Backing 3/4yr olds

[CanteringCarrot]

I've just realized that 2025 is getting close to wrapping up!

I'd say that we've had a decent year.

We've been out to hacks, clinics, and many lessons. We travel solo and he's been amazing about it all. It's like traveling with a good friend.

Everyone has been so complimentary of him when we're out and about. I repeatedly get comments about him having a good start and being well behaved. Which is nice to hear because I've gone about it alone for the most part. It's hard keeping your own confidence boosted at times, and I've realized that I don't allow myself to be proud of myself or anything that I do, so there's that!

He's been less spooky and reactive, especially at home. I changed my approach about it all, and that helped. He'll always have some level of flare for drama, because that's who he is as a person, but he's also incredibly cool about many things. He's a bit of a clown at times too, which has its pros and cons! I always say that he's here for a good time and not a long time due to his sh*tty hypermobile body (let's stop breeding those).

He's grown on me. He's not my ideal horse, or one I would buy today (bought him as a just turned 1 year old), but he's the horse that I have. I did try to offload him once, but that didn't work out

I've spent around $20k in trying to find the right dressage saddle, but we finally got there in the end. No thanks to incompetent fitters and the average price of a new saddle being $5-7k. I'm sure he'll outgrow it eventually, but I do think ordering a modified model of what we currently have will suffice. There are some aspects to his shape and way of going that I think will remain constant, if that makes sense. I've also learned to trust my gut and knowledge when it comes to saddle fit. Crazy that we ended up with a used (1 year old) $2500 saddle that worked perfectly for us vs the $5k, $6k, or $4k saddles go figure. What some "fitters" are doing out there is nearly criminal, but no recourse here!

With that sorted, we've both felt a lot better. I think that I'm also a bit Princess and The Pea about it all, and I see plenty out there in less than ideal saddles, but I'll never regret doing my best for my horse.

I know that this isn't an airport and that I don't need to announce my departure, but I think that wraps up this thread for me. We're on a good note, and I'm not going to continue onto the 5/6 year old thread. I remember being so anxious to finally get onto this thread when he turned 3, but once I got here, I realized that it wasn't so good for me (it's fine if it's good for others, and I know that it is).

So we'll continue ticking along and do have some big life changes coming soon, so we'll see what that brings. Wishing you all the best with your youngsters!

 

[ihatework]

Bloody hell I have another 3yo to contend with next year. WHERE has the time gone ….

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I swear that some of you keep dispensing 3 year olds like Pez candies couldn't pay me to keep doing this.


But I say that and then every time I buy a horse it's a young horse

 

[YourValentine]

It has only taken about 3 months longer than planned, but sat on my idiot the other day

I think we've reached a point where he is SO bored of me climbing around him, leaning over, waving limbs etc, that me just sitting in the saddle quietly was a welcome relief

We've done some walking about with my lying over the saddle so hopefully moving with me sat on board wont be a big event.

Plan is to keep just quietly getting on and off with no ask other than he stands still, till we're confident he is bored/100% fine with this new game then we'll introduce walking etc.

Fingers crossed we can keep it all calm by doing everything in tiny baby steps. Mud is so much harder to dust off

 

[AppyLover1996]

I'm following this thread with excitement as come next year I'll be able to join with Rabbit my 2.5 year old!

I've not got much planned for his 3 year old year to be fair - I just want him to be 1001% happy wearing tack, long lining, lunge, going out for walks in hand by himself and with others, accept me sitting on his back, learn to walk with a rider and possibly learn to trot with a rider.

So far he's 50% happy with wearing a bridle (he's fine with the bridle going on and off just a bit unsure about the bit at times) and 100% happy with a saddle, saddle cloth, stirrups being down and being girthed up which is good. I've played around with walking behind him, patting him on his bum at the top and around, making slightly random movements and standing on a block too so I'm at a raised height, which has all been met with an amused look from him to say the least! Regarding the saddle I've also worked on the stirrup leathers making a sound against the saddle, and having the stirrups gently touching his sides whilst he is walking and trotting in hand and again he's pretty zen about it all.

I won't touch canter with a rider until he is at least 4 as he will need to be as balanced and well muscled as I can get him. He is currently 15.3 ish and still having the odd growth spurt so I will certainly be taking my time with him. But I will teach him to canter on the lunge line for really short spurts so that he knows the voice command for it.

I'll be taking things really slowly with him, as he is my next riding horse and I'm producing him for myself only. I've really enjoyed the whole experience since getting him and worked hard on getting him happy with various things, so I'd rather play it safe and do baby steps rather than ruin our confidence as a partnership. He runs to me if something freaks him out, and if he does get nervous he gently comes to a halt and looks to me for guidance, and I really want him to keep doing that as I want him to have that trust in me.

I'm aiming to do it all myself but have expert guidance on standby in case I feel it's needed x

 

[Asha]

Bloody hell I have another 3yo to contend with next year. WHERE has the time gone ….

Looking forward to hearing about your mare, she is stunning.

We also have one who turns 3 next year, although im not sure im going to be doing anything with him until hes into his 4th year. But time will tell. I did bring him in last night and leant over him in the stable and typical Rocky didnt give a monkeys. As easy as he is, i dont think we will be in for the same plain sailing weve had with Amara. Hes currently 15.3, so hoping he stops at 16.1.

Plan for Amara now is one clinic in an indoor, then one intro test. Which we should have done by November. Then shes being turned away for a few weeks/ couple of months.

 

[millitiger]

So giant ginger is recovering much better now from his op he did then get kicked in the hock when he was finally allowed to be turned back out with the other boys still hoping to get a few weeks village hacking into him before Christmas, if nothing else goes wrong (!) will aim to get back on in about a fortnight

Pony is on ride 4 since his 2 month holiday and, for the first time, we ventured out of the village and went hacking around the lanes and fields. He was a little unsure, understandably, but really well behaved. A few points he stopped to look at things but I just let him look and go forward again under his own steam and he realised nothing would kill him.

 

[Boulty]

Another little walk today with another different friend.

Today we discovered that the baby pony likes to know where his exits are and that he can access them at all times.

Unfortunately quiet roadwork isn’t really a thing where we are in any direction & to get to our “best” little short loop of bridleway (in that it has a decent, all weather surface on it and is a nice width) involves sort of going over a motorway bridge (it’s got a very wide pavement at that point and a decent height of barrier so it’s not awful compared to some of the OTHER bridges we’ll eventually have to deal with & tbh one side of the track he lives on is considerably closer to the motorway than this so in theory it’s not a totally alien thing)

This is the first time I’ve taken him over that particular bit and unfortunately it coincided with 2 lorries coming past on the actual road a little faster than himself was comfortable with. He wanted to scoot forwards but the other horse was in front (& was already walking slower than baby pony wanted to) soooo we ended up spinning panicky circles because he felt a bit trapped whilst the other horse brought himself alongside to persuade the traffic to give a nice, wide berth.

Did opt to continue once order was restored (with friend alongside rather than in front) as we were about 20m from bridleway entrance and he did chill again once the “obstacle” had been removed from the front of him & didn’t want to put the idea in his head that meltdowns lead to going home (& actually thought getting off the road for a sec was probably the safest option anyway)

Put him in front on the road section on the way back and he seemed happier with that arrangement.

Obviously he’s going to have to learn how to go behind / how to cope with being behind someone who’s naturally slower eventually but perhaps not quite yet.



Example of the problem area from the other side of the road on the way back.




The bridleway where everything was a bit calmer.


Being extremely confused that despite being green the astroturf is not edible (with example of just how close the motorway is in the background)

 

[HaffiesRock]

Betty has had some big firsts this weekend!

I bought a tow vehicle and trailer so she can have more experiences as she has been very sheltered. Friday I loaded her up and we did a 10 minute drive round the block. She was very good but came off the trailer dropping in sweat.

Saturday we trailered 10 minutes to our local country park and met a friend. Betty was so well behaved. Very excited and jogging on the hack (our hacking is terrible and just roads) so really pleased.

Today we’ve trailed 5 minutes to her first little inhand show. She was very tense and excited. There were mirrors all the way round which blew her mind Her trot in the ring was very forward to say the least but she listened and did her best to behave.

Overall I am really pleased with her as I’ve pushed her way out of her comfort zone in many ways.

At what point do they start to become more chilled with going to new places? I wouldn’t have ridden her at the show today, she was like a coiled spring and very tense and never really chilled until
Her classes were over and she had her fleece on.

She is having a few days off now and mught do an arena hire back at the equestrian centre we were at today, purely so she can chill, have a proper look around and ride. They do dressage that I’d like to take her too but would be pointless with his nervous she was today.

 

[millitiger]

@HaffiesRock can you take her to some little arena hires or low key RC clinics first?
Even an arena you can hack to, so they can get used to working in a different environment.
Shows can be excitable anyway and your surroundings are less controlled as there can be skittish horses or riders/handlers not in control.

You can also ride at home before you box up which can help.

I also find 2 warm ups help when first taking them out. First one to check the mood and do some trot/canter to get any fizz out of their toes if needed.
Then back to the box to decompress, I get changed and then we go back to the warm up.

 

[millitiger]

Small pony has exceeded all expectations this weekend.
After yesterday where we left the village for the first time and went down the lanes and around the farmers fields.
Today we went on the smallest “grown up” road loop, which is about 4 miles and big horse does it in about 40minutes.
Small pony was a real star, everything he was unsure of yesterday, he went straight past today. And he managed to get all of the way around, even though it took us just over an hour. I was prepared to get off and lead him up the hill back into the village but he didn’t need it.

What I have had to consider is how much harder it is to balance as a tall person on a small horse! I need my core much more engaged than I usually do and make a conscious effort to not sit forwards too much on him, otherwise I’m worried we will knock heads together.

 

[HaffiesRock]

@HaffiesRock can you take her to some little arena hires or low key RC clinics first?
Even an arena you can hack to, so they can get used to working in a different environment.
Shows can be excitable anyway and your surroundings are less controlled as there can be skittish horses or riders/handlers not in control.

You can also ride at home before you box up which can help.

I also find 2 warm ups help when first taking them out. First one to check the mood and do some trot/canter to get any fizz out of their toes if needed.
Then back to the box to decompress, I get changed and then we go back to the warm up.

I absolutely can! Our hacking is rubbish. All roadwork and nowhere to go. That’s why I bought the trailer. It’s only our first weekend using it.

I can do an arena hire where we were today as it’s close by. Could take another livery with me.

Do you think that could help or hinder? We are mostly going to be going everywhere alone so would like her to get used to that and not rely on a friend but if a friend will help her relax I’m happy to take someone along.

 

[millitiger]

I'd go alone but I do most stuff with my babies alone as that's how life is here!
They need to be able to load, travel and get out the other end and behave like civilised members of society, with just me for company.
I also find they can be clingy if there is one other horse. I don't mind a group setting of a clinic with 2 or 3 others but I find if just one companion they can be a bit hysterical..

Mine all hack alone from day dot as well. My view is they aren't alone, they are with me so it shouldn't be a big deal.

We do all do it differently though so the above isn't the only way!

 

[Shoei]

It has only taken about 3 months longer than planned, but sat on my idiot the other day

I think we've reached a point where he is SO bored of me climbing around him, leaning over, waving limbs etc, that me just sitting in the saddle quietly was a welcome relief

We've done some walking about with my lying over the saddle so hopefully moving with me sat on board wont be a big event.

Plan is to keep just quietly getting on and off with no ask other than he stands still, till we're confident he is bored/100% fine with this new game then we'll introduce walking etc.

Fingers crossed we can keep it all calm by doing everything in tiny baby steps. Mud is so much harder to dust off

This is so good to hear!! Partly for your success and partly because my 4 year old is on week 8 of his second breakers (8 weeks at first which resulted in thee issues) and he's still not got his leg over! Hopefully when I go up this week he will have!

Glad to know it isn't just my boy that found this bit overwhelming!

 

[YourValentine]

This is so good to hear!! Partly for your success and partly because my 4 year old is on week 8 of his second breakers (8 weeks at first which resulted in thee issues) and he's still not got his leg over! Hopefully when I go up this week he will have!

Glad to know it isn't just my boy that found this bit overwhelming!

Fingers crossed it goes well this time for your boy.

Taking extra time and being really patient has paid off. Still by far the trickiest/most reactive horse I've ever broken in. But hopefully weve built much more trust for the next stages.

 

[cosmic389]

Apache is home! He's having a little break as he has to be paddocked separately for a week of quarantine before he can rejoin the herd and be allowed in communal areas.

On the last day at the trainers I rode him out on a trail ride with the ladies at the training facility he was at. He was awesome! He's also looking so good condition wise, still shedding his winter coat but has definitely filled out a lot over the last 8 weeks.

Now the challenge begins... Keeping him ticking along. Won't be to the 5 days per week schedule but I will try to be consistent with regular, short but effective rides.
I'm also planning to take him out on short trips as he still gets a little anxious during travel. Tbf the journey home was 2.5hrs long and through busy city traffic for the last hour. I think he sat on the bum gates a lot coz there was poo smooshed between his tail and bum! I hope short gentle trips will help to teach him to balance properly. And I'll use a gopro so I can see what he's doing. If anyone has tips it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[alsxx]

Hope everyone's babies are all progressing well. I've been meaning to post an update of not much for ages.

Willow went on 'holidays' about a month ago, the plan was to pick her back up again in the spring.

I say was, as yesterday she was on 3 legs in the field. Looks like she has slipped and done something to a ligament or tendon in her off hind, vet happy that there is no bowing and she was able to put full weight on it once a big iv dose of pain relief, but we won't know exactly what she's done until probably next week after scans and x rays (waiting for the swelling to reduce). So I'm currently sat in my kitchen listening to her whinnying and wondering if now is the time I quit horses altogether

 

[BenvardenRach2]

Hope everyone's babies are all progressing well. I've been meaning to post an update of not much for ages.

Willow went on 'holidays' about a month ago, the plan was to pick her back up again in the spring.

I say was, as yesterday she was on 3 legs in the field. Looks like she has slipped and done something to a ligament or tendon in her off hind, vet happy that there is no bowing and she was able to put full weight on it once a big iv dose of pain relief, but we won't know exactly what she's done until probably next week after scans and x rays (waiting for the swelling to reduce). So I'm currently sat in my kitchen listening to her whinnying and wondering if now is the time I quit horses altogether

Oh no, really hope she hasn't done anything silly, sending good luck for the x rays!!

I've had Ru the connie for 4 months now, just looking at comparison pictures from July when i first got him, to today.
We have been hacking 2/3 times a week, a few weeks off, otherwise he has been turned out pretty much 24/7 on good grass to play and grow.
He is still a 4 yo but looking very different! I cant wait to see what he looks like next summer!

What is everyone doing with their youngsters over winter?

 

[millitiger]

Fingers crossed something easy to recover from @alsxx and at least she has the winter to rest.

I know how you feel, I've had a hell of a run with my boys over the last few months. Definitely questioning the financial and emotional toll it takes on me and my life.

Back to the 4yros...
Welsh pony still doing well. I am struggling a little with his contact and can't decide whether to change something or keep going as we are and wait for time to resolve it
He is sensitive to the aids and while he is very easy to hack, I think a lot of the time I am sitting on him rather than riding him, if that makes sense?
He will stop, trot, turn, do little leg yields and shoulder in very easily on hacks
In the arena, he is a bit more difficult to turn, can lose the shoulder very dramatically and likes to travel 1/4s in too.
When I try to adjust him, he tends to double down e.g. trotting on left rein and as we corner, he goes strongly 1/4s in. So I put a little left leg on abd he reacts by his left hind leg almost overtakes us on the inside track
So not sure whether to carry on hacking, assume this will disappear as he gets stronger or to tackle it?

Giant ginger is tentatively coming back into work after his wind op Tack on, some groundwork yesterday and today. Hopefully we'll go for a walk around the block tomorrow.
I have an op booked in December so hoping to just get a month of light hacking in with him before I am off games for 3 months

 

[Asha]

Hope your youngster heals well alsxx
Amara has been off this week due to an abscess . She’s looking better today so I’m hoping to get her going again this week . Then she will get out to another arena hire before attempting her first intro test . Once that’s done she will be turned away until Jan

 

[TheMule]

Hope everyone's babies are all progressing well. I've been meaning to post an update of not much for ages.

Willow went on 'holidays' about a month ago, the plan was to pick her back up again in the spring.

I say was, as yesterday she was on 3 legs in the field. Looks like she has slipped and done something to a ligament or tendon in her off hind, vet happy that there is no bowing and she was able to put full weight on it once a big iv dose of pain relief, but we won't know exactly what she's done until probably next week after scans and x rays (waiting for the swelling to reduce). So I'm currently sat in my kitchen listening to her whinnying and wondering if now is the time I quit horses altogether

Oh goodness, what a shame for her and you. I hope it turns out to be something minor and refovery is smooth- I certainly dont envy you having to box rest a young horse

 

[alsxx]

Oh goodness, what a shame for her and you. I hope it turns out to be something minor and refovery is smooth- I certainly dont envy you having to box rest a young horse

Really hope so. She's moving around pretty well on it today (albeit on bute). Wondering if it's an annular ligament injury, but tbh just guessing right now.

Luckily, I have a barn and I've been ok'd to hand graze her if she's moving ok. So management plan right now is stabled at night and then going in the barn during the day with a friend. Can't bear the thought of a youngster being confined in a box with no company.

 

[YourValentine]

Hope everyone's babies are all progressing well. I've been meaning to post an update of not much for ages.

Willow went on 'holidays' about a month ago, the plan was to pick her back up again in the spring.

I say was, as yesterday she was on 3 legs in the field. Looks like she has slipped and done something to a ligament or tendon in her off hind, vet happy that there is no bowing and she was able to put full weight on it once a big iv dose of pain relief, but we won't know exactly what she's done until probably next week after scans and x rays (waiting for the swelling to reduce). So I'm currently sat in my kitchen listening to her whinnying and wondering if now is the time I quit horses altogether

I hope its not too serious and an easy winter is all she needs.

 

[Boulty]

Another rambling update (will slow down the number of posts when every single thing we try isn’t “new” honest but currently a good way to record progress & thoughts)

As posted on weekend thread we played with Halloween themed obstacles last week and then left the course up & had a few other little plays with bits of it this week. (Eventual plan is WE & TREC so would like him to be comfortable & happy with a range of different weird & wonderful things)

He is definitely starting to get his feet under the table and express some opinions mostly via pawing when bored or frustrated.

Currently groundwork that involves periods of standing still and only moving one bit of his body is booooooooring and impossible to concentrate on, especially when there’s no context involved as to WHY he’s being asked to do this (ie we’re not going through a gate or similar) but gotta do at least SOME basics to make sure the “fun” stuff is safe. (I think if he were an actual child he’d be entering his “but WHY?” phase)

Also done a bit more roadwork today in a different direction. Still not a double decker bus fan (hard luck mate cos we’re on a bus route!) but cars now mostly ignored unless passing too fast & close. Also met a motorbike & wasn’t bothered.

More looky and less keen to march out but think that’s because there’s a lot to look at and he’s far too nosey for his own good.

Was fascinating by a person sat on a bench playing on their phone & by a dog that was picked up by owner. Would quite like to have said hello to both as default response to anything he doesn’t understand is to go and have a good sniff but not really practical to investigate every random stranger we meet!

 

[LEC]

My 3yo homebred is lightly backed - walked and trotted in an arena. Went on one hack done. Will come out next year and mostly hack.

I did take her to Futurity which is a massive waste of time and money. We want to be promoting quality British breeding but we do it in such a bad way. I saw horses whose linear line scores get a gold/elite whatever they have decided to call it with marks on the sheet that don't match that. Plus it's dressage and foal biased. They used to have bonuses for horses who have done futurity to them see how doing under saddle and it was a car crash. Mine was fairly marked as she is ok but not spectacular. She isn't very sharp which probably doesn't help with the loose stuff. It does mean my likelihood on hitting the deck multiple times being spooked off is greatly reduced which I will take any day.

What it was useful for was seeing how chilled she was somewhere new and how she took it all in. So thrilled with in that aspect.

 

[Asha]

My 3yo homebred is lightly backed - walked and trotted in an arena. Went on one hack done. Will come out next year and mostly hack.

I did take her to Futurity which is a massive waste of time and money. We want to be promoting quality British breeding but we do it in such a bad way. I saw horses whose linear line scores get a gold/elite whatever they have decided to call it with marks on the sheet that don't match that. Plus it's dressage and foal biased. They used to have bonuses for horses who have done futurity to them see how doing under saddle and it was a car crash. Mine was fairly marked as she is ok but not spectacular. She isn't very sharp which probably doesn't help with the loose stuff. It does mean my likelihood on hitting the deck multiple times being spooked off is greatly reduced which I will take any day.

What it was useful for was seeing how chilled she was somewhere new and how she took it all in. So thrilled with in that aspect.

I’ve been a fan of the futurity for many years , you do have to take the comments / scores with a pinch of salt .
But I’ve always thought it’s a great trip
Out for a youngster . Plus when Jane Nixon was the vet it was well worth listening to what she had to say .
This year I was massively disapppointed with the vet . So much so I called them.
Who on earth recommends shoes for a 2yo. The vet seemed to think he was footy , which is absolute nonsense he walks over our stoney drive without any issue at all . He was just a little preoccupied staring at a dumped tractor to actually move .

 

[LEC]

I’ve been a fan of the futurity for many years , you do have to take the comments / scores with a pinch of salt .
But I’ve always thought it’s a great trip
Out for a youngster . Plus when Jane Nixon was the vet it was well worth listening to what she had to say .
This year I was massively disapppointed with the vet . So much so I called them.
Who on earth recommends shoes for a 2yo. The vet seemed to think he was footy , which is absolute nonsense he walks over our stoney drive without any issue at all . He was just a little preoccupied staring at a dumped tractor to actually move .

Linear scoring is supposed to be precise and fair. How can a horse with so many marks not inside the green get an outstanding?
These are my gripes. Actually promote proper quality.
Mine also got pulled up for looking like a 3yo.... well she isn't a show horse and she is 3 and a fairly big one so in my eyes that's a good thing as not over topped and fed.

My other gripe is they should be promoting world class breeding. There should be a mark for the breeding especially what the dam has done and their breeding. What's the point in giving something an elite in eventing when the father is an average dressage stallion and the mother never competed over 90cm. That isn't going to be on world class programme.

 

[Asha]

Linear scoring is supposed to be precise and fair. How can a horse with so many marks not inside the green get an outstanding?
These are my gripes. Actually promote proper quality.
Mine also got pulled up for looking like a 3yo.... well she isn't a show horse and she is 3 and a fairly big one so in my eyes that's a good thing as not over topped and fed.

My other gripe is they should be promoting world class breeding. There should be a mark for the breeding especially what the dam has done and their breeding. What's the point in giving something an elite in eventing when the father is an average dressage stallion and the mother never competed over 90cm. That isn't going to be on world class programme.

Totally agree. This year i spent a bit too much time trying to work out the linear scoring versus overall score and like you was a bit confused as to how some got the score they did.
Im not sure i agree about giving marks based on breeding. You can have a top stallion and a top mare and still produce a dud.

 

[Snow-pony]

My 3yo homebred is lightly backed - walked and trotted in an arena. Went on one hack done. Will come out next year and mostly hack.

I did take her to Futurity which is a massive waste of time and money. We want to be promoting quality British breeding but we do it in such a bad way. I saw horses whose linear line scores get a gold/elite whatever they have decided to call it with marks on the sheet that don't match that. Plus it's dressage and foal biased. They used to have bonuses for horses who have done futurity to them see how doing under saddle and it was a car crash. Mine was fairly marked as she is ok but not spectacular. She isn't very sharp which probably doesn't help with the loose stuff. It does mean my likelihood on hitting the deck multiple times being spooked off is greatly reduced which I will take any day.

What it was useful for was seeing how chilled she was somewhere new and how she took it all in. So thrilled with in that aspect.

I know absolutely nothing about Futurity but she looks stunning

 

[LEC]

Totally agree. This year i spent a bit too much time trying to work out the linear scoring versus overall score and like you was a bit confused as to how some got the score they did.
Im not sure i agree about giving marks based on breeding. You can have a top stallion and a top mare and still produce a dud.

The reality is that top horses have top breeding lines. They need to decide what the aim is - quality horses for riding or top quality competition horses for elite sport. That's slightly different and in that case a temperament mark should be given or you consider the breeding