Backing 3/4yr olds

millitiger said:
Good school report from big ginger and some videos of him working.
I have no idea how to get videos on here but grabbed some screenshots, I just love his natural balance and way of going.
I miss him a lot- I went to see him on the weekend and had a little cry when I left 🙈
I can't wait to have him home and be plodding around the village on my big ginger.

View attachment 161509View attachment 161510View attachment 161511
Click to expand...

wow, hes gorgeous. He looks just like my giant ginge, best find a photo for comparison
Here you go
 

Attachments

  • 44ae4fdf-04b6-4b55-93bd-08b03c5301d0.jpeg
    44ae4fdf-04b6-4b55-93bd-08b03c5301d0.jpeg
    123.3 KB · Views: 40
I got on my pony!!

We still don't have a saddle, so roller and polypad it was but I got on and had a little walk around the stable.

The only reaction was whickering when I was doing it, he is very chatty and whickers all of the time when he's having any attention.

No photos as a bit unplanned but will get some soon for my memory bucket.

Off to see giant ginger at school again now and see how he is doing.
 
Looking forward to some more big ginger horse pics, he is lovely.

I took the little 4 year old out for a hack today, was hoping to sort out some horsey company, but been trying for the last week without much success, so i grabbed a foot soldier and manned up. Foot perfect pony, and left the foot soldier behind on the way back! Happy ears.

20250615_122325(1).jpg
 
Lots of lovely updates to catch up on, well done all the babies!

My 'few days off' for Willow turned into an entire week due to work taking over my life.... so we backtracked a couple of days, went for a first mini hack and today hit second gear under saddle. I think thats ride 5 or 6 now 🤔 She's been epic, tries really hard and I just love her attitude to everything. We'll do something tomorrow night, and then I'm in London until Friday so she's going in a new paddock to enjoy lots of grass until I get back. Saddler booked for the following week, so hopefully we'll be out of the backing saddle and into something proper 🤞
 
Giant ginger is getting on well at school and they're going to start leaning on him etc. this week.

He hasn't been completely straightforward, as I expected, so he's had lots of quiet repetition to make sure he has time to process and trust the guys there.
He has been very accepting 80% of the time and they're not phased by the other 20%, it just means he isn't the easiest horse they've ever had to back.

I left happy that he was happy and he's in understanding and experienced hands there.

I am pleased I am not backing him at home, with my 72yro inexperienced mum on the floor, so £££ well spent to have sent him away and definitely the right decision.

Still looking forward to having him home but I do have my pony to keep me busy here and remind me what the young ones are like, before giant ginger returns 🙂
 
2 updates from us . Firstly Amara , she went to her first mini farm ride yesterday . Loaded onto the trailer super ( she’s never been on one before ) and travelled brilliantly. Went around the ride without a care in the world . Had her first canter away from home too . All very boring , which is great . I am genuinely amazed at how she just takes everything in her stride .


Then her younger brother did great at the yard and is now home . They did a lovely video of him for me . So he’s now home having a break. Will do the next stage sometime next year .

I was planning on doing some inhand shows with him , but unfortunately something went a bit wrong at the yard and he was bitten all over by another horse . I can’t show him with chunks missing !
 
Lunged the 4yo this morning who went away for the winter. She promptly told me she had no idea how to do this (not true!). Cue lots of denial that she knew any voice commands at all or had any idea how to go round in a circle 🙄. Then five minutes later she decided she did, in fact, remember just fine and off we went 🤣!

Ponies!!
 
Asha said:
2 updates from us . Firstly Amara , she went to her first mini farm ride yesterday . Loaded onto the trailer super ( she’s never been on one before ) and travelled brilliantly. Went around the ride without a care in the world . Had her first canter away from home too . All very boring , which is great . I am genuinely amazed at how she just takes everything in her stride .


Then her younger brother did great at the yard and is now home . They did a lovely video of him for me . So he’s now home having a break. Will do the next stage sometime next year .

I was planning on doing some inhand shows with him , but unfortunately something went a bit wrong at the yard and he was bitten all over by another horse . I can’t show him with chunks missing !
Click to expand...
What lovely elastic action they both have and she looks to have a super front under saddle.
 
It occurred to me this evening that my little small pony 4 year olds are having a totally different journey to the horses on this thread! The destiny of a small child’s pony…

They are learning mostly to be calm around small children (even if they crawl under them unexpectedly or stick their heads under their tummies), to hold their hooves ever so still while tiny people take an age to pick them out (hugging them while they do so), to take a treat from a teeny weeny hand gently while leaving fingers intact, even when the child puts those fingers in the pony’s mouth with the carrot, along with learning not to squash little ones accidentally by shifting weight when small person has stuck their foot under yours… Under saddle they are learning how to position themselves at a moment’s notice to catch a wobble; to stop if needed to let a mother catch their over eager toddler who is tipping off the side; to give that gentle jog-trot that doesn’t unseat the beginner and judge when they can up the speed as the child improves. One of them found that stage tricky and I have had to borrow any and every small child I can to give her enough experience that she can work out what to do.

Last year they learned how to be a ridden pony for a confident child. This year is a whole new world!
 
CanteringCarrot said:
I am somewhat envious of all of you and your perfect ventures. I've been off of this thread because while I was excited to finally be able to be on it, but things have not been easy and/or straight forward. Happy to see people having good times out there with their youngsters though!
Click to expand...
It took a year to do one of ours, to the point where she became a local celebrity. When we finally made it on and out hacking people stopped us to congratulate us - they’d all watched me walk her down day after day for hours in the field as they drove past and long rein her for months! I think a few saw her evict us while we were figuring out her rein terrors and there was the carrying the teddy stage too.

Some are easy. Some take forever and just as you feel you are out of your depth and going to give up the breakthrough comes.

Good luck, keep going!
 
@CanteringCarrot , I felt like a failure for sending my giant ginger away. I've always done my own and I didn't want to admit to anyone (even on here) that i thought he'd do better elsewhere for this stage.

Some are certainly easier than others but I think even the easy ones have spells where it isn't working out.

It's hard to stay positive sometimes with youngsters as it can feel slow and repetitive and 2 steps forward and 1 step back and not always a clear path of progression.
I find especially if you don't have anything else to ride, it can really sap your confidence in your riding ability.

I'm sure if you posted you'd only get support but also understand if you stay just reading the thread but please don't feel alone!
 
CanteringCarrot said:
I am somewhat envious of all of you and your perfect ventures. I've been off of this thread because while I was excited to finally be able to be on it, but things have not been easy and/or straight forward. Happy to see people having good times out there with their youngsters though!
Click to expand...

I know how you feel. I think that people tend not to post the not so great things. However reading about others successes motivates me to a degree.

My cob is not even under saddle yet and it certainly hasn't been straight forward. Just this week he yanked the rope from my hands whilst leading, booted me on the thigh and took off, although he didn't go far. It wasn't a hard one but it still left a bruise, and it was a wake up call for me. After getting over the shock I caught up with him and continued our walk.
I spent that night analysing it over and over. I don't blame him, it was my fault as I realised I was allowing him to do pretty much whatever he wants a lot of the time. E.g. Snatch grass, getting ahead of me, pushing on me etc...

I've spent the last two days working on leading etiquette. Make sure he's focused on me and responding to my asks. He knows the stuff it's just that I was being slack. Totally different horse tonight and much more pleasant to lead.
 
Last edited:
I was definitely guilty of only posting the parts of breaking-in that made me look competent and my horse look like a princess. We had many moments of none of the above, and I kept quiet.

And you know what, I really appreciated people like Amber's Echo actually having the balls to post about the sh1t, not just the good bits. I am obviously way more insecure than she is and did not do that. But when someone does, it makes you feel like you're not alone/not an idiot. But I guess the scary part of writing on the forum is that someone might in fact tell you that you're an idiot, and you might curl into a ball and cry. Alternatively, they might offer support. And someone else reading the thread will think, 'Thank god, it's not just me who doesn't have a perfect youngster.' Which is probably everyone, but some of us just do a lot of post-curating.
 
Aspen was 3 on Monday, he suddenly filled out and is looking like a proper horse now. He's come up with a few white spots so it will be interesting to see if they stay. As he looks so good now, he may well come in this autumn and get used to tack etc before going back out until he's properly started next year. The poor stallion didn't get a look in, he's fully his mothers son, apart from being orange :D
3 year old.jpg
 
Giant ginger is sat on!
It has taken nearly 2 weeks, since they started leaning on him, to be sat on and upright so definitely not straight forward.

Hopefully another 2-3 weeks and he can come home but depends how he goes with riding on.

Going to see him early next week so will be interesting to see what progress he makes in the next week.
 
A little tootle on my boy this weekend. Feels like a proper horse now at 3yrs and 10 months. He knows what each leg on means but not both at the same time, lateral flexion is decent but he was lacking focus at times. Such a good calm boy. Got a friend to take a pic for once!

He will be off to the trainers in just 2 months! 😲

IMG_20250629_174525_482.jpg
 
First little show for my two small 4 year olds. A trot over some tiny poles with a tiny tot rider for one (couldn’t have asked for better behaviour there!) and some cross poles for the other. One wheeeeee moment then realised the rider had lost her balance, caught her and didn’t try that again.

Very pleased with both ponies!
 
cosmic389 said:
A little tootle on my boy this weekend. Feels like a proper horse now at 3yrs and 10 months. He knows what each leg on means but not both at the same time, lateral flexion is decent but he was lacking focus at times. Such a good calm boy. Got a friend to take a pic for once!

He will be off to the trainers in just 2 months! 😲

View attachment 162504
Click to expand...

What a cutie!!
 
Caol Ila said:
I was definitely guilty of only posting the parts of breaking-in that made me look competent and my horse look like a princess. We had many moments of none of the above, and I kept quiet.

And you know what, I really appreciated people like Amber's Echo actually having the balls to post about the sh1t, not just the good bits. I am obviously way more insecure than she is and did not do that. But when someone does, it makes you feel like you're not alone/not an idiot. But I guess the scary part of writing on the forum is that someone might in fact tell you that you're an idiot, and you might curl into a ball and cry. Alternatively, they might offer support. And someone else reading the thread will think, 'Thank god, it's not just me who doesn't have a perfect youngster.' Which is probably everyone, but some of us just do a lot of post-curating.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Glad it helps to hear the trials and traumas!! I do get why people edit out the sh1t, but it does give the impression that everything is going swimmingly all the time when that is very unlikely. I like following accounts that are a bit more real. The E’s and the falls and the doubts, not just the milestones. That said, I do step away sometimes - especially when I feel I need to make decisions and too much advice is confusing/anxiety provoking, and I decide to just listen to trusted people IRL instead.

On the sh1t note the new saddle I bought is not fit for purpose and needs binning. Previous Saddle fitter is at least refunding in full. And I’ve got a new buying/fitting date late July. So I’m going to do a few weeks of ground work/in hand hacking. She’s had a busy few months. A break from going places and being ridden won’t go her any harm.
 
I'm glad that you're getting a refund in full from the fitter. I've never had luck getting anything back and have since learned to trust myself more. If I don't think it's right, it probably isn't!

We just got a new to us saddle yesterday. I'm tired and out saddle saga has cost me well into low five figures. My 4 year old was backed last June and has had 4 saddles.

I don't know how some fitters stay in business when they clearly have not mastered their trade. Some don't even return calls/messages or show up. Now, this is probably a regional thing with where I live, but still!

I want to get a secondhand trail saddle or maybe an AP/Jump saddle for longer hacks, but I've already got a headache.

It sucks being let down by professionals, but that seems to be more of the norm than the rarity in the horse world. It makes me quite upset when you're trying to do right by the horse/have good welfare practices.
 
After a great trip out the other week things went a little pear shaped. The day after the hack Amara came in on 3 legs. Queue me panicking and calling out the vet, turns out she had bruised her sole. I poulticed and next day a nice pink sole. A few days rest and bute and she was fine. but ive given her some extra time off just in case. Which she has thoroughly enjoyed, and deserved. I checked back on the CCTV and she was prancing around the field a few hours before she came in, so she must have stood on something in the field.
Shes only shod in front, so will pop some shoes on behind tomorrow and hopefully crack on later this week.

Ref saddle issues, ive used synergy equipe for my youngsters. They are very light, and can be altered 1 size up or down. Plus, my saddle fitter tells me theres not much in them so they tend not to pinch much. So we just pad up or down. But think its time we got Amaras looked at.
 
I'm sick of sitting giant spooks.

I know that my horse is 4, but we just can't have a relaxing time (sometimes). We went for a warm up walk in the field yesterday and I very nearly fell off when he did a giant spook at...I don't know what...a pond that we walked by? I didn't see anything but I also don't have eyes on the sides of my head. Granted, we were in a field and he could've bolted, ran back to the yard, bucked, or otherwise left me for dead, and he didn't.

We headed back to the indoor school and he gave me some decent work. We ended on a nice note and I wanted to do a few loose rein cool down laps at the walk. He almost dumped me when someone opened a door (just a regular people door).

I don't want him to be the horse that reacts when any movement is made or to any change in environment, but he's becoming that way, and I don't know why. He's much better away from home, probably because everything is new/different, but at places he goes to repeatedly he seems to grow in confidence vs backslide like he's doing at home.

I was hesitant to post this because I know it's going to be "pain" or "saddle fit" or whatever. I've spent well into (well into!) the 5 figures on saddles, saddle fitters, and all sorts of vet work ups. I am pretty sure my normal vet thinks I'm insane and the vet at the larger hospital thinks it's great that I have unlimited funds 🙄 we've found nothing. I've had second and third opinions.

We've had some good spook free rides, and the saddle fitter thought he was fantastic as we tried a dozen saddles and did some fitting. He was chill and patient during that.

I can bring him somewhere new and just hop on no problem.

He's curious and can be brave, so I don't get it. I don't know if he's bored or what. He's smart so he might be the type I have to ride every step and make sure he's on the aids every step otherwise he wanders. Give him different exercises and challenges. I also don't want to overwork a young horse or micromanage.

This sh*t is exhausting.

I did stumble upon an old post about my previous horse, who could be spooky and insecure (rough start to life), but didn't have as big of a spook as this one (I think, but maybe I blocked out that trauma from the early years). Anyway, in my post I said what helped the most was time. So maybe that's what we need. Time. My OH always just says, "He's four. That's what they do at that age" and maybe he's not wrong. He's horsey and doesn't overthink things.

I've gotten him to be less noise reactive, but I don't know how to get him less reactive to things he sees. Especially out of the corner of his eye. I did have someone pop in and out of doors and whatnot. Eventually he got over it, or bored with it, and didn't bat an eye. Maybe just revisit that? I also might place something random, like an unbrella in different locations of the arena and work on coping with change in environment.

I dunno, you could probably set a bomb off next to this horse and he'd likely startle for a second and then want to investigate. Maybe I need to let him investigate more? He's a curious type.

So many, "Maybe I should" things here. We lesson away from home and my trainer hasn't really seen this side of him, but I'm going to pick her brain. I do have some video of these "events" so I can have her watch and see if she notices anything. I'd like to reward him on a loose rein, but that's usually when his shenanigans occur. Maybe he needs more support and even though he seems and looks chill on the loose rein, he finds it as an insecure space?

Trainers have been so complimentary of him and the start I've given him, but it's hard to remember that when you're almost launched into another post code.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top