think I want to because my other 3 horses will try and bite and hurt her.
 
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The reason that most youngsters are not ridden at 2 is because they are not mature, either physically or mentally, they need time to grow before they are asked to carry the extra weight and they need time to learn how to behave like a horse, usually within a herd environment.
 
The riding of racehorses at 2 is also a disgrace, regardless of how mature any horse may look on the outside, inside their skeletal frame has not even fully fused. Just because someone has been around horses for 50 yrs dosent make them right... There's one or 2 folk in this world I wouldn't trust with my goldfish let alone them owning equines.
 
Do what the Icelanders do, Take them out and ride and lead. Icelanders will often ride out with one or two hand horses for them to gain experience and musle up before taking a rider.
 
She loves going out riding so I don't understand why I couldn't ride her.

I dont expect your horse will know what long term damage it could be doing to itself ... theres lots of enjoyable things you can do with a young horse without riding. If your in so much of a rush to ride why buy something so young? a little patience will give your 2yr old a longer chance at a sound life.
 
Growth plates are not fused and the damage that can be done by them being ridden too early will lead to problems later on and shortening their ridable life
 
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