If you’ve been around horses for any period of time, it becomes readily apparent that they are individuals with distinct preferences, personalities, talents, and work ethics. Knowing this, one of the true arts of horse training is knowing how to get the best out of the individual.
For owners, the struggle can be how to set them up to peak at the right time to have success in the show pen. We spoke with Jess Duffy of Streit Show Horses to get her insights into why some horses peak early, while others take more time.
Foundation Matters
Like all disciplines that take training, the foundation for the training makes a big difference in an individual’s success down the road. If the foundation is weak, the result will also be weak.
“I cannot stress enough how important the foundation of training is for setting up your horse for success – whether they show futurities or show as older animals,” Duffy explains.
“If they come into a training program sensible and not overworked or spoiled, they are in the best position to get a good start.”
“To give a clear analogy, if a child goes to kindergarten knowing their letters and numbers, school will be easier and less stressful. However, if they go to kindergarten knowing nothing, school will probably be more difficult, and they will take more time to catch up.”
“Even if your goal isn’t to have a futurity horse, the foundation still matters for setting your horse up for success. If your horse comes into training understanding that they need to give to pressure and that the release of pressure is the reward, they will be on the right path to peak sooner than later.”
Consistency in Training
The next factor in making it more likely that a horse will peak sooner than later is whether they have been in a consistent program.
Duffy laughs, “It may sound self-serving, but even if your intention is for your horse to peak when they are older, you should still get them in a training program sooner than later.”
“The best way to have a horse reach their full potential is through consistency and the best way to be consistent is to have them in a regular training regimen.”
“Obviously, if the intention is to have a horse peak sooner, then they will need to be pushed more. If your intention is to have them peak later, they can come along at a slower pace, but it should still be consistent.
“I’m a firm believer that the best mentality to have is ‘when they’re ready, they’re ready’ because then you can tailor a plan to the horse’s ability and potential for success.”
She continues, “Some owners have no intention of making a futurity horse, but the horse indicates they are capable of it and, if you start them young, you have the option. Whereas, others come in with the hopes of being a futurity horse and it quickly becomes apparent that likely isn’t the right path, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be an incredible horse down the road.”
Mental Maturity
There are certain factors as to when a horse will peak that are out of the owner and trainer’s hands and their mental maturity is certainly one of those factors.
Duffy explains, “An immature horse doesn’t mean they are bad-minded, it just means they need time to understand what you’re asking and may require more repetition before the concept becomes clear.”
“Like people, some horses figure out the program quickly and others take a minute. Most of them eventually do mature, but some just require a little more patience.”
Physical Maturity
Physical maturity goes hand-in-hand with mental maturity; however, you can manipulate this factor a little more.
“If your intention is for a horse to peak early, you want to begin with a great feeding program. You want to help them grow without being over or underweight. A strong, consistent feeding program is one way to set a horse up for success early on, or even as an older individual.”
Duffy explains, “The reality is, to peak early, the horse needs to be able to hold up to consistent riding and be physically capable of using their body properly to hold themselves together. This doesn’t necessarily mean the tallest horse, but the stronger horses tend to peak sooner.”
Bloodlines Matter
“I know a lot of people say, ‘you don’t ride the papers,’ but bloodlines matter. Some lines are known to make more futurity horses than others.”
She adds, “Of course, bloodlines aren’t ever a guarantee, but over the years, we’ve become familiar with certain breeding which helps us understand trends and which horses may be more likely to peak young.”
“Even if your intention is to have your horse peak later in life, knowing the breeding can make a difference because some lines respond better to certain training techniques. Having a trainer who is familiar with the breeding of your horse can be an added factor in setting your horse up for success.”
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Whether your intention is to make a futurity horse or set them up for success down the road, if you build a strong foundation, stay consistent, and tailor your program to the individual, your chances of them peaking at the right time is high.
