Backing 3/4yr olds

[ycbm]

I’m very chuffed with my rising 4 year old.
She’s been pretty tricky - quite an anxious sort when lots is going on around her and she’s been quite…spicy on the long reins to put it mildly but always very good out walking in hand.

Decided to throw caution to the wind and just get on and start hacking. She’s been a dream ever since and has become super affectionate! She’s been surprisingly good, going out alone even in some serious winds and she’s ace in traffic.

I’m delighted with her, I’ve been worried as she’s been the trickiest to back that I’ve dealt with and it’s knocked my confidence. After barely riding for several years, it feels amazing to be back on a horse.

Planning on lots and lots of in-hand showing this year and in-hand clinics just to get her out and seeing different things as consistent exposure seems to really help her. I usually think less is more with a youngster but having to think outside the box with this one.

I backed something over 15 horses in my time and never long reined one of them and rarely lunged either. I put a saddle on and rode. Its a very "old school" way of backing but it's what I was taught 50 years ago. I wouldn't advise it if the horse has been kept in small areas on flat land, as I don't think the back/core will be strong enough in that case. I had a hillside as turnout and that worked a treat. But mentally there's never been an issue with just getting on with it. With a slow increase in time sat on their backs, of course.

Your mare looks lovely, you'll have a lot of fun this summer

 

[Marigold4]

I backed something over 15 horses in my time and never long reined one of them and rarely lunged either. I put a saddle on and rode. Its a very "old school" way of backing but it's what I was taught 50 years ago. I wouldn't advise it if the horse has been kept in small areas on flat land, as I don't think the back/core will be strong enough in that case. I had a hillside as turnout and that worked a treat. But mentally there's never been an issue with just getting on with it. With a slow increase in time sat on their backs, of course.

Your mare looks lovely, you'll have a lot of fun this summer

A woman I used to work for (very old school) was all for "just get on and ride". She maintained that you could teach a horse everything it needed to know from its back. That's all very well, but it was me who had to just get on and ride! I'll let her off though as she did ride round Burghley in her time. And there never was a problem with just getting on and riding, all the horses we backed turned out well. Since then though, I have taught the horses I have backed voice commands and to respond to rein pressure before getting on - and made sure when I DO get on, it is in a small space.

 

[Ahrena]

I am definitely not brave enough to just get on hahaha. I like to instil left, right, start and stop at least but I think she finds circles utterly pointless and being a mare, has no problem telling me how she feels about it. Which is fine, I’d much rather she spends this year hacking!

 

[maya2008]

I backed something over 15 horses in my time and never long reined one of them and rarely lunged either. I put a saddle on and rode. Its a very "old school" way of backing but it's what I was taught 50 years ago. I wouldn't advise it if the horse has been kept in small areas on flat land, as I don't think the back/core will be strong enough in that case. I had a hillside as turnout and that worked a treat. But mentally there's never been an issue with just getting on with it. With a slow increase in time sat on their backs, of course.

Your mare looks lovely, you'll have a lot of fun this summer

I’ve merrily done that with well handled ponies - well mostly that, I quite like to have some voice commands first. I was younger, I didn’t mind getting off to lead past things or sit the spooks etc when they came. Current NF virtually backed herself and she’d never met a lunge rope - she asked to come out hacking, we popped a child on (on the lead) and that was that. My old SJ pony was backed and hacking out solo within a week.

Everything over the past few years has arrived with issues though. The kind of trust in humans that allowed me to just get on previous youngsters isn’t there - we’ve been picking up failed projects rather than even purely untouched ponies. So my process has changed, as a response to the different types of pony we’re dealing with. In the end, we don’t lose any time. I was first able to catch the one we’ve just backed in mid December 2023. 4 months later, she’s backed and hacking out. I’ve led her out so much though, and we have done so much desensitising to gain her trust, that once she was ready to come off lead, it was like she’d already been hacking with a rider for six months or more. Walk past cows? Under low branches, off roading past fallen trees, through puddles, past all manner of things round the housing estate, birds rustling in hedges, ponies running around in fields next to you, HGVs, tractors, cars zooming past without slowing? No problem. Have kids fooling around on/next to you, lying on your neck and waving their arms around? Get left behind while the one in front canters off? Also no problem.

 

[maya2008]

My little ones (BOGOF plus friend) turn 3 next month. Been walking them out on the roads again in preparation and started long reining today. Bigger one is now 11.3hh (string test said 12.1hh ) and we’re all very fond of her, so I’m going to do everything I can to make her completely bombproof and obedient in the hope that my daughter might like her for a year or two. If not, at least it’ll make it easier for her to find a new home. Smaller one is speedy and keen, but obedient. She’s lead rein size though, so while we’ll back her off, I expect her to find a small child home in the autumn. She can join in with the bombproofing.

They’ve both grown hugely since they got onto the summer field, and look much more mature now. Desensitising and lots of walking in our immediate future. It’s so easy working with two that are well handled, I’m quite enjoying it!

 

[millitiger]

I can join in now as the kids both turn 3 this year.

Probably not planning on sitting on either of them until next year-
Small one I hope will be in full harness over summer but on long reins and not actually driving yet.
Big one is so big, he will walk out in hand and on long reins and that'll probably do him
Planning to pony both of them off my older boy as he is a superb nanny and I don't have a 2nd rider!

 

[Ahrena]

My rising 4 year old is pootling along hacking.
We mostly have to go out alone and we have a foot soldier as she isn’t the bravest and needs her hand holding when things get a bit much. But she’s doing very well and feels much safer than I expected. More whoa than go but she’s getting better as she’s getting stronger and braver.

I was brave enough to do a 20m circle in walk in the school and we’ll slowly build on that after she projectiled me head first last year.

No rush here and if it takes her all summer to get brave without a lead, that’s fine.

 

[IrishMilo]

Love your chestnut. What a classy stamp @millitiger

 

[millitiger]

Love your chestnut. What a classy stamp @millitiger

Thank you, I absolutely him.
I was very lucky to buy him 18 months ago, I'd always wanted a blingy chestnut and always wanted a Timolin and then Thomas appeared on HorseQuest, fate.
I just hope I can do them both justice!

Although the older I get, the more I stress about how fragile horses are in general and the added responsibility of turning youngsters into nice, useful, members of society.

 

[Marigold4]

I can join in now as the kids both turn 3 this year.

Probably not planning on sitting on either of them until next year-
Small one I hope will be in full harness over summer but on long reins and not actually driving yet.
Big one is so big, he will walk out in hand and on long reins and that'll probably do him
Planning to pony both of them off my older boy as he is a superb nanny and I don't have a 2nd rider!

View attachment 138533View attachment 138534

They are both absolutely gorgeous! What is their breeding? What a nice pair.

 

[ycbm]

Thank you, I absolutely him.
I was very lucky to buy him 18 months ago, I'd always wanted a blingy chestnut and always wanted a Timolin and then Thomas appeared on HorseQuest, fate.
I just hope I can do them both justice!

Although the older I get, the more I stress about how fragile horses are in general and the added responsibility of turning youngsters into nice, useful, members of society.

How big is he? He looks very big, but he also looks very compact, what a great combination for a tall strong adult horse.
.

 

[millitiger]

They are both absolutely gorgeous! What is their breeding? What a nice pair.

Thank you
Chestnut is Timolin X an ID mare by Welcome Diamond.

Bay pony is full Welsh D, bred at Penstrumbly Stud. He is an absolute angel and has the best personality and so intelligent.

How big is he? He looks very big, but he also looks very compact, what a great combination for a tall strong adult horse.
.

He's about 17.1hh, so pretty big!
I think once fully mature he will be closer to 18hh.
Thankfully he is very light footed and sensitive so you could lead him with a bit of dental floss and he's very in tune to body language and energy which makes him easy to handle... So far

 

[Hannahgb]

My boy had this exact tail, it was fully black by the time he was 7!

 

[Ahrena]

Just wondering if I can bounce some ideas around?

Little mare has been under saddle and hacking for about 5-6 weeks now. Mostly alone due to practical reasons but just starting to get out in company now.

She’s generally pretty good but does have a habit of planting if she sees something she’s concerned about. Generally I get my foot soldier to go in front and then she’s happy to walk on so pretty sure it’s a confidence thing. She was doing very well and slowly getting braver and we managed 2 rides without any ‘outside assistance’.

In the last week, she’s gone a bit backwards and reverted to planting. First time took a lot of babying from the foot soldier but we got round. Since then she’s been out in company twice and has been fine but I could tell she would’ve planted had she not had a friend to go in front.

My trouble is; when she plants, she gets very cranky if you ask her to walk on. She doesn’t do anything dreadful - tosses her head, reverses a bit and if you keep pushing, she does a little half hearted tiny buck.

I’m just debating how to deal with it. Wait it out? Whip whop rope (previously had good results with it with mares who take offence), ignore it and hope it’s a stage that passes with company and foot soldier?

Back recently checked, saddle recently fitted although I’m mindful she will be changing shape so may get a recheck done. Teeth being done end of the week.

NB. She is a pretty opinionated mare and has been from the day dot so I’m really very pleased with her and happy that this is her chosen method of resistance (at the moment!)

 

[Marigold4]

Just wondering if I can bounce some ideas around?

Little mare has been under saddle and hacking for about 5-6 weeks now. Mostly alone due to practical reasons but just starting to get out in company now.

She’s generally pretty good but does have a habit of planting if she sees something she’s concerned about. Generally I get my foot soldier to go in front and then she’s happy to walk on so pretty sure it’s a confidence thing. She was doing very well and slowly getting braver and we managed 2 rides without any ‘outside assistance’.

In the last week, she’s gone a bit backwards and reverted to planting. First time took a lot of babying from the foot soldier but we got round. Since then she’s been out in company twice and has been fine but I could tell she would’ve planted had she not had a friend to go in front.

My trouble is; when she plants, she gets very cranky if you ask her to walk on. She doesn’t do anything dreadful - tosses her head, reverses a bit and if you keep pushing, she does a little half hearted tiny buck.

I’m just debating how to deal with it. Wait it out? Whip whop rope (previously had good results with it with mares who take offence), ignore it and hope it’s a stage that passes with company and foot soldier?

Back recently checked, saddle recently fitted although I’m mindful she will be changing shape so may get a recheck done. Teeth being done end of the week.

NB. She is a pretty opinionated mare and has been from the day dot so I’m really very pleased with her and happy that this is her chosen method of resistance (at the moment!)

I'm sure you will get lots of different advice, butI would either wait it out or get off and lead past. Make a big fuss of her when she has gone past. I wouldn't want it to escalate into a fight or to ingrain the behaviour you are describing when you ask her to walk on.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Thank you
Chestnut is Timolin X an ID mare by Welcome Diamond.

Bay pony is full Welsh D, bred at Penstrumbly Stud. He is an absolute angel and has the best personality and so intelligent.



He's about 17.1hh, so pretty big!
I think once fully mature he will be closer to 18hh.
Thankfully he is very light footed and sensitive so you could lead him with a bit of dental floss and he's very in tune to body language and energy which makes him easy to handle... So far

Both lovely but I particularly like the Welsh I've always like them especially bay ones.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I'm in the camp of not start an argument and then make them unhappy and stressed as its not a positive experience.

I would try a bit of pressure but then get off if need be.

When I got Louis he wouldn't go out on his own so I walked him in hand on a short circular route for a week, then I would get on and attempt it ridden we had a few issues with stopping but it helped.

So maybe try that if you can't get company to ride with Louis was never a problem with another horse he was just genuinely worried being alone.

 

[Ahrena]

Thank you!
When I’m on my own I always have someone on foot (she’s been unpredictable in the past although apart from this, she’s been very good out hacking) so I will continue just have her walk in front. I do figure as she’s happy to follow, it’s a confidence thing so will improve in time. Hopefully!

 

[Caol Ila]

I know this movie. My youngster went through a phase of being exactly like that. No sense in starting a row about it. Made that mistake once or twice, and it turned the scary thing into a bigger deal. Whoops.

She is very good about following a foot soldier (usually my husband) or another horse past most things. She doesn't even need to know the person. I once got a random stranger to give us the lead past some roadworks.

If I'm out by myself and there are no helpful Good Samaritans about, I hop off and lead. She is very good about me clambering on and off, so I know I can get back no bother from any rock, fence, log, or other object.

When I hack out with OH or certain horses, I put her in the lead as much as possible, only swapping when she needs her hand held. I have other hacking buddies who I always follow because their horses walk faster than her, and if they're behind her, they tailgate like angry Audi drivers on the motorway. She doesn't like that and slams on the brakes to get that horse around her. I can't blame her!

If she does plant, I give her a moment, let her look at the scary thing, then ask her to walk on with a little more leg pressure. I might repeat this a couple times, but I can either feel her softening in her body, thinking of braving it, or becoming more braced, which is her saying, "No, I honestly think it's too scary and I can't." If the latter happens, I get off or put someone in front. If I feel her thoughts turning towards moving, I encourage her onwards. If she mans up and does it, I click and treat. Of course, now any time she minces past anything she's worried about, she stops and looks for the treat. "I led past the scary thing! Where's my cookie?" But it works.

It's getting a lot better this year. It is just a confidence thing, and whatever you may think (dammit, you've been past that a million times!!), they will build confidence only as fast as they can build it.

 

[honetpot]

I backed something over 15 horses in my time and never long reined one of them and rarely lunged either. I put a saddle on and rode. Its a very "old school" way of backing but it's what I was taught 50 years ago. I wouldn't advise it if the horse has been kept in small areas on flat land, as I don't think the back/core will be strong enough in that case. I had a hillside as turnout and that worked a treat. But mentally there's never been an issue with just getting on with it. With a slow increase in time sat on their backs, of course.

Your mare looks lovely, you'll have a lot of fun this summer

I couldn't say I lunge properly, its just to learn the basic voice commands, they never go out of trot, so that when the rider gets on and uses voice aids, the body aids click as quickly as possible, it usually only takes a couple of 15mins sessions and then from then on its hacking out with company.

 

[millitiger]

@Ahrena I find just giving more time than you think.
A minute feels like an eternity when they stop!
However if it was my horse, when she plants, I would just sit for 20-30 seconds before you ask anything at all.
Then voice and a bit of leg and see if she'll go- if you open one hand you can rock them into movement too!
If after 5-10 seconds of asking and no forwards, then get your foot person to go in front.

I find doing the above means they start to want to go forwards in the first 'break'.

 

[dorsetladette]

I'm from the same train of thought as @ycbm and @honetpot lunging is really to get a few voice aids in place and to get them familiar with the saddle being on there back. Then hop on and go from there. I've had all my youngsters from pretty much weanlings and have started the basics from day one so they are pretty used to all my antics before with even think about riding.

 

[SEL]

I'm another who used to hop off - especially as drivers on my road are ignorant and impatient.

I just found holding his hoof past whatever it was that was worrying him built up his confidence a lot more than any attempt to insist he went past. The worrying things have got less and less now he's 6 but back when he was 4 and still being introduced to 'life outside the farm' there was a lot of stuff that may have eaten him.

It also meant that an unscheduled dismount when we face planted on a bridlepath wasn't at all dramatic because he was used to me being on the ground!

 

[Ahrena]

Thanks all!
Very helpful. It’s been a long time since I had a youngster and my old one was bold as brass (dare say her son who is almost 2 will be the same!).

It’s just frustrating when they go backwards but that’s horses isn’t it? She will get there, she’s just a bit of a slow egg.

 

[YourValentine]

Thanks all!
Very helpful. It’s been a long time since I had a youngster and my old one was bold as brass (dare say her son who is almost 2 will be the same!).

It’s just frustrating when they go backwards but that’s horses isn’t it? She will get there, she’s just a bit of a slow egg.

Think of it as not so much backwards as spring grass bringing out the monsters. My normally bombproof hack is snorting and shying at funny blades of grass at the moment, I imagine as a baby all the monster are a lot bigger and horse eating at the moment...

In a few weeks life will hopefully be less scary.

 

[dorsetladette]

I'm another who used to hop off - especially as drivers on my road are ignorant and impatient.

I just found holding his hoof past whatever it was that was worrying him built up his confidence a lot more than any attempt to insist he went past. The worrying things have got less and less now he's 6 but back when he was 4 and still being introduced to 'life outside the farm' there was a lot of stuff that may have eaten him.

It also meant that an unscheduled dismount when we face planted on a bridlepath wasn't at all dramatic because he was used to me being on the ground!

I used to hop off my old cob when he was worried about things. Saved the spin and f### off which would just create more stress and anxiety.

If I need to hop off babies I'll be doing the same. As long as we're heading in the right direction I take it as a 'win'

 

[maya2008]

My smaller one is growing longer and wider like a weed. So light and easy to do - a touch on the long reins and she’s stopped/turned. Totally chilled and just reverses a bit if truly worried so she can find someone to follow. If told to walk forwards, past the scary thing, she does as she is told. Walks over random stuff on the ground, tarpaulin type things, cushions, poles. Some child will be very very lucky when she finds a new home.

Slightly bigger one has more sass!

 

[teddy_]

Here is my 4YO mare by Hennessy, who’s been under saddle for just two weeks - cannot wait to get her home at the end of this month !

 

[Ahrena]

How is everyone getting on?
I’m pretty pleased with my baby barrel. She’s schooling once a week and now can do walk, trot, canter. All without any theatrics (touch wood!!) and she’s even starting to look for a contact.
The rest is lots of hacking. She’s fab in company but still pretty hit and miss alone though so persevering with the foot soldier.

Luckily all she does is stop and when foot soldier goes in front, she follows on so it could be a lot worse really. Hoping eventually something will click and she will learn to trust the person on her back as much as she does someone on foot.

We’re starting to extend the length of our company hacks a bit as her tummy is looking a bit alarming.

Given I was ready to sell her at the start of April because I couldn’t imagine riding her and enjoying her after she projectiled me last year and her antics when long reining, I’m very pleased!

Also continuing to take her out once or twice a month to in hand clinics or in hand showing - much more than I would usually do with a youngster but I really think she needs as much exposure as possible as she found it all so alarming to start with. Last outing she was absolutely perfect - it was the same venue as her first show of the year which also involved going in an indoor for the first time. Last time she had a meltdown in the indoor and I took her out as she spent more time on her back legs than anything else.

This time we didn’t have any classes in the indoor. She qualified for the championship and I decided to take her in, fully expecting to take her out if she got upset but she was completely and utterly chilled!

 

[millitiger]

My pair have had a 5 minute session learning to lunge each- Welshie got it in less than a minute but was enjoying himself so got to do both reins.
Large dumblood found it fairly mind blowing so stuck to one rein only and managed a few shuffle/trot steps a couple of times.
So funny how different they can be at the same age and same upbringing!

Welsh pony also went to a carriage driving day which he thought was wonderful and was very keen to get going with the driving ponies on their 8 mile route and less keen to stay in the cone field and long rein


Both children LOVE the new sandbox we've build them on the track.
It was actually for my adult horse who is transitioning to barefoot and he has been in it but obviously the kids are much more excited by new things than the old hand!


Next step is for saddles on the pair and a bit more lunge practice for big orange, only until he understands the "to-rot on" command!
Then back to leading and long reining around the village and perhaps some lying over them in another month or 2.
We're quite relaxed here with how I back them so no timelines or particular goals!