Backing 3/4yr olds

[TheMule]

Riri has been kicked in the hock by another horse and has had synovial fluid leaking from the joint so she has been on box rest for 7 days now. She is being very good and very keen to get her daily bucket feed. 3 more days of box rest and she can be turned out again. I might make a paddock for her in the field so she doesn't run too much at first.
She won't be turned out again with the horse that kicked her, my 3 are going to stay together in a separate paddock now.

Oh shoot, that's unlucky. How is it looking now?

 

[TheMule]

Oh that is so frustrating and worrying but hopefully all is well and she recovers quickly now. Just hate those kind of accidents I took my mare for her first ever arena/instruction this morning and she was fab about all the strange new things and was so cool about it but we had to call the session short as the instructor could see that poor Alw is a bit shuffly/pottery in trot.(She is unshod) There was no point in continuing so we discussed plans and got to know each other a bit better. I have called the farrier and he will be over at the end of the week to look, trim and possibly put front shoes on. It's not something I am particularly keen to do but she has generally good feet, I certainly don't want her sore and I do want to gently keep going with her. Our others are unshod and both the farrier and I felt it was unlikely she would need shoes but her feet do now look very worn and need re-balancing now. Hopefully farrier will be able to sort her out She was such a good girl and I was thrilled to have access to a school and an instructor so it was really quite a good session.

I'm finding that the ground is so hard that my lot are starting to get little chips- the gloves are growing fast and there's just no give in what they're walking on

 

[palo1]

You are right - everywhere is as hard as iron, unyielding and quite wearing even on very hard hoof. I have probably done a bit too much too and can see that the mare's feet, though short are starting to look a bit unbalanced. She has had a lot on with starting work, which interestingly resolved a hoof that had gone rather clubbed during the winter - probably due to contracted heels and lack of structured movement. I am glad that her feet look better in that respect at least!! Both now have healthy HPAs again thank goodness. I can just feel that she is not walking out as well and trot on anything other than tarmac is a bit shuffly. Her feet look very, very short. That actually suits my other horse but possibly not her, not at this young age, not whilst she is still a bit croup high and on the forehand etc etc. So I will take my farriers advice and hope that we can find a really good compromise for the mare that involves time with shoes and without!! Poor horses - they have gone from their feet swimming in mud and water to being expected to move round over really, really hard ground within 8 weeks.

 

[Palindrome]

Oh shoot, that's unlucky. How is it looking now?

It seemed a bit painful this morning but she trotted up sound tonight. I think she now needs to walk on it a bit more rather than stay in the stable so I have been letting her out in a small strip to graze for about half an hour twice a day. The vet thinks it will get back to normal and that it could have been much worst.

 

[palo1]

That sounds like good progress Palindrome I have decided that even though my mare looks fine when trotted up, yesterday she was shuffling/not moving well so it's probably time for a mini-break. The farrier will be here at the end of the week to trim/discuss, I have put her in a smaller/less good grass paddock during the day (she can go out with the geldings on the grass strip at night) and we have really accomplished quite a lot in the last 2 months. It is a good time, with the ground being so hard, for her to take a break.

As a re-cap, Alw was backed and very gently ridden away last August, then turned away/hacked out shortly once a week or so till late Autumn then completely turned away till March. So far this year she has hacked out alone regularly, in company regularly, w/t/c in open country alone and in company, played with a tiny jump or two in the field and last week, jumped a couple of very small hunt jumps on the local common. She is great about traffic, water, dogs, meeting other horses, leaving other horses, waiting patiently if I want to stop and stand still, fab to jump on an off anywhere whilst we are out, she will turn on the forehand nicely, back up nicely and leg yield in a rather basic fashion. She is nice to try to open/close a gate from too. Canter on both legs is yet to be fully established but she is happy to try either lead and mostly that is good but obviously we haven't done very much canter work at all. Yesterday we had our first time in an arena. She has done good!!

Until the ground is more sympathetic I think she deserves a break to consider her learning. I very much hope to be able to do a bit more this year though; I am keen for her to do a bit more work on the open hill and for her to do a tiny bit more jumping/work in a more organised fashion in a schooling environment/arena , but there should be plenty of year left for her to take that on. Whilst she is having a break from ridden work I will probably lead her out from my other horse a couple of times a week so that she doesn't just get fatter and fatter. Hopefully that means she can carry on moving but without carrying me about!!

Suggestions about alternative plans very welcome

 

[j1ffy]

That sounds like good progress Palindrome I have decided that even though my mare looks fine when trotted up, yesterday she was shuffling/not moving well so it's probably time for a mini-break. The farrier will be here at the end of the week to trim/discuss, I have put her in a smaller/less good grass paddock during the day (she can go out with the geldings on the grass strip at night) and we have really accomplished quite a lot in the last 2 months. It is a good time, with the ground being so hard, for her to take a break.

As a re-cap, Alw was backed and very gently ridden away last August, then turned away/hacked out shortly once a week or so till late Autumn then completely turned away till March. So far this year she has hacked out alone regularly, in company regularly, w/t/c in open country alone and in company, played with a tiny jump or two in the field and last week, jumped a couple of very small hunt jumps on the local common. She is great about traffic, water, dogs, meeting other horses, leaving other horses, waiting patiently if I want to stop and stand still, fab to jump on an off anywhere whilst we are out, she will turn on the forehand nicely, back up nicely and leg yield in a rather basic fashion. She is nice to try to open/close a gate from too. Canter on both legs is yet to be fully established but she is happy to try either lead and mostly that is good but obviously we haven't done very much canter work at all. Yesterday we had our first time in an arena. She has done good!!

Until the ground is more sympathetic I think she deserves a break to consider her learning. I very much hope to be able to do a bit more this year though; I am keen for her to do a bit more work on the open hill and for her to do a tiny bit more jumping/work in a more organised fashion in a schooling environment/arena , but there should be plenty of year left for her to take that on. Whilst she is having a break from ridden work I will probably lead her out from my other horse a couple of times a week so that she doesn't just get fatter and fatter. Hopefully that means she can carry on moving but without carrying me about!!

Suggestions about alternative plans very welcome

It sounds like you're producing a lovely well-mannered horse their palo1! Cutting the grass intake sounds like a good idea, and being led from your other horse will help to keep her hooves in shape as well as her tummy. I have had 'self-trimming' horses for the last 8 years and find that building up the hoof strength steadily is key. I'll be aiming to do the same with Chilli once he's in proper work over here, I find having them unshod is a helpful early warning of diet issues.

Palindrome - fingers crossed yours continues to improve, what a worrying time

 

[ihatework]

I know lots of people like to keep them in work Palo1 but I’m actually quite a fan of giving the young ones regular breaks.

Mine will be having a short break soon and then will be moving back in with me. He has had a spell of structured work but I think he is now established enough that he could do with being carefully introduced to the concept of other riders.

I’m also going to brush up on my longreining, from the yard I’ll have him at we have direct access onto the Fosse way byway, so I’ll have miles of reasonably safe long rein hacking.

Once my friend has dropped her sprog, he can then go to his permanent residence.

 

[palo1]

It sounds like you're producing a lovely well-mannered horse their palo1! Cutting the grass intake sounds like a good idea, and being led from your other horse will help to keep her hooves in shape as well as her tummy. I have had 'self-trimming' horses for the last 8 years and find that building up the hoof strength steadily is key. I'll be aiming to do the same with Chilli once he's in proper work over here, I find having them unshod is a helpful early warning of diet issues.

Palindrome - fingers crossed yours continues to improve, what a worrying time

Thank you! I hope she continues to enjoy her work - so far she has been a complete sponge!! I am very keen to keep her unshod but having spent the last decade with my older horse unshod but always very delicately balanced I am aware of how easy it is for them to get sore/unbalanced etc. I really want to avoid problems at this stage so I am working on being a bit more pragmatic. Judging by how she looked today, she should be fine but probably does need a break from work under saddle just now. Steady, progressive work that allows hooves to keep up is sometimes easier said than done and I do wonder also if the very dry spell has actually caused a reduction in hoof growth just as her work was increasing! No matter, she will have what she needs bless her.

 

[palo1]

I know lots of people like to keep them in work Palo1 but I’m actually quite a fan of giving the young ones regular breaks.

Mine will be having a short break soon and then will be moving back in with me. He has had a spell of structured work but I think he is now established enough that he could do with being carefully introduced to the concept of other riders.

I’m also going to brush up on my longreining, from the yard I’ll have him at we have direct access onto the Fosse way byway, so I’ll have miles of reasonably safe long rein hacking.

Once my friend has dropped her sprog, he can then go to his permanent residence.

I quite agree about plenty of short breaks IHW We have never found our horses to go backwards if the breaks are well timed and that seems to allow them to process new learning and their bodies to respond. I do think that we have a culture of working horses too often sometimes tbh: muscular and skeletal fitness are improved/developed through a careful pattern of stress/demand and rest. Rest is as vital as work but finding the right balance isn't always easy!! For this mare, she has done everything I have asked of her so far so it is daft putting extra miles on the legs and mind at such a young age. We have plenty of time to refine things tbh and I try always (not successfully) to ensure that anything that is done at an early stage is absolutely correct. I was delighted yesterday that my new instructor was impressed that the little mare halts very nicely and stood completely still for me to mount and dismount several times, in spite of concreting lorries, pigs, cattle, a new arena and many more things to look at. At this point in our 'training' (though we are pretty informal tbh...!!!) all I really insist on perfecting are halting correctly, standing still on request, moving off the leg smartly and sensible downward transitions. We have had lots of fun playing with other stuff in a really small way but most things can now wait until the ground is more sympathetic I reckon. I will wait to see what the farrier says before I do too much road work when being led off one of the others.

I love long reining; it is brilliant and can be so companiable if you have nice tracks to work on. Hope that goes well.

 

[daffy44]

Palindrome, I'm sorry to hear about your horse, but very pleased if no lasting damage is done, and everything heals quickly.

Palo, I found with one of mine he gets quite footy and sore out hacking when the ground is very hard, and I just put front shoes on him for half the year. I like keeping my horses barefoot if possible, but this one of mine was four last year, and whilst he was working beautifully on a surface, he was not happy out hacking, and hacking is very important to me, so I just had fronts on him for the summer, and as soon as the ground got soft again, they came off and he was barefoot over the winter. He has had some time off due to a fall in the field, and is back in work again now, and so far his feet are good, but if he starts to get footy again out hacking, I'll do exactly what I did last year and just put front shoes on him whilst the ground is so hard.

I know people feel very strongly about barefoot etc, so I'm not telling anyone what to do, just recounting what worked well for one of mine.

 

[splashgirl45]

very sensible ideas from every one, all we need to do is listen to our horses and either back off riding or put boots or shoes on for a while. sometimes people seem to be very fixed on having shoes all round at all times and others will not put shoes on as they are very fixed on going without. there is always a compromise with horses and no one rule fits all..

 

[daffy44]

very sensible ideas from every one, all we need to do is listen to our horses and either back off riding or put boots or shoes on for a while. sometimes people seem to be very fixed on having shoes all round at all times and others will not put shoes on as they are very fixed on going without. there is always a compromise with horses and no one rule fits all..

Couldnt agree more, every horse is an individual, and should be treated in a way that is best for the individual.

 

[palo1]

Couldnt agree more, every horse is an individual, and should be treated in a way that is best for the individual.

Probably the most important truth about anything we do with horses!! I have some experience with barefoot horses (5 currently unshod/barefoot and more before that but incidentally rather than deliberately lol) my older horse is certainly not especially easy in that respect but thankfully because Alw has good feet to start with I don't feel too concerned about considering shoeing if that will leave her more comfortable at an important point in her education. I have used boots too and tbh haven't had much luck with any of them in the end. I would rather shoe considerately and mindfully. It's all stuff which means that I am getting to know the 'nitty gritty' of my mare and I love that increasing depth of knowledge even though it inevitably brings complexity with it!!

 

[Third_Time_Lucky]

Welcome to the club! He looks like he's going to be a big boy?

Hopefully so, he's currently 16.1 but def a couple of inches higher at the bum and has started to fill out a bit over the last three months . I'm hoping he'll reach 16.3/17hh.

 

[palo1]

My mare has had a week off now and my farrier has been to look at her moving on soft and hard ground. All is well there and he has just advised trimming at the moment (which he has done) and cautioned against work in the school that I had used; the surface there isn't great and very variable from deep/soft to hard. As she is only 4 it makes sense that having never worked on a surface before to try to do anything on a not-great surface is asking for trouble! Thank goodness we realised that she was being cautious/finding it difficult after only about 15 minutes or so in walk with just a bit of trot work.

I am considering my options now; I will probably just carry on hacking out and doing some work in hand and possibly under saddle in the field at home for a bit longer. She is really happy with all that and loving her hacking out. I would love access to a decent school/arena as I am aware that we need to iron out a few things; most obviously right canter (well lots of things on the RR!!) However, I think that can wait a bit - Alw will canter on the right if I set her up nicely and I don't want it to become a bit of a 'thing' for either of us. She has also started to find baby leg yields on the RR much easier which I am delighted with Baby steps!! I did some in hand work over raised poles yesterday which was great fun and I can carry on with other things that don't need a structured space as such. I have decided to wait a bit longer too before heading out for another instructor session - the instructor I really would prefer to use is a bit further away and more expensive (but so worth it!!) so I should probably wait until we can actually manage at least half an hour's work after travelling; currently that is probably too much of an ask. I had forgotten how it is, all this early young horse stuff and the calculations/calibration that we have to do all the time...

I would like to consider how to start getting Alw used to an arena surface without it being horrible and I guess I will just have to hire a better local one and suck up the cost of an hour's hire for only 15 minutes work for a bit. Has anyone got any advice about this ? It's not really something I have had to think about before as previous starters were where I did have easy access to an arena so they got used to that from an early point! Clearly the issue here is not that Alw can't cope mentally but that the surface is so different to the going/ground she is used to - especially at the moment with everywhere absolutely rock hard.

Anyhoo, all is good and we can keep moving gently forward. I did hop on bareback with just a headcollar a couple of days ago - bless her, she was completely unfazed and seemed to think we were going to go out somewhere! Blurry pic sorry, but she is gorgeous - you just have to take my word for it!

 

[milliepops]

palo there'd be no harm in asking about a 30 min hire instead, I'd have thought. Do you know anyone who would like to share? My TB is done after 40 mins so if we were nearer each other a shared slot would be perfect.

 

[palo1]

That's a good idea actually and I do have a friend with a horse that could do with some short sessions! I am so used to fending entirely for myself (and this tendency has got worse due to lockdown!!) that I forget that other people are also in the same situation. Thanks for reminding me hahahaha!! We could do an hour between us and the local arena which is ok is huge so space to provide moral support if need be. I can't wait to be able to take Alw to see the trainer I love (but haven't seen for years actually) as she is fab and won't mind my lengthy absence, arrival with new young horse etc and will be positive about anything she can be. It just needs me to be patient and not ask too much too soon...

 

[Asha]

Seeing as everyone’s youngsters look far better groomed than ours I decided to give Frank a hair cut. Seeing as he looked so much more grown up I then put a bridle on , and then popped a saddle on . Forgive the fact he had no girth on in the photo, it was a quick snap while I popped back to tack room as I picked my IDs mares girth by mistake . It would have. Nearly wrapped around him twice ??? he did have a girth on after this . He had a little think about , but didn’t really care .

 

[TheMule]

Seeing as everyone’s youngsters look far better groomed than ours I decided to give Frank a hair cut. Seeing as he looked so much more grown up I then put a bridle on , and then popped a saddle on . Forgive the fact he had no girth on in the photo, it was a quick snap while I popped back to tack room as I picked my IDs mares girth by mistake . It would have. Nearly wrapped around him twice ??? he did have a girth on after this . He had a little think about , but didn’t really care . View attachment 49511View attachment 49512

Now he looks like a grown up pony!

 

[Asha]

Now he looks like a grown up pony!

it’s amazing what a bit of defuzzing can do . Can’t wait until it’s my turn ??

 

[daffy44]

Palo, I've asked places for a 30min arena hire, and most places are happy to do that, but if you can share with a friend, even better, because you can also tick the working with other horses box at the same time.

 

[palo1]

It seemed a bit painful this morning but she trotted up sound tonight. I think she now needs to walk on it a bit more rather than stay in the stable so I have been letting her out in a small strip to graze for about half an hour twice a day. The vet thinks it will get back to normal and that it could have been much worst.

How is your horse getting on now Palindrome? Hope things are progressing well

 

[palo1]

Yay! Walk schooling today in our flat, knackered winter turnout paddock. It is far too slippery to do anything other than walk but we got so much good stuff done in the 20-30 minutes we were 'working' lol! She has had a break for a week and we did nothing new but it seems that things have had time to be processed now so it is all a bit easier for her mentally and physically.

Today we were able to achieve a lovely reliable leg yield - rather than me thinking 'ok, but was that slight sideways lurch a response to my leg or just a lucky coincidence?' She definately understands leg yield on both reins and can manage 4 or 5 strides of leg yield in walk really happily Super happy with that!! Plenty of loops etc using some poles set out in a 'bow' shape as well as a couple of serpentines and she can now concentrate enough not to fall out through the shoulder by the yard gate. Turn on the forehand is great on the RR and a bit hesitant on the LR but she is getting there which is fantastic. Rein back is also starting to feel very nice - relaxed and smooth. Clearly I am only asking for a very natural outline at this point but her confidence and acceptance of the bridle and aids is really encouraging and she is interested and so willing to try and work things out. Her attitude is so positive bless her I must think about better ways to ask for a really good square halt - my instructions are clearly a bit ???? at the moment! And we definately need plenty of practice walking in a straight line.... Even though it is dank outside and I don't really have a great space to work I am buzzing with how things went today. Baby steps and all. Sorry for the gushing post folks.

 

[lannerch]

Can I join the club late to join as only just found the thread sorry , I have a 3yo mare Currently about 16.2 who has just slowly started being lightly backed. She is warm blood bred by Gfs sports horses by Gfs fire and ice out of a show jumping mare by Al Pacino so far she has taken to everything like a duck to water , she is now long reining quite happily on the farm and the road with full tack on her she is very brave.

 

[j1ffy]

Can I join the club late to join as only just found the thread sorry , I have a 3yo mare Currently about 16.2 who has just slowly started being lightly backed. She is warm blood bred by Gfs sports horses by Gfs fire and ice out of a show jumping mare by Al Pacino so far she has taken to everything like a duck to water , she is now long reining quite happily on the farm and the road with full tack on her she is very brave.
View attachment 49666View attachment 49667

She’s very pretty, lovely colour!

 

[lannerch]

She’s very pretty, lovely colour!

S
Thank you she is very much a lady in all respects . There are some lovely youngsters on this thread your boy to jiffy is stunning . Love the mule to actually love them all we have a lot to look forward to .

 

[TheMule]

Can I join the club late to join as only just found the thread sorry , I have a 3yo mare Currently about 16.2 who has just slowly started being lightly backed. She is warm blood bred by Gfs sports horses by Gfs fire and ice out of a show jumping mare by Al Pacino so far she has taken to everything like a duck to water , she is now long reining quite happily on the farm and the road with full tack on her she is very brave.
View attachment 49666View attachment 49667

Oh she is lovely! Looks like she has a lovely big frame to grow into as well, I bet she'll be super. Welcome!

 

[ihatework]

Well the 4yo twerp passed his vet MOT and came back from boarding school yesterday. Lovely to have some time this summer to play about with him.

Definitely the right time for a break though, he’s gone up behind and looks a complete cut ‘n’shut at the moment ? I’m going to have to shut my eyes for a bit and I’m rather alarmed at the length of his front pasterns ?

He’s got the big eventers stable and I’ve decided it’s not in his best interests to go back to stud and run ferel. But will just do a little bit in hand for a while I think.

 

[TheMule]

Well the 4yo twerp passed his vet MOT and came back from boarding school yesterday. Lovely to have some time this summer to play about with him.

Definitely the right time for a break though, he’s gone up behind and looks a complete cut ‘n’shut at the moment ? I’m going to have to shut my eyes for a bit and I’m rather alarmed at the length of his front pasterns ?

He’s got the big eventers stable and I’ve decided it’s not in his best interests to go back to stud and run ferel. But will just do a little bit in hand for a while I think.

View attachment 49778

Maybe her has just saved all his growing for now and he will end up being appropriately sized after all?! He's looking well though

 

[ihatework]

Maybe her has just saved all his growing for now and he will end up being appropriately sized after all?! He's looking well though

One can hope!
If you are over this way seeing H give me a shout and you can have a sit!!