Backing 3/4yr olds

[TheHairyOne]

My big baby has done his first show after 7 weeks under saddle and was pretty much foot perfect. Went off to do a low key w/t and prelim test with the yard he is at rider (and some friends).

He only went for the experience as his work is no where near show ready, but this was all about attitude which was nearly faultless. He left his friend happily, was left by his friend happily, gave the tests a good go and was listening. Most of all was realy happy and curious, not overfaced and anxious. Perfect.

Pic of his very first centre line (with the riders head removed as its not me) with him looking oh so smart.

 

[millitiger]

Just a thought but would Joe do a remote lesson for you?
Not sure if possible or he needs to be more hands on but just a few pointers might make the month between 'real' lessons seem less long.

 

[TheMule]

My big baby has done his first show after 7 weeks under saddle and was pretty much foot perfect. Went off to do a low key w/t and prelim test with the yard he is at rider (and some friends).

He only went for the experience as his work is no where near show ready, but this was all about attitude which was nearly faultless. He left his friend happily, was left by his friend happily, gave the tests a good go and was listening. Most of all was realy happy and curious, not overfaced and anxious. Perfect.

Pic of his very first centre line (with the riders head removed as its not me) with him looking oh so smart.

View attachment 160506

What a cutie! Bodes very well for the future too if he took it all in his stride

 

[SEL]

What a cutie! Bodes very well for the future too if he took it all in his stride

Absolutely this - my first dressage test had some moves really not required at Intro!

 

[Asha]

My big baby has done his first show after 7 weeks under saddle and was pretty much foot perfect. Went off to do a low key w/t and prelim test with the yard he is at rider (and some friends).

He only went for the experience as his work is no where near show ready, but this was all about attitude which was nearly faultless. He left his friend happily, was left by his friend happily, gave the tests a good go and was listening. Most of all was realy happy and curious, not overfaced and anxious. Perfect.

Pic of his very first centre line (with the riders head removed as its not me) with him looking oh so smart.

View attachment 160506

Fabulous, well done

 

[LEC]

Saddle day today in the backing of 3yo Eris. I need to get her mother's Equipe saddle back as she isn't an amerigo horse. She is being pretty straightforward. Today was two line throwing about all over her and correct positioning at mounting blocks.

 

[alsxx]

After lots of dangling arms over and putting a little weight in the stirrup, hopping up, down and around... today I had a first proper lean over Willow. Took it all in her stride and no fuss

 

[TheMule]

After lots of dangling arms over and putting a little wright in the stirrup, hopping up, down and around... today I had a first proper lean over Willow. Took it all in her stride and no fuss

Well done- nerve wracking, isn’t it?!

I've sat on my little mule a few times now- just waiting for a helper so I can start moving round a bit. Enya is happy with full leaning but I wont get on her for a bit longer as she has been slightly more reactive about other things so need it to be absolutely fine.

 

[alsxx]

Well done- nerve wracking, isn’t it?!

Haha is a bit!

I definitely need a bigger step, my little one just isn't man enough for her size

 

[TheMule]

Managed to wrangle some help again today and got on both babies then did a few tiny laps of the small pen. They were both very good. Enya is working really well on the long reins and I have started to teach the mule about ride and lead, though he is not altogether that convinced about the idea!
They will repeat this process a handful more times in the next week or so and then get turned away again for 6 weeks

 

[TheHairyOne]

How big is your mule?! I want one.

 

[Marigold4]

Managed to wrangle some help again today and got on both babies then did a few tiny laps of the small pen. They were both very good. Enya is working really well on the long reins and I have started to teach the mule about ride and lead, though he is not altogether that convinced about the idea!
They will repeat this process a handful more times in the next week or so and then get turned away again for 6 weeks

View attachment 160684
View attachment 160685

Lovely photos. They both look pretty happy and soft-eyed with what's going on. Enya is beautiful!

 

[Asha]

Fabulous photos TM.
Enya must have so much trust in you. What a great job you’re doing with them both .

 

[TheMule]

How big is your mule?! I want one.

He's about 14.2, hopefully he will grow a little more in his body, I think he just needs to lengthen and fill out a bit He is a totally adorable little character, I can fully recommend mule ownership!

 

[TheMule]

Lovely photos. They both look pretty happy and soft-eyed with what's going on. Enya is beautiful!

Thank you! I wasn’t sure I'd even get on Enya this year because she has been sharp, but it seems that once she's ok with something she's totally ok with it, rather than always needing to re-start and work through the basics each time

 

[ycbm]

Thank you! I wasn’t sure I'd even get on Enya this year because she has been sharp, but it seems that once she's ok with something she's totally ok with it, rather than always needing to re-start and work through the basics each time

You'd pay a good premium to get hold of one guaranteed to be like that, wouldn't you? Never mind what an attractive girl she is.
.

 

[TheMule]

Fabulous photos TM.
Enya must have so much trust in you. What a great job you’re doing with them both .

Thank you!
I am in awe of Enya's ease with things on her blind side, horses are remarkable

 

[TheMule]

You'd pay a good premium to get hold of one guaranteed to be like that, wouldn't you? Never mind what an attractive girl she is.
.

Thank you! I purpose bred her from lines I know very well and her reactions have been exactly what I would expect. I'm sure we will have a few dramas along the way (and she has already cost me a small fortune in vet fees), but I think she will be worth it

 

[dorsetladette]

Reggie showed us a few moves I wasn't expecting yesterday. Luckily on the lunge. I gave him the benefit of the doubt as I had bought him a new poly pad and used it for the first time yesterday. So I took saddle and pad off and tried again. Worked nicely for a while then we got shapes again. Mostly when he expected to finish and I pushed him on into trot from walk rather than standing. A couple of bucks were aimed in my direction which got a good telling off and had to work even harder. We ended the saddleless lunging with lowering of the head and licking and chewing. Then popped the saddle back on with the old poly pad and lunged a little more. We threw some more shapes but I was sure there was nothing wrong this time so pushed him on threw it. Once he realised he wasn't getting away with the behaviour he settled and did some nice transitions from the voice. I did lots of desensitising, banging the saddle and stirrup leather etc, turned a few tight circles and then popped on board (was a little nerve racking) a few stop/go transitions with a person on the ground and hopped off before anything went wrong.

It was very windy yesterday and I moved them home to their original field on Saturday so I'm hoping our next session will be less dramatic.

 

[Marigold4]

Reggie showed us a few moves I wasn't expecting yesterday. Luckily on the lunge. I gave him the benefit of the doubt as I had bought him a new poly pad and used it for the first time yesterday. So I took saddle and pad off and tried again. Worked nicely for a while then we got shapes again. Mostly when he expected to finish and I pushed him on into trot from walk rather than standing. A couple of bucks were aimed in my direction which got a good telling off and had to work even harder. We ended the saddleless lunging with lowering of the head and licking and chewing. Then popped the saddle back on with the old poly pad and lunged a little more. We threw some more shapes but I was sure there was nothing wrong this time so pushed him on threw it. Once he realised he wasn't getting away with the behaviour he settled and did some nice transitions from the voice. I did lots of desensitising, banging the saddle and stirrup leather etc, turned a few tight circles and then popped on board (was a little nerve racking) a few stop/go transitions with a person on the ground and hopped off before anything went wrong.

It was very windy yesterday and I moved them home to their original field on Saturday so I'm hoping our next session will be less dramatic.

They all try it on at some point. He'll have learnt a lot from yesterday and having to work through it. Good to persevere rather than backing off. I bet he's as good as gold next session.

 

[maya2008]

I had a rising 4yo spook today - half lose her rider, stop dead and attempt to push the child back on with her nose ! So cute!

 

[Asha]

Pretty chuffed with how Amara is doing at the moment . She’s hacking out brilliantly . Not phased by traffic , went through her first puddle and was weirdly confused about a dog on a lead
The best bit is her rider now feels comfortable to hack her on a long rein .
Her handbrake has finally gone , and she’s striding out a treat . Even had some nicely forward trots .
I’m curbing my enthusiasm to get on her . I want many more miles on the clock first . But , I do believe it will happen . It’s pretty exciting really

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Myka’s handbrake is very much on! But I’ve started long reining snd once that feels solid in the arena I’ll take get out which should help.

@maya2008 I gave carried on treat training re the saddle and it is really helping. So thank you! I’ve carried on with pressure release but added in a treat too if she stays calm for a step. Eg lift saddle towards back - she moves- I hold it there till she stops moving - I lower it. Repeat till she does not move then both remove and treat. Repeat a few times: lift-still-remove and treat. Then step 2 - lift saddle onto back - if she moves or flinches hold it there till she’s still. Remove but no treat. Repeat till no reaction. Remove and treat. The negative Sr was really not moving things on but the combo of -ve plus +ve Sr together seems to have shifted things significantly. She has figured it out very quickly. So today there was no movement away or flinching at any step and an expectant ‘I’m being still mum where’s my treat’ face at each step. But no mugging. Super happy!

 

[alsxx]

It's been a nice calm week of quietly sitting on in the stable, couple of days rest here and there and today was time to do it up in the arena. Poor husband has been on holding duty

Spent 10 minutes or so doing a bit of ground work first, keeping the energy low. Then a quick lie across and then up and sat on. We did a couple of circuits around on the lead, practicing halting and walking forwards again off my voice while starting to introduce soft aids too. Willow was super, really listening and really calm about the whole thing. Just as well really, as the red arrows did a low fly past along the next valley which were rather noisy! Nice view of them skimming along the top of the ridge.... but not quite what I'd planned for my first ride on the 4 year old!!! Luckily she didn't bat an eye lid; we get a lot of RAF planes flying over us so she's used to the noise!

No photos as I'm simply far too unorganised

 

[millitiger]

Big orange one dropped at school, welp

Travelled really well and unloaded the other end without a hair out of place or a drop of sweat.
Not bad for a horse who has travelled once before as a yearling!

Settled right into the stable and chatting to his neighbour and his pile of hay.
I'm really happy with the yard. I went and looked at a few and this one gave me the best gut feeling.

Sad I can't do him at home but it isn't sensible to back an athletic 18hh horse without a ground person.
Hopefully he'll be back in a few weeks for some gentle hacking over summer.

In the meantime I have 15hh Welsh pony to crack on with, I'm quite happy to back him home alone.

 

[maya2008]

Myka’s handbrake is very much on! But I’ve started long reining snd once that feels solid in the arena I’ll take get out which should help.

@maya2008 I gave carried on treat training re the saddle and it is really helping. So thank you! I’ve carried on with pressure release but added in a treat too if she stays calm for a step. Eg lift saddle towards back - she moves- I hold it there till she stops moving - I lower it. Repeat till she does not move then both remove and treat. Repeat a few times: lift-still-remove and treat. Then step 2 - lift saddle onto back - if she moves or flinches hold it there till she’s still. Remove but no treat. Repeat till no reaction. Remove and treat. The negative Sr was really not moving things on but the combo of -ve plus +ve Sr together seems to have shifted things significantly. She has figured it out very quickly. So today there was no movement away or flinching at any step and an expectant ‘I’m being still mum where’s my treat’ face at each step. But no mugging. Super happy!

That’s great news! She is beginning to see the saddle as something positive! Once they are super happy I begin to extend the time between the treats. So each step becomes longer as it were until in the end the treat just happens at the end of the process. I keep that last step treat for a few months if they had real issues, then taper it off too.

Once you are super confident using it with the saddle (and she is super happy with the saddle) it is also possible to use the same idea to improve mounting issues. I do it with two people but some of it could probably be done alone. Same idea. Turn something ‘scary’ into something positive and filled with joyful expectation.

 

[TheMule]

It's been a nice calm week of quietly sitting on in the stable, couple of days rest here and there and today was time to do it up in the arena. Poor husband has been on holding duty

Spent 10 minutes or so doing a bit of ground work first, keeping the energy low. Then a quick lie across and then up and sat on. We did a couple of circuits around on the lead, practicing halting and walking forwards again off my voice while starting to introduce soft aids too. Willow was super, really listening and really calm about the whole thing. Just as well really, as the red arrows did a low fly past along the next valley which were rather noisy! Nice view of them skimming along the top of the ridge.... but not quite what I'd planned for my first ride on the 4 year old!!! Luckily she didn't bat an eye lid; we get a lot of RAF planes flying over us so she's used to the noise!

No photos as I'm simply far too unorganised

Brilliant, well done!

 

[TheMule]

Both babies had their first mini ride on the arena today and were super, so that’s then done now for 6 weeks or so. Couldn’t be more pleased with the start they have made, you like to think that you will have raised them to accept these new experiences, but you never quite know until you actually get on board.

 

[YourValentine]

Slightly jealous of everyone who's sitting on their youngsters. Currently breaking in the trickiest 4yr old I've ever dealt with.
Hard to tell how much is general attitude vs trauma from past handling. He wasn't abused as such just forcefully handled/shouted into rigid submission.
He is terrified of the most random things, and his first instinct is to run away, but then doesn't blink at new things you'd think would be scary so progress is slow and cautious, because its taking a lot of work to unpick some of his fears and flight instinct.

Will be worth it in the end, but I would like to sit on him now while the weather is nice and do some baby hacks in the sun. At this rate it'll be autumn...

 

[TheMule]

Slightly jealous of everyone who's sitting on their youngsters. Currently breaking in the trickiest 4yr old I've ever dealt with.
Hard to tell how much is general attitude vs trauma from past handling. He wasn't abused as such just forcefully handled/shouted into rigid submission.
He is terrified of the most random things, and his first instinct is to run away, but then doesn't blink at new things you'd think would be scary so progress is slow and cautious, because its taking a lot of work to unpick some of his fears and flight instinct.

Will be worth it in the end, but I would like to sit on him now while the weather is nice and do some baby hacks in the sun. At this rate it'll be autumn...

I've been there, done that, and it was blooming tough! What stage have you got to?