As an owner and trainer of a young horse, your most important task is to ensure that the animal is physically and mentally prepared for its life as a riding horse. You want to give the horse a solid foundation and ensure that it develops trust in humans. The horse should be physically capable of functioning as a riding horse in the future, and it should continue to enjoy the work and be mentally capable of handling it. That's quite a laundry list and a responsible task, indeed.

When do horses' growth plates close?

Growth plates are often mentioned as an important yardstick for when you can start training with young horses. Bones grow from growth plates, and only when these plates are completely ossified and closed, the bone is fully grown, and all joints are adult. This process in a horse goes from bottom to top. The growth plates in the legs close earlier than those in the back. A human is fully grown at around 18 years old. For a horse, this happens between six and eight years old. This means that the joints under the saddle continue to grow for a long time. This is something to consider! There are individual differences. In large horses with a long neck, it takes longer, and some horse breeds mature later than others.

Don't stay in bed!

The fact that not all growth plates in a young horse are closed does not mean that it can't do anything at all. We let children and teenagers participate in sports as well. You can't expect someone to become an Olympic champion in speed skating at the age of 20 if they've been lying in bed until they're 18... Joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments need light stimuli to grow and become stronger. Between stimuli, they need sufficient rest to become stronger. By giving muscles and joints a 'light version' of the work they will have to do later, you prepare the horse's body for its adult life. It is important to ensure that the movement and 'work' a younger horse receives is suitable for its age and for what its body and mind can handle. Unfortunately, this is often where things go wrong.

What is work for a horse?

The biggest misconception often lies in the definition of 'work'. For a three-year-old horse, who has little experience, it can be very tiring to work with him on the ground for fifteen minutes three times a week. In the beginning, everything is new, and you must give the horse the opportunity to process everything it experiences. It may not seem like much to us, but if you look closely, you can perfectly see whether your horse can handle it. Is he still eager to be with you? Is he curious about new things? Or does he have a dull look and appear stressed? As a trainer, you really need to pay close attention. When in doubt, give your horse an extra day off in the group, where it can process its impressions calmly and have social contact with other horses. Overtraining and quickly advancing often lead to problems later on in the training. Common beliefs, such as that four-year-old horses should perform at level L and six-year-old horses at level Z, are not helpful and should be discarded. Instead of being influenced by these old-fashioned 'wisdoms', pay attention to your own horse.

Preparing for riding

With very young horses, such as foals, yearlings, and two-year-olds, you can train them in various ways. Think of grooming, lifting feet, and walking short distances. Don't hesitate to take walks with your young horse, under the supervision of an older horse, across different terrains or outside the premises. This is an excellent way to acclimate your horse to 'strange' things, and walking on various types of surfaces provides a healthy stimulus to the legs and hooves. The joints, tendons, and ligaments only get stronger from this. When your horse is three years old, you can start doing a little more. Many people start with groundwork or lunging. Both often involve a lot of 'circling around'. Be cautious, as small circles on the ground or in the lunging circle put a heavy load on the joints on the inside of the circle. Build this up very carefully; don't ask for endless circles while leading or lungeing on one side for ten minutes. Keep it short and regularly switch sides. Training for ten to fifteen minutes in total, including warm-up and cooling down, is sufficient in the beginning. It is crucial to ensure that the horse learns to walk in balance, with its weight distributed over all four legs. Its body must be prepared to bear not only its weight but also that of the rider.

Riding with young horses

Every young horse is different, so pay close attention to your own animal. There comes a time when the horse is ready to be started under saddle. Only do this when it can hold itself in balance in three gaits on the lunge and is mentally ready for the next step. Some horses need more time to become strong in this area; give them that time. Starting a horse under saddle at three years old is not a must; it's okay to do it later! In the beginning, have a rider who can move well with the horse and is not too heavy. Even a small, lightweight rider is quite a change for a horse. It needs to relearn how to move in balance. Regardless of whether your horse is three, four, or five years old, keep in mind that riding is much more exhausting than most horses show. Don't be deceived by rapid muscle development; consider the immature skeleton beneath it. Make sure to have a well-fitting saddle. The rule of a maximum of three times a week for a three-year-old and four times for a four-year-old is a helpful guideline, as long as you keep in mind that training should not last longer than fifteen to twenty minutes in the beginning. Rest days are crucial for building strength; make sure to include them. Otherwise, a young horse can easily become overtrained. If you feel your horse is too young, then wait a bit longer and continue working on the ground. Alternatively, you can quietly start it under saddle and then give it a few months' vacation in the pasture to consolidate what it has learned. A good and calm start provides a much greater chance of a successful sports career later on than rushing the training and skipping steps. Training too hard too quickly only increases the risks of injuries. Joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles need time to adapt to the work. Give them that time and keep your horse healthy.

Supporting young horses

Do you want to provide your young horse with some additional support through its diet? Ensure sufficient minerals for bone formation. Silicium is essential for making the structure stronger. Magnesium is also important for the bones but also supports the muscles and helps release tension. Training can be stressful for young horses, even if done slowly. Stress often leads to extra uric acid in the joints, which can cause pain and minor inflammations. Therefore, an annual herbal remedy for the joints is also recommended. If your horse struggles with muscle growth or doesn't have access to fresh grass, vitamin E is also a good supplement.