Reply #35: Horses' bones are not "mature" until 4 or 5 [View All]

[csziggy]

Horses are still growing and the bone ends do not fuse until at least 4 or 5. But the market pressures are so high to get a turn around on the investment, that many breeds push to have the horses perform at very early ages. Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds are raced or shown under saddle as early as 2 years old and that generally means they are "backed" or started training for riding as early as 18 months - far too young for their skeletal and muscular development to be ready for stress.

In addition, many horse trainers know little about conditioning and preparation for stress. Endurance and competitive trail riders could teach them a lot about how to condition a horse to peak performance without them breaking down. Competitive trail riding has some horses competing into their 20s - very elderly for horses.

Many Thoroughbreds do not see pasture and get to run and play as youngsters - that is tragic since horses that get that time to develop in open fields get valuable bone and muscle development without stress. And they also get the emotional development when they are turned out with other horses in situations where they can interact. Instead many horses today grow up in 10x10' or 12x12' stalls - basically isolation chambers. They might be able to see other horses led by and while they are ridden and exercised, but that is not the social interaction that they need for normal emotional development.

I've bred Quarter Horses for 30 years and do not believe in starting my horses under saddle until they are at least three years old. Until then, they get turned out in pastures in social groups except when they are getting needed treatment or ground training. I sent one horse to the race track when I first started breeding and HATED how he was handled and how I had to de-program when he came home. Never again! Since then I have concentrated on breeding horses that are capable of all types of uses from trail riding to eventing to working cattle to dressage - and that are sound and sane while doing all of that.