Backing 3/4yr olds

[TheMule]

Love Nova!
Definitely worth just looking back at how far they have come … when you are at the stage of just trying to trot something that resembles a circle in an even rhythm!!

We do sometimes still struggle with that concept

 

[maya2008]

Intro to jumping for little feral one (in-hand) while the other 4 year olds were playing over some 30-40cm high piles of sticks with the odd spooky vinyl cat tunnel to simulate a filler. Well…he jumped once, then decided it was all too small and far beneath him. So he did little skips over the wider ones and trotted over the others while the others did actual little jumps. Might have a SJ pony here to reward us for the many months it will have taken to get him backed and going! Son can now sit on him in his rug and be led up the field with minimal fuss and worrying from pony.

Little Miss Perfect hasn’t balked at any of my ‘fillers’ and is just as amazing over a mini jump as she has been at everything else!

Question…what kind of height would you take a 4yo small pony up to? I was going to let the kids play with the 30cm and 45cm classes locally, but Mr Feral guy doesn’t even really jump at that height…

 

[Caol Ila]

I wouldn't jump at all until the horse is 6/7 years old and most of the growth plates have closed. But that's just me, and I know that is very much an outlying view.

 

[maya2008]

I wouldn't jump at all until the horse is 6/7 years old and most of the growth plates have closed. But that's just me, and I know that is very much an outlying view.

I have not experienced any ill effects from starting to jump at 4yo, and I have always kept mine for their whole lives. I usually jump up to 70cm courses at 4yo depending on ability, and focus on filler training, nice steady clear rounds etc. It’s part of their education though - nothing intense, just fun, careful with the ground.

There’s no stopping them jumping though even if I wanted to - after 6-9 months of gradually getting fitter out hacking with a little schooling at the end, by 4yo they are feeling strong, balanced and raring to go. So they start fence hopping (and twig/branch/imaginary branch hopping out hacking) if we don’t do a little under saddle. So far this year I have had one 4yo fence hopping 80-85cm high fencing, one that hopped over 1m last winter, and the other so far thankfully staying put. All are leaping every twig out hacking (usually jumping far higher than the twig actually is!) and one has decided that every obstacle he can jump over in his paddock needs to be jumped in his regular hooley moments.

 

[GreyDot]

Sat on my 3 year old for the first time today He was beautifully behaved and totally chilled. Best of all, my dad (who is in his 80s) came down to watch as he'd never seen a horse being sat on for the first time, and it made his day. A day to remember on so many counts

 

[maya2008]

We’re not only on, we’re off the lead in walk, trot and canter! He’s been led out for sooo long and his response to the reins has been great. So we went for it. So relieved, my little mare was more than a little fed up of always having to lead a pony!

 

[maya2008]

Pony perfection today!

- Feral one went out without an adult - following my daughter, trotting away into the distance. This is his third hack off the lead rein with a rider.
- Little Miss Perfect 11.2hh kept her halo by going for her first ever completely solo hack, as if she does it every day. Left the yard, down the road, up a track all the way to the junction, turned around and came home. No issues. My son had a lovely relaxing time completely on his own!
- Daughter’s pony came for a long hack, kept her child safe even with hooligans in the field next to us at one point, and very daintily navigated a log the others launched themselves over. No tipping the little girl off by accident for her!

They did roll like crazy and get covered in mud though…

 

[ihatework]

In the interests of transparency, TURDnip is being a madam! She certainly has her own opinions. Will probably ship her off on boot camp to nip it in the bud

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I am not a fully fledged member as he hasn't actually yet entered the country, but I am excited to become part of the 3yo crew!
Am I allowed on the thread if he won't be backed for a long while?

 

[Caol Ila]

I am not a fully fledged member as he hasn't actually yet entered the country, but I am excited to become part of the 3yo crew!
Am I allowed on the thread if he won't be backed for a long while?

Absolutely. Hermosa has spent most of her time on this thread being unbacked. I backed her December, at 4.5. She will be 5 at the end of June, so I guess she will soon be graduating.

She did her first solo hack today. Didn't put a foot wrong.

 

[chaps89]

In the interests of transparency, TURDnip is being a madam! She certainly has her own opinions. Will probably ship her off on boot camp to nip it in the bud

Sorry I refuse to believe that, she’s far too perfect for her halo to have slipped

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Absolutely. Hermosa has spent most of her time on this thread being unbacked. I backed her December, at 4.5. She will be 5 at the end of June, so I guess she will soon be graduating.

She did her first solo hack today. Didn't put a foot wrong.

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She's really great, isn't she.

Hoping to follow you on the 5/6 year old thread.

Mine joins this one next year, but I feel like I always end up with the weirdo PRE's.

 

[Caol Ila]

She is great.

I thought "the block" (the 30 minute loop we did) would go last week. I had gotten on board and ridden through the yard's archway, which has been a little bit of a nemesis for her without a foot soldier or horse lead. But she went straight through it, and I felt her thinking "forwards," down the gallop track, then onto the road, instead of backwards "WTF are we doing." I had to rein her in and wait, because that day's hacking buddy has some mounting issues, and it took my friend a little while to get on. But I felt that when the opportunity arose to head out by ourselves, we could probably just go for it.

And today, we did.

Hopefully yours won't be too complicated. I bought her because even as a two-year old, she gave off an aura of calm.

 

[GreyDot]

She is great.

I thought "the block" (the 30 minute loop we did) would go last week. I had gotten on board and ridden through the yard's archway, which has been a little bit of a nemesis for her without a foot soldier or horse lead. But she went straight through it, and I felt her thinking "forwards," down the gallop track, then onto the road, instead of backwards "WTF are we doing." I had to rein her in and wait, because that day's hacking buddy has some mounting issues, and it took my friend a little while to get on. But I felt that when the opportunity arose to head out by ourselves, we could probably just go for it.

And today, we did.

Hopefully yours won't be too complicated. I bought her because even as a two-year old, she gave off an aura of calm.

Interesting to read your final sentence there! I bought mine as a 10 month old after watching him and another similarly aged field buddy (both for sale) heading into a new field with their 'herd'. The other colt careered in, spooky and leaping about and then in strolled mine, had a good look about, took everything in and then bounded off to join his playmate. It was at that point, I thought, "I want that one"

 

[maya2008]

First fall for feral one. He was telling the ground off ‘cos his foot slipped a tiny bit and accidentally evicted the child. Pony was mortified! Then he was all, ‘Nope, no cantering, last time I cantered you left me.’ So my son had to give him reassurance until he did so (then we did lots to show him it was just the giant bucks that were the problem not the cantering!). All good in the end.

One before him did exactly this (in walk no less) and that was the first and last time she has ever bucked. Hopefully we’ll have the same with this one!

 

[ihatework]

My naughty 4yo had a vet check today and was declared beautiful, perfect conformation and as sound as a pound.

So just an opinionated baggage then

Decided to use the coronation timing to get her out on a new hack with a nanny, as it involves a stretch of main road. What blooming coronation, road was heaving and also very wet and splashy.

She was genuinely quite worried but all drivers were really considerate and we navigated it safely. At least I now have a benchmark feeling for worried v witch

 

[maya2008]

First show for the two smallest! Teeny tiny jumps for the experience. Kids had a great time, ponies went clear and did a good job. Given we have no school at home and have only practised a few times in the field when the weather’s been dry enough, I am very proud of them all!

Pic of son on Little Miss Perfect. Need to wait for pro pics for my daughter as my husband kept losing focus so the video is a bit blurry!

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Beryl update! She was officially four the start of the month, still doing some hacking and simple schooling around 3 times a week.

We’re now practising solo hacking in the hope it gets her braver under saddle. We did our first dressage comp last week where she found it all a bit too scary, so I think we need to broaden her horizons and comfort zone a bit, she is naturally quite bold so I think I’ve been resting on our laurels a bit!

 

[Caol Ila]

Only one more month on this thread. Feels like it has been a long time.

Hermosa upped her time and distance on Friday. We did a two-hour hack, leaving Mugdock for the forestry beyond. She did perfectly and seemed to enjoy seeing some new trails.

 

[maya2008]

Beryl update! She was officially four the start of the month, still doing some hacking and simple schooling around 3 times a week.

We’re now practising solo hacking in the hope it gets her braver under saddle. We did our first dressage comp last week where she found it all a bit too scary, so I think we need to broaden her horizons and comfort zone a bit, she is naturally quite bold so I think I’ve been resting on our laurels a bit!

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We’ve done two competitions now with the two youngest, and it’s just time and exposure. First time, I had to run with my son on Little Miss Perfect, yesterday he didn’t need me. She ran for the gate once but he sent her in the right direction and she knew what to do the second time (2 clear rounds - more practice, less money!). There was altogether less neighing to the friend yesterday too!

You’re brave trying dressage first, where it’s all about the relaxation and there’s no focus in the arena for them. I start with mini jumping because it’s just easier. No one cares if they neigh loads, or feel a bit tense. You can walk if they get excited, canter when they feel more confident. Jumps are basically raised trot poles so just a focus and time in the arena. Once they’ve got the hang of this (and can trot round nice and relaxed) we will do dressage.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

We’ve done two competitions now with the two youngest, and it’s just time and exposure. First time, I had to run with my son on Little Miss Perfect, yesterday he didn’t need me. She ran for the gate once but he sent her in the right direction and she knew what to do the second time (2 clear rounds - more practice, less money!). There was altogether less neighing to the friend yesterday too!

You’re brave trying dressage first, where it’s all about the relaxation and there’s no focus in the arena for them. I start with mini jumping because it’s just easier. No one cares if they neigh loads, or feel a bit tense. You can walk if they get excited, canter when they feel more confident. Jumps are basically raised trot poles so just a focus and time in the arena. Once they’ve got the hang of this (and can trot round nice and relaxed) we will do dressage.

Haha I see a low key Intro less scary than jumping these days! However, I do have a jump saddle winging its way to us (current stolen dressage saddle is way too blocky to do anything other than poles) so hopefully we can go do some cross poles somewhere. I think because she did some showing last year she was shocked at the thought to go and do it without a leader on the ground, the horror of it , she was very happy to stand outside the ring whilst people told her she was wonderful lol.

More experience, more solo miles under her belt (I do tell her I'm still here just not on the ground) and more venues will do her the world of good .

 

[shortstuff99]

It is Bean's 5th birthday today so we have graduated from this thread and time has flown!

She is being a very good girl who loves her work and is super brave. We have been hacking, done some poles and a few online dressage tests with good results. Next is working on travelling to go out and about a bit more. As a last post here is Bean enjoying her birthday pear

 

[GreyDot]

Had another sit on mine and a little walk (literally just the length of the yard) and then got off. He behaves so well getting on and off. Stands perfectly still, ears forward and relaxed. Just want him to be fitter and stronger before having to actually carry me on a hack, however short it is.
In preparation for that, I took him on a little in-hand walk/hack down the main bridleway we will use. It runs parallel to a country road, which cars zoom along with no regard for anyone else, but it separated by a large, very tall hedge, so you are essentially 'safe' but was concerned he would hear the cars but not see them, except for flasshes through the hedge, so was expecting him to be skittish.
As it turns out, he wasn't bothered at all by the cars, but just wanted to march on down the track, full of a sense of adventure This was pleasing at first and then he got stronger and a little faster, and I struggled like an absolute hero () to keep up with him, without falling in the nettles and trying to maintain some composure!
He is normally very laid back but he was on one! Actually really looking forward to doing this on-board (or long-reining first would probably be wiser) as he just looked so up for it and quite literally bright-eyed and bushy tailed.
Kept it short as my arms were aching from holding him back, but I think he will definitely enjoy our hacks in future.

 

[SheriffTruman]

I've been reading all of your adventures. Just realised I have to move to the 5-6 year olds group. Horse turned 5 on May 4th. We've been making loads of progress this spring, am properly chuffed with him. As a goodbye, a photo of mister handsome doing his best to understand what his not-so-competent rider is asking.

Wishing you lots of fun with your horses and ponies!

 

[Caol Ila]

Hermosa went out with a group of friends today, and a child we hacked past commented to their parents that she looked like "Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron." He's meant to be a Kiger mustang, and that population has a lot more Spanish blood in them than other populations of mustangs. Or the kid saw a dun/light brown-looking horse (depending on the light) with a long mane.

 

[Caol Ila]

I've been reading all of your adventures. Just realised I have to move to the 5-6 year olds group. Horse turned 5 on May 4th. We've been making loads of progress this spring, am properly chuffed with him. As a goodbye, a photo of mister handsome doing his best to understand what his not-so-competent rider is asking.

Wishing you lots of fun with your horses and ponies!

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I love your saddle. What is it and where did you get it?

 

[SheriffTruman]

I love your saddle. What is it and where did you get it?

It's the Deuber El Campo, a working equitation model. It is fabulous, very comfy, and fits my arab perfectly. Am located in the Netherlands, I got it from a local saddler.

Here is the Deuber website: deuber.de
Seems to be a dealer in Edingburgh: https://www.riding-in-balance.com/

 

[maya2008]

Willow would like to join this thread. Currently approx 13.3hh, been here 3 days. Comes to food, and is gradually letting me stroke more of her as she eats. Today we even used a brush! Needs a fly rug asap as has thin skin and lots of nicks on her, so next goal in training is getting ready to have a rug on. I am guessing she’s probably the same rug size as my last 13.3hh - hopefully!

Passport says rising 4yo. She looks like a 3yo though, probably due to having had a foal last year and feeding it until a few weeks ago.

 

[maya2008]

How’s everyone doing?

My newest one, Willow, can now be brushed all over and touched a little without food. She’s learned ‘whoah’ and ‘walk on’ and we’re working on ‘stand’. Now starting to have a headcollar in my hand when I feed - which this morning gave me a cross pony! She’s ever so expressive, such a lovely personality, and she’s been busy making friends over the fence with the others.

Little Miss Perfect took my son round solo at a busy show today. Still tiny cross poles, still only trotting, but much less neighing and she trotted beautifully over all the teeny weeny fillers! We’ll try the next size up in mini jumping next time, to see how she does.

Health and Safety (my daughter’s pony) would like to mention that the child needs stronger leg muscles, in order to balance over jumps. Every time child got it right, lovely little hop. Wobbly child, jump demolition ensued. Stamina training planned for the next few weeks!!

 

[GreyDot]

How’s everyone doing?

My newest one, Willow, can now be brushed all over and touched a little without food. She’s learned ‘whoah’ and ‘walk on’ and we’re working on ‘stand’. Now starting to have a headcollar in my hand when I feed - which this morning gave me a cross pony! She’s ever so expressive, such a lovely personality, and she’s been busy making friends over the fence with the others.

Little Miss Perfect took my son round solo at a busy show today. Still tiny cross poles, still only trotting, but much less neighing and she trotted beautifully over all the teeny weeny fillers! We’ll try the next size up in mini jumping next time, to see how she does.

Health and Safety (my daughter’s pony) would like to mention that the child needs stronger leg muscles, in order to balance over jumps. Every time child got it right, lovely little hop. Wobbly child, jump demolition ensued. Stamina training planned for the next few weeks!!

I've had a sit on my 3 times with a little walk, but think he needs more strength work before having a hack on him. Have started long reining, which goes well within the school (he can do serpentines, etc. and halt and walk on) but once we leave the school to walk down the (traffic-free) lane, he is very hesitant. Totally understandable. I think I will need to ask a friend on a horse to ride ahead of us. It's a big ask for a youngster to walk 'first', even though he has been down that lane many times with me walking next to him.
Tough trying to start them off on your own. Always easier with another horse to lead the way.
Positive thing is he has really taken to his bridle and bit. Very comfortable in it. I have him in a simple cavesson (very loose noseband) and a Trust Inno Sense soft flexi D-ring. He puts his head down to be bridled, which is nice to see.