Anyone backed there own horse ?

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Shannenm99

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Ok so after so many viewings to get a new horse - I think I've made my mind to go for something totally unbanked :0
So many people are lying and covering things just for a sale !

I have backed and broke in 1 before !

How many of you have broke in your own 4 legged friends and how did it go ?
 
Backed my first when I was 12 and probably started another 5 in the intervening 25 years always my preference for any problems or hissy fits (mine or the horse) it's always been worth the mud,sweat and tears. Just bought an 8 month old to start it all again. I love a youngster as you can train them your way, no baggage.
 
Yeh been to see so many that don't live up to there owners words ! I feel the bond I had with my 4 year old grew so much when I broke him in and I knew him inside out !
Looking to go for a cobby type so shouldn't be too much hassle but at least when they so have just fits the age is to blame instead of pure cheek !
 
Yes, I backed my 4 yo- following lots of ground work - inhand, lunging and long lining. It was very rewarding and we have a great bond. Would recommend it but it's good to have an experienced friend/ trainer that you trust to help out if things ar'nt straightforward.
 
Exactly why I prefer youngsters got absolutely sick and tired of travelling up and down the country looking at horses that didn't bear any resemblance to the ad. I love the bond you develop and you really do get what you put in. Good luck.
 
I backed my TB mare 3 yrs ago. She was the easiest I've ever done, I think because I've had her since she was born. Hacked her out 4th time I ever sat on her! With a nanny cob of course!
 
I backed one of my own, had intended to send him away but he was so easy going I decided to give it a go myself. Really enjoyed the experience, bought him on very slowly doing plenty of long reining and lunging to build up his muscle. Luckily I keep mine at home so I could do something with him most days.

I found the most tricky part was getting him to accept the contact but we got there in the end. Its lovely when other people ride him and say how good he is, I can think 'I taught him that' although in truth most of his progress is down to his sweet nature :)
 
I was backing a friend's pony, who ended up staying as mine! :D

It's been hard work (mainly on the groundwork side of things) but he's worth it. He's my first to back, although have assisted with a few. I'm in the process of bringing him back into work after being turned away for 7 months, and once the basics are back in place I'll be getting a good instructor to help us progress further :)
 
Have a backed a few most have been straightforward - but one was extremely sharp and sensitive, stuck with it quietly and positively but it but took a long time to settle and relax in to work, I kept that one for 28yrs!! ha ha Make sure you are happy that you'll have the experience and tenancity to stick with it if things don't go quite to plan! Good Luck :)
 
Ive backed and broken few of my own before (1st when i was 11/12) and they were all the best behaved ive ever had!

i always prefer to back, break and bring on myself as you know exactly were you stand with the horse having already done all the ground work and you arnt inheriting someone elses bad habbits!
 
I have a 4yo who I will start to back this summer once Ive done my finals. I bought her as an all but unhandled 2yo and sat on her twice at 3 but wanted to give her time to mature. It has been a very rewarding experience watching her grow (literally, she shot up and is pushing 17.2hh now *gulp*) and we have such a lovely bond together on the ground. I don't know if its something you think would also be applicable to you, but since I've never backed anything from scratch before when I bought her I made sure I left room in my budget for regular instruction and to send her away to be backed if necessary. I will start backing her under guidance from my instructor, and fingers crossed if shes as sweet under saddle as she is to handle it will be plain sailing, but if I find shes too sharp/ difficult I would rather send her away and have it done properly than muck it up myself! Hope you find something thats perfect for you :)
 
We backed our now 5 year old; brought him for my novice 8 yo daughter at the time. Everyone said we were mad, oh how we proved them wrong. He's a spooky little number, but her riding (and falling) is all the better for it.

Just in the process of backing our 3 year old - slowly slowly. Done loads of ground work over the past few years with him.

I think it's the best way. Here's a picture of the first time the 3yo hacked out (being ridden, he's been walked out loads) with the 5yo

https://plus.google.com/photos/102031117164983978425/albums/5731603789574707665/5868976362478543202

It was quite amusing; a local horsey lady has driven past us in her car loads of times, seen the 3yo being walked, always gives us a nice smile. She drove past us on that day and her face said it all, she looked really happy for us that we'd finally backed him (or started to).
 
Yes I have fairly recently(last 2/3months) backed my young mare, rising 4. Had her 15 months now and I was not sure if I would do it myself but she has been a gem to break. It had been some years since I last backed a horse and I was not sure I had the nerve, but I have surprised myself :D

I starting hopping on while she was munching her hay, then I was led around the school twice, then got my dad to lead me out of the yard the next time, then I just hacked out with another horse, I only rode for a very small part of the ride as I walked her in hand but she was fab. The following weekend I just took her out on her own in hand as I have done plenty of times, and then I hoped on, and we did our first solo hack, I have since taken her out on her own and with others in the last 2 months and she has been super. Had our first trot last weekend, just a short one but she was fab. It has been so rewarding bringing her on myself :)
 
yep just back my 3rd one in 5 years they are kind of addictive and its such a positive experience. I have not had any bother with any of them really.
 
I backed my homebred on my own, she bucked like stink the first time she had a roller/saddle on but was very easy from there onwards, didn't mind me getting on and learnt very quickly and apart from the odd tantrum she has been pretty easy.
I would only buy an unbroken 4 year old if I could guarantee it untried as mistakes/accidents are hard to correct.
I worked in a racing breaking yard for 5 years when I was younger, we used to get most sent from the sales from yearlings upwards to break, it was a great job, most were failrly easy as very well handled but some were extremely 'hughly strung'!!(naughty little colts)
 
Just as a side note, just because they aren't backed yet doesn't mean all is perfect. Being handled badly as foals can mean neck damage. Accidents can also happen so just be sure you take bloods and do a comprehensive vet exam anyway. Not trying to be a negative nelly, just saying people can still hide things.

One of my homebreds would have been a nightmare to sell. Clean set of rads but I would have been inclined to spend 20 mins to go through all the ways she tried to kill herself by age 3! Including a head/neck injury as a foal. Was found in the morning spinning circles, blind, and in a terrible panic. Didn't think she would have lived never mind come right. But I could not not tell people about that. She is now 7 and no problems in that area. But once you sit there for 2 hours with your little filly resting her had on your lap waiting for the vet and talking to her the whole time, you aren't going to sell them!

Terri
 
Well, I backed mine (owned him sicne 15 mths) and he's been going really well, hacking out etc. Has hacked out on his own well too (only short hacks as he's officially 4 in May). However, over the last 2 weeks I have taken him to 2 smallish shows (one as just an experience - I wasnt competing him). Both times he dumped me on the floor, the 2nd time I took him to do a walk, trot test at a very very small competition. He is essentially napping and in the process spinning, broncing and dumping me on the floor!

As a result, he is going back to 'school'. I have an instructor I trust to help me nip this in the bud before it becomes an issue. I have probably asked him to cope in a situation he is not comfortable in too soon. He had been to inhand shows since aged 2 but obviously a ridden situation he is not dealing with as well. I took him to a dressage event today I was competing my other horse in as i wanted him to just come, be led about and not have any stress.

I am quite upset/annoyed as he was doing so well but, I guess sometimes you do have to take some steps back occasionally.
 
Yep, backed several. One of my own, two for a friend, currently doing another for myself. The first 3 were very straightforward, the one who stayed with me an absolute angel and the best horse I've had so far by a long shot. The current one is a very different ball game, big, sharp, scatty and opinionated, with some truly naff handling done before I got her. I've had a few moments wondering if I've overhorsed myself and/or taken on something with too many pre-existing problems, but patience and consistency have won out and she's now turning into a very nice, clever, and entertaining horse to work with.

Having also taken on horses as reschooling projects and a couple of challenging backed youngsters, on balance I'd rather start with a 2/3 year old and preferably something either with good basic ground manners or completely untouched. I wouldn't swap my current baby mare for the world, but I admit I bought her to get her away from some of the people who were going to be backing her to sell on if I hadn't. I still strongly suspect they'd have been in hospital and she'd've been in a can by now!
 
I've backed my two highlands. Little one is just backed, older one is now rising 7 and is a cracking little all rounder, who's turned his hoof to many things. It had a few moments where I wasn't too sure we'd end up here, but we have and he's great :)
 
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