Backed and ridden away?

Storminateacup said:
So, what do you all think this means, literally, I mean what are you expecting if a trainer says they will have your horse backed and ridden away, ( list please?). I will explain later but I need to know what your expections would be to compare with what I think this means.... OK?
Click to expand...


I'm interested in this too, contemplating sending my 4yr old away (save me the bumps!) :D
 
I would expect it to be able to walk, trot and canter on both reins in an arena. And done some walk hacking in company with another horse. If it was a four year old I might expect the horse to have jumped small fences and or trot poles. But would ask for this myself to make sure. Also depends on how long they have the horse
 
Hmmm.... so I was wanting walk trot and canter in school on both reins, hacking out in company and alone, (very important ) as my horse has to be a safe hack on his own, being exposed to all kinds of traffic cars, bikes, tractors, farm machinery, hacking in open fields with other horses, tacking up outside in a howling gale etc!!! of course no bucking rearing or bolting in the process , Plus, ground handling leading, tying up, bathing, picking out feet, grooming, rugging and possibly a bit of loading and of course introduction to basic jumping - I am quite happy if my horse has to stay quite a good number of weeks over and above the basic 4 - 6 weeks to achieve the maximum in terms of safety to start us off on the right path, and money is not the primary issue.
 
flying solo said:
I just don't have the 'padding' anymore! haha
plus I've seen him rear etc and for a shortie he can get pretty high either way! A few weeks away for him and a holiday for me..... Sounds the best option! :D
Click to expand...
I am having a lovely break from all the worry with my boy and he has ony been there five days! been riding my older horse and teaching him western techniques in preparation for teaching the youngster. I ve seen mine rear. He gallops flat out then throws himself into the air as if jumping a five bar gate, terrifying - just hope he doesn't want to do this when I m on him .
 
Speak to the person who is starting him for you as the term means very different things to different people. My boy was still at the stage where you had to crouch when you got on him for the first few minutes and had done no trot work at all - he wasnt classed as ridden away by the trainer but she told me that many would say that. Make it very clear what you want him to be able to do and that you ride him there before you bring him home.
 
hch4971 said:
Speak to the person who is starting him for you as the term means very different things to different people. My boy was still at the stage where you had to crouch when you got on him for the first few minutes and had done no trot work at all - he wasnt classed as ridden away by the trainer but she told me that many would say that. Make it very clear what you want him to be able to do and that you ride him there before you bring him home.
Click to expand...

Oh yes I will, we are only at week one so plenty of time and they are doing a lovely job so far, so I am very pleased. Just want everything done before he comes home as I have to manage on my own, also want two weeks instruction with him as well! Hoping I am not asking too much but he is tremendously important to me (last horse ever!) and I want this to work so much...
 
backed to me is having the basics there, lunging and long reining with tack on, in walk and trot maybe a small amount of canter, also at this point id do traffic work, and go out on the lanes alone so horse gets used to being alone.
but in all honesty I wouldnt want a 3yr cantering much on the lunge at this point. and of course horse would know its left rights halt etc (hence long reining)
And horse would be at the point where they are happy to have a rider on and will safely walk around an arena. not necassery on their own, the important bit at this stage is that the horse has the time to think about the weight of the rider and figure out their own balance with out having to listen to the rider.

ridden away.. I be expecting horse to be walking un aided in the arena with a small amount of trot and going for a hack in the company of another horse.

on the ridden away note.. i would not expect a horse to be doing any thing perfectley other than happy to go forward
 
Reading what stage you want to get to I would say that is more than riden away and would require a longer stay as in Schooling livery. I did this with my youngster she had 8 weeks so I could hack out in company and tiny rides on own than I went back for lessons and the odd week for extra schooling and lessons. Good luck and enjoy the learning curve!
 
Storminateacup said:
Hmmm.... so I was wanting walk trot and canter in school on both reins, hacking out in company and alone, (very important ) as my horse has to be a safe hack on his own, being exposed to all kinds of traffic cars, bikes, tractors, farm machinery, hacking in open fields with other horses, tacking up outside in a howling gale etc!!! of course no bucking rearing or bolting in the process , Plus, ground handling leading, tying up, bathing, picking out feet, grooming, rugging and possibly a bit of loading and of course introduction to basic jumping - I am quite happy if my horse has to stay quite a good number of weeks over and above the basic 4 - 6 weeks to achieve the maximum in terms of safety to start us off on the right path, and money is not the primary issue.
Click to expand...

The ground work bit? Havent you done that bit already how far have you got before sending the horse away. Would expect owner to do most of the ground work i.e. the leading, tying up as part of day to day routine care unless the horse has issues that need sorting.
 
This depends on who you use and their assumption of backed and ridden away, best to explain what you want and see this done at end before you pay ,when my boy was backed at three he had been lunged etc, hacked out solo in walk and as a novice carried on hacking out solo confidently and was happy with how he was backed and ridden away and stand quickly on command ,but you do hear stories and it also depends on horses temperment/riders confidence i have started having lessons when he turned four a year after ownership. hacking out in walk so we can do more stuff and i think hes had a really good start and first year
 
OP i would say that you want more than "backed and ridden away" but so long as the person doing your horse knows what you want and you are happy to pay then i can't see there being a problem :)
 
Interesting what this term means to different people isn't it?

I'd expect the ground handling, leading, tying up, bathing, picking out feet, grooming, rugging and poss. bit of loading to be in place before backing begins really.
I see the backing bit as just that - accepting bridle, saddle and girth and rider quietly up top. The "ridden away" bit would, to me, entail walk/trot in the school, steady rides out with another horse at walk/trot and intro to solo hacking to include very short canters in straight lines and accepting light traffic on minor roads. That's all.

Tacking up and hacking in more adverse conditions, riding in open countryside, speedier rides on own and in company and gradual acceptance of larger/noisier traffic, just getting out there to see the world and broaden horse's horizons would be my target for the following twelve months, as a continuation of the ridden away process.
Other than a play over ground poles and endless despooking exercises (in hand and ridden), jumping definitely wouldn't focus until the end of the first ridden year with me. Whatever, I certainly wouldn't expect jumping to be part of the ridden away process.

Highlights your need to clarify. Our thoughts all vary so much don't they! All the best with your babe though - exciting times.
 
Kaylum said:
The ground work bit? Havent you done that bit already how far have you got before sending the horse away. Would expect owner to do most of the ground work i.e. the leading, tying up as part of day to day routine care unless the horse has issues that need sorting.
Click to expand...
Yeas have done a lot of this and he ties up fine but he is a bit worried still about people on his sides.
 
Storminateacup said:
Hmmm.... so I was wanting walk trot and canter in school on both reins, hacking out in company and alone, (very important ) as my horse has to be a safe hack on his own, being exposed to all kinds of traffic cars, bikes, tractors, farm machinery, hacking in open fields with other horses, tacking up outside in a howling gale etc!!! of course no bucking rearing or bolting in the process , Plus, ground handling leading, tying up, bathing, picking out feet, grooming, rugging and possibly a bit of loading and of course introduction to basic jumping - I am quite happy if my horse has to stay quite a good number of weeks over and above the basic 4 - 6 weeks to achieve the maximum in terms of safety to start us off on the right path, and money is not the primary issue.
Click to expand...

The safety aspect of the above, depends on the temperament of the horse you're sending to be backed. If it's a spooky type, the above can take years. Just because a horse is exposed to something doesn't make them instantly perfect with it, either. You will also, later on, hit the 5yo 'kevins' and behaviours may start up that were not previously present. I also don't think I've ever met a horse that categorically never bucked, reared or tanked a little at least as a baby (often only get one of those) as new things were introduced, as excitement took over etc.
 
autumn7 said:
Interesting what this term means to different people isn't it?

I'd expect the ground handling, leading, tying up, bathing, picking out feet, grooming, rugging and poss. bit of loading to be in place before backing begins really.
I see the backing bit as just that - accepting bridle, saddle and girth and rider quietly up top. The "ridden away" bit would, to me, entail walk/trot in the school, steady rides out with another horse at walk/trot and intro to solo hacking to include very short canters in straight lines and accepting light traffic on minor roads. That's all.

Tacking up and hacking in more adverse conditions, riding in open countryside, speedier rides on own and in company and gradual acceptance of larger/noisier traffic, just getting out there to see the world and broaden horse's horizons would be my target for the following twelve months, as a continuation of the ridden away process.
Other than a play over ground poles and endless despooking exercises (in hand and ridden), jumping definitely wouldn't focus until the end of the first ridden year with me. Whatever, I certainly wouldn't expect jumping to be part of the ridden away process.

Highlights your need to clarify. Our thoughts all vary so much don't they! All the best with your babe though - exciting times.
Click to expand...

It would be nice if they all did the second part of your post I agree but not really expecting all that, but a bit of de-spooking over poles on the ground would be handy. He is four so would hope to trot over cavaletti but true, no serious jumping .

I have asked for ground handling as an extra as he is so very green, even though I have started most when I first got him, he has not been easy, on my own in a big open field!
 
Storminateacup said:
Hmmm.... so I was wanting walk trot and canter in school on both reins, hacking out in company and alone, (very important ) as my horse has to be a safe hack on his own, being exposed to all kinds of traffic cars, bikes, tractors, farm machinery, hacking in open fields with other horses, tacking up outside in a howling gale etc!!! of course no bucking rearing or bolting in the process , Plus, ground handling leading, tying up, bathing, picking out feet, grooming, rugging and possibly a bit of loading and of course introduction to basic jumping - I am quite happy if my horse has to stay quite a good number of weeks over and above the basic 4 - 6 weeks to achieve the maximum in terms of safety to start us off on the right path, and money is not the primary issue.
Click to expand...

What you want is quite a bit more than backed and ridden away. All that I would expect for that is that the youngster is happy to hack out alone and in company and has brakes! I don't ask anything I break in to school until they are going freely forward outside. Mine are all ridden on their own, and allowed to enjoy being under saddle without making them feel restricted in a school. You can do an awful lot out hacking! Mine all learn halfhalts and legyielding without losing the forward feeling, MOST IMPORTANT!
 
mystiandsunny said:
The safety aspect of the above, depends on the temperament of the horse you're sending to be backed. If it's a spooky type, the above can take years. Just because a horse is exposed to something doesn't make them instantly perfect with it, either. You will also, later on, hit the 5yo 'kevins' and behaviours may start up that were not previously present. I also don't think I've ever met a horse that categorically never bucked, reared or tanked a little at least as a baby (often only get one of those) as new things were introduced, as excitement took over etc.
Click to expand...

True, I ve never had a horse that hasn't bucked, not had any that reared, but tanking is to be expected at times. I was just meaning really that I was hoping these issues may be considered when backing and ridden away, not expecting perfection! even my 14 year old cob bucks occasionally and spooks. It depends on the degree of the reaction. Bucking to get you off, and likewise rearing is not the same as joyful bucks when cantering and little hop ups when excited He is a ID x cob so I am not expecting him to be too sharp, or spooky!
 
cundlegreen said:
What you want is quite a bit more than backed and ridden away. All that I would expect for that is that the youngster is happy to hack out alone and in company and has brakes! I don't ask anything I break in to school until they are going freely forward outside. Mine are all ridden on their own, and allowed to enjoy being under saddle without making them feel restricted in a school. You can do an awful lot out hacking! Mine all learn halfhalts and legyielding without losing the forward feeling, MOST IMPORTANT!
Click to expand...

Thats what I want, - I do all my schooling out hacking too, so he must be confident to do this with me.
 
I have just backed and hacked my 2 three year olds. They hack out in walk and trot seen all sorts of traffic including lorries but only with my older mare with them, not alone. In the school they walk and trot, circles and poles havent done any canter as wanted to keep it low key. Very good to mount/dismount etc I would consider them lightly backed and ridden away
 
I would expect a horse that has been "backed and ridden away" to:

Have a saddle on.
Have a rider sit on him.
Be able to walk, trot, canter on both reins in a school.

And I would specifically ask for someone to hack him out included in this - BUT I wouldnt automatically expect it would be. xxx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top