Advice for riding recently backed horse please

phantomhorse

phantomhorse

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Are you concerned initially how the horse carries its head as long as its relaxed and forward going? I am not used to riding a totally 'unmade' horse and am hacking a 4 year old out a 2 or 3 times a week. Just roadwork mostly at walk with some very short bursts of trot. Shes willing but also quite spooky still, head up and ears pricked watching everything ahead with anticipation. I am not used to riding a horse with its head in this position but am also aware that she is very green and young and I do not want to dampen her willingness to go forward and enjoy her hacks. So I have not tried to correct her at all. Looking at her critically, she definitely does need more muscle along her crest. I cannot lunge or longrein her so thats not an option. So should I be concerned at how shes going or just let her be until shes less green? Is this normal????
 
Don't be concerned with her head carriage at the moment. She is still young, still learning and most importantly hasn't yet developed the correct muscles to carry herself correctly. I wouldn't be attempting any collection and just focus on keeping a nice, steady, elastic rein and giving her plenty of time to strengthen her back end.:) Forwards and straight should be your objectives at the moment!:D
 
blazingsaddles said:
Don't be concerned with her head carriage at the moment. She is still young, still learning and most importantly hasn't yet developed the correct muscles to carry herself correctly. I wouldn't be attempting any collection and just focus on keeping a nice, steady, elastic rein and giving her plenty of time to strengthen her back end.:) Forwards and straight should be your objectives at the moment!:D
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I agree with the above. She needs to be getting used to finding her balance and coping with having the rider on. Hacking two or three times is enough, with perhaps a short session in the school once a week. You need to be building up her confidence too out hacking - the more calm hacks you have the better. sometimes its good to hack with other calm horses, but she does need to go alone as well. Take your time, its wo rth it.
 
blazingsaddles said:
Don't be concerned with her head carriage at the moment. She is still young, still learning and most importantly hasn't yet developed the correct muscles to carry herself correctly. I wouldn't be attempting any collection and just focus on keeping a nice, steady, elastic rein and giving her plenty of time to strengthen her back end.:) Forwards and straight should be your objectives at the moment!:D
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Thank you. I just didnt know what I should be expecting from her. Ive read lots of book about backing and schooling and the horses in the photos always go so well. Its depressing. Really wish theyd show a few more 'real' horses when first ridden. LOL.

Straight! Yes straight!!!! That would be nice LOL. Unless you concentrate 150% shes meandering (sp?) all over the place down the lanes. I've been working on keeping her straight, halting, standing quietly for short spells and do a few up and down transitions using my seat and legs. Shes good and picking it up quickly bless her. She was backed in March then her elderly owner was ill so she hasnt been ridden since. I didnt know what to expect when I took her out for a short walk for the first time last week but she was very good. Keen, a bit worried, rather full of shies at every turn but I was really happy with her considering she is going out on her own and has hasnt been ridden since being backed and ridden away in March. (Im secretly hoping to buy her down the line as her elderly owner really isnt up to a 16.2 4 year old and Im sure if I can prove I can work with her mare shell consider it by winter) Fingers crossed :)
 
Honey08 said:
I agree with the above. She needs to be getting used to finding her balance and coping with having the rider on. Hacking two or three times is enough, with perhaps a short session in the school once a week. You need to be building up her confidence too out hacking - the more calm hacks you have the better. sometimes its good to hack with other calm horses, but she does need to go alone as well. Take your time, its wo rth it.
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Thank you Honey08. So hacking 2 or 3 times a week is enough? Thats good as I did not want to get her too fit nor tire her too much and put her off being ridden. I think today I did too much (I got lost) and we were out for almost an hour. Only walking but still, too much for her. I was planning on resting her for a couple of days before hacking out again next week. I try to keep the sessions to about 2 miles of roadwork, taking about 30 - 40 mins which allows for our 'learning to stand and relax sessions' along the way.

We do have a menage but it is very small, about 25m wide by about 50m. I dont like riding in it because she is a big rangy horse and its quite small for her. I do walk her up there and walk around the perimeter to keep her used to being in there but wouldnt think it was much good for much else at this stage in her training?
 
definately let her find her feet so to speak first. mine used to look all round her when first hacked out and still does sometimes. she wont be fighting with you for her head then
 
Agree with the others that forwards an straight is your main objective at the moment. She will be spooky as she is a baby but if you are non-reactive she should settle, could you still have out with another horse every now and again so she doesn't lose confidence?
25x50 is big enough for walk/trot work. You just want to be doing straight lines (preferably off the track so she is not relying on the fence) 20m circles and 3 loop serpentines. I also quite like teaching them turn on the forehand quite early on. Until she really finds her balance just trot down the long sides :)
 
I ride my 4 yr old who is 16.2-16.3 4 times a week for around 20 mins if lunging and 30-40 mins if schooling or hacking. in winter she hacks all the time. straight and forward for now are fine. i dont worry at all about head carriage apart form she is not really allowed to poke her nose out, she can have her nose in front but not really poky. stay calm, let her see things, wlak puddles trot puddles make noises, splashes, hop logs, nothing in a hurry you have all the time in the world with a baby. also stop and let her stand while you talk to people. go out with ohters who are sensible, on you own etc.
 
I've just remembered this quote from Gamebird which I think is a good attitude to have when riding babies.

Gamebird said:
I like to treat my youngsters as bicycles - I use them to deliver stuff round the village, go to the shop, stop and talk to people and go to the pub. That way they get an education and I get a drink!! :eek: :D
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gamebird
I like to treat my youngsters as bicycles - I use them to deliver stuff round the village, go to the shop, stop and talk to people and go to the pub. That way they get an education and I get a drink!!

:D I must remember my purse next time!
 
broke_but_happy said:
could you still hack out with another horse every now and again so she doesn't lose confidence?
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I havent had the opportunity to yet, altho we did pass two horses on the lane going the other way this morning. We were at one of our stand and relax spots as they approached so I kept her standing and she just watched them go right past. We then rode in the opposite direction to them (and away from the yard) and she went on without a grumble. Good girl. Im hoping to time it so I will find someone else to ride out with but I just wanted to take her out quietly the first few times to see how shed go and whether shed try and get me off. She hasnt, and she doesnt manage to dislodge me even when she does her most dramatic out-of-the-blue all 4 legs off the ground and then bolt forward shys. So I am feeling more confident on her already :rolleyes:
 
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