| your horse turns two, you can finally consider beginning | | | | it does not slip or irritate him. Free longing and longing in |
| his training to be a riding horse. Assuming that he | | | | tack is a great way to get him used to working with a |
| already knows the basics of being led and tied, he is | | | | saddle and bridle. |
| now mature enough to handle light work, and real | | | | Two year olds are full of energy and need to keep |
| training. | | | | their minds busy. Another great way to prepare your |
| It is possible to begin training your two-year-old to | | | | horse for being ridden is to teach him how to long line. |
| longe. While it may seem simple, longing can be quite | | | | Long lining is when you use two long lines, or reins, so |
| hard on a young horse’s joints, so be careful | | | | that you can drive your horse from behind or from the |
| not to use too small a circle, or to longe for an | | | | middle of a circle, so that he learns basic rein aids. This |
| extended amount of time. Instead, use short sessions, | | | | will set you well ahead of the game when it comes to |
| starting at a walk, and slowly progressing to trot work. | | | | backing him when he is three. |
| Most two-year-olds are not yet balanced enough to | | | | Continue taking your youngster for walks around the |
| manage a canter on a longe line, so it is better to avoid | | | | property and taking him out to shows for visits. These |
| canter work for now. | | | | are great ways to accustom him to going new places |
| As you teach your youngster voice commands, | | | | and to learn to trust you no matter where he is. |
| consider teaching him to free longe. As a yearling, it | | | | It is best to leave backing your horse until he is three |
| was more of a game, but by two, you should be able | | | | years old. Many horses are started under saddle at |
| to start asking for specific transitions while free. If you | | | | two, and do fine, but it is easy to go too far too fast |
| are using a decent sized arena, you can also begin | | | | when you start that young. If you can’t resist |
| asking for some canter work. Avoid cantering in small | | | | getting on his back, stick to riding at a walk, and keep |
| round pens if possible as it is too hard on a | | | | the sessions short. |
| baby’s joints. | | | | Two-year-olds are still very young, and need a lot of |
| Another good idea is to introduce your two-year-old to | | | | turnout and free time. Don’t over work him, or |
| tack. He can learn to wear a saddle and bridle without | | | | he could become sour. He will have plenty of years of |
| too much difficulty. Take your time introducing new | | | | hard work ahead of him. Let him enjoy his youth as |
| equipment, and make sure to put it on securely so that | | | | much as possible. |