Backing 3/4yr olds

[dapple_grey]

Really proud of my lovely 4yo. Took her to an arena/field hire on my own the other night to do some groundwork. Loaded and travelled beautifully, walked her round and then finished with some long reining, including up and down some little xc steps. She's such a pleasure to deal with.

Can I ask what people do when their youngsters go very bum high? She's been doing poles, walking up hills, long-reining 3-4 days a week and only been sat on twice. I'd like to start some gentle hacking but not sure whether to hold off for now, as you can probably see from the photos she's a good couple of inches higher behind than in front!

 

[Ahrena]

She sounds like a gem!
I would probably be inclined to give her a break to level off a bit if she’s having a growth spurt. My 4yo hasn’t grown at all since before she turned 3 so I don’t have any personal experience.

 

[millitiger]

@dapple_grey she doesn't look awfully unbalanced there however I'd personally hold off introducing something new like hacking under saddle until she is a bit more level.
They tend to drop onto their forehand a bit anyway initially when you first start riding so you're likely to compound it if she's also gone bum high.

 

[LEC]

Really proud of my lovely 4yo. Took her to an arena/field hire on my own the other night to do some groundwork. Loaded and travelled beautifully, walked her round and then finished with some long reining, including up and down some little xc steps. She's such a pleasure to deal with.

Can I ask what people do when their youngsters go very bum high? She's been doing poles, walking up hills, long-reining 3-4 days a week and only been sat on twice. I'd like to start some gentle hacking but not sure whether to hold off for now, as you can probably see from the photos she's a good couple of inches higher behind than in front!

Nothing, they literally just sit in the field, I just look at them once a week with a critical eye and then when even again I will put tack back on. You jam the shoulders and wreck the forehand and desire to work. I had one who spent two years being dropped and picked up as kept going bum high.

 

[dapple_grey]

She sounds like a gem!
I would probably be inclined to give her a break to level off a bit if she’s having a growth spurt. My 4yo hasn’t grown at all since before she turned 3 so I don’t have any personal experience.

@dapple_grey she doesn't look awfully unbalanced there however I'd personally hold off introducing something new like hacking under saddle until she is a bit more level.
They tend to drop onto their forehand a bit anyway initially when you first start riding so you're likely to compound it if she's also gone bum high.

Nothing, they literally just sit in the field, I just look at them once a week with a critical eye and then when even again I will put tack back on. You jam the shoulders and wreck the forehand and desire to work. I had one who spent two years being dropped and picked up as kept going bum high.

Thanks all, I’ll give her a break in the field until she evens up a bit.

 

[SEL]

Spent the last couple of evenings riding a push bike round the field while the ponies eat hay. It's the wrong kind of saddle sore! Hopefully a couple of weeks of this and we will have conquered our fear of bikes as the hacking round us is mostly used by mountain biking people.

We have the middle aged men in lycra brigade - who don't slow down for anything.

I spent a few weekends in field gateways with a pocket of treats so Babycob could see they weren't wolves. There was also a lovely local lady on her pushbike who would come past slowly telling him what a clever pony he was.

Generally OK now thankfully - because they still don't slow down.

 

[dorsetladette]

We have the middle aged men in lycra brigade - who don't slow down for anything.

I spent a few weekends in field gateways with a pocket of treats so Babycob could see they weren't wolves. There was also a lovely local lady on her pushbike who would come past slowly telling him what a clever pony he was.

Generally OK now thankfully - because they still don't slow down.

Thank you - that's good to know.

He's not scared of anything (and I mean nothing at all) so this has really thrown me a curve ball. His field is right next to the main trunk road through the county so they see everything, but apparently not bikes. He's the most confident forward thinking pony I've ever had and I'm sure we've walked past hundreds of bikes in hand before.

The bike riding in the field seems to be working - I can get within a couple of metres of him while he's grazing. I haven't ventured back out yet as I need to hack on my own and feel he'd be better with a buddy to tuck in behind next time we go out, although I might walk him out in hand as he's more confident with me on the ground. The tracks are so narrow in places (usually where we see a bike) that he really needs to be confident going past them.

Yes I think we will go for an in hand hack over the weekend as they'll be lots of lycra clad in the forest with the weather being nice.

 

[TheMule]

I’m a little premature because they’re only 2 1/2, but here is my next generation getting ready to join this thread next year!

 

[Ali27]

Back on my baby ginger after getting bucked off on the road a few weeks ago! Definitely the saddle as she had put weight on! Saddle sorted and all is good! Did lots of groundwork and walking out in hand in the interim!

 

[TheHairyOne]

My gorgeous 3 year boy is doing bits and pieces of grown up stuff but is mostly just eating and growing! He was like a yearling in a 3 year old body when he arrived but is now much happier and settled. Weve done a saddle and standing over him and a bit of leading out for walks, but mostly just eating!

 

[millitiger]

My 2 x 3yros had another go at lunging today.
You definitely can't say I overdo it- looking back at this thread they last had a go about 10weeks ago
And they do about 4 minutes each, 80% in walk.

Both very good and remembered what to do.
Both very calm with meeting the horse from next door, who was watching over the hedge. Good practice for when they will be alone hacking and see horses etc. out and about.

Oh and I also led small Welsh pony to the field the other week, off my adult horse. Everyone thought that was very exciting so we'll practice that a bit more before venturing out to ride and lead hack!

 

[Ahrena]

I hit a milestone today and got on my pony at a show.
I did enter her in a walk trot class but didn’t realise it was indoors (she was frankly catastrophic the first time she went in an indoors and this was only the second indoor she’s seen).
She was a daft cowbag in her first place but redeemed herself by winning her second and taking first reserve champion but she was still pretty on edge so decided to scrap my class.

I did get on her in the warm up and she felt like an unexploded bomb for a good 20 minutes whilst my partner led her round but she settled and I ended up trotting a few figures of 8 so I was happy with that.

Been a real up and down day!! Frustrated by her behaviour in class 1, then thrilled how quickly she worked through it and settled, back to frustrated when I got on her (she is one where everything is just so difficult at first) then thrilled that I rode through it. Horses eh!

 

[dorsetladette]

I rode at home today. The traffic was totally chaotic so the plan to test our bike proofing will wait for another day.

The dramatic spooks at the bikes seems to have helped Robin master a very extreme nap. We can now spin 180 on our hind legs without blinking. Wow its quick. So we did lots of forwards work. Strong leg and a firmer contact to close those side doors or opportunities. Finished on some nice work so not all bad.

 

[Boughtabay]

My main gelding graduated from the 5/6yo thread this spring … he hasn’t really graduated to grown up life as he’s green as grass still but there we go the 3yo however is starting his adventures now and made it to his first ever show this last few weeks a friend ran him as I was in another class with the big delinquent I've tried my best to blur her out. Hoping to back him this autumn very very lightly before re-backing next summer

 

[Fibones]

Joining the thread as I’m training my 3 year old currently and have a long list of foundational skills I want to achieve with her before backing her next year. She’s ID x Appaloosa/arab . Wanting to do it myself - I work regularly with Joe Midgley so it’s nice to have his progressive feedback and guidance as we go. She’s my first youngster. I’m trying to capture her progress in a blog (if anyone is interested I’ll add the link). We’re combining groundwork with walking out in hand.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Doing a bit of a yearly round up as my plan is to now do a whole lot over this winter other than tick along and let him grow and fill out a bit.

Dex is 4yrs 5months old now and has had the whole of Sept off pretty much I will likely tick him along for the rest of the month if I feel well enough, mostly walk hacking and then over winter he will have a couple months off.

He is still 17.1hh in front and 16.3hh (and a half) behind.... and has been for nearly 6 months, so I'm wondering if thats that now and he'll be wonky forever!

This year he has: (approx dates)
Jan: Groundwork, in hand hacking, much the same as I had been doing for the year prior!
Early Feb: Backed slowly
Feb - Mar: Out walk hacking
Mar - May: Rest
June: hacking, super low level schooling, got him hacking alone - never more than 2 hacks per week and one half hour schooling
July: first outings, in hand show and a fun ride with sane friend and slightly longer hacks from home
August: another fun ride, faster hacking and in bigger groups, beach ride
Sept: Rest

This is how he's looking, I'm quite pleased with him (excuse feet and how crocked he is standing, he was waiting for farrier and getting fidgety)
I looooove his dapples, I've never had anything dappled before! He's also held his colour fairly well so fingers crossed we have some more time before he greys out completely


and this was the little weedy man back in early Feb when I was about to back him (no I didn't use this saddle as it doesn't fit!):

 

[Hackback]

Joining the thread as I’m training my 3 year old currently and have a long list of foundational skills I want to achieve with her before backing her next year. She’s ID x Appaloosa/arab . Wanting to do it myself - I work regularly with Joe Midgley so it’s nice to have his progressive feedback and guidance as we go. She’s my first youngster. I’m trying to capture her progress in a blog (if anyone is interested I’ll add the link). We’re combining groundwork with walking out in hand.

I started my now 4 year old under the guidance of Joe. I'm really pleased with how he's turning out
Joe started working with him when he was an angry 3 year old (the horse, not Joe) and so he got a Joe-style foundation on the ground before I actually started riding. I'm currently working on riding from body position and a breath. It's way more challenging for me than it is for the horse. I hope you enjoy your journey as much as I'm enjoying mine.

I've just started taking AJ out to farm rides for hacking experience. He's been really good so far. We only pootle about looking at stuff and hopefully conditioning his feet. I don't want to do too much with him, but he's at such a lovely accepting baby stage that I want to expose him to different things while he's still so open to the experience. I've booked a stressless dressage next week - remembering that seeing white boards for the first time can be pretty traumatic (as pointed out by older horse) and a road safety course a couple of weeks after. Road hacking is the one thing we're currently falling down on.

Loving reading how everyone is getting on with their youngsters.

 

[BBP]

I don’t quite know what to do with my 4yo. I hadn’t planned to back him til he is 5 but he is currently missing all of the fundamental foundation training and postural/muscular development stuff I had hoped to have in place by now.

Poor little chap is utterly intolerant to any kind of ‘pressure’. He has a subluxating nuchal ligament (like the horse in this video
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/StThWGi8kpeovz9e/?mibextid=KsPBc6), and further investigations have shown him to have grade 2 gastric ulcers, some kind of hind gut dysfunction (excess fluid in colon and caecum), vitamin E deficiency and an inflamed liver which appears to be getting worse. Vet is talking about biopsy and steroids (GGT over 500).

Yesterday, having thought he was seeming more cheerful after 7 weeks of gastroguard, I thought I would at least try to introduce a little work on finding relaxation through the brachiocephalicus, and just ask him for a little walk round and with a soft ask to lower the head (2 fingers on headcollar with light pressure downwards). Within seconds he was distressed, sour expression, chewing the rope, he started to ‘hiccup’ and instantly wanted to drop and roll to relieve the feeling in his gut (slow mo video does show the diaphragm moving as he hiccups, so it appears to be triggered there rather than a windsuck type action.

He does the same thing when the osteopath etc try to treat him, hiccups and lies down, he can’t tolerate them working over his diaphragm.

I saw a dissection video of a horse that got hiccups when one of her hind legs was lifted I think, and it showed a piece of twisted up omentum had adhered to the diaphragm right over the top of the attachment of a branch of the phrenic nerve and they think that was the cause (goes to show there are some things that a vet will never ever be able to diagnose until necropsy).

He is such a puzzle. All thoughts of backing him and him being my riding horse have gone out of the window, and it’s all about helping him feel well again instead.

To think he was meant to be my straightforward one after all of BBPs challenges.

My new little unbacked 5yo is an absolute joy though, so hopefully I can update the ‘backing older horses’ thread with her progress occasionally.

 

[maya2008]

I don’t quite know what to do with my 4yo. I hadn’t planned to back him til he is 5 but he is currently missing all of the fundamental foundation training and postural/muscular development stuff I had hoped to have in place by now.

Poor little chap is utterly intolerant to any kind of ‘pressure’. He has a subluxating nuchal ligament (like the horse in this video
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/StThWGi8kpeovz9e/?mibextid=KsPBc6), and further investigations have shown him to have grade 2 gastric ulcers, some kind of hind gut dysfunction (excess fluid in colon and caecum), vitamin E deficiency and an inflamed liver which appears to be getting worse. Vet is talking about biopsy and steroids (GGT over 500).

Yesterday, having thought he was seeming more cheerful after 7 weeks of gastroguard, I thought I would at least try to introduce a little work on finding relaxation through the brachiocephalicus, and just ask him for a little walk round and with a soft ask to lower the head (2 fingers on headcollar with light pressure downwards). Within seconds he was distressed, sour expression, chewing the rope, he started to ‘hiccup’ and instantly wanted to drop and roll to relieve the feeling in his gut (slow mo video does show the diaphragm moving as he hiccups, so it appears to be triggered there rather than a windsuck type action.

He does the same thing when the osteopath etc try to treat him, hiccups and lies down, he can’t tolerate them working over his diaphragm.

I saw a dissection video of a horse that got hiccups when one of her hind legs was lifted I think, and it showed a piece of twisted up omentum had adhered to the diaphragm right over the top of the attachment of a branch of the phrenic nerve and they think that was the cause (goes to show there are some things that a vet will never ever be able to diagnose until necropsy).

He is such a puzzle. All thoughts of backing him and him being my riding horse have gone out of the window, and it’s all about helping him feel well again instead.

To think he was meant to be my straightforward one after all of BBPs challenges.

My new little unbacked 5yo is an absolute joy though, so hopefully I can update the ‘backing older horses’ thread with her progress occasionally.

Your 4yo sounds like he’s got the rough side of the luck coin genetically and otherwise. Poor lad to be so uncomfortable so young. I would be having a very frank discussion with vets about outcomes. If you throw the book at his problems and find out exactly what is going on, will they be able to fix it and leave him pain free?

Glad to hear the 5yo is going well!

 

[Hackback]

I know it's traditional to turn a newly backed horse away for the winter and pick up again in the spring. Do people still do that?

 

[BBP]

Your 4yo sounds like he’s got the rough side of the luck coin genetically and otherwise. Poor lad to be so uncomfortable so young. I would be having a very frank discussion with vets about outcomes. If you throw the book at his problems and find out exactly what is going on, will they be able to fix it and leave him pain free?

Glad to hear the 5yo is going well!

I know, poor little guy, he’s such a cool little horse too. I have sent off for equibiome analysis, and completely changed over my forage provider this weekend, to see if we get any improvements in gut and liver health through change of forage. If I can make positive changes there it will be easier to assess his responses from that point as to what the future holds.

Little mare is bringing me the bit of joy I desperately need after BBP and this little chap. She is so bright and cheerful, even this morning when it was bucketing down and the others all looked so over it.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I know it's traditional to turn a newly backed horse away for the winter and pick up again in the spring. Do people still do that?

I think it depends what facilities you have and what brain the horse has, Dex has had most of Sept off and the YM has asked me to please crack on (half tongue in cheek) ASAP as he's started being a bit of a turd in a playful/irritating sort of way rather than rude, pulling his rugs down and mounting his fieldmate.. he definitely gets bored within 2 weeks of not doing a lot, so he will be kept ticking over. If I had 30 acres and a herd of 10 out full time I may have turned him away, but I don't

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I know it's traditional to turn a newly backed horse away for the winter and pick up again in the spring. Do people still do that?

From what I've read on this form, people still so that. Based off of living in a few different countries, it's largely a UK thing. It does happen elsewhere, don't get me wrong.

I don't know that I'll do that with mine. He seems to enjoy interaction and staying in some form of light training. Even when living out in a herd on 20 acres, he just seems to get a bit bored if I just leave him to it. He's just an intelligent and interactive type though. I think if I turned him away he'd start doing weird things, as he does when he doesn't have enough stimulation and guided exercise it seems.

That being said, he still might get turned away for a short bit. I can't keep him going consistently because something always comes up. First it was a minor upper respiratory infection, then some fungus from his fly boots (didn't bother him though, and cleared right up), then it was a virus that caused leg swelling, now he's lame from a change in farrier. It also took me ages to find a good saddle fitter and get him a saddle that fit the both of us. So I've been very inconsistent.

That being said, he's still made so much progress and retains everything. You can get on him after a week or so of not riding him and he picks up right where you left off. He's been very good to back and I can't fault him there.

It's not a huge deal, since taking things slow isn't a bad thing, but it's just been annoying.

 

[IrishMilo]

Mine’s going to be turned away over winter. I haven’t lunged him or long lined him at all yet, the only thing I’ve done is got on and walked around the yard a couple of times. He’s been a piece of cake to back and the longer I can leave him doing anything strenuous the better imo.

 

[Caol Ila]

I didn’t turn away. But I didn’t sit on her until she was 4.5 years old and then we went really. Slow. All she did for like a year was hacking. Just starting to do more schooling at age 6, sometimes, when I feel like it.

I think she would have been bored and a pain to handle had she been turned away. I’m not at the best yard for that sort of thing, since it doesn’t have 24/7 turnout.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I know it's traditional to turn a newly backed horse away for the winter and pick up again in the spring. Do people still do that?

I do, but only because I don't have the time or motivation I had when I was younger to continue training over the winter!
Also the weather can be against you and I have no all weather facilities so everything is trained on grass which gets more like a dancing on ice once the mud sets in!!
It doesn't do them any harm, as long as they are warm and well hayed and brought in for feet picking out, quick brush over and their noses kissed! My three young lads will be happy as anything.

 

[dapple_grey]

Really pleased with my beautiful 4yo. After a little holiday she has suddenly evened out a lot, so the saddle fitter came back to fit her to her own saddle. I love the brown tack on a liver chestnut This is her before going on her first little hack with her field pal and she was foot perfect.

 

[Ali27]

I’m turning my ginger girl away for the Winter as I’m having issues with saddles! I also can’t face riding two over the Winter so will just do a few inhand walks and groundwork with her. Will then start her again in Spring after getting a saddle properly fitted!

 

[Ahrena]

I turned mine away last year after lightly hacking her at 3.5. I didn’t want to do anymore with her at that stage as backing in the third year is young for me. Also no arena lights and work meant it would’ve been very sporadic which I didn’t feel would do her any good; she’s the type that needs consistency.

She will stay in work now going into her 5th year and now I have a very flexible wfh job (genuinely feel I’m living the dream) I can get out for a hack at lunchtime.

 

[millitiger]

I like turning them away in winter.
There's nothing worse than trying to install and maintain good manners and confidence in in a youngster, when you're hacking out with wheelie bins flying past you in the pi$$ing rain!