At what age do you back your youngsters?

T

tasel

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 April 2008
Messages
1,318
Location
On the go...
Visit site
Is 5 really too old???? For a Warmblood???

Due to injury (and actually also maturity), mine is really only being backed now at the "grand old age" of 5 (hear the sarcasm?). And some people go... "Oh, that's quite late!"
 
I've just finished backing my 5 year old sports horse.... Yes it might be considered by some as a bit late (not that I really care), but I got her last summer as halter broken (stud had too many to start) and she took time and I had a nightmare time after I got her when I lost my other horse.

One good thing about doing a 5 year old is you don't have to worry about doing too much too quick because they can physically and mentally cope with it more.

My minimum age of backing is 3.5yrs, depending on how mature they are. I don't usually sit on them till the end of the summer they are 3.
 
We tend to go when the horse 'feels' ready. The ID x TB was backed at 4 rising 5 because she was a late bloomer, but the little sports horse I'm playing with at the mo was backed (up to walking around with rider) at just turned 3 and then we brought her back into work this easter as a just turned 4 yrs old as she is mature enough for it, where as the big girl (ID xTB) was really not ready to be started untill 4.5. I think you have to work with the merits of each horse as some people do rush them too quickly which does them no favours.
 
Hmmm... when she was around 3 people continuously said she had to be backed immediately, as "she was going to be a handful when she was older". So she was sent off to be backed and promptly got injured!

She is a bit of a handful now, but I think she is mentally and physically more able?

Oh, well... some people, you can never please.
 
I bought a mare at 5 unbacked and it's taken me 3 years to get her rideable....... but I wouldn't say that's typical, we normally back at 3, although with some of them if they are really immature we'll do nothing more that lie over their back and turn them away, it definately depends on the horse, but even if your long reining and lunging, tack on at 3 it's more than enough for some of them, move at whatever speed the horse is ready to accept things at but at 3 they are still babies and definately need time to mature but even just doing very little helps them accept things later on.
 
My Thoroughbreds are broken in as yearlings (18 months.) I am presently breaking in my filly (TBx). I started her lunging and long reining as a yearling only doing a little bit and now she's 2 and I plan to be sitting on her the end of next week. She's been back in for a fortnight doing more lunging and long reining. She'll just hack quietly around the farm and then won't do anymore until this time next year. She's taking it all very calmly and well and enjoys having a little something to do. I think it all depends on horse/owner and how you do things. As long as you are sympathetic to the horse you are dealing with and do not ask too much there isn't a right/wrong time. I must admit I would think twice on backing a large warmblood at 6 years old!!! They are HUGE!!! That said I've been breaking yearlings for 15 years so it's what I am used to.
 
Personally I don't see 5 as being a problem at all, as long as the horse has had decent handling from the ground. It will have been given that little extra time for the spine to strengthen (the bones fuse from the feet up and the spine is not completely "built" until the horse is about 6 - there's a great article available by Dr. Deb Bennett on this if you google her.

Each horse is different obviously, and some will show that they are ready to be backed sooner than others. Personally, I think that money and ambition has got a lot to do with horses being backed younger than necessary - the "not being able to wait", the need for producers to sell it on as backed and hopefully make more money, the rush to be able to compete.

I backed two of my own three boys in the spring of their 4th year, and the third was sat on twice in the September of his third year, but turned away and not properly backed until the following spring. And for all of them, the first years' work was very basic and very light - a mixture of 20 minute schooling sessions once or twice a week plus a short hack at the weekends. I didn't compete any of my three boys before they were 6 as I didn't want to rush them (and although I do compete, I'm not particularly ambitious!).
 
Having just re-read the post (I'm new!) - I do not think that 5 is too old to break your horse in. A friend, her WB was 5/6 when he was broken in and that was just due to lack of time. He is a real cracker. Good luck and I am sure you'll both be fine. I still think a little TB is closer to the ground though!!
 
They are never too old to be backed, I find most horses a lot more better for waiting and would rather see horses backed later in life then at 1/2yrs old.

Most of mine were backed at 4 yrs old, turnout away basically over winter.

I'm just backing my 5yr old now, hes will be 6 in June, he wasn't physically or mentally ready to be back at 4, I have no problem with waiting, its done him the world of good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top