Training Young Horses: How to train your horse successfully

Training Young Horses: The Basics

There are two main goals in the training of young horses. The first is to get the horse used to the new challenges ahead. The second is to train the horse so that it can develop its dull genetic potential (disposition) and meet the requirements of the rider and corresponding training. The physical and mental health of the horse is particularly important. A young horse should learn with fun and joy and not with coercion and negative pressure. There are many ways to train a young horse. However, in order to have a reliable leisure or sport partner at the end of training, there are many things to consider. Mistakes in young horse training can have fatal consequences and pave the way for a problem horse. This is why the basics of young horse training are crucial for the future of the horse. FN training ambassador Christoph Hess explains what is particularly important to him when training young horses:

When do you start training a young horse?

The training of a young horse begins long before it is ridden for the first time - in fact, it starts at foal age. These early lessons, which are extended over a period of several months or years, are often referred to as the "Foal ABC" called. Handling and contact between humans and horses plays a crucial role in the first months of the animal's life and should not be neglected alongside species-appropriate rearing.

However, proper training should not begin before the age of three. When the horses return to the stables after the warm summer months in the field, the classic training of young horses begins. Getting used to the lunging girth, saddle and bridle are then on the training schedule. The first mounting is at the age of three, not earlier. At the age of 3.5, the horse is then put out to pasture again and the following winter, the horse is broken in properly.

Ground work in young horse training

Ground work is one of the most important basics in young horse training. And not only in the classical riding style. Especially in the training of young horses in the leisure sector or in western riding, horsemanship horsemanship in young horse training according to Parelli or Monty Roberts. Only when the horse tolerates and accepts everything from the ground does the rider get into the saddle. In horsemanship, young horses have to learn far more from the ground at the beginning of their training than in classical training. Nevertheless, a rethink is beginning in the traditional training of young horses. Trainers and riders are increasingly taking horsemanship theories and training plans as an example and preparing horses more carefully for their first ride. 

We start with ground work with young horses naturally starts with the basics. These are leading, stopping, taking a step back and reacting to human body language. The most important thing here is that the young horses learn to concentrate and relax. Patience is very important here. Horses quickly notice when the trainer or rider is stressed or impatient. This is then transferred to the horse. In the beginning, the horse should be practiced in short intervals. 5-10 minutes is completely sufficient. Nevertheless, the training should always have a positive end, so if the training interval is exceeded for 2-5 minutes, it's not the end of the world. However, it should not become a regular occurrence.

Gymnastic ground work should not be started too early, as a rule, gymnastic ground work is started after the horse is three years old. The ABC of ground work should be mastered by every young horse before work under saddle begins. German Dressage rider and ground work specialisit Bernadette Brune show us how we can start working with our young horses:

Lunging young horses correctly: This is how its done 

When can you lunge a young horse for the first time? Or rather, when does it make sense to lunge a young horse?

Young horses are different from our broken-in adult horses, which have been lunged and broken in at some point in their lives. Young horses are not balanced and are not used to lunging. That's why lunging for the first time can look a little strange. The young horses then tend to walk a crippled line and often fall back into a lower gait because they can't keep the trot or canter on a curved line for long.

It helps the young horse enormously to be lunged in a roundpen for the first time. Here the horse has a spatial boundary through the wall of the roundpen and can focus more on its body and the trainer. If a round pen is not available, you can also divide the riding arena in half to create physical and visual a boundary.

You are not alone. Get help! A second person can make the whole thing easier. While one person stands in the middle, a second person can lead the horse in a circle around the person holding the rein. 

The first work on the lunge line is really demanding, as the young animals have to learn to balance themselves on a curved line for the first time. The better the horse keeps to the circle line on its own, the further the second person can move away from the horse. From then on, precise impulses can be given to prevent the horse from running into the middle. The second person can also provide support from their position when driving and changing hands.

The lunger stays in the middle of the circle, approximately at shoulder height of the horse, and gives the signals. Give voice signals to parry through and wait patiently until the horse reacts. Some horses understand quickly, others may take a little longer. Nevertheless, there is no need to despair if it doesn't work straight away. Give yourself and the horse time to master the new task. Also pay attention to your youngster's concentration span. The first attempts at lunging should take no longer than 20-30 minutes. Cantering on the lunge is only recommended after about a week.

First steps in the training of a young horse

In addition to ground work and the lunging there are further steps to be taken by the trainer during the training of a young horse. From choosing the right equipment to mounting the horse for the first time.

Finding the right equipment for young horses

The right equipment is a perennial issue in equestrian sport. At a young age, with the change of seasons or due to injury-related breaks - the horse's body is constantly changing. The good news is that those who have been diligent in their preparatory work will have an easy time when lunging for the first time. A halter and lunge line will suffice for the time being. Alternatively, you can also use a cavesson for lunging. It is also advisable to put on boots to protect against injuries. It becomes more difficult when the snaffle is introduced. Then you will have to find the right bit, and that's not so easy. Show jumping riders Andreas Kreuzer and Holger Wulschner explain clearly and in detail what is important when it comes to the right equipment for young horses: "What equipment does my horse need?" here:

The first steps have been taken and the time has finally come: it's time to get on your horse! This also means the search for a suitable saddle is imminent. Before the saddle is put on, it is advisable to put on a lunging girth so that the horse gets used to the feeling of a girth. Then, together with a competent saddler a saddle needs to be fitted. Especially with young horses, the saddle must be checked frequently and adjusted if necessary, as their musculature changes quickly. A suitable saddle is nevertheless essential to avoid negative experiences, to allow the correct muscle development and to avoid pressure points. To make mounting easier later on, the horse should already be well accustomed to the saddle. At the beginning, the horse is walked a few steps with saddle and then later lunged with a saddle.

Mounting and getting used to the rider's weight

First of all: Special care is required when starting to ride! A trusted and, in the best case, experienced helper should always be present to intervene.

Preparation for mounting is a lengthy process. Contact with the saddle should be established early on by tapping and applying gentle pressure. Once the saddle is on, pressure can be applied to the seat while standing and on the lunge line, the saddle flap can be wiggled and the stirrups can be fiddled with. The stirrups are then loaded more and more to prepare for mounting. You can then carefully "hop up" with your foot in the stirrup. To get used to the rider's weight, the rider first lies across the saddle. Over time, they will be able to take their first steps with the rider's weight on their back. Here the young horses have to learn to balance themselves again. Lying across the saddle is followed by straightening the upper body and then sitting upright on the horse. Praise the horse extensively and wait until it relaxes before taking the next steps.

When the first steps have been successfully completed, you can carefully begin to work while being on the lunge line. At the beginning it is again suitable to have a helper who leads the horse on the circle line until it gains confidence. The rider takes a passive role at first. In this way, slowly work your way up to the trot and finally to the canter. Again, your sensitivity is needed here; there is no blanket schedule for what the horse is ready for.

Breaking in young horses: What you should know

Once the familiarization phase has been overcome, the rider gradually becomes more active, while the commands from the lunge leader decrease. In the beginning, the driving leg aids are still clearly supported by the learned voice signals. This allows the horse to quickly recognize what is being asked. Once everythin essential is working on the lunge line and the horse can be parried through, the lunge line can be removed. A good tip: Leave the lunger in the middle for the time being. This way, he can still help out with familiar signals if necessary.

Species-appropriate training should be pursued right from the start. Christoph Hess explains what this actually means in this video:

How to ride your horse when it's growing

Help, my young horse is growing and growing! Growth spurts are definitely not uncommon, and yet they cause a lot of confusion, as they significantly disrupt our young horses' physical well-being. They have to rebalance themselves, are often tired and their heads are somewhere else entirely. Christoph Hess shows you how you can work with your youngsters when they are really busy with themselves.

What comes after breaking in young horses?

The breaking-in period is behind us and horse and rider are moving safely around the course on their own. What happens next? The training of a young horse does not stop after breaking in and continues to require a lot of time and sensitivity. The general standard for the course of further development is the so-called scale of training. It entails rhythm, suppleness, contact, impulsion, straightness and collection. While the points build on each other, they are by no means to be understood as stand-alone and can be ticked off. The training points influence each other and continue to develop in parallel. While the scale serves as a template for the entire training, each training session should also be based on its model.

The first three scale points, rythm, suppleness and contact, form the familiarization phase and are particularly important for training young horses. Movement in time is a basic prerequisite, it is about the regularity of the steps. This is followed by suppleness, as the rhythmic movements must go over the swinging back in order to be correct. This means that the muscles in the back contract and relax without tensing up. The relaxed horse is ready to stretch and steps confidently up to the bit. In this video, we explain why the horse's suppleness is so important in young horse training:

The contact, i.e. the constant, soft, springy connection between the horse's mouth and hand, is created by the relaxed stretch towards the bit. It takes third place on the training scale and is part of both the familiarization phase and the two subsequent phases, the development of thrust and carrying power.

Leaning is followed by impulsion. The swing is discussed in trot and canter, as these gaits have a suspension phase in which all four legs are above the ground. The aim is to extend this suspension phase and transfer the impulses from the hindquarters via the swinging back to the horse's movement. This is not possible without a relaxed horse. The next point on the training scale is straightness. Straightness is used to compensate for the natural crookedness of the horse. The aim is for the front and hind legs to walk on one hoof beat and for the pairs of legs to each walk on one line. In this way, the halves of the horse's body are loaded evenly and the horse's health is promoted by avoiding one-sided overloading of joints, muscles and tendons. The top of the training scale is the collection. This is where the previous work comes together and a well-balanced horse is tested for its ability to carry itself and take on more weight on the bent, under-stepping hindquarters. Work in collection is considered extremely demanding and should only be demanded and demonstrated by physically and mentally ready horses.

The aim of the training scale is to grow well-trained horses that are worked in a permeable and balanced manner to ensure health and willingness to perform.

Is training a young horse the right thing for me?

Anyone considering training their own young horse should first consider whether they have the right qualifications for this task. This includes the question of riding ability: Do I have enough experience to train a young horse? Ideally, the rider has already ridden not only different horses, but also young horses with different levels of training. Solid handling of the horse and knowledge outside the saddle, for example in lunging and ground work, are also essential.

On the other hand, it's also about character: am I patient, resilient, disciplined and able to deal with setbacks? An anxious rider tends to be less suitable for training young horses than a calm rider who approaches this task with confidence and experience. Not to be underestimated is whether the rider can or already takes regular lessons, is in contact and in dialog with trainers and other riders and whether he has the competence for self-reflection and the willingness for further training. The rider should always be able to act fairly and consistently towards the horse. If these criteria cannot be clearly answered in the affirmative, the purchase of an already trained horse is the obvious alternative. There is also the option of buying a young horse and having it trained by an experienced rider. Below you will find tips and tricks on how to make this decision and then approach your goal correctly.

Tips for buying a young horse

Buying a horse is always about finding a long-term partner. It is therefore a decision-making process that should be approached thoughtfully in order to enjoy working together later on. Before you start looking for a horse, you need to be clear about the goals you want to achieve with the horse. This will determine the requirements for the new horse, and it should also become clear whether the horse you are looking for is young or experienced. We show you how to choose the right partner and which criteria you should consider in the following video:Horse purchase with a plan Video

The horse's physique, size and, above all, health play a major role. Apart from age and level of training, competition experience and, if applicable, corresponding successes are important criteria. The rider profile should not be forgotten when considering the requirements profile for the horse: What type of rider am I, what strengths and weaknesses do I have and what should my horse be like so that we complement each other in the best possible way? Especially with a young horse, it is essential to have competent training support at home. Once such questions have been clarified and the rider has a concrete picture of his future horse in his head, the actual search can begin. Of course, the budget is a factor that should not be underestimated.

Costs and effort: young horse vs. trained horse

It cannot be determined across the board whether buying a young, inexperienced horse or an older, trained horse makes more sense. As just described, it depends on the horse and rider in each individual case. Nevertheless, there are some rough indications that can be used to make this decision:

An older horse has usually already been ridden and may already be successful in competitions. During the trial, you can get a concrete impression of the training, ability and potential of the horse and put it in relation to your own goals. The advantage of a trained horse is that, for example, goals at competitions can be achieved more quickly than with a young horse. The disadvantage is if the horse has already had bad experiences or has become accustomed to peculiarities, because these behavior patterns are difficult or impossible for the new rider to correct.

With a young horse, the work starts from scratch. This means that it has not yet learned anything or not much in terms of riding, but also that you can start from scratch and the horse most likely has not yet had any negative experiences that burden the work in advance. If you buy a young horse, there are many years and experiences together ahead of you. Health problems are rarer than with older horses, although attention should be paid to appropriate checks with any horse purchase. A disadvantage of buying a young horse can be the flailing period: The horse is still in its infancy or teenage years and is still developing. A common consequence of this circumstance is that training does not go as well or as quickly as expected. Overall, one must be more flexible with a young horse and be able to adapt training goals to the individual case.

Buying a young horse means deciding to train it, with all the advantages and disadvantages that this path could bring.

Rearing young horses: Husbandry and Feeding

A central point in the purchase of a horse is the keeping. You can use the horse's previous husbandry as a guide, as a young horse may be changing stables for the first time and will be confronted with many new impressions. The usual form of husbandry would then be a constant. However, it is even more important that the stabling is first and foremost horse-friendly. But what is actually horse-friendly? The four light, air, exercise and company are known to every rider and should be available to every horse. Exercise is essential for young horses to develop healthily. The animal should have the opportunity to exercise for several hours a day, which means not so much working with the horse, but rather free access to a paddock, paddock or similar. The next point comes into play here, namely contact with other horses of the same species. If you buy a horse while it is still a foal, you should possibly give it to a rearing center if it cannot have sufficient contact with other horses of the same age in its own stable in order to develop its social behavior to learn social behavior. In a foal rearing facility, the animals usually live together as a herd in the pasture and, for example, move to a playpen in bad weather, which also allows the herd to form. The following principle is often heard when raising a horse for the first few months and years: "Let the horse be a horse first." It is also important to allow the horse to interact socially with others later in the young horse's life. The form this ultimately takes is up to the rider.

Previous times and quantities of food should also be adhered to. The feed must be individually tailored to the animal in terms of type and quantity. In the case of young horses, it should be adapted to the horse's current growth and development phase and adapt to these changes. Young horses are often fed minerals as they have a considerable need for physical development. If the new owner wants to make changes to the feed after buying a horse, it is important that the feed is changed slowly and not radically from one day to the next. As with most things, the same applies here: If in doubt, the owner should seek professional advice and support when it comes to feeding. Here we show you the basics you should consider when feeding young horses:

How to overcome problems in the training of young horses

Working with horses is never easy. There is progress in training, but there are also setbacks. Just because a lesson works well today doesn't mean it will work the same tomorrow. We must not forget that horses are living beings and not machines that have to work at the push of a button. No matter how well we can communicate with horses, we are often at a loss when problems arise. Nevertheless, there is a solution for almost all problems in young horse training. FN training ambassador Christoph Hess explains how to get to the bottom of problems and find solutions in the Academy.

Presenting young dressage horses at shows

If you are ambitious in terms of competitions, you will already have decided which direction you want to specialize in before buying a horse. Riders who breed a foal from their own mare also weigh up in advance what characteristics and disposition the future riding horse should have. When training young dressage horses, the training scale should always be observed. It forms the common thread for the appropriate development of the young horse. Nevertheless, this specialization should not influence the training career too early on. Every horse should have a broad basic training that prepares them well for further work.

The riding horse test

The riding horse test is an entry level test for 3 to 4 year old horses. The quality of the three basic gaits, the training appropriate to the age on the basis of the training scale and the overall impression of the presentation are evaluated here. This is followed by the evaluation of type and quality of conformation, with the horse being presented in the rider's hand.

The proficiency test

The suitability test expresses its goal actually already in the name. It is to be determined whether a horse in its present condition is ready to be used as a riding horse. First, a task is ridden individually, in pairs or in threes to check the rideability, then a small course sequence with at least one hand change is tested. The quality of movement, permeability and the overall impression are judged.

Young Dressagehorses class A

The dressage horse tests are intended to provide an informal introduction to the sport and to gently check the appropriate level of training of the horse. Since only horses of approximately the same age are admitted, the dressage horse tests are well suited to compare the training and basic gaits of the horses. As a rule, riders of all performance levels can take part in the tests and present their young horses there.

Horses aged 4 to 6 as well as M and G ponies may compete in the novice class dressage test for young horses. As a rule, 6-year-olds may only take part if they have not had more than one success in novice class dressage or dressage horse performance tests. Nevertheless, it is important to observe the competition regulations.

What are the requirements for the novice class dressage test for young horses? The medium stride, working trot and working canter are required, as well as a first extension of the stride. Cantering over and letting the reins chew out of the hand at the trot are also part of the novice class dressage horse test. In addition, halting from the trot and backward training are tested.

Dressage horse class L

Horses aged 4 to 7 as well as M and G ponies may compete in elementary class dressage tests for young horses. As a rule, 7-year-olds may only take part if they have not had more than one success in elementary class dressage or dressage horse performance tests. Exceptions: 4-year-old horses are only permitted from May 1st of the current year. Nevertheless, it is important to observe the competition regulations.

What are the requirements for the elementary (L) level dressage test for young horses? The requirements in the elementary (L) level dressage test for young horses have increased significantly compared to the advanced (A) level. In addition to backing up, the rider must now also perform a short turn and a hind turn. The outside canter on both hands and a simple canter change, both to the left and to the right, are also required. There are also more curved lines, such as the volte.

Medium class dressage test for young horses

5- to 7-year-old horses as well as M and G ponies may compete in the medium (M) level dressage test for young horses. As a rule, 6-year-olds may only take part if they have not had more than one success in medium (M) level dressage or dressage horse performance tests. Nevertheless, it is important to observe the competition regulations.

What are the requirements for the medium dressage test for young horses? The M dressage test is demanding, even for our youngsters. Now the shoulder walk and the traversal are asked on both sides. In addition, there are the flying changes, which also have to be shown in both directions.

Presenting young show jumpers at the show

For show jumpers, too, the first first show is coming up. There are also competitions for young show jumpers that are explicitly tailored to their abilities. Solid basic training is an advantage for show jumpers. Dressage work should therefore not be neglected for young jumpers.

Gymnastic work at the jump is particularly suitable for improving the suppleness and agility of young horses. As always, it is helpful to approach poles and smaller jumps from the ground first. Young horses can then be accustomed to the obstacles during free jumping or on the lunge. The obstacles can be set up along the rail to make it easier for the horse. Once the horse is familiar with working with poles, the first smaller jumps can be attempted. The aim is to establish a rhythmic, fluid and balanced sequence at the jump, while the rider supports the horse well without disturbing it. Here too, the horse's work can be made easier, for example by using directional poles to the left and right of the jump. The best way to start is to trot over a pole. Once the horse has mastered this well, the pole can be approached at a canter. The obstacle can then be raised slightly and the whole game starts again. Andreas Kreuzer explains what such a training session might look like:

Even during training of a young show jumper, questions arise time and again. The training of young horses can be organized in a variety of ways and should always be individually tailored to the needs of each horse. For Andreas Kreuzer, the focus is on adapting the training time to the respective horse. He follows the guideline: "Better too little than too much", as he explains: "If I train too little, I can always make up for it later. However, if I take a step too early, it can set the horse's development back by years." This is why a training plan is important when training young horses.

Even for show jumpers, the first tournament will be held at some point. There are also competitions that are explicitly adapted to the abilities of young horses in order to facilitate a gentle introduction to competition sport.

The aptitude test for young show jumpers

As with many dressage horses, the suitability test is a suitable introduction to competitive sport that determines whether a horse is ready to be used as a riding horse in its current condition. The procedure remains the same. First, a task is ridden individually, in pairs or in threes to check the rideability, then a small course sequence with at least one hand change is tested. The quality of movement, permeability and the overall impression are judged.

Jumping tests for young horses: Requirements and differences

The show jumping test should determine whether the young horse/pony is on the right track in its training as a show jumper. The obstacle sequences and distances should be age-appropriate and appropriate for the class. Often, emphasis is placed on designing lines that are as visible as possible, leaving enough room for turns and corrections. Jumping tests for young horses are judged on the basis of a score. The criteria are rideability, especially basic speed, controllability and balance, and jumping manner. In the jumping manner, a fluid and willing overcoming of the obstacles is expected, in which the back is given. In addition, the jumping should be appropriate to the jump, i.e. the horse should neither jump too high nor too low. As always, the scale of the training is also used as a basis for evaluation. As far as age is concerned, the same information applies in principle as for dressage horses. Nevertheless, the announcement should also be observed here.

Class A for 4 to 6-year-old horses and/or M and G ponies, 6-year-olds with no more than one success in jumping competitions of class A and higher.

Class L for 4 to 7-year-old horses and/or M and G ponies, 7-year-olds only with no more than one success in show jumping or young horse classes L and/or higher.

Class M for 5 to 7-year-old horses and/or M and G ponies, 7-year-olds only with no more than one success in show jumping or jumping horse tests class M and/or higher.

3 Tips for successful training of young horses

1. How often should you train your young horses?

Especially if you are new to training young horses, but still have a lot of experience with horses, the question arises as to how often you should ride a 3-year-old horse. The more structured among us create training plans in young horse training to record what, when and how much the young horse does. However, the rule of thumb is that a 3-year-old horse is worked 3 times a week, a 4-year-old horse is worked 4 times a week and a 5-year-old horse is worked 5 times a week. From the age of 6 it becomes more flexible. Of course, this rule of thumb is only theoretical and refers to the work of young horses, which includes lunging, riding and ground work. 

When breaking in three-year-old, four-year-old or older riding horses for the first time, it is advisable to ride the horses repeatedly for 10 to 20 minutes in the first few days to get them used to riding. After that, you should pay attention to the horse's needs and not overdo it, as the horses are still growing and do not yet have the mental capacity of older and more experienced riding horses. In concrete terms, this means that you should not work a three-year-old, broken-in horse more than three times a week. You should also allow the young horse contact with other horses of the same species and make sure that the young horses get regular exercise in the paddock or paddock. After all, the horses must first be able to cope with being broken in, ridden or lunged. A horse walker is no substitute for time in the paddock or paddock.

2. Youngster training: step by step

Every small step, whether it's getting used to the equipment or sitting in the saddle for the first time, means a lot to the horse. That's why we should enjoy the small steps in young horse training and not move on to the next step too quickly. If something goes well, you can take the next step, but if what you've learned doesn't work, you can take another step back. 

A good example of this is standing still when mounting. You have practiced for weeks that your horse stops at the mounting aid, had a second person to hold the horse and can now mount your young horse without help. After a few weeks your horse becomes impatient and takes a step forward when mounting, after two more days it starts to walk while you swing your leg over the saddle. A few weeks later, it will no longer stand still at the mounting aid. What now? Riding works, but getting on the horse has become difficult. 

Then you have to take another step back and focus on keeping your young horse standing still. So now you start again from the beginning. Stand on the mounting aid, lie over it, down again, stand still, praise, get on the mounting aid, praise, down again and so on. Until standing still on the climbing aid has stabilized again. Then mount, dismount, mount, dismount. Not all in one day, of course! But keep it up continuously over days and weeks so that the horse can internalize the calm stop.

As you may have noticed by now, the step-by-step approach is energy-sapping, but is beneficial for the rest of the horse's life. Because once a horse learns something properly, it never forgets it. 

3. Developing a youngster-training plan

Horses are individuals; your friend's young horse has completely different requirements to your own. While one horse makes a lot of training progress quickly, the other horse needs longer to achieve the same goals. That's why an individually tailored young horse training plan can help to monitor training progress and regression and adapt the training to the horse's needs.