13/06/2026
well written Rebecca 🥰 there is alot we can do with young horses without riding them too early. Not only will it protect them from early skeletal damage but it will make them stronger for when you do.
Some horses have the misfortune of looking "ready" when they are still growing, some still look gangly at 4. yrs.
The way I look at it, you hold back a year or two and you will have many more years the other end.
Bone Density, strong ligaments and tendons 🩻
Can we talk about preparing young horses without confusing movement with workload?
There still seems to be a belief that if a horse is started “late” (in a way that’s more appropriate for their body and development) they’ll only ever be suitable for hacking and won’t make a sport horse.
I don’t believe that’s true.
Your probally thinking this is common sense not to do too much to soon, science and those who bring us knowledge through dissections have proved that.. well yes but there is still some saying otherwise.
Strong bones, resilient tendons and healthy ligaments aren’t built purely through intensive ridden work at a young age. They develop through appropriate loading, movement, nutrition and progressive preparation.
What doesn’t help is raising young horses with limited turnout and expecting short periods of exercise to replace natural movement.
From the beginning, we can support development through:
• Plenty of turnout and free movement
• A good balanced diet to support growth and development - providing the energy, protein, vitamins and minerals needed for healthy bone density, tissue repair and musculoskeletal development
• Walking over varied terrain and this can be done inhand too
• Exposure to hills and different surfaces
• In-hand work and therapeutic exercises
• Building balance, coordination and body awareness
• Regular physical checks to identify compensation or restriction early
Before a rider ever sits on a horse, the horse can already be prepared.
And I don’t mean endless lunging in tack.
One of the best things I did was to learn classical training inhand and under saddle for my horses.
I mean thoughtful handling, correct movement patterns, appropriate nutrition, mobility work, progressive strengthening and making sure the body is coping before adding more demand.
When the horse is ready for ridden work, intensity doesn’t need to come first. Short, progressive bursts of more fastrr work can build capacity without overwhelming developing structures.
Years ago, this wasn’t common practice but our understanding of development, loading and long-term soundness continues to evolve for many of us.
Sometimes horses bred for a specific career are worked with only that in mind, its tunnel vision training. But no horse benefits from only doing their discipline.
A showjumper that only jumps, with no groundwork, schooling, hacking or structured fitness work inbetween, is unlikely to stay sound long term.
Equally, exercise should never become a substitute for turnout.
Longevity isn’t built in one season. It’s built in the thousands of small decisions we make long before the horse enters the arena. Having a young horse doesn't mean doing nothing with them but doing the right thing for them.
📸 Fine Photography By Georgia-Emily
