Horse owners often wonder what they can do with their horses at any given age. What can you do with a foal, weanling, yearling or two year old? What should you be training them? What are they capable of? Here's a brief overview of what you can do with your horse from birth through to maturity.

 

What can I do with and train a foal?

Foals need gently handling, very short sessions and lots of time to learn how to be horses from other horses.

Lessons are best kept short and simple.

What can I do with and train a weanling?

In addition to learning to be a horse by learning to respect other horses, weanlings need to learn to respect people.

What can I do with and train a yearling?

A yearling can start learning to be a good citizen and should be able to stand quietly tied, have it’s feet handled and a few other basic behavior. It’s not yet time to learn to be ridden, but the groundwork for a well mannered horse under saddle can be laid.

What can I do with and train a two or three year old?

At two or three, it’s time to learn to be a saddle horse. There’s no need to rush this, as it’s better to let the horse’s body to mature before asking it to learn to carry a rider. But, a two or three year old is ready to at least learn what a saddle and bridle is all about.

What can I do with and train a four or five year old?

At four or five years old, the horse’s training can start in earnest, and training taken beyond the basics. Here’s what your four or five year old is ready to handle.

What can I do with a horse between the ages of five and fifteen?

‘You teach your horse every time you ride or handle it’ is a common saying in the horse world. And just because your horse is mature doesn’t mean that training stops.

What can I do with my senior horse?

What can you teach a senior horse? Anything you want. And, just because your horse is older, doesn’t mean it can’t have a complete career change—within reason.