Piggy French, a celebrated name in the world of eventing and a master producer of young equine talent, returns to guide us through the crucial stages of preparing four-year-old horses for a thriving career. Following our exploration into starting three-year-olds, this installment focuses on building upon that foundation and nurturing the four-year-old’s potential. As we embark on this journey, remember the core principle: simplicity.
Re-Breaking and Foundations: Keeping It Simple
As four-year-olds emerge from their well-deserved break post their initial backing as three-year-olds, typically around late spring, it’s time to gently reintroduce them to work. Think of this period as a “re-breaking” phase, allowing a couple of weeks to refresh their understanding and responses. It’s crucial to approach this stage with humility, never assuming a young horse’s reaction. Provide them ample time and the optimal environment to meet your behavioral expectations. Ideally, this re-introduction process, having been established during their three-year-old year, should now be significantly quicker, perhaps taking only a third of the time.
At this stage, simplicity reigns supreme in equipment. All four-year-olds under Piggy French’s guidance are ridden in straightforward snaffle bridles. Fancy or complex equipment is unnecessary and can be counterproductive at this formative stage.
Getting Them Moving with Hacking: Building Fitness and Confidence
The training regimen resumes where it left off the previous year, emphasizing extensive hacking. Daily hacks are essential initially to get them going and build a solid base fitness. Once the horse is confidently accepting of a rider, hacking can be incorporated a few days a week, balancing it with more structured schooling sessions. Consistency and regularity are key once they are back in work, ensuring a harmonious blend of relaxed hacks and focused training.
Varied Work and Outings: Expanding Horizons and Experience
Variety is the spice of life, and this holds true for young horse training. Piggy French advocates for varied work at this stage to maintain engagement and prevent boredom. Work might include a leisurely hack one day, followed by trotting exercises in an open field, or incorporating pole work in the arena. Crucially, this is the time to introduce outings in a lorry or trailer (depending on your location) to quiet, non-competitive venues. This acclimatizes them to loading, unloading, and traveling without the pressure of performance, which is vital for their future competition careers.
Planning outings strategically is as important as the outing itself. A balanced weekly schedule might consist of a hack, followed by arena work, and then an outing on the third day. Preparation is paramount – avoid outings if the horse has been idle for a week. The goal is for them to be relaxed, trusting, and receptive to your requests when introduced to new environments.
Competition Venue Exposure: Desensitization without Pressure
To further desensitize the young horses, Piggy French takes four-year-olds to competitions alongside older, seasoned horses. However, they are not entered to compete themselves. Instead, they are ridden around the venue, allowing them to absorb the atmosphere without the stress of performance expectations. Lunging the young horse before riding at the venue is a considerate practice, allowing them to release any pent-up energy or exuberance. This exposure allows them to become accustomed to loudspeakers, horseboxes, other horses, and the general bustle of a competition environment.
During these venue visits, the focus remains on basic flatwork. The horses are expected to trot calmly around the arena perimeter without leaning in and respond obediently to directional aids. Introducing circles helps them develop shape and roundness, and transitions between paces are practiced, emphasizing relaxation and forwardness throughout.
Developing Flatwork and Jumping Skills: Building Confidence Over Fences
The next step involves hiring a local arena with a small, inviting course of fences. The approach is to trot calmly over these small obstacles, gradually building their confidence with jump fillers and other potentially “spooky” elements. This phase is about positive reinforcement and creating a comfortable jumping experience, not about pushing for height or complexity.
Cross-Country Schooling with a Lead: Navigating New Terrain
Introducing cross-country schooling requires a supportive and confidence-building approach. Piggy French utilizes a lead horse – an older, experienced partner – to guide the four-year-olds over small cross-country fences, through water, and over ditches. While some horses possess natural bravery, others are more hesitant. For these cautious horses, following a lead horse provides a clear demonstration of what is expected and reassures them that they are capable. This method makes navigating new obstacles seem achievable and less intimidating.
Early Competitions and Breaks: Friendly Introductions and Essential Rest
Building upon their training, the next milestone might be entering an unaffiliated .80m one-day event. The emphasis is on a positive experience. If the horse completes the event in a relaxed, willing, and “friendly” manner, Piggy French considers this a significant achievement. Following such an experience, a break of a month or even a few months is beneficial.
While age classes might be a consideration for some, Piggy French views them as less critical for young horses’ long-term development, often seeing them more as showcases than essential training stages. She firmly believes that four-year-olds do not need to compete at championships to become successful event horses.
These breaks, typically lasting a month or so, are strategically timed, often coinciding with periods when Piggy French is focused on competing her older horses at higher levels. This downtime is crucial for both physical and mental maturation. Rest allows the young horses to grow, develop muscle, and consolidate what they have learned. Remarkably, Piggy French notes that almost all horses return from these breaks seemingly more advanced, having mentally and physically matured during their time off.
Progression and Autumn Hunting: Advancing Skills and Building Forward Thinking
After a four to six-week break, the training cycle resumes, revisiting and reinforcing the earlier work. It’s crucial to remember that these are still young horses, and fairness and consistency remain paramount. Avoid rushing their progress without proper preparation.
By the culmination of this training period, Piggy French expects the four-year-olds to be confidently cantering around a .90m course. Her philosophy prioritizes confidence and happiness over jumping imposing fences at a young age. They should be self-assured enough to unload from transport, trot calmly around the collecting ring on the bridle, and perform a basic dressage test.
For horses that are slightly more backward or require forward thinking, Piggy French advocates for a few mornings of autumn hunting. This experience encourages them to follow other horses, think forward, and develop a sense of enjoyment in their work.
In conclusion, Piggy French’s approach to training four-year-old event horses is a masterclass in patience, consistency, and understanding young equine minds. By keeping training simple, varied, and focused on building confidence at each stage – from re-breaking to early competitions – you are effectively guiding your young horse on the “Piggy The Hunt Guide” to a long and successful eventing career. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint, and laying a solid foundation in these early years is the key to unlocking their full potential.
Part three of this series, focusing on training five-year-olds for long-term success, is coming soon.
Read next: Hot Take: Letting Your Green Horse Refuse Jumps Can Actually Pay Off Later
Photography by Sophie Harris/SEH Photography for NoelleFloyd.com.
