When to ride a draft cross?

[4bigfeet]

Hi, need advice on when to ride my 1/2Clyde(dam) Thoroughbred/paint cross filly. She will be 3 the 2nd of May 2005. My daughter has been riding her on short training rides for the last 6 months (my daughter weighs just under 100 pounds)
but I am a big girl at 5'8" - 160 pounds (actual weight). I ride either bareback or english so add the weight of the saddle. Concerned about hurting her bone development so I will wait until she is developed enough to handle my weight but WHEN is that?? She has good bone and is 16 1" at this time - approx. 1200 pounds. Any advice? thank you

[Jeanie Connors]

Horses won't finish maturing, physically, until around 5 or 6 years old. The bones in the back mature last, and obviously will be important in determining when to ride :) . Growth will slow down significantly as they get closer to that 5 or 6 year mark, but in general, the longer you wait to do a lot of serious riding, the better. :)

[Gary_Miller]

Most horses are started at two and can be ridden as you like at three with no problems. I don't think you are two heavy to start riding a horse this big. In fact I think you have missed out on at least six months of enjoyment.

So have fun and go ride.

Gary

[Jeanie Connors]

Without getting into the huge debate of "when to start a young horse", the size of the horse has very little to do with how mature the animal is. A lot of horses are started at two; a lot of horses are retired by age 15 for body complaints :rolleyes: .

There are a lot of fun activities to do with young horses besides riding :) . I think it's great you have taken the time and are putting a lot of good thought into starting your filly. Have you thought about teaching her to drive? I think driving is a blast, myself, and a great thing to teach a horse.

(I don't think your weight is a problem for riding her a little now, "training rides" is a good term, but easing into it when she's still as young as she is will help prolong her useful productive years.)

[4bigfeet]

Thank you both for your guidence...It is most appreciated. I love the idea of driving her!
Leigh

[Post-Equ]

You should deffintly try ground driving if you haven't. I would do it as often as I can my little colt an we had great times going for walks down the road and even though he is older and is trained under saddle an such we still do it, its something diffrent an you can figure out stuff to do, we went everywhere woods, down the road to see the kids at the park ( they LOVED it) :) , gets them used to having reins and an is jus a great thing to do with a young or older horse, I've done it with older ones who are retired from riding an I want to jus get them off the property an doing somthing fun. Its a lost art not many people do it I'm sure your daughter would enjoy it too, really once you an the horse get used to it in a safe place its fun to explore and great for both you and the horse. though you may get the "hey thats a BIG dog" joke a lot trust me I did :p . Just make sure you get some one to show you how to do it right like with all training an you an your filly will have fun. Btw 1/2Clyde(dam) Thoroughbred/paint cross filly that is a sweet combo does she have the paint markings? hehe