Hi Laura,

This week is actually pretty good for a visit. Give me a call 905-983-5465 and we'll plan a get together.

Where are you coming from?

Looking forward to meeting you.

Cheers,

Frances

thanks for the welcome, Laura-your mare is beautiful! You're right, mine is like a big puppy too, even though he just turned 16.He's a smarter horse than I am a human-lol. I'm 58, but most of my experience has been with 'rental" horses-keys in the ignition, ready to go, and Bismark has taught me so much! I've always loved Canada, been through Ontario a long time ago, nicest folks I've ever met! Now I have another reason to love Canada!

HI Laura,

I'mglad to see you are enjoying your fillly. I was surprised to rad that you are planning to back her as a 2 year old.

There have been many discussions about the tight age to  start a Canadian, and the gerneral consenus is that, due to their slow growth, they should not be backed until 3 at the earliest.

I am pasting a comment (not mine)  from the Canadian Horse group  on Yahoo that I think gives some really strong points about age at which to back your Canadian:

 My personal regime is NO longing, ever, (hard on their knees), and very
>
lightly breaking them to saddle and/or harness in their third year (but
>
fourth year is better). I think ponying is great exercise for
young
horses,
> the same benefits as longing, but without the harm to
their joints.
>
> I think asking for collection before a horse is
mature enough is also
quite
> harmful.
>
> I also factor in
mental maturity. My Canadien mare, as a two year old, was
a
> complete
dork. Definitely not grown up yet. This year, as a three year
old,
>
she is a different horse (especially after being beat up by other mares
>
while at the stallion's - hooray!). She is more mentally prepared for
the
> training process, but I will still only ride her very lightly this
year.
My
> goal is to have a life-long partner who is SOUND forever ...
and training
a
> horse as a two year old quite possibly could lead to
mental and physical
> break down - in my opinion, of course! Proof of this
are the number of
sound
> aged cutting horses out there (practically
none) ... and the number of
> horses who were started young who now have
vices (weaving, cribbing, etc.)
> ... in my way of thinking, it is not
worth it.
>
> My mare gets a year of light riding, a year to be a
mommy, and then
another
> year of more serious riding when she is
five.
>
> However, only YOU know what is right for both you and your
horse, and no
> matter what anyone tells you, the decision is
yours.
>