Is it true that Curly Horses mature slower? What age is it safe to begin training them?
According to Deb Bennett, all breeds of horses do mature at the same rate, even the ones that by their appearance seem to mature slower or faster than others. “NO matter what the horse looks like or how thick the bones feel, there is a closure order that does not change, regardless of breed. We look for the front of the knee to close by 2 years of age. The horse’s back is the last to close at 6 years of age. The hocks are also relatively slow to close. Damage done is not reversible, although sometimes repair mechanisms lead to reasonable function. Horses ought to be sound for decades. Waiting the extra couple of years in the beginning will lead to a better long term future. However ground work, taken from the various natural horsemanship programs available today, is great for developing the mind and manners. Small riders can de-sensitize to weight and movement on the back – as long as the horse is not asked to do much. Circles, as in lunging, at trot and canter can do serious damage es
