At what age of a Arabian horse is it ok to ride?

Favorite Answer

I would wait until the age of 4 for an Arab to be started under saddle (all horses have the same growth rate, some just have a smaller build). However until then there is plenty of vital groundwork that can lead up to being ready for the saddle, desensitizing, disengaging, lunging, respect, leading etc.

Starting a horse to early often has ill effects such as Athritis and Swayback. I see swaybacked horses all too often, whilst it isn't always from being started to early most of the time I see a swayback horse, it is. This can make fitting saddles a nightmare, could possibly prohibit you from doing shows aswell as making it harder to sell your horse.

Swayback Photos:
http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000Y.OnWhjL0bU/s/650/650/11337-Swaybacked-Horse.jpg
http://www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/pictures/files/7/8/1/1/danar020.jpg

Here's are good article as to why not to start a horse too early: http://www.webertrainingstables.com/riding-young

I suggest you get a good trainer to work with you and the horse and do not start the horse until at least 4 if you want a long living, healthy horse....Show more

As with any other horse you need to have the basics perfected before you even look into jumping. All Arabs are thin boned, and generally poor jumpers but like always there are always a few that are okay/good. Small exercises such as ground poles and slanted ground poles are not only used to improve striding, but they're also a brilliant way to introduce jumping as the horse needs to think about co-ordination and where its feet are. I would be doing that at 4 and half, no earlier. I would expect the horse to be jumping 2ish feet by age 6, and up to 3 feet by 7. It isn't common for Arabs to safely clear a jump over that height. When it comes to training, you must know what you're doing. Arabians are one of the smartest breeds so you need to be on your game. I own 2 Arabians, they're 12 and 8. The 8 year old, Atlas, was broken to the saddle at 5, and was only taught to jump this past year. He doesn't clear 3 foot rails, but he doesn't hesitate to jump a 3 foot fallen log when trail riding. He is in training for endurance, so a bit of jumping is useful there. All in all, an Arabian is just a breed and should be introduced to/taught jumping like any other horse. The only difference is the age at which you should start....Show more

It's not about being "big enough"
A draft horse is "big enough" but a draft doesn't fully mature til he's 8 and maybe closer to 10.

Your horse's knees don't close til the age of 2.
Then his spine is still developing til the age of 5.

People who ride 2 year olds do so, thanks to what they've seen/heard/been told by people who show/compete for money/ribbons/fame/fortune.
The faster they get the horse ridden, the faster they can compete and win.
Is that ok for the horse? No.
There are lots of horses who end up washed up before they are even 5 years old!

Doesn't matter how much you weigh or how tall you are.

Your horse still does not mature in the spine til the age of 5.

So, if you want your horse to not have back trouble you'll:
1) do all of the necessary ground work
2) wait til the horse is closer to 5 before you put any weight (saddle/rider)

If you do all of the ground work now, by the time the horse is ready, you'll have an easy first ride, and every ride after that will be a piece of cake.

Ground work is what makes it all happen.
Not rushing to get on the horse's back.

There's way too many people who rush, and end up hurting the horse and messing things up, than there are those willing to wait and go at the horse's physical and emotional pace.

If you do it right.....you've got a healthy horse for the next 30 years....Show more

We don't attempt extensive training until the horse is four years of age, because this is typically when the have finished growing (for most horses-- not just Arabians). However, we have ridden some of our two-year-olds (very very very very very) lightly (with a 90lbs rider), but three-years is better. The question as to "when it will be big enough" is all in genetics, nutrients, and good breeding. Some Arabians don't exceed 13HH while others (sparingly) graze 16HH. The norm is certainly 14HH-15HH, which should fit you relatively well. If you want a more definite answer, you can contact your veterinarian ($$$) and have him overlook your horse's growth.

I'm not big on these things. I like horses, but my parents are the Arabian nuts. I pick up thing here-and-there, but I can't give you a run-away answer. Contact a few people you trust.

Take care. And, good luck. Have fun. Learn lots....Show more

Start riding it at no earlier than 5 years of age. Arabians mature later than other breeds. Just because of the risks of damaging the growth plates, which do mature later than that of other horses, I'd recommend starting riding anywhere from 5-6 years.

Isn't this a question you should be asking your trainer, anyway?...Show more