Backing 3/4yr olds

[Fibones]

I’m going to keep chipping away at the foundational skills over winter rather than turn away. Sky has a busy brain and seems to thrive off learning new stuff. And I’ve a long list…so I’ll get her really good at trailer loading, and other groundwork, walking out in hand to keep us both fit Andy let her see her world might even just sit on her at an opportune moment then get off.

 

[millitiger]

This thread has made me realise we first did a little go at lunging 10th June and the boys haven't done anything since, as summer has been a personal wash out for me for a few reasons.

However Thomas had his 2nd go at lunging yesterday and I thought I'd chuck his roller and bridle on too.
He was very calm and relaxed, right rein he did want to come in and see me quite a few times so lots of corrections.
However we repeated today and WOW! He really learnt from yesterday, so chilled today but just got it and did a beautiful trot circle on each rein, staying out nicely.

He moves so effortlessly and just naturally moves through his whole body, love him.
He'll probably have another few months of absolutely nothing now and maybe I'll chuck some tack on over Christmas and do a bit of long reining to start to make his mouth.

 

[Marigold4]

This thread has made me realise we first did a little go at lunging 10th June and the boys haven't done anything since, as summer has been a personal wash out for me for a few reasons.

However Thomas had his 2nd go at lunging yesterday and I thought I'd chuck his roller and bridle on too.
He was very calm and relaxed, right rein he did want to come in and see me quite a few times so lots of corrections.
However we repeated today and WOW! He really learnt from yesterday, so chilled today but just got it and did a beautiful trot circle on each rein, staying out nicely.

He moves so effortlessly and just naturally moves through his whole body, love him.
He'll probably have another few months of absolutely nothing now and maybe I'll chuck some tack on over Christmas and do a bit of long reining to start to make his mouth.
View attachment 147903View attachment 147904

Georgeous! What is his breeding?

 

[millitiger]

Georgeous! What is his breeding?

He's by Timolin (Totilas) and out of a full ID mare.
I think there must be some giraffe further back to explain the funky colouring and the fact he is now nearly 18hh

 

[YourValentine]

This thread has made me realise we first did a little go at lunging 10th June and the boys haven't done anything since, as summer has been a personal wash out for me for a few reasons.

However Thomas had his 2nd go at lunging yesterday and I thought I'd chuck his roller and bridle on too.
He was very calm and relaxed, right rein he did want to come in and see me quite a few times so lots of corrections.
However we repeated today and WOW! He really learnt from yesterday, so chilled today but just got it and did a beautiful trot circle on each rein, staying out nicely.

He moves so effortlessly and just naturally moves through his whole body, love him.
He'll probably have another few months of absolutely nothing now and maybe I'll chuck some tack on over Christmas and do a bit of long reining to start to make his mouth.
View attachment 147903View attachment 147904

Out of interest, what is the blue bandage/strap round his chest for? Thanks

 

[millitiger]

Out of interest, what is the blue bandage/strap round his chest for? Thanks

A homemade breastplate
Just in case there were any shapes thrown and the last thing you want is the roller migrating backwards and scaring them.
I don't find rollers the most stable of things and I don't like to girth up super tight when it's all new to them.

I find a fleece bandage does the job well and is a bit softer on their virgin skin.
Also has a quick release at each end to fasten it in case I need to get it off asap.

 

[Marigold4]

He's by Timolin (Totilas) and out of a full ID mare.
I think there must be some giraffe further back to explain the funky colouring and the fact he is now nearly 18hh

18hh

 

[cosmic389]

I have been watching this thread for a while, what a great idea. Love seeing what everyone is doing and planning with their youngsters.

My baby cob recently turned 3. We've been doing ground work and walking inhand in the last few months, as well as working on manners and patience. Usually a couple of times a week if the weather is fine. A lot of time is also just spent chilling or playing with each other. With longer days and warmer weather now I plan to take him out for walks more often and hopefully the beach in summer!

Welcome any tips and advice on what to teach him now. What you reckon a 3yo should know etc...

 

[dorsetladette]

Robin is over his fear of push bikes so we can crack on and get out hacking properly now. I'm solo most of the time so we need to be OK when were out (and at home really). He'll be hacking once a week over winter as that's all the daylight time I'll have available now until the clocks change. Then I have some work spot light things which I'll use to do a bit of work in the paddock a couple of times a week.

Reggie is picking things up nicely. I'll do bits with him over winter (mostly ground work) with the plan to be out hacking in the spring. I'm still thinking of sending him away for some education. Mainly to see more of the world really.

 

[Ahrena]

I’m thrilled with how Nutmeg has come on.
She did get first intro dressage a couple of weeks ago. Predictably tense and a bit explosive to start but she settled and did some nice work in her tests. Also a huge win for me to finally get the nerve to ride her at a show.

She’s now happily hacking alone as well as in company. She can still be a tad nappy when I turn right out the yard (she’s fine left!) but nothing a click and a kick doesn’t sort.

I popped over over a couple of cross poles last week which she seemed to enjoy so I’m going to slow start incorporating some jumping.

Only a couple of months until she graduates off this thread! Given where we started this year when I was terrified to even sit on her, I couldn’t be prouder of us both.

 

[GreyDot]

I’m thrilled with how Nutmeg has come on.
She did get first intro dressage a couple of weeks ago. Predictably tense and a bit explosive to start but she settled and did some nice work in her tests. Also a huge win for me to finally get the nerve to ride her at a show.

She’s now happily hacking alone as well as in company. She can still be a tad nappy when I turn right out the yard (she’s fine left!) but nothing a click and a kick doesn’t sort.

I popped over over a couple of cross poles last week which she seemed to enjoy so I’m going to slow start incorporating some jumping.

Only a couple of months until she graduates off this thread! Given where we started this year when I was terrified to even sit on her, I couldn’t be prouder of us both.

Well done for getting her to a ridden show! Really starting to sounds grown up now.
Mine is off to his first baby dressage lesson this week. He has done a couple of pole clinics to get out and about and mix with other horses, but this will be the first 'structured' session. He is 4 1/2 now and growing in confidence weekly. Happily hacks alone, a little more tense in company, so we canter on our own, but I think he may get overwhelmed if we did it in a group. Ridiculously spooky about the oddest things, and totally chilled about other things which I'd expect him to spook at.
Best of all, our bond is so good. I feel really safe on him, even though I am aware of his youth and inexperience. Really looking forward to next spring when we can properly start putting things together.

 

[Fibones]

Well I put my brace pants on yesterday and sat on for the first time! Nerve wracking but my trainer was there and sky was very chilled in her groundwork and was pretty steady throughout. Thrilled to bits!

 

[Fibones]

I have been watching this thread for a while, what a great idea. Love seeing what everyone is doing and planning with their youngsters.

My baby cob recently turned 3. We've been doing ground work and walking inhand in the last few months, as well as working on manners and patience. Usually a couple of times a week if the weather is fine. A lot of time is also just spent chilling or playing with each other. With longer days and warmer weather now I plan to take him out for walks more often and hopefully the beach in summer!

Welcome any tips and advice on what to teach him now. What you reckon a 3yo should know etc...

How long do you have? I have an extensive list!

 

[Fibones]

I have been watching this thread for a while, what a great idea. Love seeing what everyone is doing and planning with their youngsters.

My baby cob recently turned 3. We've been doing ground work and walking inhand in the last few months, as well as working on manners and patience. Usually a couple of times a week if the weather is fine. A lot of time is also just spent chilling or playing with each other. With longer days and warmer weather now I plan to take him out for walks more often and hopefully the beach in summer!

Welcome any tips and advice on what to teach him now. What you reckon a 3yo should know etc...

if you are interested, here's the stages I've done with Sky: https://sites.google.com/view/equipartners-co-uk/building-a-horse

 

[Ambers Echo]

Yay I can join this thread too now. My new 3 year old has been introduced elsewhere on the forum already, but this will be a good place to keep track of progress. I read this thread years ago, following the original generation, then forgot about it. But I have read back so 'know' the current crop of babies starting Big School. Looking forward to following everyone's progress

I'm another working with Joe Midgley with a 'skills to have before I get on' list. And on the same yard as Fibones - so we probably have a similar list! (Not sure she knows that I am on here! I don't really talk ahbout HHO in real life). And also focusing on the quality of the work at each step.

She was home-bred and I bought her direct from the breeder. Before I got her she had been led to and from the field, had her feet done, been brushed and fussed, but had no formal training at all. But was mannerly and unafraid. Perfect!

She arrived last Thursday. She was given a day on the field and was introduced to the tools on Day 2, along with lateral and vertical flexions, plus leading without moving ahead or pkanting, which she was not great at.

Step was introducing her to the kit, and ensuring she was happy with being touched all over by me, and then by ropes and the flag. She was unsure at first but soon relaxed so that was just 10-15 minutes 'work' then back to the field.

Session 1 Video

Since then she has had the farrier and dentist and was good as gold for both. No wolf teeth - hurrah. And we have done 3 more groundwork sessions. At first she worked out what was being asked quite quickly but quality was not there- it was tense, rushed, braced and movements were a bit erratic.

She can also be very distractible - understandably as she was home-bred and has never been anywhere new before. New horses, new home, new owner. But she comes back to me, and even looks to me for comfort sometimes. Her go to when worried is to keep moving her feet, so doing things with her is easier than 'parking' her. So every session has involved a fair amount of moving her around a) to help her feel safer, b) to get her attention on me, mixed with lots of 'parking' to teach her that a lot of times she does not need to DO anything. She can just chill, have a fuss, and wait for further instructions.

Vertical flexion and back up is often braced. She has a tendency to fix her jaw and push her nose into pressure, then tosses her head and tries all manner of evasions before finally softening to it. So that is a habit we need to undo.

When she is calm and listening she actually does all the 'things' on my list that I want her to do reasonably nicely. Calm, controlled steps, soft and loose back up, no bracing. Even some synchronicity as she steps across as I step. Which is surprising as she very definitely has not done any of this stuff. However, when she is a bit worried or distracted it all evaporates. So I need it much more consistent before we move on.

She's an absoute sweetheart.

 

[dapple_grey]

Little update on my girl. I took her to an indoor arena for her first ridden outing and she didn't put a foot wrong. She's been here a couple of times for some groundwork but to be honest, she seems at home wherever I take her! She had her first little trot under saddle too. Loaded up and travelled perfectly. I was on my own as well, as I struggle to get consistent help on the ground but she's just so easy to deal with.

She's off on her holidays now as she's having a huge growth spurt. My physio came out yesterday and couldn't believe how bum high she is. She's quite tired and a bit lacklustre so obviously a lot of energy being put into growing. She's only 15.3 in front but judging by the back end she'll end up quite a bit bigger. If she needs the whole winter off, that's fine. I'm very fortunate to be at a yard where she can live out in a herd 24/7 all year round. She'd only ever lived in a field until June this year when I bought her, so it's what she's used to and suits us both

 

[Ambers Echo]

Well done! Sounds like a really positive update. She looks very chilled. x

 

[dapple_grey]

Well done! Sounds like a really positive update. She looks very chilled. x

Thank you I'd be lying if I said I wasn't waiting to see what the catch is, as I didn't pay much for her either! She did have a few sarcoids of which 6 out of 7 have now gone. If that's her 'thing', I'll take that as long as we can stay sound

Your girl looks smashing, I love her flashy white points. Looking forward to following your progress x

 

[Ambers Echo]

No need to assume a 'catch'. I tend to think the horse's basic temperament at 3/4 is maintained when the horse is an adult. At least that has been my experience of them. Unless someone comes along and screws them up! Which of course is not going to happen here

Sarcoids probably significantly dropped the price as so many people won't touch then. Myka was chepaer too as she has a sarcoid.

 

[Ambers Echo]

I took some video for Joe today. Now anxiously awaiting his verdict! x

 

[dorsetladette]

Rode little Robin for 20mins today. Working on square halts, walk trot transitions more of the aid and some bending/steering work. I've got tyres (for bending) and poles on the ground to help me give our short sessions some structure.
Robin isn't a fan of being ridden at home. He loves hacking and is pretty fearless now we are passed the bike issues.

 

[Ambers Echo]

Yesterday Myka was reluctant to leave her field buddy and come in for a session. She planted, then when I encouraged her forward she reared and tried to pull away. A few seconds later she tried again but more half-heartedly, then she tried to jump sideways and get away that way. After that she walked in nicely and once in the arena, seemed to accept the separation and was focused and did some nice work.

Chatted to Joe about the video of the work and the separation issues as I was concerned about her getting too attached. There are several horses on the yard with severe separation anxiety and it's a total PITA! But Joe said you can't really stop horses bonding strongly. The key is having a strong enough foundation that they are happy to separate, even from a horse they are very attached to. And a baby horse will always express opinions so not to really worry about it, unless it becomes unsafe, or does not improve, even if the 'work' is improving.

Today she walked right over to me straight away and walked out out of the field with zero issues. So that's reassuring. Not saying she will never have a tantrum about it ever again - but it's reassuring that today was the best response from her yet to work. And the tweaks Joe gave re my handling were super helpful, to improve the quality of the work.

Learning the flag is not scary! She was waving it around in the air. But that was not captured though you can sort of see it.

 

[Hackback]

Still enjoying the challenges AJ throws at me. Last one was the head shaking, which Joe sorted at my next lesson. He hopped on for a feel and then diagnosed the problem was me (surprise) having too firm a contact on his mouth. Joe demonstrated by riding him around on a loose rein, in a perfect shape, with the lightest contact. All about the connection, not the contact apparently.

So my homework has been trying to emulate that style of riding. My latest instructor (before AJ) had me taking a firmer contact if my older horse wasn't working properly - all the time, firmer and firmer contact and pushing him into the bridle. She's an excellent rider herself but I could never make my horse go well like that, so I was obviously missing something.

Also chatted to my physio about it and she got really passionate (as in woah, I'll just take a step backwards kind of passionate). She said she sees so many people taught like I was, pulling in and pushing on at the same time. She also said all about the connection, not contact.

And what she said that I found really interesting was that once you've got the connection the horse will start 'reading' you. I told her about AJ doing transitions before I'd actually asked for them, and she said yes, that was him reading me and knowing what I was going to ask for. She said people tend to get cross and call it anticipation but actually you should never correct the horse when it's responding to you like that. It's not magic, he's just very aware of my breathing, subtle changes in position etc.

God I'm learning a lot from this journey.

Oh and latest trick that AJ has developed in times of stress now that he doesn't shake his head any more, is to hump. So far never escalated into a full on buck but it does worry me a little bit because, as Joe says, he quickly 'spirals' so I have to work hard at calming him down before he does. Hardest thing when you don't feel calm yourself lol. If it was the older horse I wouldn't worry because I'd know it wouldn't get any worse, but I don't know AJ that well yet.

Anyway we're doing another little dressage comp tomorrow. We've done one before but it was quiet and there was no-one else in the warm up with us. Tomorrow is a busier venue so I think it will be a tad more exciting. On past experience it will be 10 minutes of stress before he settles, I just hope we don't cause any issues in that 10 minutes. The actual test doesn't worry me a bit, if we just get in the arena and trot about a bit it will be a win!

 

[Ahrena]

Sounds like a whole lot of progress going on here!

I like that @Ambers Echo re young horses expressing opinions. After having a very tricky horse in my teens who we could never ‘fix’ I am inclined to panic when things go wrong and assume it will always go wrong.

Baby barrel is going to a jumping clinic tomorrow. I’d only jumped her a few times so last week I thought we better up the ante slightly and gave her her first fillers and a little spread. She seems to have the idea, I hardly
had to do a thing. Still, tomorrow might be exciting.

She’s been rather giddy out hacking this week, the temperature dropped yesterday and boy, did I know about it. But was glad to realise my confidence is now at a point where I can laugh at her when she has a buck and a play instead of getting off!

 

[Ambers Echo]

Yes I can get very over-invested in things going ‘well’ and get stressed when things go ‘wrong’. But progress with babies is not linear and I’m trying very hard to think in terms of feedback instead of good/bad, right/wrong. As in: unwanted behaviour shows me where gaps are, or teaches me something new about her, or indicates an emotional or physical issue I need to address. So it’s all progress - just sometimes it’s foundation building progress. Of relationship progress. Or tweaking management progress. Or even ‘getting better at rehab’ progress. (Lottie gave me a lot of practice that area ).

 

[Michen]

Doing absolutely nothing with my 3 year old, he is busy making snow angels. I did some in hand walking when I first got him and ticked the happy to leave the herd, ok with traffic, polite to walk boxes.

I have no idea what I’ll do for a saddle for him when I do back him, might have to be a bareback pad job!

He can have the winter to eat, play and grow and will do stuff properly when he turns four and has matured a bit.

 

[GreyDot]

That's a lot of snow!!!!

 

[Ahrena]

Well Nutmeg is firmly on the naughty step after throwing too many shapes in her group lesson at a clinic yesterday. We were asked to leave and return later for a private session.

I’m very frustrated to say I chickened out and got the trainer to ride her. She wasn’t actually too bad, still quite reactive and a fair few bounces, bucks and leaps but I saw the benefits of getting her going forwards and no rearing which is the main thing. Just frustrated with myself and my confidence and thoroughly not looking forward to the warm up at dressage next weekend!!

 

[Hackback]

Oh dear, I'm glad it's not just me has a horse that struggles in company. We were lucky at dressage yesterday that there was only one horse at a time in the warm up with us or I might have been leaving on foot before we got any further. I was telling a friend about it yesterday and she's offered to do an arena hire share with me so I can practice working him around another horse.

On the plus side we did cope in the warm up, just, and got through the test ok, although on reflection I think i may have allowed too much time for warm up as he was quite overwrought by the time we went in for the test and couldn't settle. Either that or I should have allowed another hour or so!

They are just babies aren't they? I think that one day we'll look back (with rose tinted spectacles of course) and be sad that this phase is over. I'll certainly never be doing this again.

 

[Fibones]

I think we do ask an awful lot of horses really don’t we? They are herd and prey animals who get comfort and confidence from their friends, and if their friends aren’t there then their species, and we ask them to leave, be with us and do stuff that we want them to do and they perhaps really don’t see why they should, especially if their nervous system kicks into stress mode.
I’ve been thinking about this alot recently. I took my youngster out for her longest solo in hand walk this morning. Away from her safe place and herd mates. She was a bit spooky, had one large ‘opinion’ at one point - we got home in one piece but it wasn’t as calm as I’d like. I needed the months of groundwork to trust I could manage any episodes or panics she had. And we’ll build on this as each time and I think she’ll get more confident. I want her to be able to go out solo under saddle eventually.

Is anyone else hand walking their youngsters solo to establish solo hacking confidence? My goal is 100 miles in hand before she’s 4. Sometimes I think I might be nuts! But according to Steve halfpenny, and Australian trainer, its a game changer.