Horse Training - What You Can Do With a Two or Three Year Old Horse

Thoroughbred racehorses run as two-year-olds whereas other breeds like the Icelandic Horse are traditionally left until they are five or more years old. There is less chance of making a mistake by waiting longer, than starting too soon.

Breeding

Two is also the age at which horses are beginning to mature sexually although this varies between individuals. At two (or younger) a young stallion may be capable of breeding mares resulting in unplanned foals. If it hasn't been done before this point, young stallions may be gelded. Mares too are sexually mature somewhere between their first and third year, depending on their environment. Keep un-gelded colts and young mares apart.

Mares and stallions should have to prove their worth before they are considered as breeding stock. Breeding stock should be carefully chosen for outstanding conformation, performance, temperament, and absence of hereditary diseases in their bloodline. The future of offspring also needs to be carefully thought out. Having foals for the sake of having foals, or because no one noticed an un-gelded colt pasture breeding mares ensures a good supply of unwanted horses. At two or three-years-old, few horses have proved they are worth breeding.

A two-year-old should have excellent ground manners, including loading onto a trailer, whether the next step to riding or driving will be taken sooner or later. A two-year-old can be lunged, ground driven, round penned, driven hitched to a light vehicle, and at the owner's discretion, ridden. This is the age when they become a useful horse and learning how to carry a rider or pull a horse-drawn vehicle.