Debunking Perceptions of Where Your Horse “Should” Be

In my part of the world, I think most people consider a ‘colt’ to be 2-3 years old. However, in my barn, I would argue that 6 can very well still be considered a colt. I find that a lot of people use age as the sole determinant of where a horse should be in its training career. However, there are so many more factors that should influence our perceptions and expectations of where a horse ‘should’ be by a certain age. When you take into consideration the horse’s pedigree and training history, there can be a wide range of skill levels and abilities at the age of 2-3. However, when you compound that with factors like climate, geography, and the knowledge and skill level of the person(s) riding that horse, our expectations become a lot more fluid. This is why I preach the principle of helping a horse reach their maximum potential. Each horse is going to have different considerations that determine what their ‘best’ is and will be. On this episode, I'm discussing a few considerations to help you manage your expectations of your young horses and how to help them progress to be their best. Read the full show notes at philhaugenhorsemanship.com/podcast.