Backing 3/4yr olds

[lannerch]

Thanks daffy44

 

[ihatework]

Not long before the little ferel one no longer qualifies as a 3/4yo - where has the time gone!!

I went to see him have a little school yesterday - the heavens opened and he got to wear a quarter sheet for the first time - that was interesting ??????

 

[j1ffy]

Not long before the little ferel one no longer qualifies as a 3/4yo - where has the time gone!!

I went to see him have a little school yesterday - the heavens opened and he got to wear a quarter sheet for the first time - that was interesting ??????

View attachment 59024View attachment 59025View attachment 59026

He looks pretty relaxed about it in those pics! Where are the fun ones? ?

Time does fly. What next for him?

 

[ihatework]

He looks pretty relaxed about it in those pics! Where are the fun ones? ?

Time does fly. What next for him?

Sorry! I was to busy giggling/grimacing and waiting to pick her up if floor if needed!!

 

[rara007]

How much hand walking are people doing? Mine has had a slightly quirky education so far as the auction horses do, she rides in a school beautifully but even lunging In balance has been more complicated than I’d have expected! We’re at the point of hacking out now but the world is far too overwhelming and rather than scare either of us I’m taking her inhand rather than test exactly how strong the aids are installed. We’re all road work and without company. She’s pretty obedient but you can tell she’s nervous, snorts under her breath and we have the odd plant to look at something. How much inhand walking would you say before ‘this is as good as it’s going to get’. There’s nothing more to prove school work wise so until she’s stronger so trying to prioritise getting off the yard.

Photos for tax

 

[Northern]

How much hand walking are people doing? Mine has had a slightly quirky education so far as the auction horses do, she rides in a school beautifully but even lunging In balance has been more complicated than I’d have expected! We’re at the point of hacking out now but the world is far too overwhelming and rather than scare either of us I’m taking her inhand rather than test exactly how strong the aids are installed. We’re all road work and without company. She’s pretty obedient but you can tell she’s nervous, snorts under her breath and we have the odd plant to look at something. How much inhand walking would you say before ‘this is as good as it’s going to get’. There’s nothing more to prove school work wise so until she’s stronger so trying to prioritise getting off the yard.

Photos for tax
View attachment 59773View attachment 59772View attachment 59771

She looks like she's going well!

Mine is walking out 3-4 times a week at the moment. A combination of saddled/unsaddled/bridled/haltered etc. I just decide on the day where to go and what to do. She is pretty chilled though and very polite on the lead, I don't feel like she needs to do more than she already does just to get out and see the world. If she were more suspicious I would probably increase the casual walks around a bit to reinforce that the world is not that scary and she can relax.

It sounds like your girl could benefit from just hacking out at the moment, perhaps try to establish an initial route and stick to it until she can wander along relaxed. Then you can branch out to some newer areas. Can you ride/walk out with a more confident horse? I understand if you can't, I'm usually all alone unless I can find a competent and confident person to accompany. I wouldn't worry too much though, I think you'll probably find that she relaxes the more she is repeatedly exposed to life.

 

[TheMule]

How much hand walking are people doing? Mine has had a slightly quirky education so far as the auction horses do, she rides in a school beautifully but even lunging In balance has been more complicated than I’d have expected! We’re at the point of hacking out now but the world is far too overwhelming and rather than scare either of us I’m taking her inhand rather than test exactly how strong the aids are installed. We’re all road work and without company. She’s pretty obedient but you can tell she’s nervous, snorts under her breath and we have the odd plant to look at something. How much inhand walking would you say before ‘this is as good as it’s going to get’. There’s nothing more to prove school work wise so until she’s stronger so trying to prioritise getting off the yard.

Photos for tax
View attachment 59773View attachment 59772View attachment 59771

My babies did each hacking route several times being led off an older horse before I rode them round it. I find ride and lead really valuable for building that confidence

 

[lannerch]

My girl when she was in work did hack out by herself, but she also hacked out mostly in company . She’s very brave though , I had been regularly taking her for walks in the summer around the farm before she was backed, and she’s also done a lot of long reining up the country roads and farm.

 

[Palindrome]

I love the look of your filly rara.
My filly was super tense walking in hand and she has just started to relax on the way home last time. I would say she has gone out about 10 times, twice following another horse.
My gelding (in the avatar picture) used to plant, every time at the same place on our last yard. He had come off race training at 3 years old and probably same as your filly had been under lots of pressure. I would just give him a bit of time to think about things and he eventually stopped doing it as he grew in confidence. I think for youngsters having a few treats to give them can help diffuse stress when out and about. If you can't follow another horse, sometimes you can follow someone on a bike, that could help with confidence too.

 

[palo1]

I did in hand walks out for 2 or 3 times then ridden with the young horse being led on the same route for a couple of times before riding the route. On each ride I dismounted at least once to walk in hand and then hop back on; not because there were any problems but because I wanted my little mare to understand that sometimes I would choose to walk and that I may want to get back on half way round etc. This, in part, sets up a positive prep for any point where there are problems and I need to get off! As it happened, my youngster has been very straightforward and bold and was hacking out alone and in company happily quite quickly. They are all different though so no 'right' way to do it!! You have a lovely looking youngster rara!

 

[rara007]

Update!

We took a lead pedestrian a couple of times around the same route and she’s getting much calmer about it all We’ll try the same route alone by the end of the week before going through other way round. She’s been polite every time and her breathing rate is back to sensible for the vast majority of our walk now. I don’t have anything to ride and lead from as my gelding isn’t a bold hack (partly why I’m keen to get her as bold as possible!) and the stallion isn’t to be trusted that much! I do have friends locally but don’t want to bother them until we’re a bit less hopeless
I could lead an old pony gelding from her, he’s my pony of a lifetime but I’ve got a bit heavy considering he had a neuro virus and lami. They’re field mates and I trust him 100%... He’s only a hand smaller than her but even now he’ll be speedy enough pace won’t be an issue. I’ll see how mad I’m feeling, is 98% narrow lanes.
Sorry for not replying quicker I’ve been a bit mentally busy It’s reassuring this is quite normal. Quite a few of my ponies have been cocky enough (and in turn me confident in them) hacking was get on and go don’t look back so this hyperventilating sideways walking thing was a bit of a shock.

 

[ihatework]

Well, for his final couple of weeks of being eligible for the 3/4yo thread, little Oz man would like to offer his final instalment.

He had his first lesson today with his jockey’s regular trainer, Kevin McNab. Not someone I’ve had any experience of before but he was very good. Got the measure of the little guy very quickly and immediately adapted what he had set up to suit.

Overall conclusions are it’s too early to tell what we have. He is super quick in his brain and with his feet which, while great in some respects, means he is far too gung-ho and isn’t giving himself enough time to use his body optimally. This gives the initial impression he possibly doesn’t have the scope for top level but if we can get his brain slowed down he could surprise us.

We started off working over a double with lots of placing poles. That kind of exercise is quite usual for him - build a grid, try and slow him down. But actually he is clever enough he can do it without learning much.

Kevin quickly built something else for him. The 20m circle with poles at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. This was then built with small uprights at 12 & 6, with poles at 3 & 9. Then Oz had to make his own mistakes and back himself off, without crashing & burning. Once he had nailed that he joined the clock together with the grid, both ways.

Finished through another grid, upright-oxer-oxer-upright with poles before, after & middle.

So in summary Kevin confirmed what we knew about the horse but actually thinks we need to do more small tricky stuff on curves/angles to make him think and sit himself back, don’t help him too much and make sure he makes the mistakes rather than letting him bowl down a straight line grid much

 

[Asha]

thats the bit thats most exciting. Have you managed to get a top horse or is he a good amateurs ride. When you've bred them i always think the pressure is off a little, as although its costs a fair bit to breed and raise, you havent paid £30k for a 3 year. exciting times for you, heres hoping hes a top horse, you can sell for millions and then retire off to the cotswolds...oops perhaps thats my dream !

 

[TheMule]

Well, for his final couple of weeks of being eligible for the 3/4yo thread, little Oz man would like to offer his final instalment.

He had his first lesson today with his jockey’s regular trainer, Kevin McNab. Not someone I’ve had any experience of before but he was very good. Got the measure of the little guy very quickly and immediately adapted what he had set up to suit.

Overall conclusions are it’s too early to tell what we have. He is super quick in his brain and with his feet which, while great in some respects, means he is far too gung-ho and isn’t giving himself enough time to use his body optimally. This gives the initial impression he possibly doesn’t have the scope for top level but if we can get his brain slowed down he could surprise us.

We started off working over a double with lots of placing poles. That kind of exercise is quite usual for him - build a grid, try and slow him down. But actually he is clever enough he can do it without learning much.

Kevin quickly built something else for him. The 20m circle with poles at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. This was then built with small uprights at 12 & 6, with poles at 3 & 9. Then Oz had to make his own mistakes and back himself off, without crashing & burning. Once he had nailed that he joined the clock together with the grid, both ways.

Finished through another grid, upright-oxer-oxer-upright with poles before, after & middle.

So in summary Kevin confirmed what we knew about the horse but actually thinks we need to do more small tricky stuff on curves/angles to make him think and sit himself back, don’t help him too much and make sure he makes the mistakes rather than letting him bowl down a straight line grid much

Really interesting- I would value that quick thinking boldness over a top-of-the-wings wow horse. I think the little guy has it in him ?

 

[Northern]

Bella had her first outing yesterday!

Prior to this, she had never been in a standard horse float, only in a horse truck (lorries are very rare here, it's either horse float/trailer or big truck!). I had spent some time in the last few weeks just popping her on and off my float and leaving her in to eat some hay so she was used to it.

She was a superstar to load both ways, self loaded there and back, even though she had hit her head on the way to the venue (sporting a tiny hole in her head now, which she promptly forgot about apparently!). She travelled well, just a bit impatient when stopped, which is somewhat normal for impatient young horses - she's not my first to do that!

I was super pleased with her, I only took her out in her halter to watch my friend ride. I had decided against tacking her up to long rein, she doesn't need to be overfaced on her first outing and I'm in absolutely no hurry to do much with her. As it turns out, she probably would have been fine! She lunged politely on the dressage surface, we practiced our cantering on the lunge for the first time. I just wanted to make sure she knows the voice aid (she does!). No spook whatsoever and happily wandered up to and over weird surfaces and sights to have a sniff. Just need to keep her mind occupied in future, she did get a bit rude standing around watching, but nothing more than bold young WB stuff which is easily nipped in the bud. I am hoping to bring her out to these outings every few weeks and build up to long reining around/possibly riding her a bit too when I have backed her.

Hoping to have a sit on her in the next few weeks I think she'll take it well, she's the type that likes to have something to do. Just need to kidnap my backing buddy to hold her for me.

I've attached some pictures of the occasion

 

[Northern]

The view is pretty great from up here



First sit ever and it went exactly how I imagined! Not bothered in the slightest
My lovely helper also reminded me about FORWARD in long reining (eyes on the ground!), so we had a great session working on flexion and transitions within the pace. Bella worked up a nice sweat but was very willing and good natured about it.

Plan is now to work on the long reining a few more times this week, then hop on again next week and do some gentle work under saddle, go solo around the arena and perhaps have a bit of a trot and small hack back to the stables. We'll see how it goes, I'm happy to determine what to do on the day and how she is going.

Bit excited to get this one going I think she's going to be a cracker!

 

[TheMule]

The view is pretty great from up here

View attachment 61993

First sit ever and it went exactly how I imagined! Not bothered in the slightest
My lovely helper also reminded me about FORWARD in long reining (eyes on the ground!), so we had a great session working on flexion and transitions within the pace. Bella worked up a nice sweat but was very willing and good natured about it.

Plan is now to work on the long reining a few more times this week, then hop on again next week and do some gentle work under saddle, go solo around the arena and perhaps have a bit of a trot and small hack back to the stables. We'll see how it goes, I'm happy to determine what to do on the day and how she is going.

Bit excited to get this one going I think she's going to be a cracker!

How exciting! Great Christmas pressie ?

 

[Northern]

How exciting! Great Christmas pressie ?

Sure is! In a less than great year. I've had her 6 months now as well, time does fly!

 

[Palindrome]

I had a little hack down the lane with my 3 and half years old today. It was my second time on board as I had a little sit 2 weeks ago while my friend was holding her and feeding her carrots.
She took to it really well and was following my friend on my gelding. She got a bit nappy and refused to carry on once we had crossed the road, she does the same in hand (with some little rears and leg throwing so I didn't want to push her too much). So we took a few more steps, went back to the yard and did the lane a second time.
She is getting the idea about stopping and starting and overall being a good citizen.

 

[lannerch]

My turn for an update , well I have managed to keep the golden child on a break , we moved her to a different field with chums each side , and more to see, which did the trick and managed to keep her from mostly charging up and down she is still led by the girls on a chifney but I think that’s more a precaution now .

As it’s Christmas and so wet the horses are in as a one off for 48 hours , obviously hardly ideal for the golden child, so I decided the safest way to get her out of the stable was to try leading of my friends horse who I has just schooled. He is an eventer ex racehorse , sensible although certainly not a plod but I figured she would be safer in company, than me hanging on for dear life on foot.

She/they were absolute stars , went through all the floods , mud etc, survived the hunters on a canter workout cantering past , ( had to hang on to both horses when this happened as both wanted to join and both were in a snaffle )I’m so pleased with her, can’t wait until next spring .

going to do the same again tomorrow then hopefully we will be back to normal with daily turnout .

 

[ahml100]

So, I have a question and decided that this thread was probably the best place to ask!

Jamie is the first proper youngster I have had. All my other horses have always been broken in and over 4 years. I noticed that last year (2020) when he was three, he was very confident boarding on arrogance and quite bargy. When he he returned from being broken in, I immediately turned him away in a large field in a mixed age and sex herd and left him with little to no handling.

This was all done mid September and the biggest difference I have noticed in him, especially with the farrier was how much calmer he has become! His general character seems to have mellowed and he has become an even nicer person than before!

Is this normal after backing and turning away? I apologise in advance for what is probably a very stupid question!

 

[lannerch]

Had he been in a mixed herd before?

 

[ahml100]

Had he been in a mixed herd before?

Yes, the herd had been established before he was sent away.

I do realise after typing the above, that I have probably jinxed it and he will go back to being a typical youngster ?

 

[ihatework]

If they are backed well they generally come back easier and with more self confidence in what’s expected of them.

 

[ahml100]

If they are backed well they generally come back easier and with more self confidence in what’s expected of them.

That is really interesting, and totally how Jamie has become. He has a really trusting look in his eye and just seems so content.

I know the thanks has to go to my trainer as it her hard work.

Thank you so much for the reply!

 

[lannerch]

Well she’s back in after her break . I rode her today for the 4th time for me ever, she was so good , took her for a 20 minute hack by herself round the farm, she was keen but didn’t put a foot wrong . So pleased. she remembers after her break totally what the legs do, no exaggerated pony club kick aids needed , and she seems braver , did not bat an eyelid at anything . She’s even had a chaser clip , which she was really good for , I think she was lightly sedated as it was her first time even seeing the clippers . We are only going to lightly hack her out as she’s still so young but it’s great to be riding her again and she absolutely loves it . So happy .

 

[shortstuff99]

Now we are in the new year I can join in! My filly will be turning 3 at the beginning of May but I have started doing some bits of pieces of ground work. My aim for this year was to perhaps do a bit of showing so we have been learning to lead, back up and stand. We have also started to wear a rug and today had our first bit in (below pic)! She is a very brave soul and nothing fazes her or spooks her. She is a PRE by the young Champion Poeta de Susaeta and out of an Official mare.

 

[lannerch]

She looks beautiful and reminds me of a year ago , I was so excited, welcome to the club .

 

[shortstuff99]

She looks beautiful and reminds me of a year ago , I was so excited, welcome to the club .

Thank you, she is a real sweetheart! I am excited to start, haven't backed a horse for a few years and she makes it seem like it's easy, I'm waiting for the bump ?.

 

[TheMule]

Well she’s back in after her break . I rode her today for the 4th time for me ever, she was so good , took her for a 20 minute hack by herself round the farm, she was keen but didn’t put a foot wrong . So pleased. she remembers after her break totally what the legs do, no exaggerated pony club kick aids needed , and she seems braver , did not bat an eyelid at anything . She’s even had a chaser clip , which she was really good for , I think she was lightly sedated as it was her first time even seeing the clippers . We are only going to lightly hack her out as she’s still so young but it’s great to be riding her again and she absolutely loves it . So happy .

Excellent news! I always find it amazing that they can come back in seemingly knowing more than did before. What’s the plan from now?