Backed and ridden away for a child’s pony - what would you expect to see?

[maya2008]

I get that I'm super cautious, but...

Would I buy a recently backed 3 year old pony for small child? Not in a million years, no matter how saintly it is.

A) because I now firmly believe that 3 years old is too young to be backed, and

B) it's age 5 when they start going through the teenage tantrums, which can very easily put a small child off for life.

Just my opinion, sorry.

Most of the world does back at 3. Either I can do it, with a competent light enough child, or my 220kg 3 year old will likely be asked to carry a teen/adult for backing, when she lacks muscle for carrying a rider and they are closer to 25% of her body weight than the 10-15% that is more appropriate.

My current 5 year old is still the angel she was last year - she’s teaching my daughter to jump courses, patiently helping her learn and helping her overcome her fears. She’s 5 in the field (has got into more scuffles this year), but is quite capable of putting her hormones aside to look after a child.

In terms of backing age, in my experience younger (3/3.5) is better. You can’t do much physically with a young pony, so their introduction to ridden life is slow and gentle. Short lessons, positive experiences, lots of breaks. They have the chance to develop muscle before they are asked to do much; to think about what they are learning and to get used to being ridden; to settle into being a ridden pony for 6 months before anyone asks them to jump, to do dressage, to go to shows/clinics. They’re more malleable mentally too, so things go smoothly and easily - positive experiences that last forever.

I’ve backed 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 year olds. At 4, you’ve just got going then they turn 5, without the time to build the trust that will carry you through the hormones/teenage increase in strength smoothly. At 5, you’re trying to build a relationship with a teenager. Doable but less pleasant. At 6, you have the body and mind of a young adult, but no pre installed buttons. The power when they spook, or disagree, or buck with excitement is huge! Trying to stop a scared 6yo isn’t quite the same as a scared 3/4yo! At 8 and 10 we took slightly different paths, because you have to acknowledge that they are adults, with their own personalities and opinions, and no longer malleable. It’s about mutual agreement and you don’t as easily get the unquestioning obedience.

 

[southerncomfort]

Most of the world does back at 3. Either I can do it, with a competent light enough child, or my 220kg 3 year old will likely be asked to carry a teen/adult for backing, when she lacks muscle for carrying a rider and they are closer to 25% of her body weight than the 10-15% that is more appropriate.

My current 5 year old is still the angel she was last year - she’s teaching my daughter to jump courses, patiently helping her learn and helping her overcome her fears. She’s 5 in the field (has got into more scuffles this year), but is quite capable of putting her hormones aside to look after a child.

In terms of backing age, in my experience younger (3/3.5) is better. You can’t do much physically with a young pony, so their introduction to ridden life is slow and gentle. Short lessons, positive experiences, lots of breaks. They have the chance to develop muscle before they are asked to do much; to think about what they are learning and to get used to being ridden; to settle into being a ridden pony for 6 months before anyone asks them to jump, to do dressage, to go to shows/clinics. They’re more malleable mentally too, so things go smoothly and easily - positive experiences that last forever.

I’ve backed 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 year olds. At 4, you’ve just got going then they turn 5, without the time to build the trust that will carry you through the hormones/teenage increase in strength smoothly. At 5, you’re trying to build a relationship with a teenager. Doable but less pleasant. At 6, you have the body and mind of a young adult, but no pre installed buttons. The power when they spook, or disagree, or buck with excitement is huge! Trying to stop a scared 6yo isn’t quite the same as a scared 3/4yo! At 8 and 10 we took slightly different paths, because you have to acknowledge that they are adults, with their own personalities and opinions, and no longer malleable. It’s about mutual agreement and you don’t as easily get the unquestioning obedience.

Hey, we're all different.

Like I say, I used to back at 3. I just feel very differently about it now.

 

[WelshD]

I would say either do less than your list and sell at 3 I think you run the risk of either putting people off or people expecting to pay less than you might hope for

Or do your list and sell at 4 for more money

If buying a 3 year old I would expect it to have not done much at all

 

[misst]

Many years ago my husband nick named our daughter the test crash dummy. A local dealer would bring over young newly backed potential SJ ponies and knew my daughter was a quiet confident non interfering rider. They would turn up at a show and leg her up onto one of theirs to get it seen out and about jumping. Child would have been about 8 9 and 10 years old at the time, skinny little thing. Ponies were a variety of heights but all from Ireland just off the boat..They were all whizzy but safe and loved to jump. She usually won the class (beating herself on her own pony) and her prize would be the rosette. The dealer kept the money and paid all entry fees etc. Many of the ponies sold quickly as they were seen to be winners. The ponies were all very young and very green but never did anything bad. The biggest problem was my daughter always wanted to take them home.
I would have bought one of them without a qualm if we didn't already have a pony for her that she loved. I think children ride differently on young ponies, they don't try and achieve an outline or an elevated trot etc. If the pony refuses or doesn't comply exactly there's not much pulling/tugging when they're young. They just sit and point and usually horsey kids are lightweight too. It's a very different situation to bringing on a big horse.
ETS they all travelled without problems, loaded well, wore rugs if needed and were ridden in a snaffle. They seemed to have been there and seen it all and were not phased by anything.

 

[Patterdale]

Veterinary evidence (rather than Facebook memes) still supports starting work whilst the musculoskeletal system is in development, ie before 5.
Horses started earlier have increased bone density and stronger connective tissues. The current trend (fuelled by said Facebook memes/‘factual’ posts by self proclaimed experts) of leaving horses until 6/7 is actually shown to be detrimental in many cases.

Horses should be worked appropriately for age (and the individual animal) but I have always backed at 3 without issue, and it would take actual evidence - rather than a coloured in drawing of a skeleton - to change this.

 

[maya2008]

Veterinary evidence (rather than Facebook memes) still supports starting work whilst the musculoskeletal system is in development, ie before 5.
Horses started earlier have increased bone density and stronger connective tissues. The current trend (fuelled by said Facebook memes/‘factual’ posts by self proclaimed experts) of leaving horses until 6/7 is actually shown to be detrimental in many cases.

Horses should be worked appropriately for age (and the individual animal) but I have always backed at 3 without issue, and it would take actual evidence - rather than a coloured in drawing of a skeleton - to change this.

It’s like saying a child can’t do sports until they are 18!

 

[Wishfilly]

Thanks, I suspect she will go to a LR home, or to a 7/8 year old child as a first project to produce for a younger sibling.

I hope you find a lovely home for her. I do know some lovely 11-12yos who are petite enough to produce an 11hh pony who would probably love her for a year or two and would either pass on to a younger relative or a pony club friend. I appreciate you're doing a lot for her given she was a bogoff!

ETA: To be clear, I have nothing against backing a horse at 3, the two people I know who are regularly backing and producing nice horses will normally at least sit on and do a little at 3. But both of them do it mainly off long reining with minimal lunging, and neither would lunge over a jump, but they do have the facilities to free jump safely.

 

[southerncomfort]

Veterinary evidence (rather than Facebook memes) still supports starting work whilst the musculoskeletal system is in development, ie before 5.
Horses started earlier have increased bone density and stronger connective tissues. The current trend (fuelled by said Facebook memes/‘factual’ posts by self proclaimed experts) of leaving horses until 6/7 is actually shown to be detrimental in many cases.

Horses should be worked appropriately for age (and the individual animal) but I have always backed at 3 without issue, and it would take actual evidence - rather than a coloured in drawing of a skeleton - to change this.

If this aimed at me

A) I stated it was just my opinion

B) I did not provide any pictures.

I used to back at 3, I don't any more because I feel it's too young. My opinion, which I am entitled to.

At the end of the day, if a parent started a thread asking if they should buy a just backed 3 year old for their child, I can well imagine the response.

Anyway, I'm out.

 

[maya2008]

I hope you find a lovely home for her. I do know some lovely 11-12yos who are petite enough to produce an 11hh pony who would probably love her for a year or two and would either pass on to a younger relative or a pony club friend. I appreciate you're doing a lot for her given she was a bogoff!

ETA: To be clear, I have nothing against backing a horse at 3, the two people I know who are regularly backing and producing nice horses will normally at least sit on and do a little at 3. But both of them do it mainly off long reining with minimal lunging, and neither would lunge over a jump, but they do have the facilities to free jump safely.

I honestly can’t wait until she’s found a nice home! She needs a herd setup in summer that we can’t accommodate due to every other pony’s needs, and more entertainment than I have time to provide. I can’t even chuck her in with my friend’s herd because she’s not good with electric fencing and that’s what they use. I feel responsible for her, but after 3 years, I’m kind of done!

 

[Patterdale]

If this aimed at me

A) I stated it was just my opinion

B) I did not provide any pictures.

I used to back at 3, I don't any more because I feel it's too young. My opinion, which I am entitled to.

At the end of the day, if a parent started a thread asking if they should buy a just backed 3 year old for their child, I can well imagine the response.

Anyway, I'm out.

It was just a contribution to the general conversation. Each to their own

 

[maya2008]

Thanks all for your contributions, we’re on and she’s proving as easy as I thought she would be. All the groundwork provided muscle and installed all the buttons, so it was get on and go pretty much. She's now had a spin in an enclosed area (walk, trot, few strides of canter) and a short trip down the road and back to see how she is on her own with a rider. Perfect in all situations. Forward going, as is her nature, but understood what was being asked and did the job. She's very happy being a grown-up pony and keeps coming to the gate to ask if it's her turn!

 

[Jellymoon]

In-hand showing would be a good string to her bow too.

 

[Jellymoon]

Veterinary evidence (rather than Facebook memes) still supports starting work whilst the musculoskeletal system is in development, ie before 5.
Horses started earlier have increased bone density and stronger connective tissues. The current trend (fuelled by said Facebook memes/‘factual’ posts by self proclaimed experts) of leaving horses until 6/7 is actually shown to be detrimental in many cases.

Horses should be worked appropriately for age (and the individual animal) but I have always backed at 3 without issue, and it would take actual evidence - rather than a coloured in drawing of a skeleton - to change this.

Completely agree with this.