Backing 3/4yr olds

[palo1]

It varies enormously with youngsters but if it is possible for the main keeper to at least do the first bit I think that is fantastic - there is usually a good level of trust, understanding, acceptance and tolerance and it is lovely for a horse to have the first rider as the person they are most familiar with. Obviously every one has their own views and system and there absolutely is a place for professional backing services as it needs to be done properly and safely but it is lovely for a horse to have that first introduction at home where that works.

 

[j1ffy]

Well, I've been pottering about with my three yr old with the plan of sending him away to be backed in a couple of weeks, obviously that will have to wait now due to lockdown, but it wont hurt a horse of his age waiting a bit longer. But I'm delighted with him, saddle, bridle, lunging, long reining, poles, despooking stuff, general ground work, all done in a very stress free manner, I am just loving working with him, so I'm afraid I couldnt resist just having a little sit on him. I swore I wouldnt because I am alone on the yard, but I really trust him, and the feeling is mutual, so I got on and off a couple of times, no bother at all, so the next time we did a little walking and halting, and he was just perfect. Its frustrating as he is so ready now to go away and be done properly, but that'll wait, and I wont get on him again until after lockdown (sensible head on!)
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I think you know your horse and are clearly incredibly experienced! How lovely to know that you've done the ground work so well and that you can hop on with no drama at all. Great work

 

[j1ffy]

Love him too

Thank you! I can't wait to see him, he's such a character and I've missed him.

 

[palo1]

Any piccys ?

TaDa!! Sorry that she isn't in her fancy clothes - and don't you all be thinking she is fat - it is a lot of fluff... My instructor asked if I wanted to be filmed last time but I am so hideously self-conscious that I will wait until the Spring for that. If I have all winter to brood on how terrible I look on her then it will sour what has been a fab few months. I know filming is hugely helpful and that will be a positive next step but I wasn't quite ready at that point.

 

[lannerch]

TaDa!! Sorry that she isn't in her fancy clothes - and don't you all be thinking she is fat - it is a lot of fluff... My instructor asked if I wanted to be filmed last time but I am so hideously self-conscious that I will wait until the Spring for that. If I have all winter to brood on how terrible I look on her then it will sour what has been a fab few months. I know filming is hugely helpful and that will be a positive next step but I wasn't quite ready at that point.View attachment 58257View attachment 58258

Love her she’s beautiful ?

 

[j1ffy]

TaDa!! Sorry that she isn't in her fancy clothes - and don't you all be thinking she is fat - it is a lot of fluff... My instructor asked if I wanted to be filmed last time but I am so hideously self-conscious that I will wait until the Spring for that. If I have all winter to brood on how terrible I look on her then it will sour what has been a fab few months. I know filming is hugely helpful and that will be a positive next step but I wasn't quite ready at that point.View attachment 58257View attachment 58258

She is gorgeous, and what a lovely round hindquarters she has!

 

[palo1]

She says 'thank you kindly' for admiring her generous bum We do have lots of hills here but I suspect at least part of her buxom charm is her native breeding.

 

[j1ffy]

Chilli has arrived home and I had my first sit on him today! It’s wonderful to have him back, he’s got such a bold, kind and inquisitive nature. He’s settled straight into his stable (next to an old field mate, who he clearly remembered), been fab with the farrier and to handle.

It felt odd tacking him up for the first time having sent him off as a feral fluff ball! He’s very easy going, happy to have a bridle and saddle, chilled and balanced on the lunge. Then today I hopped on, did a quick w/t/c in the arena then out for a potter around the farm tracks with his uncle Pocholo. Chilli was bold as brass - leading the whole way and happy to go past XC jumps, through puddles and past horses in fields. I couldn’t have asked for more, I’m so pleased!!




And a short video from today:

 

[TheMule]

Chilli has arrived home and I had my first sit on him today! It’s wonderful to have him back, he’s got such a bold, kind and inquisitive nature. He’s settled straight into his stable (next to an old field mate, who he clearly remembered), been fab with the farrier and to handle.

It felt odd tacking him up for the first time having sent him off as a feral fluff ball! He’s very easy going, happy to have a bridle and saddle, chilled and balanced on the lunge. Then today I hopped on, did a quick w/t/c in the arena then out for a potter around the farm tracks with his uncle Pocholo. Chilli was bold as brass - leading the whole way and happy to go past XC jumps, through puddles and past horses in fields. I couldn’t have asked for more, I’m so pleased!!

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And a short video from today:

He is absolutely gorgeous!
All the waiting definitely worth it to now get on and enjoy him!

 

[j1ffy]

He is absolutely gorgeous!
All the waiting definitely worth it to now get on and enjoy him!

Thank you! He’s definitely worth the wait. I’ll only ride a couple more times then turn him away, tempting as it is to carry on with him! He’s only 3.5 years and has dropped quite a bit of weight on the journey so definitely needs a good break.

 

[rara007]

I can see why you’re chuffed

 

[lannerch]

Wow you must be so excited with him , looks lovely and balanced particularly in the canter to . Looking forward to seeing him develop

 

[Northern]

Bella has been learning the long reining ropes. Session number three today and we’re getting the hang of turning with some halt transitions thrown in there. She’s such a good girl ?

Next step is to engage a trusted friend to hold her while I start leaning over the saddle a bit. Just going through all the ropes before getting on properly next year. She needs a bit of work on paying attention with other horses around, but nothing unexpected for a young one.

She’s looking rather well on all our grass ??

 

[MarvelVillis]

I moved my 3 year old WBxTB to a new yard a couple of months ago (which is a 5 min drive from my new house - yay!). Haven't done a lot with him since moving (apart from the usual daily handling and a bit of groundwork in the school), whilst he settled in to the new herd. He's now quite happy and relaxed, so I booked in to get his wolf teeth removed last week, which he seemed to recover from pretty quickly. The plan is to increase our in hand walks on Dartmoor (we're a 10 min walk from the moors along a bridleway which is perfect) and then start long reining. I'm still debating whether to get him backed spring/summer 2021, or wait until the following year, but will see how he is by then and whether he's ready.

 

[ihatework]

The fat ferel fluff ball came in.
He got naked.
He has forgotten nothing and knuckled down to grown up life like a little pro

 

[windand rain]

picture is for interest but asking for advice This little monster is too laid back in fact almost stubborn she is so behind the leg she barely moves and that is hard work for her little jockey

 

[Palindrome]

View attachment 58707
picture is for interest but asking for advice This little monster is too laid back in fact almost stubborn she is so behind the leg she barely moves and that is hard work for her little jockey

How is she to lunge? Is there someone on foot who can lead or lunge at the same time the rider is riding to reinforce the aids?
If she has just been backed, she might need a bit of time to get used to having a rider and has not yet found her balance.

 

[windand rain]

Lunges great long reins brilliantly but is really backwards ridden Been off lead for about 8 months the child is young but we have a small adult schooling her now, She is a little older than the others at 5 but is still only about a 4 year old in mileage Did wonder if the transition from Adult to child had been too soon and coincided with 5 year old tantrums

 

[ihatework]

I’d keep the small adult schooling her.
Have the child on the lunge for now or out hacking. Make sure the pony really knows what the ridden aids are.

In parallel make sure the saddle fits and get the pony on a fitness program and diet, she is quite rotund which won’t help.

If she remains stuffy then keep in your mind low grade laminitis, she would be the kind of candidate for it

 

[windand rain]

Thank IHW was my thinking too kids too in experienced and keen to be off doing and the adult in question thinks pony should only work 20 minutes twice a week wish I was half my weight and half as old but have to do whats best so she is clipped and is now on a fitness routine of lunging/long reining daily and schooling the twice a week. Her weight has worried me a long while. She is on a very restricted diet

 

[MarvelVillis]

I just posted a new thread about the benefits of backing/breaking in at home vs sending away. Would be interested to hear all your thoughts

 

[j1ffy]

I had a second ride on Chilli on Wednesday evening - this time in the big school complete with floodlights, jumps and white boards. We watched YO's daughter jump (and fall off!!) before going in and he was curious but not particularly interested! After a circuit leading him I hopped on, and did some walk trot and canter. He felt a bit worried to begin with but didn't spook or do anything bad, in fact I feel incredibly safe on him. Only did 15 minutes or so then put him away.

He's really got nothing else to prove right now and is still so young at 3.5yo, so he's turned away again. He went straight back to his old best field buddy and is very happy to be back in the 10 acre field full of grass!

Video from Wednesday:

In the field today, watching me approach with his shiny new turnout rug - let's see how long it lasts...!

 

[GinaGeo]

He's looking good Jiffy!

Podrick went slightly wild last week. A culmination of some colder weather and three days off resulted in a few snorty, jovial rides where I was immeasurably thankful for a jump saddle and neck strap.

I am pleased to report that normal behaviour has now resumed and we will be doing our last hacking weekend until Christmas.

I’m about to get very busy with work, so it’s a perfect time to let him chill out a bit.

 

[j1ffy]

He's looking good Jiffy!

Podrick went slightly wild last week. A culmination of some colder weather and three days off resulted in a few snorty, jovial rides where I was immeasurably thankful for a jump saddle and neck strap.

I am pleased to report that normal behaviour has now resumed and we will be doing our last hacking weekend until Christmas.

I’m about to get very busy with work, so it’s a perfect time to let him chill out a bit.

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Beautiful shot GG! I’m pleased he’s settled again.

I just realised Chilli is actually less than 4 months from turning 4 - wow, time flies. It’s been such an odd year, I can’t believe it’s mid-November.

 

[TheMule]

I had a second ride on Chilli on Wednesday evening - this time in the big school complete with floodlights, jumps and white boards. We watched YO's daughter jump (and fall off!!) before going in and he was curious but not particularly interested! After a circuit leading him I hopped on, and did some walk trot and canter. He felt a bit worried to begin with but didn't spook or do anything bad, in fact I feel incredibly safe on him. Only did 15 minutes or so then put him away.

He's really got nothing else to prove right now and is still so young at 3.5yo, so he's turned away again. He went straight back to his old best field buddy and is very happy to be back in the 10 acre field full of grass!

Video from Wednesday:

In the field today, watching me approach with his shiny new turnout rug - let's see how long it lasts...!

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I felt the same with Nova- you have to sit on your hands and wait, but no point flogging the same point when they've been good as gold at 3

 

[lannerch]

My lady is being not so good as gold , she now seems to hate being on a break and gets bored . She is being a little horror careering round her field and destroying everything. She is trying it on in the stable and has to be reminded she has manners in a daily basis , so much so we are contemplating taking her of a break and lightly hacking every day. She is only fed balancer and hay, along off course with the grass she gets in the day.
Anyone else have this problem?

 

[GinaGeo]

My lady is being not so good as gold , she now seems to hate being on a break and gets bored . She is being a little horror careering round her field and destroying everything. She is trying it on in the stable and has to be reminded she has manners in a daily basis , so much so we are contemplating taking her of a break and lightly hacking every day. She is only fed balancer and hay, along off course with the grass she gets in the day.
Anyone else have this problem?

I am slightly concerned this is what my young man is going to think too. He loves working ?

I don’t think a holiday suits them all, and if light hacking is what suits her then go for it.

You might be able to reduce her workload a little more steadily along with her fitness and then try a holiday again?

 

[lannerch]

I am slightly concerned this is what my young man is going to think too. He loves working ?

I don’t think a holiday suits them all, and if light hacking is what suits her then go for it.

You might be able to reduce her workload a little more steadily along with her fitness and then try a holiday again?

Thanks for that ginageo really appreciate it I think I may well take your advice maybe sneak a few short holidays in so she doesn’t notice as much .
I’m terrified of over doing especially as she’s certainly growing it but at the moment she’s a liability to herself and the girls that handle her.

 

[ihatework]

For me, if they have a holiday then they are better going away for it. When out in a herd, on acreage, that isn’t coming & going then they are generally pretty good.

But you have to do what works for the horse in front of you and the situation/set up you have

 

[daffy44]

Well I'm jealous of all of you who are riding your three yr olds! I've sat on mine a couple of times, as I've said, and we've done a little basic walking and halting, but he was due to be sent away last week, but of course lock down stopped that, so I'm feeling impatient. I know it doesnt matter to him in any way shape or form, but I'm just dying to ride him!

Lannerch, I know you want to give yours a holiday, but sometimes the horse hasnt read the book, so you have to do whats right for the horse in front of you, not what you want the horse to be. If you can turn away in a herd and leave out then its much easier to just let them get on with it, but if she is in a version of her ridden routine, going out in the day, in at night etc, its more likely she can become annoying. Personally I wouldnt worry about being rigid about the holiday and I would keep in light work, and give lots of mini breaks, a week here and there, an odd five days etc, it would do her less harm than crashing through a fence being a monkey.