When can you start riding with a saddle on a young horse?

Answer 1

The age at which a horse should be retired really depends on the horse - when the horse has Arthritis or sore joints, is no longer fit, or does not enjoy rides any more, or if the horse's wind is touched and it puffs and pants after a short or slow ride, it might be time for it to stop being worked, or at least to be restricted to short rides or lunging instead of riding. Racehorses that are worked hard before they reach full strength are usually retired from racing at around age six, and because of the strain on their muscles and joints when they are little more than foals, they must often be retired from work completely at around fourteen. A riding or pleasure horse is usually retired somewhere between twenty and thirty, depending again on the horse and what sort of life it has had.

Answer 2

Ideally its bones should be properly formed before being introduced to any form of burden. It is o.k. to break in a horse at about 2 years old, however if you are intending to do intensive riding like jumping or racing wait until the horse is at least 3.

Answer 3

You can lightly ride a two year old, and by lightly, i mean lightly. 15-20 minute rides at the walk at the max. And anyways, at that age, you should still be doing 90% groundwork and 10% riding, so the short rides are good because they give more time for ground work. When they get near 3 you can be riding probably near an hour or more at the walk and jog, possibly even a lope, depending on the horse.
but this is just a general rule. Make sure you know your horse's normal behavior, and watch for signs of soreness. If the short 15-20 minute rides are making the horse sore, then he may need to wait until he is older and more mature. If not, you could try slightly longer rides and watch for signs of soreness. If you see some soreness, go back to short rides.


You shouldn't start breaking them in until they are about four years,but some people do it at three and it doesnt affect the horse.

Answer 4

Of course there is no 'magic' age that qualifies a horse for children. But 10 to 15 is a good place to start. Breed is also important. A retired race horse is not usually a good choice. Quarter Horses and Paints, or crossbreeds of these make fine horses for young riders. The bottom line in buying a kid's horse is temperment, breed, age of not only the horse but the riders. Some children are experienced and accomplished riders at an early age. They can handle more of a 'ride' than a beginner. It's important that whatever horse is chosen it is suitable to his kid, is patient and quiet, and forgiving. It's a tall order but when you finally find that perfect horse he will quickly become a trusted friend and member of the family.

Answer 5

This depends on what you mean by training. A horse can be trained in ground manners and how to behave around humans from the time it is born. If you mean under saddle, then it is best to wait until the horse is four years old before ever trying to break it to saddle. Many horses however are started under saddle at 2 years old, but this is bad for the horse. You can begin training the horse to accept a bridle and bit as a yearling and teach it how to free lunge and long line (ground drive) at that age and beyond. Lunging on a lunge line should wait until the horse is 3 years old.

Answer 6

presuming you mean on howrse:

at 1 year 8 months, you ca start to ride your horse, at 2 years, you can train it, at 3 years you can tack and compete it.

Answer 7

it is safe to start at three years!