How old should a horse be when you break it in

This depends on the horse's breed and size. Thoroughbred racehorses are backed (saddled and taught to allow somebody to lean across the saddle to use them to the weight) as yearlings and raced (full work) as two-year-olds. At this time their bones are still growing, they are not physically mature at all. They resultantly have a higher rate of injuries. Because of the hard work before they reach full strength, they often wear up and die early - fifteen instead of thirty. I personally believe that the racing of such young horses is a cruel practice. In France especially, people like to eat horse meat. Several breeds of horse have been specially bred because they are bulky and muscular and mature fast. These horses are fully grown and can be slaughtered at age two. Because of this early growth rate, if they are used for riding instead of meat they can be broken in as yearlings and ridden lightly as two year olds. Most horses are broken in as two-year-olds. The process of breaking in, at first just working in a halter, then a bridle, and then with a longe line and longreins, can take well over six months before the horse is ready to be ridden. At three years, most horses being trained for pleasure riding are started on some light riding. By the time they are four, they have stopped growing and are ready for full work as hard as is required of them. A few horses do mature more slowly than this. I forget exactly which breed, I think that it is a haflinger, it should not be worked until it is five years old. These horses are not started until they are three or four. They do make very good kid horses because they have a wild spirit and are a little bit fiesty.