Start ‘em young, treat ‘em right: How horses’ early life experiences can set them up for success in life

At what age is a horse ready to be trained and ridden? The answer to this question—which has long been debated—has become more complex in recent years as concerns that were historically based almost solely on horses' physical capacity have been replaced by a growing emphasis on their mental welfare. At a workshop held at the Jockey Club, Newmarket and co-hosted by Beaufort Cottage Educational Trust and the Graf Lehnsdorff Institute for Equine Science, this subject was discussed with a wide range of stakeholders.