Need opinions on when to actually ride an Arab.

Need opinions on when to actually ride an Arab.

Post by Francy Les » Sat, 14 Feb 1998 04:00:00


Hi all. I don't post usually but I appreciate all of your knowledge.

I have a 2 1/2 year old Arabian gelding. There is a picture of him on my
site at http://www.keyway.net/crafts.
I have him as for sale but I have decided to keep him.
I am breaking him myself. Which is something I have done before with
Arabs, TB's and QTR's while working for a trainer. We usually just get
on when we were confident the horse would not freak out.
(I'm not going to go into the whole training regime.)

But I understand there are opinions on when to actually start riding an
Arabian. I hear 3 is ok.
Then I hear that the knees must be closed. This is a new one for me. Can
someone explain the knee thing?
Also, When are Arabians "Mature" in size?

I have only had this horse for 2 months. We are working on groundwork,
the saddle, No riding yet. But I have been laying on his back. I plan to
teach him to ground drive before I ride him. He seems very calm and
accepting.

Thanks for your ideas and opinions!
Francy who is not in a hurry, just having lots of fun owning a "new
breed" (for me) of horse.

 
 
 

Need opinions on when to actually ride an Arab.

Post by Jenn » Sat, 14 Feb 1998 04:00:00


Quote:

> But I understand there are opinions on when to actually start riding an
> Arabian. I hear 3 is ok.

There are many opinions on when to start *ANY* horse.  Some people
won't agree with mine... Some people will

Quote:
> I have only had this horse for 2 months. We are working on groundwork,
> the saddle, No riding yet. But I have been laying on his back. I plan to
> teach him to ground drive before I ride him. He seems very calm and
> accepting.

I don't see any reason why you can't ride this horse.  If you plan to ground
drive him first, then you probably won't start backing him until summer, right?

Now's a great time to spend developing him to be a great riding horse.  
Take everything slowly so that he learns that riding is a good thing.  Arabs
are typically smarter, so you will need to watch for him becoming bored.
(though, most of the Arabs I've started have thrived on learning new stuff).

Go on nice quiet trail rides teaching him to find his own balance up and down
hills and around turns.  Teach him that "ho" means "ho".  Just the basics for
short amounts of time maybe once or twice a week.  Have fun with him for
a year or so.

Then when he's closer to 5, start your serious training in whatever discipline
you ride (dressage?).  Be aware though that his body will change throughout
the process so keep an eye on the saddle fit.  and his mind will grow too, so
pretend that he has the mind of a 14 year old kid and you'll do ok. ;)

Jennifer


 
 
 

Need opinions on when to actually ride an Arab.

Post by Richard Bish » Sat, 14 Feb 1998 04:00:00


writes:

Quote:

>Hi all. I don't post usually but I appreciate all of your knowledge.

>I have a 2 1/2 year old Arabian gelding. There is a picture of him on
my
>site at http://www.keyway.net/crafts.
>I have him as for sale but I have decided to keep him.
>I am breaking him myself. Which is something I have done before with
>Arabs, TB's and QTR's while working for a trainer. We usually just get
>on when we were confident the horse would not freak out.
>(I'm not going to go into the whole training regime.)

>But I understand there are opinions on when to actually start riding
an
>Arabian. I hear 3 is ok.

Waiting until three is a good idea.  I'm conservative, I always wait
until that age.  

Quote:
>Then I hear that the knees must be closed. This is a new one for me.
Can
>someone explain the knee thing?

I'll let one of the vets answer this one.

Quote:
>Also, When are Arabians "Mature" in size?

You may be surprised to know that often they keep growing for years.  I
have one mare who didn't really 'look' mature until she was eight.  Her
daughter is nearly 4, still looks dainty and immature, although she is
a finished professionally trained show mare.

Quote:
>I have only had this horse for 2 months. We are working on groundwork,
>the saddle, No riding yet. But I have been laying on his back. I plan
to
>teach him to ground drive before I ride him. He seems very calm and
>accepting.

Sounds like you are doing everything right.  Ground driving is an
excellent idea, it teaches them to respond to the reins and the next
step (climbing on) is easy.

Quote:
>Thanks for your ideas and opinions!
>Francy who is not in a hurry, just having lots of fun owning a "new
>breed" (for me) of horse.

Arabs are fun!  I've had several breeds of horses, I always came back
to the Arabs.

Sue

 
 
 

Need opinions on when to actually ride an Arab.

Post by John T. Klausn » Sat, 14 Feb 1998 04:00:00


writes:

Quote:

>snipped

>I have a 2 1/2 year old Arabian gelding.
>snipped
>But I understand there are opinions on when to actually start riding
an
>Arabian. I hear 3 is ok.

three is usually ok...in fact, always ok, though I hate definite
generalities!

Quote:
>Then I hear that the knees must be closed. This is a new one for me.
Can
>someone explain the knee thing?

Talk to your vet - it's when the cartilage finishes maturing into
bone..

Quote:
>Also, When are Arabians "Mature" in size?

Some will continue to grow until they're 5 or 6, but it depends on the
feeding/worming regime and of course, most of their growth occurs by 3
or 4.
Quote:

>I have only had this horse for 2 months. We are working on groundwork,
>the saddle, No riding yet. But I have been laying on his back. I plan
to
>teach him to ground drive before I ride him. He seems very calm and
>accepting.

>Thanks for your ideas and opinions!
>Francy who is not in a hurry, just having lots of fun owning a "new
>breed" (for me) of horse.

Good luck!
SueK