Backing 3/4yr olds

[lannerch]

I think he’s definitely growing looks bum high , warmbloods are notoriously slow at growing and going by my lady do it in spurts and then nothing for months then off they go again, have you done the string test point of shoulder to back of knee then shoulder to withers ? Looks very well though and very handsome.

 

[palo1]

Urgh - I have hit a frustrating 'moment'!! My mare Alw has been fabulous and doesn't say no to any request BUT it is evident after a little bit more work that she really is quite unbalanced - she will work on either rein in w/t/c but struggles to balance herself and falls on the forehand terribly easily, especially on the left rein. She prefers to motorbike round corners in canter etc and cannot for the life of her concentrate on speed above trot and direction simultaneously under saddle unless there is a very clear track. I know this is absolutely to be expected actually and she is bum high again so it's not at all astonishing to see how unbalanced/lumbering she can be bless her.

I am not in any hurry either and know of lots of strategies to help her (transitions, transitions, transitions, changes in the pace etc, poles, patterns et al) it's just that I keep seeing how much more balanced/well-organised other 4 year olds are - especially those that are being produced for specific competitive lives and it just makes me realise how much work I have to do and how much her cob body is working against lightness and balance at this point. I do remember my older horse being incredibly unbalanced at the same age though he is a very refined sort so never actually obviously lumbered along on the forehand in quite the same way!!! I think too I have realised that Alw is not and may not be ready for some time for some of the things I thought we might try this summer and I am wondering how everyone else with 4 year olds ever achieves anything that looks/feels half way toward 'harmonious', supple or 'easy' ? I am laughing as I type too as I did set out to buy a cob and a cob I have got. So that's good then!! Does everyone have these moments ?

 

[splashgirl45]

why not just do lots of hacking, find as many hills as possible and different ground, she is still very young and if bum high will find work in the school very hard. i only hacked mine when she was 4 and only cantered a few times as she was unbalanced. i used to try and canter up hills to naturally lighten the front and build up the back end. why not forget cantering in the school for now and just concentrate on walk and trot and transitions..

 

[palo1]

Thanks splashgirl45 - this is exactly what I will be doing and do usually do with 4 year olds and we have lots of lovely hills and varying terrain here. She just looks so big and strong that I mistakenly thought she would find things a little easier. But we will hack on!! And I will probably aim to do tiny bits at home in the field in walk and trot only. I just had a moment of envy looking at super-duper athletic 4 year olds doing all sorts of things that would be basically impossible for us atm. I know the reality that young horses vary enormously and that personally I have no wish to hurry the development/growing up! It was just a 'moment'!!

 

[Ouch05]

May I join in please. This is my 3.5 year old WB Edward. Backed gentle at three now long reined once a week and hacked in walk and a little trot round the farm.
We have been in the school and walked poles and some trot work but nothing more.
He is now turned away from ridden work for four months.
He will still come in for grooming and manners plus in hand walking over poles.

He is a kind boy but very jumpy in the barn but very brave out in hand or hacking.
I’m struggling with knowing where to start non the roads as we have no quiet ones round us.

 

[TheMule]

May I join in please. This is my 3.5 year old WB Edward. Backed gentle at three now long reined once a week and hacked in walk and a little trot round the farm.
We have been in the school and walked poles and some trot work but nothing more.
He is now turned away from ridden work for four months.
He will still come in for grooming and manners plus in hand walking over poles.

He is a kind boy but very jumpy in the barn but very brave out in hand or hacking.
I’m struggling with knowing where to start non the roads as we have no quiet ones round us.View attachment 50115

Just my sort of a horse- he is gorgeous!
How is he bred? Sounds like he's having a lovely start in life

 

[palo1]

May I join in please. This is my 3.5 year old WB Edward. Backed gentle at three now long reined once a week and hacked in walk and a little trot round the farm.
We have been in the school and walked poles and some trot work but nothing more.
He is now turned away from ridden work for four months.
He will still come in for grooming and manners plus in hand walking over poles.

He is a kind boy but very jumpy in the barn but very brave out in hand or hacking.
I’m struggling with knowing where to start non the roads as we have no quiet ones round us.View attachment 50115

What a lovely chap! I have no words of advice about where to start if you have no quiet roads but I think it is really handy to think about what you CAN do and what sort of life you are aiming for him to have. Everyone has their own priorities and ideas about what young horses should be doing but only you know what will actually work. If the roads are difficult for him, could you wait a bit till he is more confident and then box up to go hacking? In any case if he is having a break now there is no worry imminently!

 

[Ouch05]

Just my sort of a horse- he is gorgeous!
How is he bred? Sounds like he's having a lovely start in life

Thank you.
He is home breed by my yard owner Georgie boy out of slindonlady and dexter Iv, Dam floryte from burqgraff bloodlines.

I not a show jumper but I believe he is bloodlines are jumping, I wan wanting a dressage horse who hacks and will pop a little jump.

I was there the day he was born and have always wanted him then last year the yard owner offered him to me. I know all his brothers and sister they have all made 17 h I am hoping for 16 currently stood at 15.2

 

[splashgirl45]

lovely boy, is there anyone on your yard who hacks out on the local roads so you could lead him in hand with them to give him an idea of roads...how about going out very early on a sunday morning, 5.30 ish ,hopefully the roads shouldnt be too bad then..

 

[Ouch05]

lovely boy, is there anyone on your yard who hacks out on the local roads so you could lead him in hand with them to give him an idea of roads...how about going out very early on a sunday morning, 5.30 ish ,hopefully the roads shouldnt be too bad then..

i going away for four months now but on my return that will be the plan just need to find someone

 

[lannerch]

Well my lightly backing of the golden girl has had a step back, luckily the livery she is at is run by my friend ( who has also been lightly schooling her ) is a true horseman who noticed that one of her stifleS didn’t look quite right ( I couldn’t see it ) so he took her to see the vet Peter Schofield ( a top vet ) she had xrays , that showed the cartilage on the stifles is I think he said a bit fuzzy , he said as we had caught it early she needs 6 months off in a field and it’s about 80% likely to correct itself otherwise the worst case is she would need an operation so ?, happily as I am now a member of this club I can in the mean time follow your progress on your lovely youngsters . Ouch05 love yours to .

 

[TheMule]

Well my lightly backing of the golden girl has had a step back, luckily the livery she is at is run by my friend ( who has also been lightly schooling her ) is a true horseman who noticed that one of her stifleS didn’t look quite right ( I couldn’t see it ) so he took her to see the vet Peter Schofield ( a top vet ) she had xrays , that showed the cartilage on the stifles is I think he said a bit fuzzy , he said as we had caught it early she needs 6 months off in a field and it’s about 80% likely to correct itself otherwise the worst case is she would need an operation so ?, happily as I am now a member of this club I can in the mean time follow your progress on your lovely youngsters . Ouch05 love yours to .

Oh no! What a shame, though it sounds like it has been caught early and 6 months at this age will do no harm. Fingers crossed it all sorts itself out

 

[lannerch]

Oh no! What a shame, though it sounds like it has been caught early and 6 months at this age will do no harm. Fingers crossed it all sorts itself out

Exactly and the little she has done she has done so well so a break will do her a lot of good . Thanks ? xx

 

[Marigold4]

Can I join the club please with just turned 4, Otto. Started last month sitting on him bareback, then introduced treeless saddle. Now riding him for 10 mins a day in a small school, walking, turning, stopping all now going quite well. First few trots last week, just a few steps because school is so small. Off to a bigger school next week where I will lunge him with another rider on top. This will be a massive test for him, to go somewhere else and unfamiliar rider but she's been here a couple of times to meet him and ride him here first. I'm hoping to borrow a pony to tie up in the school so he's not alone. Fingers crossed he stays chilled.

 

[ihatework]

I’m feeling the love for mine. He has settled into busy DIY life brilliantly and has been superb to work with this week. I’m going to tentatively remove the twat title, famous last words ?

 

[lannerch]

Can I join the club please with just turned 4, Otto. Started last month sitting on him bareback, then introduced treeless saddle. Now riding him for 10 mins a day in a small school, walking, turning, stopping all now going quite well. First few trots last week, just a few steps because school is so small. Off to a bigger school next week where I will lunge him with another rider on top. This will be a massive test for him, to go somewhere else and unfamiliar rider but she's been here a couple of times to meet him and ride him here first. I'm hoping to borrow a pony to tie up in the school so he's not alone. Fingers crossed he stays chilled.

View attachment 50281

Another golden baby to follow love him but I am gold biased lol

 

[Cherryblossom]

Oh Lannerch that’s gutting! She’s such a lovely girl; I hope she comes right for you.

I’m only really starting with my girl. Bought her a month ago and her near hind was starting to crack as it was so long, so almost all our groundwork was initially geared towards getting her to accept the farrier. In the end he was able to trim it but not rasp it, so we still need to keep working on it, but we’ve bought a bit of time.

I got her out in the arena today and just did some work teaching her to move off pressure. She did really well and by the end was walking nicely, backing up and moving her hindquarters round for me with no drama.

 

[lannerch]

Oh Lannerch that’s gutting! She’s such a lovely girl; I hope she comes right for you.

I’m only really starting with my girl. Bought her a month ago and her near hind was starting to crack as it was so long, so almost all our groundwork was initially geared towards getting her to accept the farrier. In the end he was able to trim it but not rasp it, so we still need to keep working on it, but we’ve bought a bit of time.

I got her out in the arena today and just did some work teaching her to move off pressure. She did really well and by the end was walking nicely, backing up and moving her hindquarters round for me with no drama.

Another one I love ?again very biased , Also love doing halter work myself it’s the basis of everything personally I love Richard maxwell and his methods .
thanks for your kind words

 

[Cherryblossom]

Another one I love ?again very biased , Also love doing halter work myself it’s the basis of everything personally I love Richard maxwell and his methods .
thanks for your kind words

There’s definitely a collection of nice buckskins on here!

I bought the Richard Maxwell book after a recommendation here, and absolutely love it. It’s not super in depth, but having bought a fairly unhandled youngster, his techniques for teaching tying up have very quickly helped Poppy learn what is expected.

 

[lannerch]

There’s definitely a collection of nice buckskins on here!

I bought the Richard Maxwell book after a recommendation here, and absolutely love it. It’s not super in depth, but having bought a fairly unhandled youngster, his techniques for teaching tying up have very quickly helped Poppy learn what is expected.

Are you a member of his Facebook group Richard maxwell horse trainer , he gives lots of free advice there and videos as well as money off his official videos, I have the backing a horse ones which are excellent . I posted a video of Layla on there and he was so kind in correcting what I was doing wrong .

 

[Cherryblossom]

That’s my morning entertainment sorted then! Off to check it out now!

 

[MarvelVillis]

Love seeing everyone's youngsters - they're all so gorgeous. Just wanted to join in and introduce my rising 3 year old WBxTB called Marvel. He's my first youngster and has been a complete joy to own. I bought him a couple of days after his 2nd birthday and he'll be 3 in August. Since I bought him we've overcome his farrier fear (with thanks to my amazingly patient farrier), got him used to a bridle/bit/roller and have recently started to introduce him to long reining in the past couple of months, which he has taken to really well. As he's an August baby, I'm planning on continuing to long rein him until his 4th birthday, have him lightly backed, then turned away for winter and brought back into work the following year. I'm conscious of taking things really slowly with him given he's half WB. He was a bit bum high when I bought him and hasn't done a lot of height growing in his 2nd year, so am expecting a growth spurt in his 3rd year. His Dad was 16.2hh and his Mum was 15hh so expecting him to end up somewhere in the middle (I'll be very happy if he doesn't grow to 16.2hh as I'm only 5 ft 4)

I love this first photo of him as I think he looks like a Mule

 

[Alibear]

Amber's 4 so at the older age for this thread. She's happilly working in the arean at w/t/c for short periods of time and the occasional hack out in company and everything is going fine. She was backed last year, had some time off and has been back in work for most of this year. So on Saturday I got my first ride She's soft, supple, responsive, calm and confident, everthing I could have hoped for.

 

[ihatework]

She’s a lovely mare Alibear

 

[TheMule]

Love seeing everyone's youngsters - they're all so gorgeous. Just wanted to join in and introduce my rising 3 year old WBxTB called Marvel. He's my first youngster and has been a complete joy to own. I bought him a couple of days after his 2nd birthday and he'll be 3 in August. Since I bought him we've overcome his farrier fear (with thanks to my amazingly patient farrier), got him used to a bridle/bit/roller and have recently started to introduce him to long reining in the past couple of months, which he has taken to really well. As he's an August baby, I'm planning on continuing to long rein him until his 4th birthday, have him lightly backed, then turned away for winter and brought back into work the following year. I'm conscious of taking things really slowly with him given he's half WB. He was a bit bum high when I bought him and hasn't done a lot of height growing in his 2nd year, so am expecting a growth spurt in his 3rd year. His Dad was 16.2hh and his Mum was 15hh so expecting him to end up somewhere in the middle (I'll be very happy if he doesn't grow to 16.2hh as I'm only 5 ft 4)

I love this first photo of him as I think he looks like a Mule

View attachment 50478
View attachment 50479

What a sweet looking horse. Luckily it's not considered offensive round here to compare to a mule ?

 

[TheMule]

Amber's 4 so at the older age for this thread. She's happilly working in the arean at w/t/c for short periods of time and the occasional hack out in company and everything is going fine. She was backed last year, had some time off and has been back in work for most of this year. So on Saturday I got my first ride She's soft, supple, responsive, calm and confident, everthing I could have hoped for.
View attachment 50539
View attachment 50540

She is really nice, great colour too!

 

[lannerch]

She is really nice, great colour too!

A different kind of golden , love her to

 

[palo1]

This week we have been working on our walk work. Everything and anything as long as it's in walk!! Alw's trot has improved hugely in the last couple of months and canter isn't hugely important for me atm BUT we have indications of my pet hate - excited/tired jig jogging in walk...so walking properly has been the order of the day. Improving thankfully but it is interesting to see how small shifts in my position can help or hinder the really good walk that she can do. The focus on walk with half and full halts has also made it easier to keep gently improving the leg yield on both reins. Really happy today!! Next week I am hoping to include more transitions between walk and halt - this week has been about trying to establish a bit more rhythm and consistency in walk so I have just kept on going!

 

[palo1]

First little trip away from home in the trailer yesterday Just 10 minutes down the road to hack out with a friend that Alw is familiar with on a a route that was in large part new so a really good compromise. All went really well - no issues loading/unloading/re-loading and though a bit anxious she chilled really quickly and all went as planned. Another tick on the list!!

 

[rara007]

Little late to the party. Lottie arrived 5am Thursday so we’ve had a weekend of ‘where are we up to’. She was 3 in April, bang on 153cm at the moment.
We’re done arriving:
Turning out with 1 friend

turning out with 2 friends

bridling

plonking a saddle on the back

lunging (work in progress!)

and wearing a roller and trotting up


We also did a little long reining but I was lazy and used the lunge lines as reins and they were too heavy for her so we aborted that.
Hoping to get up to riding her a few time’s and long reining round the field before taking a step back to eating and growing