Anyone break in their own cobs?

[Devonshire dumpling]

As title really, and did you run into any problems!

 

[Cedars]

I'm doing a mixture... I'm not sending her away, but I am having an 'expert' help me a lot.

That is because of my inexperience, though, not because I think she's going to be difficult. I think she is going to be a piece of p... to do. The groundwork is really easy atm, she's finding everything very relaxed.

Good luck!

 

[Beatrice5]

I have backed my 2 horses. One is Cob x Arab the other New Forest. Both different. Both easy ( so far - I am awaiting a hiccup but so far so good )

I think too much is made of the whole process. It should just be a gradual acclimatisation to tack, voice commands, handling, traffic and all very calm and low key.

I took my time and started walking out in hand , then tacking up quietly at home and walking them around. Then tacking up a bit more clumsily lifting flaps patting saddle wiggling it about etc. Building to leaning over and letting them feel my weight. Lunging is better with 2 people but I managed on my own with patience and practise again I kept it relaxed and short and sweet. My rides are circular and if they tire I hop off and we walk together. I start them off going out alone as more horses have problems going out alone than in company. They need to trust me and this has worked for me so far.

You have to adjust your process for each horse and spend time on the bits required.

Just started taking my 2 yr old filly for a little walk to the road this morning. First time she has walked away from mum and her pal and she loved it. Just 5 mins, talking to her and reassuring her next time we'll go a bit further etc. Then we came home for a groom and popped the saddle on just to let her feel it and see it.

I aim to back her at 3 ie just literally sit on her for 5 mins but begin the routine of wearing tack, climbing on. walk, stop, turn then hop off and turn her out. Then she can come out on the lead rein when I hack her mum occasionally to see traffic and become a bit more worldly. I aim to start her riding properly at 4 but it will be walking out 2 or 3 times a week as she is going to be a big girl and I don't want to stress her joints but she will be ready to see a bit of the world.

She is currently 15.2 in a 6ft rug and twice as wide as her mum so she will not struggle with me at 9 stone sitting on her for a few mins as a 3yr old.

 

[Sparkles]

Yes, and No generally

 

[CeeBee]

I'm having great fun 'breaking' Nemo. He is just so willing and easy going. I long-rein him all round the woods and bridle paths and he seems to really enjoy it. We meet walkers, dogs, cyclists, other horses etc. and nothing seems to phase him. Haven't actually been on the road yet, as no-one ever seems to be around to help me and don't want to do it on my own. His field is next to a haulage lorry park though, so he's certainly used to seeing them and hearing their air brakes go off
It's amazing how he has picked up my voice commands and is actually far more responsive to them long-reining rather than lunging. My daughters have sat on him and walked a few paces then got off, but I don't have a saddle for him yet, so not done any 'ridden' work. He is rising 4 so no rush anyway. Plus I am probably a tad too heavy for him, so hoping with all the extra exercise I am doing with the long reining by the time I have saved up for a saddle, I will have lost it all

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Beatrice we plan to do the same! Our boy is very wide and already 14,2 at the wither and 15 hands at the rump, hes 2 end of May. We intend to get him used to a bridle this summer and long reining, then next summer hop on board for some very light work. It's all so exciting, do you have any pics? Which bit did you start off with? cheers everyone X

 

[Theresa_F]

I bought Stinky as a yearling and did everything with him, though I had an instruction who specialised in youngsters overseeing us and making sure I didn't screw up.

Stinky was so easy to do, took it all in his stride though I did spend two years doing what some people do in a few weeks. He was long reined and wearing tack at 2, backed at 3 and started doing a bit of schooling when nearly 4. He started competiting at dressage and showing when nearly 5 and did jumping - 2' class at 5 1/2.

Gypsy cobs generally are very easy to do due to their temperament. Stinky bucked me off once, when he was backed after a few weeks and it was all my fault and he has never done it again and is now nearly 8.

He was so easy to sit on, I spent a few weeks leaning over him from the mounting block - he is 14.3, I am 5' and also got him used to me standing on the high step so I was above him and putting my foot in the stirrup as if I was to mount. I just simply swung my leg over and sat up. Hubby had his head and he led him for a few feet and he was then praised and left for the day.

Few days later, got back on him, led around for 5 mins and then on the lunge for 5.

Next session 5 mins walk on the lunge and then walked round the school like a big boy.

My first and probably last youngster, but sitting on him for the first time knowing I was the first is one of my top riding experiences.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

I bought Stinky as a yearling and did everything with him, though I had an instruction who specialised in youngsters overseeing us and making sure I didn't screw up.

Stinky was so easy to do, took it all in his stride though I did spend two years doing what some people do in a few weeks. He was long reined and wearing tack at 2, backed at 3 and started doing a bit of schooling when nearly 4. He started competiting at dressage and showing when nearly 5 and did jumping - 2' class at 5 1/2.

Gypsy cobs generally are very easy to do due to their temperament. Stinky bucked me off once, when he was backed after a few weeks and it was all my fault and he has never done it again and is now nearly 8.

He was so easy to sit on, I spent a few weeks leaning over him from the mounting block - he is 14.3, I am 5' and also got him used to me standing on the high step so I was above him and putting my foot in the stirrup as if I was to mount. I just simply swung my leg over and sat up. Hubby had his head and he led him for a few feet and he was then praised and left for the day.

Few days later, got back on him, led around for 5 mins and then on the lunge for 5.

Next session 5 mins walk on the lunge and then walked round the school like a big boy.

My first and probably last youngster, but sitting on him for the first time knowing I was the first is one of my top riding experiences.

Lol my husband has already booked the first sitting rights!!

 

[Spotsrock]

I would say I did but I just went through the motions. She seemed to know everything already although I know she'd never done it before. No problems just a saintly little horse trying her socks off. Only sort of issue I did have was 1st time we saw a tractor on a hack she went up but as she was squealing and boxing at it i'm fairly sure she was protecting us.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

I would say I did but I just went through the motions. She seemed to know everything already although I know she'd never done it before. No problems just a saintly little horse trying her socks off. Only sort of issue I did have was 1st time we saw a tractor on a hack she went up but as she was squealing and boxing at it i'm fairly sure she was protecting us.

Awwww that's really sweet!

 

[Spotsrock]

Thanks. She's 12 this year and still the same. I seriously think she'll get an obe one day and maybe be sainted or cannonised when she passes on. She definatly belongs in mensa. I've never known a horse like it in 27 years riding. She's not my pet, she's my soul mate, it's an honour to own her.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Have backed all my own youngsters,but you will find that some are easy, others not so and take more time. I find it best to take your cue from the horse and base how you handle them, I know that Lenny is going to be difficult to back as at the moment it's one step forward and 10 steps back, perhaps when he's had his nuts off he may come a little better, my problem at the moment is he's still headshy so am wondering several years in advance what he's going to be like trying to get a bit in his mouth.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Ride him in a dually like Kelly Marks would lol. Some just don't like having their heads touched do they!

 

[Echo Bravo]

This one certainly doesn't,but till I bought he'd not been handled full stop, as he and his mum had been shunted about,the trouble started when I had him microchipped,and as he played up the vet after several attempts got the microchip in but right up near his head, and you really do have to take it gently with him round his head, I'm hoping it's just the memory that makes him play up and not something worse.

 

[Beatrice5]

Hello,

I started mine in a very soft Nathe straight bar snaffle. It is very bendy and thin enough they don't feel like they have a carrot in their mouths

Then we progress to a very basic gentle myler if needed. The New Forest is still in the Nathe for hacking out and absolutely fine and not strong at all even when passing scary tractors like today with flapping trailing haylage wrappers

Henna my 2 yr old is very cobby and thick set and has more hair than anything I have ever seen I am begining to think Dad must have had some shire in him

A Dually is on my wish list too. Oh and we tried bitless with a cheapy easytrek bridle and they both went well in that too but I am not sure on the action and prefer to stick with a conventional bridle.

 

[Beatrice5]

This one certainly doesn't,but till I bought he'd not been handled full stop, as he and his mum had been shunted about,the trouble started when I had him microchipped,and as he played up the vet after several attempts got the microchip in but right up near his head, and you really do have to take it gently with him round his head, I'm hoping it's just the memory that makes him play up and not something worse.

My Forrester was very head shy and we have overcome it. I just had to work in his comfort zone to begin with and gradually he let me rub / scratch closer and closer to his head and now he loves having his ears rubbed. Patience was the key for us. I had to stop focusing on touching his head and ears and just be happy with mouse steps. Good Luck .

 

[ShadowFlame]

Yes. I think if you're planning on breaking yourself, you do need to be prepared to run into some kind of problem somewhere along the line regardless of the breed - no horse is going to be perfect, especially a youngster. Having said that, on the whole mine has been a star to break and I'm glad I'm doing it myself. Just take things slow and listen to what they tell you.

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

We have backed before many years ago.... an Arab!

So very very excited about our own boy! We take things very very slowly with him as he has been let down by humans, clicker training type methods are working so well with him, probably because he is 1) intelligent and 2) greedy.

He has also been unhandled, the only times he has been handled is to be caught (don't ask) and gelded etc. We are currently slowly working on trust to halter him, as soon as he is happy with a halter and being groomed all over I intend on bridling him, will all be dictated at his pace, we have plenty of horses to ride, but we have him to play with, it's such fun, and very very rewarding. I will have a look at the soft Nathe straight bar snaffle....everything has changed over the years, I don't suppose it matters what it is, as long yit's not too much of a mouthful and gentle and chewy?

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

Yes. I think if you're planning on breaking yourself, you do need to be prepared to run into some kind of problem somewhere along the line regardless of the breed - no horse is going to be perfect, especially a youngster. Having said that, on the whole mine has been a star to break and I'm glad I'm doing it myself. Just take things slow and listen to what they tell you.

With our cob you don't have any other choice really than to dictate at his speed, we learnt that fast! X