Backing 3/4yr olds

[Ghost1987]

Had my first proper sit on Baby Bean yesterday!!! No picture so hopefully next time, she was as good as gold, didn't bat an eyelid .

Does anyone else back without all the lunging and long lining? Bean isn't a big fan of lunging, she just stands next to me and she isn't even fussed by a bag at the end of a stick ?. Instead I just walk around a bit and then hop on and she seems okay with that?

Think she will get the lunging after the riding really.

I've personally never started a horse that took or understood how to go on the lunge right away, training to lunge is a process all on it's own and I always got someone else to hand walk them round on the lunge while I stayed in the centre so they started to understand what I was asking of them. Also it will always be harder to start a horse be single line lunging (which I hate, never do it myself nor advise anyone to lunge this way), they go straight away on double line lunging which Is always better generally for them but also it's like having reins so you can guide the horse out and away from you.

You can back by free schooling as well if you have the facilities! You don't necessarily need a round ring I never did, I either sectioned off 2/3rd's of the area using jump wings and poles straight across or if the outside arena was in use I used the small indoor arena and closed the arena door.
I've never broken anything in without either double line lunging, long reining or free schooling purely because I wanted the youngster to go off my voice and understand my voice before getting on and I wanted them to feel and get used to the hand to mouth contact. I also wanted them to learn to take steps backwards when I ask which can only be done either on them or long reining.

No matter how you do it as long as there's no violence or cause stress to them and you you create a safe, respectful, happy horse then you do what ever way works for you and the horse!

 

[shortstuff99]

I've personally never started a horse that took or understood how to go on the lunge right away, training to lunge is a process all on it's own and I always got someone else to hand walk them round on the lunge while I stayed in the centre so they started to understand what I was asking of them. Also it will always be harder to start a horse be single line lunging (which I hate, never do it myself nor advise anyone to lunge this way), they go straight away on double line lunging which Is always better generally for them but also it's like having reins so you can guide the horse out and away from you.

You can back by free schooling as well if you have the facilities! You don't necessarily need a round ring I never did, I either sectioned off 2/3rd's of the area using jump wings and poles straight across or if the outside arena was in use I used the small indoor arena and closed the arena door.
I've never broken anything in without either double line lunging, long reining or free schooling purely because I wanted the youngster to go off my voice and understand my voice before getting on and I wanted them to feel and get used to the hand to mouth contact. I also wanted them to learn to take steps backwards when I ask which can only be done either on them or long reining.

No matter how you do it as long as there's no violence or cause stress to them and you you create a safe, respectful, happy horse then you do what ever way works for you and the horse!

I decided to pull my finger out and taught her to lunge/ longline. Took me one session of 10 minutes, no stress and she got it straight away. The upside of this though is I am able to get on her without lungeing beforehand as she doesn't know that should even be a thing ?.

 

[daydreamer]

Very happy today! We had our first ride out of the field. It's only abut his 5th proper ride (and 2 of those have been saddle fittings) with a break of a couple of months whilst waiting for his saddle.

We just did a 10 min loop with another lovely livery coming on her horse to escort us. Yesterday I got anxious and decided that my first ride off lead maybe shouldn't also be our first "hack" and our first time riding with another horse so I asked a friend if she would come and lead us.

It is really hard not to feel like being led is a cop-out or failure but I keep trying to tell myself it is our journey and no-one else's and it doesn't really matter how slowly we go.

Duncan was great! He was a bit anxious and jogged a little to start, then settled into a fast walk and then in the final stretch realised he was heading home and relaxed and walked very calmly

 

[ihatework]

I’m seriously falling in love with Turnip the 3yo. She has been a little bit in the shadow of my other 3yo. I sat and got led around on Turnip in March and since then she has been out in the herd.
Sent her 4 weeks ago to pro breakers to be ridden away and she came home last week with a glowing school report and WTC installed. This week I’ve taken up the reins and been hacking her about. She is seriously AWESOME.
Probably the easiest/nicest 3yo I’ve sat on.
Big grins in IHW land

 

[j1ffy]

I’m seriously falling in love with Turnip the 3yo. She has been a little bit in the shadow of my other 3yo. I sat and got led around on Turnip in March and since then she has been out in the herd.
Sent her 4 weeks ago to pro breakers to be ridden away and she came home last week with a glowing school report and WTC installed. This week I’ve taken up the reins and been hacking her about. She is seriously AWESOME.
Probably the easiest/nicest 3yo I’ve sat on.
Big grins in IHW land

I've always liked the look of Turnip (and the name!!), it's great to hear that she's doing well. What's the longer-term plan with your 3yos?

 

[ihatework]

I've always liked the look of Turnip (and the name!!), it's great to hear that she's doing well. What's the longer-term plan with your 3yos?

It’s a bit fluid at the moment.
Turnip had been on the transfer list as I hadn’t been convinced she was going to be worth investing too much in. I’m changing my mind. Will prob aim to long term loan her to a competitive JR/YR to event, then have her back for breeding.

Millie is a wait and see. It will partly depend if she gives me a filly next year (which will then give me more options), and whether she will be safe enough for me to ride a bit or if she is a pro only prospect.

 

[daffy44]

First time out for my 4yr old today, took her to a local arena hire and I couldnt be happier with her! She was perfect from start to finish, loading, traveling, faffing about on the lorry, all so easy. She stood like a rock for me to get on and then walked on a long rein, a little sassy mane toss when we first went into trot, and then worked like she does at home, finished with a stretch and didnt even get warm. She was so bold and sensible, and a pleasure to take out, I'm so pleased with her, such a great attitude, and such a sweetheart.

 

[maya2008]

Took my daughter’s pony to the beach today. She was a superstar, braver than my 8 year old mare!

Little Welsh A lost his halo last night (to be honest, I was waiting for it!). Two months in and he’s feeling strong enough to try the boundaries. Normal ride, somewhere he’s been plenty of times before, nothing to get in a tizzy about… and he decides to throw a paddy about going first. Ok… so we lead for a bit, check the hedges for scary animals, double check the tack etc, but no - it’s not about an actual problem, or about going first (which he generally prefers most days), it’s about having a battle apparently. So the rest of the ponies snacked in the hedge while son and pony discussed who was going to win. Son got him back on the path a few times and they were doing ok, until pony got a little hysterical because he WANTED to WIN and he was losing. So I ended up helping with the timing of aids (son needed to be quicker to counteract the speedy reversing) and all was well in the end. Pony made it home rather more tired than he had been expecting, having lost every battle. He’d make a good mini warhorse though - we had a nice capriole at one point!

Going out again today to reinforce the lesson. Oh the fun of youngsters with energy in their step and mischief in their eyes! I don’t miss the days when my little mare was doing similar (although she liked to spin and run, rather than spin and reverse - I think he’s got it easy ?)!

 

[Caol Ila]

Hermosa tweaked herself in the field last weekend, so hasn't done much this week. Looked sound by Wednesday, so we had a small long-reining session, mostly in walk. Worked on posture, bending, stepping over poles. Teaching her where I want her to carry her head (LOL). Then hot date with her new trimmer on Thursday.

We will take her on a long walk in hand tomorrow.

I'm trying to sell Gypsum's double bridle and a couple bridles that did not fit Fin. Hermosa inherited one, a cute little Western headstall, which fits way better than Gypsum's old snaffle bridle. However, she is in a Cambridge bit, which is fine for getting used to a thing in her mouth but I really want to start her in a snaffle. I'd like to sell these other bridles so they pay for a shiny new snaffle. No one is lining up at the door for them, though. Argh.

 

[shortstuff99]

She is very pretty @Caol Ila.

Bean and I had just been plodding along, my older horse Potato has had a couple of weeks off as the hot weather made her breathing flair up so that meant Bean got a lot more attention (Potato is back now).

Today was our first solo ride and I couldn't be more proud of her! She just tries so hard everytime and always gives everything a go. This is why I love Spanish horses so much, I don't even lunge before getting on ?.

Here is a video of the end.

 

[alsxx]

Lovely to see everyone's updates. Despite having the summer off work and thinking I could ride my boy every day, I seem to have ridden less! Thanks to covid and pulling shoes, then a death in the family and Hudband having to to go to Oz. So now I'm holiday and I've sent him away for a couple of weeks schooling, otherwise he would have done about 5 days work in 6 weeks.

But been super pleased with his attitude, after 2 weeks off he really did just pick back up and I couldn't fault how grown up he was. Including meeting 6 tractors and trailers on 1 hack ? he doesn't seem too good at keeping his front shoes on though, so after this cycle they will come off and we'll continue barefoot.

 

[daffy44]

I'm so pleased with my little girl, my only question mark over her when I bought her was her size, shes teeny tiny, but because she was so young I took a gamble, and whilst shes probably only grown about an inch in height so far, she has changed shape so much its amazing! Now she takes my leg properly I'm a lot less worried about her size.

Before anyone thinks anything awful, I have to say that the yard I bought her from looked after her really well, but she had spent the pervious few winter months living out with hay. I fed her conditioning cubes for the first couple of months I had her, but after that just hay, bit of Hi Fi and lots of field time, so this change really isnt much to do with management, just an example of how much youngsters can change, and the benefits of spring grass. Pics are six months apart, feb to august.

 

[flippa_t]

Really interesting to read about everyone's journeys. My 4yr old warmblood has spent most of this year hacking and doing ground work, with a tiny bit of school work. A month ago we moved yards and started lessons with a proper dressage trainer once a week to help tune up the basics and it started to feel like we were making good progress. The previous yard only had a tiny school so we didn't really do any canter until we moved (as he's big) and over the last few weeks its been improving (although still very unbalanced and a bit hairy). Steering is work in progress and I'm experimenting with bits.

I'd planned on taking him out to his first outing over the bank holiday to a BD training day. It's at a BD venue but will be lessons in pairs, with another pair in the other end of the arena, so a good experience without being a competition. There is test riding in the afternoon, but I probably wouldn't stay for that as didn't want to over do it. Anyway, as is normally the way with horses, he galloped around in the field on the hard ground and had a slight windgall come up on his leg. I got the vet to check it incase it was more sinister and he wasn't worried but said to walk for 5 days.... I was away for a few days so decided to give him a full week off then start our walking. Roll on day 1 of walk and he pulls a shoe off the previous night and I can't get my farrier to come out and put it on for another 5/6 days. So whilst I know that a few weeks off won't do him any harm it's really annoying timing as will only have 3/4 days before the training day.
I had planned on seeing how he coped with the training day and then if all was good maybe taking him to camp in September, but want to make sure it's all good experiences and not rush him so a test run would be helpful.

 

[SEL]

Before anyone thinks anything awful, I have to say that the yard I bought her from looked after her really well, but she had spent the pervious few winter months living out with hay. I fed her conditioning cubes for the first couple of months I had her, but after that just hay, bit of Hi Fi and lots of field time, so this change really isnt much to do with management, just an example of how much youngsters can change, and the benefits of spring grass. Pics are six months apart, feb to august.

Better than taking on something obese and then finding you've got joint problems when they're just 5 as happened with my Appy....

 

[SEL]

Baby cob had a proper meltdown yesterday on the roads. He's got so brave around cars and even the bikes now (although a mass of cyclists is still a worry for him) but yesterday we met two horses on the opposite side of the road and they were heading back towards home.

We span and stuck up nose up the last horse's backside Fortunately it didn't seem in the slightest bit bothered and the two ladies were lovely about being joined by an unexpected guest. I had a feeling a tantrum was on its way about leaving them so asked if they'd mind stopping and I'd jump off and walk in hand the direction we were supposed to be going.

The other two horses were old enough to roll their eyes and continue on their way while I insisted that we walked away from them. Cue massive foot stomping, mini rear tantrum.

Once they were out of sight and we were somewhere safe enough to remount I did and he just got on with it like nothing had happened.

Need to think about how to manage that going forward. I'm on my own so he does need to learn to crack on with hacking on his own and he's been really good but napping back to other horses or throwing a wobbly is a habit I don't need.

 

[ihatework]

Well 3yo Turnip has been foot perfect.
I did initial sitting on in the spring but nothing more. Breaking yard have just done 4 weeks sitting/riding on and she then came back for me to finish off.

Bold and forwards. Hacking alone and in company. Walked over some poles. And the rain eventually came so got to have a little canter in the field.

Was hoping to do another couple of weeks but pretty much overnight she was reluctant to take the bridle - vet check and she is teething with sore gums. So early finish for her and she got to go back out for a holiday. Cannot ask any more from her.



Millie is currently at breakers, I’d allowed 8-12 weeks as was expecting some fireworks, but her 3 week school report is positive. Took a couple of weeks to accept a human on top but once she had that sorted the riding thing has been pretty smooth (so far!). Breaker thinks she will be ready for me to hop on in a couple of weeks which is brilliant and £££ saving ?

 

[Caol Ila]

Getting closer. She was pretty solid while I was leaning across her back from a mounting block yesterday. Tried showing her what the bit meant but my friend's solid Cambridge bit is definitely the wrong thing for that. I'm going to try her in Gypsum's bradoon. The Cambridge bit was fine for teaching her to take it into her mouth, carry, and let it go - probably ideal because it wasn't rattly - but I think a snaffle will be better for actually using.

My original plan was to attach the bit to the cavesson and have a set of reins on the nose rings and a set of reins on the bit. Many years ago, Janet George posted a video on here of her starting a youngster that way, and it seemed like a brilliant idea. If they have a baby horse silly moment, you can pull them around but keep their mouth soft. However, the bit attachments on my cavesson put the bit in totally the wrong place for her, and they aren't very adjustable.

Now I am thinking of buying one of those rope halters with reins, which will fit under the bridle. That will give me the second set of reins not attached to her mouth and doesn't cost as much as a better cavesson.

 

[maya2008]

Getting closer. She was pretty solid while I was leaning across her back from a mounting block yesterday. Tried showing her what the bit meant but my friend's solid Cambridge bit is definitely the wrong thing for that. I'm going to try her in Gypsum's bradoon. The Cambridge bit was fine for teaching her to take it into her mouth, carry, and let it go - probably ideal because it wasn't rattly - but I think a snaffle will be better for actually using.

My original plan was to attach the bit to the cavesson and have a set of reins on the nose rings and a set of reins on the bit. Many years ago, Janet George posted a video on here of her starting a youngster that way, and it seemed like a brilliant idea. If they have a baby horse silly moment, you can pull them around but keep their mouth soft. However, the bit attachments on my cavesson put the bit in totally the wrong place for her, and they aren't very adjustable.

Now I am thinking of buying one of those rope halters with reins, which will fit under the bridle. That will give me the second set of reins not attached to her mouth and doesn't cost as much as a better cavesson.

If you have long-reined from the bit enough (and by enough, I mean just until they ‘get it’) then straight to bit/bridle is fine. If you used the cavesson, could put the headcollar on, then bridle (no noseband) - reins can attach to the metal rings on each side of the headcollar. I would also not use the stirrups for a little while if you don’t have a helper, for safety reasons. You want to get thrown clear if necessary, not get stuck to a panicking horse (and yes I have seen nasty accidents even with safety stirrups!).

Bits are pennies on Facebook Marketplace. I just picked up a new one for little Welsh pony for £5 + postage. You’ll probably find they like a different mouthpiece from the one you choose first anyway. Life’s like that! If doing it on your own, you probably want one with full cheeks or large rings at least, to help with turning. We have bradoon rings on the little ponies’ bits and even on such small mouths I worry about the bit rings ending up in their mouth if they argue.

 

[shortstuff99]

Glow up of Bean from fugly yearling to 4.5 years old!

 

[chaps89]

Well 3yo Turnip has been foot perfect.
I did initial sitting on in the spring but nothing more. Breaking yard have just done 4 weeks sitting/riding on and she then came back for me to finish off.

Bold and forwards. Hacking alone and in company. Walked over some poles. And the rain eventually came so got to have a little canter in the field.

Was hoping to do another couple of weeks but pretty much overnight she was reluctant to take the bridle - vet check and she is teething with sore gums. So early finish for her and she got to go back out for a holiday. Cannot ask any more from her.

View attachment 98246View attachment 98247

Millie is currently at breakers, I’d allowed 8-12 weeks as was expecting some fireworks, but her 3 week school report is positive. Took a couple of weeks to accept a human on top but once she had that sorted the riding thing has been pretty smooth (so far!). Breaker thinks she will be ready for me to hop on in a couple of weeks which is brilliant and £££ saving ?

Yep, I’m still in team Turnip ?

 

[Caol Ila]

This isn't my first rodeo. I just liked Janet George's idea.

 

[ihatework]

Yep, I’m still in team Turnip ?

To be honest, most people need a Turnip in their lives!!

Breeder has full siblings available, boys I think …

 

[Asha]

I’m seriously falling in love with Turnip the 3yo. She has been a little bit in the shadow of my other 3yo. I sat and got led around on Turnip in March and since then she has been out in the herd.
Sent her 4 weeks ago to pro breakers to be ridden away and she came home last week with a glowing school report and WTC installed. This week I’ve taken up the reins and been hacking her about. She is seriously AWESOME.
Probably the easiest/nicest 3yo I’ve sat on.
Big grins in IHW land

She’s the Ramiro B one isn’t she ?
Exactly the same report as our one got . He just took the whole process in his stride . Turned out to be a genuinely lovely lad . One thing a friend of mine said ( who is a pro and has ridden/owned a few Ramiro Bs) is that they tend to be very nice people . When under saddle they don’t seem to give that wow I have a superstar feeling like some youngsters do . They tend to do just enough and can deceive you into thinking they won’t be good enough . But he reckons take your time and you may just be pleasantly surprised.

 

[ihatework]

She’s the Ramiro B one isn’t she ?
Exactly the same report as our one got . He just took the whole process in his stride . Turned out to be a genuinely lovely lad . One thing a friend of mine said ( who is a pro and has ridden/owned a few Ramiro Bs) is that they tend to be very nice people . When under saddle they don’t seem to give that wow I have a superstar feeling like some youngsters do . They tend to do just enough and can deceive you into thinking they won’t be good enough . But he reckons take your time and you may just be pleasantly surprised.

Yes that describes her to the letter.
She is Ramiro B damsire. LePrince de Bois direct sire

 

[RachelFerd]

She’s the Ramiro B one isn’t she ?
Exactly the same report as our one got . He just took the whole process in his stride . Turned out to be a genuinely lovely lad . One thing a friend of mine said ( who is a pro and has ridden/owned a few Ramiro Bs) is that they tend to be very nice people . When under saddle they don’t seem to give that wow I have a superstar feeling like some youngsters do . They tend to do just enough and can deceive you into thinking they won’t be good enough . But he reckons take your time and you may just be pleasantly surprised.

I tried to buy several Ramiro B's when I was looking at unbroken 3yos for this very reason - but they kept selling faster than I could get to go and look at them...

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Getting closer. She was pretty solid while I was leaning across her back from a mounting block yesterday. Tried showing her what the bit meant but my friend's solid Cambridge bit is definitely the wrong thing for that. I'm going to try her in Gypsum's bradoon. The Cambridge bit was fine for teaching her to take it into her mouth, carry, and let it go - probably ideal because it wasn't rattly - but I think a snaffle will be better for actually using.

My original plan was to attach the bit to the cavesson and have a set of reins on the nose rings and a set of reins on the bit. Many years ago, Janet George posted a video on here of her starting a youngster that way, and it seemed like a brilliant idea. If they have a baby horse silly moment, you can pull them around but keep their mouth soft. However, the bit attachments on my cavesson put the bit in totally the wrong place for her, and they aren't very adjustable.

Now I am thinking of buying one of those rope halters with reins, which will fit under the bridle. That will give me the second set of reins not attached to her mouth and doesn't cost as much as a better cavesson.

I'm excited for you! With all of the ground work you've done, it will probably and hopefully be a non event.

I just saw a video of a young PRE being ridden on the lunge (just started) and the rider had a cavesson of some sort on the horse but has 4 reins. I can quite see the set up in the video so clearly, but it looks like reins on the bit of the bridle and on the noseband of the cavesson, perhaps. The rope halter is also a good idea though.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Looks like everyone is going well, love that there is lots of differences with where everyone is up to. Sometimes it feels like everyone is miles ahead and makes me doubt the pace we're going at, which I already though was fast for a three year old!

Beryl has done more hacking, but I think the Welsh hills might be a bit much for her at this stage, so we're going to try and get a solid walk, trot and canter in the flatter field we have and then she can be turned away.

She has done some more showing with some lovely results, and is turning into a very polite citizen to take out and about on my own! I think Turnip and Beryl might be cut from the same cloth, though I can't imagine there is any cross over in breeding lol!




Naughty nose wouldn’t stand for a picture ?.

 

[Caol Ila]

I'm excited for you! With all of the ground work you've done, it will probably and hopefully be a non event.

I just saw a video of a young PRE being ridden on the lunge (just started) and the rider had a cavesson of some sort on the horse but has 4 reins. I can quite see the set up in the video so clearly, but it looks like reins on the bit of the bridle and on the noseband of the cavesson, perhaps. The rope halter is also a good idea though.

Seems more common in Europe. There's a greater range of cavessons with bit attachments on European sites than here, but they don't ship to the UK anymore. Thanks, Brexit. That said, if I can get what this website calls a "semi-bridle" (looks like a Western headstall to me) then that could work as well.

https://picadera.de/en/kappzaum-mit-gebiss-kombinieren

 

[shortstuff99]

Seems more common in Europe. There's a greater range of cavessons with bit attachments on European sites than here, but they don't ship to the UK anymore. Thanks, Brexit. That said, if I can get what this website calls a "semi-bridle" (looks like a Western headstall to me) then that could work as well.

https://picadera.de/en/kappzaum-mit-gebiss-kombinieren

Like this?

https://www.baroqueiberianequinesto...tation-show/presentation-bridle-with-cavesson

 

[Caol Ila]

Like this?

https://www.baroqueiberianequinesto...tation-show/presentation-bridle-with-cavesson

Exactly. That one is lovely.

This is her cavesson (practicing ground tying in this photo). I'm not wild about it. The noseband is floppy, as you can see, but it does a job. I bought it from Kramer's. The little ring beside jowl strap attaches to another strap, which then clips onto a bit. But it puts the bit at a really strange angle, and it isn't very adjustable.