Backing 3/4yr olds

[shortstuff99]

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.

View attachment 98317

Yes I can see how that would be weird.

The shop I posted above does post to the UK.....

 

[splashgirl45]

I had a normal bridle on mine at first and I had one set of reins going to the cavesson and one to the bit. I had long reined her in the field so I she was used to the action of the bit but I was worried I would jab her in the mouth if she jumped about under saddle, it worked well

 

[maya2008]

Everyone has been to the beach now. Little Welsh pony even went in the water!

 

[shortstuff99]

Had our first wibbly wobbly trot! Not perfect, we lose balance a couple of times but I much prefer slowing down then bucking me off ?.

Aiming to get a back protector at Burghley so then I can go out hacking!

 

[Caol Ila]

We have been long reining on the road.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Farans education came to a halt in July and I think he may be pretty much done for the year depending on my recovery.

I may begin the rebacking process once I’m back on my feet and riding Zurich before I get back in him as I won’t be riding fit and I don’t think they will be fair on him.

I’ll enjoy everyone’s migrations to the 5/6yr old thread in jan ?

 

[maya2008]

My daughter’s pony finally let the farrier trim her himself today (rather than my husband having to do it while he gave pointers). Poor baby was terrified of him (she actually stood there shaking at one point), but she trusted us enough to try, and in the end she realised it wasn’t actually that bad. He was so patient and calm, and we got there. Very proud of her tonight, it was a huge deal for her to let him anywhere near her, let alone picking up her feet!

 

[alsxx]

I'm feeling like I'm cursed when it comes to horses, my 4 year old isn't right. He's had a bit of an off summer due to things with me, so went back to the yard that restarted him for a couple of weeks while I was on holiday so he didn't sit in the field for even longer.

Once he was back it was time to get a saddle sorted for him, so Saddler out and fitted one for him that he seemed to go quite sweetly in. Progressively over the next 3 days he was walking like a crab (massively bending and curling to the left and struggling to stay on 2 tracks) out hacking and just really wasn't his usual swingy self. He looked sound otherwise and was much better in the saddle we had been using out hacking, but still felt very stiff to the right if I did a spot of schooling. Saddler back out to try other saddles, the first of which he didn't like much and bolted broncing across the field I was riding him in, with me eventually half ditching, half evicted out the side door as he wasn't giving up. I've now got whiplash and done something to my leg which is a nice shade of purple, can't work out what as I don't actually remember hitting the deck. Anyway, we tried a couple more and then called it a day, and luckily refunded on first saddle.

Seeing vet chiro in a couple of weeks, but not convinced he's right behind. He's always had a slightly sticky stifle and would occasionally get stuck on this leg if stabled overnight in winter, so don't know if that's the issue or something else. He's also grown a bit of a flair on the inside of that hind foot which raises an eyebrow for me. Going to see what chiro says (who is a vet) and then I guess get the usual vet involved. But feeling very gutted that at 4 he's only managed some gentle hacking and we have an issue. I know that sounds very defeatist, but I have a 19 year old mare in the field who's basically been on off retired since 5 due to niggling low grade lameness that we could never get on top off and as a result never achieved anything with her.

 

[splashgirl45]

This was how I rode mins to start with, I know, wrong shoes and jeans but I did have a hat on. My only excuse is I was young and hadn’t intended riding her that day but my friend arrived unexpectedly so I took the chance to ride while someone else was there so I wasn’t completely stupid? can’t seem to post the right way up ?

 

[shortstuff99]

Baby Bean went for her first ridden outing to a local arena down the road. She walked straight on the box both ways and travelled well. We walked around for a few mins in hand and then I got on and Dad lead me round on the lunge line for 5 mins or so. Then I went solo! She was so well behaved as we had a random wind/rain shower, loose dogs and horses appearing from behind the hedge! She is such a good girl, I'm very lucky!

Little video below

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I'm feeling like I'm cursed when it comes to horses, my 4 year old isn't right. He's had a bit of an off summer due to things with me, so went back to the yard that restarted him for a couple of weeks while I was on holiday so he didn't sit in the field for even longer.

Once he was back it was time to get a saddle sorted for him, so Saddler out and fitted one for him that he seemed to go quite sweetly in. Progressively over the next 3 days he was walking like a crab (massively bending and curling to the left and struggling to stay on 2 tracks) out hacking and just really wasn't his usual swingy self. He looked sound otherwise and was much better in the saddle we had been using out hacking, but still felt very stiff to the right if I did a spot of schooling. Saddler back out to try other saddles, the first of which he didn't like much and bolted broncing across the field I was riding him in, with me eventually half ditching, half evicted out the side door as he wasn't giving up. I've now got whiplash and done something to my leg which is a nice shade of purple, can't work out what as I don't actually remember hitting the deck. Anyway, we tried a couple more and then called it a day, and luckily refunded on first saddle.

Seeing vet chiro in a couple of weeks, but not convinced he's right behind. He's always had a slightly sticky stifle and would occasionally get stuck on this leg if stabled overnight in winter, so don't know if that's the issue or something else. He's also grown a bit of a flair on the inside of that hind foot which raises an eyebrow for me. Going to see what chiro says (who is a vet) and then I guess get the usual vet involved. But feeling very gutted that at 4 he's only managed some gentle hacking and we have an issue. I know that sounds very defeatist, but I have a 19 year old mare in the field who's basically been on off retired since 5 due to niggling low grade lameness that we could never get on top off and as a result never achieved anything with her.

So sorry to read this. I feel gutted for you. I really hope it’s something minor.
Fingers crossed for you. I’ve had endless lameness issues with all my last horses and getting the vet out for my 4yo to be sure nothings wrong with her in the nest couple of weeks - not looking forward to it! Some of us are destined for unrideable horses!

 

[ihatework]

3yo Millie Moo has just completed 10 weeks breaking and riding away. Had a lovely solo hack this morning, went for a little canter in the field then posed in the school for photo!!

6 months in foal now so that’s her done under saddle, just mare grading to go later this month.

Little ?

 

[maya2008]

How’s everyone getting on?

My son’s little Welsh gelding is now going to arena hire twice a week to learn about corners, circles, correct leads in canter etc.

Daughter’s little mare is trying to help my daughter learn to put a headcollar on (pushes her nose into it, waits patiently while the child tries to get the thing done up…!) and is beginning to go first more on hacks. Not pushing that too much as I do actually want her to stay with us and not wander off on her own! She’s going to arena hire once a week just to learn to go forward nicely on her own in an enclosed space.

 

[alsxx]

Short update on my boy, he's had roughly 3 weeks off since decking me with the Saddler, although hopped on him last week and done a little in hand to keep the manners.... In that time I've moved him to a yard with facilities and great hacking, lots of hills! My chiro has given him the once over and some tightness through shoulder, neck and poll but nothing terrible. He's also seen the vet who declared him sound even after flexion and on the lunge, so basically crack on and work on strength and reasses in a month. So back to trying to find a better saddle for him ?

 

[maya2008]

Short update on my boy, he's had roughly 3 weeks off since decking me with the Saddler, although hopped on him last week and done a little in hand to keep the manners.... In that time I've moved him to a yard with facilities and great hacking, lots of hills! My chiro has given him the once over and some tightness through shoulder, neck and poll but nothing terrible. He's also seen the vet who declared him sound even after flexion and on the lunge, so basically crack on and work on strength and reasses in a month. So back to trying to find a better saddle for him ?

That’s really positive that he’s physically ok! Good luck finding a saddle he likes!

 

[Marigold4]

I'm feeling like I'm cursed when it comes to horses, my 4 year old isn't right. He's had a bit of an off summer due to things with me, so went back to the yard that restarted him for a couple of weeks while I was on holiday so he didn't sit in the field for even longer.

Once he was back it was time to get a saddle sorted for him, so Saddler out and fitted one for him that he seemed to go quite sweetly in. Progressively over the next 3 days he was walking like a crab (massively bending and curling to the left and struggling to stay on 2 tracks) out hacking and just really wasn't his usual swingy self. He looked sound otherwise and was much better in the saddle we had been using out hacking, but still felt very stiff to the right if I did a spot of schooling. Saddler back out to try other saddles, the first of which he didn't like much and bolted broncing across the field I was riding him in, with me eventually half ditching, half evicted out the side door as he wasn't giving up. I've now got whiplash and done something to my leg which is a nice shade of purple, can't work out what as I don't actually remember hitting the deck. Anyway, we tried a couple more and then called it a day, and luckily refunded on first saddle.

Seeing vet chiro in a couple of weeks, but not convinced he's right behind. He's always had a slightly sticky stifle and would occasionally get stuck on this leg if stabled overnight in winter, so don't know if that's the issue or something else. He's also grown a bit of a flair on the inside of that hind foot which raises an eyebrow for me. Going to see what chiro says (who is a vet) and then I guess get the usual vet involved. But feeling very gutted that at 4 he's only managed some gentle hacking and we have an issue. I know that sounds very defeatist, but I have a 19 year old mare in the field who's basically been on off retired since 5 due to niggling low grade lameness that we could never get on top off and as a result never achieved anything with her.

Just to give you some hope! I nearly gave up in despair with mine at that age. He was really difficult to find a saddle for, and like yours, made his feelings clear! Niggling problems with feet when we used a new trimmer, ended up sore in front - needed time off. Then developed an infected lymph node - needed time off. Asked a professional to ride him but she asked too much of him and he developed a sore SI - needed time off. However, at age 6 he has a saddle that fits, is a pleasure to ride, has had a year with no issues and doing first dressage this weekend. Keep slowly at it. It's really frustrating when you want to crack on and don't have another horse to ride but some horses insist on taking their time!

 

[alsxx]

Just to give you some hope! I nearly gave up in despair with mine at that age. He was really difficult to find a saddle for, and like yours, made his feelings clear! Niggling problems with feet when we used a new trimmer, ended up sore in front - needed time off. Then developed an infected lymph node - needed time off. Asked a professional to ride him but she asked too much of him and he developed a sore SI - needed time off. However, at age 6 he has a saddle that fits, is a pleasure to ride, has had a year with no issues and doing first dressage this weekend. Keep slowly at it. It's really frustrating when you want to crack on and don't have another horse to ride but some horses insist on taking their time!

Ah that's good to hear! He had the all clear from vet yesterday apart from being weak behind, so planning lots of slow hacking up our new hills and in hand polework to try and slowly strengthen those stifles. And to crash test dummy a few more saddles ?

 

[Marigold4]

Ah that's good to hear! He had the all clear from vet yesterday apart from being weak behind, so planning lots of slow hacking up our new hills and in hand polework to try and slowly strengthen those stifles. And to crash test dummy a few more saddles ?

My horse used to curl up a back leg and tense his back if he didn't like his saddle. So thankfully we didn't ever get to the crash dummy stage. Having spent hundreds on saddles and fitters, he decided a really ugly Torsion treeless was the business and we havent looked back since.

 

[shortstuff99]

Baby Bean has also decided she now doesn't like her saddle. She also expresses it quite clearly but politely, so ground work it is until I can find a new one (hopefully next week ?).

Means poor potato will have more work now as I think she thought she had retired ?

 

[Caol Ila]

I was going to get on Hermosa next week, but Fin's yard has said we can move there at the end of the month. My friend, who was going to be ground control, keeps her horses at Fin's yard. Not sure whether to continue with our plans to back her next week, or wait until she moves and settles at the other yard.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

How’s everyone getting on?

My son’s little Welsh gelding is now going to arena hire twice a week to learn about corners, circles, correct leads in canter etc.

Daughter’s little mare is trying to help my daughter learn to put a headcollar on (pushes her nose into it, waits patiently while the child tries to get the thing done up…!) and is beginning to go first more on hacks. Not pushing that too much as I do actually want her to stay with us and not wander off on her own! She’s going to arena hire once a week just to learn to go forward nicely on her own in an enclosed space.

We did our first funride 2 weeks ago. My 4yo was literally foot perfect. Kinda god smacked, didn’t put a foot wrong even when 2 horses over took us and galloped away from our nose. My 2 friends horses went ape shit but my 4yo just trotted a bit and didn’t heat up.

She had a week off after that.

She’s started to school nicely and ‘get it’ but does have her off days. Lesson learning = Riding a mare is SO different to a gelding!

 

[ycbm]

I was going to get on Hermosa next week, but Fin's yard has said we can move there at the end of the month. My friend, who was going to be ground control, keeps her horses at Fin's yard. Not sure whether to continue with our plans to back her next week, or wait until she moves and settles at the other yard.

I would wait. The move may unsettle her and there's no point starting now and having to stop again in 2 weeks. The rule I was given was once you're on them, be on them for a short time every day for 6 weeks. I didn't follow it with the easy ones, they were every day or two, but with the more twitchy ones I did.
.

 

[ihatework]

Millie Moo graded into the main studboook yesterday. She was literally foot perfect in her first proper outing.
so proud of her!

 

[j1ffy]

Millie Moo graded into the main studboook yesterday. She was literally foot perfect in her first proper outing.
so proud of her!
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Great news! She looks beautiful.

 

[maya2008]

Chuckling to myself today - new little one has gradually been feeling more settled and showing her cheeky side. After one pop on the nose for trying to run my son over after I apparently did the girth up faster than she would prefer and one small discussion about not rolling with a saddle on … she went to run forwards today, looked at me, stopped and took three steps back! Seems I have now attained ‘herd boss’ quite nicely in her eyes and it only took a week and a half. She was all like, ‘I sorry. I stand just here, right?’ Yup, you do missy, no running my children over thank you very much!

All the desensitisation is working well too - we have gone from flat out panic to mildly disapproving eye rolling and I can now swing a child right up into the air and onto her back without issue (much use of giant teddy bears preceded doing it with a real child!). She, like all of them, loves going hacking and it’s actually more of a motivator for her than food (surprising for me, given I have a NF who only ever seems to think of food!). Going to stick with child on board in halt for a couple of weeks before we do anything else with that, and she can keep hacking with Teddy on board (Teddy is currently drying in the airing cupboard as yesterday’s hack was seriously wet!!!).

 

[Northern]

Miss B will be 5 in February, so probably our last post on this thread the time has gone so quickly. Will continue our adventures on the 5-6 year old thread for sure.

Due to the weather (it has not stopped raining for months), she has had very sporadic work (and lives out 24/7 wallowing in mud when not ridden!). She has made some questionable behavioural decisions on the ground, which I am dealing with, but I am super pleased with her ridden work, she is forward, willing and concentrated and we have started baby leg yielding and shoulder fore work which she picked up in one session! Took her to a clinic on the weekend and she was super and the instructor had some nice things to say about her. Planning her first competition outing end of November, pending whether I can get her microchipped in time (appointment is set, fingers crossed!).

Looks like everyone else is doing well too

Gratuitous photo of my lovely girl being a superstar.

 

[daydreamer]

I thought I'd post a short update on my 4yo, but it feels like I'm cheating a bit since I sent him away! He has been with Jason Webb for 3 weeks and is apparently doing really well. He travelled there (just under 2 hours) really well considering he has done very little travelling. I have been following Jason's YourHorsemanship program with Duncan and had got to the stage of sitting on him and being led around in walk. Apparently I have done an ok job because on day 1 after checking the groundwork was ok Jason hopped on (hopefully he won't mind me posting the picture of that)! Duncan has had very good reports, he apparently has a busy brain (which I knew) and is quite forwards. He has been hacking and doing obstacles and some polocross!! Apparently this week he tried to say "no I don't want to" a few times but not in a nasty way and soon complied.



Duncan is also internet famous as he featured on their Facebook live check-in Tuesday a couple of weeks ago and it has been watched 4.3k times! (If anyone is interested you can watch it below).

I'm hoping to visit and ride him in the middle of next week and then again when I collect him on Friday. I'm very excited but a little nervous!!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1198791437649478

 

[alsxx]

Had a pleasing week with my boy, he's been quietly hacking out around our new farm and making the most of the lovely hills to walk up and down, and doing some short in hand polework sessions. He's adjusted really well to the new yard and couldn't be more pleased with his attitude. We popped in the arena earlier for a 20 minute session mostly in walk between thunder storms, working on changes of direction and trying to keep him soft in both directions. He's still feeling very blocked to the right so I'm still a bit ? over that but still waiting for a Saddler, and vet to look at him again in 3 weeks. I'm also having a lesson next week on a mechanical horse with a biomechanics lady, as I've had loads of back and hip issues so want to make sure I'm not adding to a problem.

Photo courtesy of my 4 year old daughter (she's a great bombproofing experience for a youngster ?)

 

[Caol Ila]

Hermosa did some lorry loading practice. A lovely fellow livery let me play on her 3.5t van. Another lovely livery at Fin's yard, who also has a 3.5t box, will be moving her. Thought we'd better practice on one.

 

[maya2008]

Interestingly, I saw a video on Facebook last night of a pro trainer dealing with exactly the same issues we have with new little one. Quite reassuring to see someone dealing with the same issues - although I am grateful our pony is so small, as pro rider also had a pic of their injuries from said horse (we’ve been ok so far just because when she first lost her cool, the ground wasn’t far away!).

Turns out I am much more old fashioned though (and I suspect have more time!) as we have gone for the ‘pleasantly tired after a nice hack’ approach to minimise anxiety/maximise calmness and give us a chance, whereas the pro used a calmer!