08/26/2025
It's the age-old question... Literally.
Let's talk about what age is appropriate for starting a horse under saddle.
And my answer is...
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
It depends on the horse.
Anticlimactic, I know, but bear with me here. Before we dive deeper, I will say that I adamantly refuse to start any horse prior to their actual second birthday. I do not follow the "first of the year" 🐂💩.
But yes, it all depends on the horse. Before I start a horse under saddle, I evaluate them both physically and mentally because I believe both are equally important. So, let's talk about them!
Physical
We have all seen the scientific posts about joints closing, usually with a colored diagram of a horse skeleton showing what joints tend to close at what age. It's a great post, but it's a generalization and doesn't take into account other factors like body type (of both horse and rider), breed, health, etc.
Some breeds, like drafts and mustangs, tend to grow slower. I have seen them grow all the way up to 7 years old. They also take more time to fully fill out. On the other hand, I typically see thoroughbreds reach their mature height between 4 and 5, though they will continue to fill out and muscle up for a couple more years. These are two very different body types that need to be considered when starting a young horse.
One must also keep in mind the body type of the rider starting the horse. A young horse carrying my weight as a petite female is going to be under a lot less strain than one carrying the average adult male or a heavy-set rider of any gender. Type and weight of the tack is also very important to factor into those calculations.
Finally, the health of the horse must also be taken into consideration. Are they at an appropriate weight? Not too skinny, but not overweight either. Did the horse suffer any injury or illness prior to being started and is it currently affecting them? Is the horse physically mature enough for their age? These are all questions to ask yourself before a foot is put in the stirrup.
Mental
This is the often forgotten part of a horse's well-being. Is your horse mentally ready to be started under saddle?
Some horses mature slower than others. I have met 2yo horses wise beyond their years and I have met 10yo horses that would probably still be nursing from their mothers if humans had not intervened. Sometimes this is human error--horses that aren't exposed to life or given a good foundation can certainly be crippled down the road from a sheltered style of handling. Sometimes it is just the nature of the horse and no amount of training or exposure will fix that. They just need time.
I have certainly sent horses home, or at least delayed and "dumbed down" their training because they simply were not mentally ready to meet the tasks at hand. They needed a little more time to grow up before they were ready for school. Other young horses surpass milestones faster than horses twice their age because they have the mental capacity to absorb and retain knowledge.
If these answers were not satisfying, then I will sum it all up with this:
I typically start horses, so long as they are physically and mentally mature, VERY LIGHTLY between 2 and 2.5 years. The key words being "very lightly" meaning they walk and trot in the ring and occasionally go on easy trail rides. Once they surpass their 3rd birthday, I will start working more on the canter and maneuvers. I do not jump horses before their 4th birthday.
Again, this all depends on the physical and mental status of the horse and please bear in mind I am 5'6" and 120lbs. It does not take much effort for a horse to carry me. I currently have a 3.5yo mustang who is not started under saddle because she was malnourished in utero and it stunted her growth. Physically, she is not ready. My 2yo fjord c**t has had three rides now because he is physically and mentally mature enough to handle my weight on his back for a couple walking laps around the arena. My mustang mare Pocket was started under saddle at 2.5 years old, lightly trail ridden for a year, and then started more seriously at 3.5 years old.
There is no set age for starting a horse, but as a good horseman or horsewoman you should be able to evaluate all these aforementioned things in your horse to make the best possible decision.
