Backing 3/4yr olds

So me and Finn have been a bit MIA this summer. Due to a combination of issues - throwing a splint, saddle fit issues and my lack of time Finn essentially ended up having the summer off. I decided to move him to my trainers yard for a month whilst I had house renovations going on to give me some time and to get him going again.

Went to ride him yesterday before bringing him home and he was fab despite it blowing a gale. Please ignore my riding it’s rather terrible as I haven’t ridden properly for a few months and was blimmin knackered! Have saddle fitter coming back today so hopefully now it’ll be onward and upwards!


 
Sticking this here so I can look back on it really!

Newest pony is slowly getting used to being mounted - we’ve used a dummy (teddies of gradually increasing size), we’ve waved things at the appropriate ‘sets her off’ height, patted all over, leant over and squeezed her sides etc etc. She’s been hacking on the lead, had hands and whips waved over her, got used to people getting on/off right next to her and so on. Basically, have desensitised her in every way possible to people without putting a human on board.

I then went for ‘human on saddle’ because it changes the experience. Being mounted by another horse is skin on skin, whereas having a saddle in between reduces the sensation. That went ok (in gradual increments obviously) and we can now literally plonk a child on her back with no preparation and she’s fine. Started the same process bareback (in the stable, safety equipment, child small enough to keep hold of and whip off as needed). Got herself randomly in a tizzy the first time child sat up, then sorted herself out and was fine thereafter.

Now working on getting older child on, and random other desensitisation (umbrellas, plastic bags etc). She's being sat on at least twice a day (in stable before turning out, after her 'hack' and often before), and today we started a sit and walk back to her field at the end of her hack (with younger child, who she prefers).
 
Hes starting to look very grown up @ImmyS I think at the end of their 4th year they do mature a lot.

Has anyone decided to give their 4yos the rest of the year off?
My mare was diagnosed with liver damage a few weeks ago, the vet wanted me to keep on working her. I've been doing light hacking but now decided to give her the rest of this year off, at least and bring her back into work next year. A friend has a 4yo and doesn't understand giving winter off, but I think it is a good let down period for them. We've achieved quite a bit and I'm really pleased with her progress, considering I've done it all myself right and at the start of this year she was unbroken.

Quick tally of what we've achieved in her year as a 4 yo..

✔️ First dressage test at new venue (and first time in indoor) 62% and 3rd place
✔️ Hacks alone and in company
✔️ Boxing out on our own for hacks (loads, travels perfect)
✔️ First funride
✔️ First (short) 1-1 flat lesson
 
Hormonal Filly said:
Hes starting to look very grown up @ImmyS I think at the end of their 4th year they do mature a lot.

Has anyone decided to give their 4yos the rest of the year off?
My mare was diagnosed with liver damage a few weeks ago, the vet wanted me to keep on working her. I've been doing light hacking but now decided to give her the rest of this year off, at least and bring her back into work next year. A friend has a 4yo and doesn't understand giving winter off, but I think it is a good let down period for them. We've achieved quite a bit and I'm really pleased with her progress, considering I've done it all myself right and at the start of this year she was unbroken.

Quick tally of what we've achieved in her year as a 4 yo..

✔️ First dressage test at new venue (and first time in indoor) 62% and 3rd place
✔️ Hacks alone and in company
✔️ Boxing out on our own for hacks (loads, travels perfect)
✔️ First funride
✔️ First (short) 1-1 flat lesson
Click to expand...

If I was in your position I would give some time off also. It’s only as a Finn had the summer off I’m now going to continue with him and maybe give him a short break spring next year, otherwise I would be turning him away for a bit now.
 
Like I said on the turning away thread, I am reluctant to turn Hermosa away but compared to most people's four-year olds, she has done f(ck all. Other than raise a foal.

I bought her as an unhandled two-year old in March 2021. Put some basic handling on her (like catching, leading), then she had a foal in June 2021. That was cool. People said, "You can work the mare with the foal at foot." The f*ck you can when she was only halter broken five minutes ago. We continued Basic Handling 101 with both mare and foal but not a lot else was going to happen. Weaned foal in January 2022. Once she got over the trauma of that - circa March - I started teaching her to lunge, long-rein, and accept the saddle on her back (she does) and a bit in her mouth (a work in progress... might start her bitless and make it a future problem).

As I said in the other thread, I feel like I should crack on at my usual snail pace and not turn away. Is that crazy?
 
My turning away rules were short. If the horse is not fit to ride. If i don't want to ride it. Otherwise, all my 3 and 4 year olds have stayed in some level of"work". Other countries don't have the turning away culture that we do in this country. I have always suspected that's more a result of our winter weather than our horses :)
 
Caol Ila - she’s not done any ‘work’ that stresses her body so doesn’t need turning away! Get her going under saddle, then if you would like a break give her the worst of the winter off to think about it. If not, keep going.

I’m definitely keeping the Welshies in work all winter. New one was doing full on, inside out acrobatics next to me today as we cantered up the track. Very polite, never pulling on the lead rein, just bucking and leaping and cavorting next to me. My mare edged away to give her room! All that after two days off for a vaccination and a human dental appointment. Oh she’ll be fun under saddle!

Currently new one is up to: child on and walk the length of the field at a normal speed (rather than very slowly so she can get her balance).
 
My 4yo isn't being turned away although I've just had his front shoes off because it's only taken a weeks since clock change for me to have a reality check on how much time I don't have in winter. He's got good feet so I don't think an hours light hack should cause issues.

He needs the entertainment and my mares like a break from him!
 
First mini hack today (husband and daughter met us on the way home from a hack and popped daughter on). Still just leading, child sitting nice and still, but pony was chilled, trotted a little to catch up without incident, and passed a few vehicles ok. Hopefully this is the start of all good things to come! Still sitting on her briefly twice a day and desensitising in the mornings.

Apologies for the really bad photo - had hands full of lead rein and my pony’s reins as I was riding next to her!
 

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Well, that’s my last one on and done. Nice little hack today with her first canter. She’s on 3x a week hacks now until January. So proud of her and of the kids, who have bravely helped her overcome her fears. Hope anyone still to back has success and that everyone has a great winter with their young ones!
 
Kitten is currently turned away shw was a bit backwards and it coincided with my pro rider giving up freelance. Will send her away in the Spring to finish her off then sell her as I think she is better than a lawnmower and is too green for my novice riders
 
Caol Ila said:
Been a long road but we are on board.

The photos are from take 2, borrowing my friend's bareback pad. Not Christ Lamfelle but a German knock-off. It felt soooo much better than my old saddle. She found her balance easily and wasn't walking like she'd drunk six pints.
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She looks amazing, and such a perfect size for you!
 
I tried to find this thread the other day but couldn't so posted in the weekend thread. This is the last month of Bean being officially 4 (although she turns 5 next may).

Last weekend we went out for our first clinic. She was a little stressed from travelling so more practice there required (she did travel home much better). Was pretty hot to start but soon settled down and did some great work! I am so pleased with her, I know a pro rider could probably be competing her novice or something by now, but that doesn't matter to me. We are on a weather break at the moment but hope to do more trips soon!

Little vid below

 
Ride #3 today. OH gave me a pony ride around the school for maybe ten minutes. Then I asked for left and right flexions (which she knows because groundwork) and then I hopped off. Good pony.

Bitting her up has been a bit faffy (made faffier by a wolf tooth, which has been pulled now). So I’m using a rope halter with rein attachments.

Could buy her a real sidepull or do what some western riders do and go bosal (I have one) to snaffle. Decisions…..
 
Caol Ila said:
Been a long road but we are on board.

The photos are from take 2, borrowing my friend's bareback pad. Not Christ Lamfelle but a German knock-off. It felt soooo much better than my old saddle. She found her balance easily and wasn't walking like she'd drunk six pints.
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It's great to see you on board at last!! She looks lovely.
 
She has been very good but I need to get off my sofa, go to the tack shop, and buy her a warmer rug. I didn't try getting on her yesterday because the 50g isn't enough in these subzero temperatures. When she's cold, she's grumpy. Like me! She was not a happy bunny last year when I could not rug because she had the foal at foot, and they all lived out. I borrowed a fleece from a friend to stick under her turnout rug last night.

I might wait until later in the week to get on again. There seems to be differing schools of thought on how often you should sit on them once you start, but it looks like it gets to all of 0 tomorrow and Thursday (balmy!), and above freezing at the weekend. Yay. And maybe my Christ Lamfelle pad will be here by then.
 
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