28/09/2026
All too often I hear "He is 2yr so he needs to be started" or younger "heavy horses" just over 2yr being mouthed and all well into their breaking process.
All because they are "2yr" doesn't mean they have automatically flicked a switch and are matured enough physically (and mentally) to be started and ridden.
Have a close look at theses photos of ranger (my purebred Clydesdale c**t) as a rising 3yr (33 months to be exact) and rising 6yr (69 months) he has grown about 2 hands in those 3 years and that's in height, let alone his bone/body structure and brain! He has been very lightly been started (saddle only) back in june and tipped out since.
These heavy horses (clydesdales, percherons, gypsy cobs etc) dont fully mature till 6-8year old (and some crosses aren't too far behind them in maturity) please dont be in a rush to mouth/start their ridden career - any horse in general.
Give them the time they need to mature, your future horse will thankyou for it and you won't regret it in years to come.
