Backing 3/4yr olds

fabian said:
I think I might have seen your lad today when I went to Guy's to visit my little Highland. He is gorgeous and looked very content there!
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Aww how lovely! Is your highland in the stable opposite? Your highland is gorgeous too and has such a kind eye 🥰. How is everything progressing? My lad is coming on so well and Guy is so calm and doing an amazing job! Bailey has just started his 4th week.
 

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Yesterday, the youngster I was leading decided, half way down a hill in walk, to squeal and reverse into my pony, kicking. No reason that anyone could see, a second before we were all picking our way quietly down a grassy hill. Mine was too stunned to react - I swung her out of the way, let out the lead rope so they were a good distance apart and then verbally told off the little madam, whip transferred to her side for threat. She then decided if she was clearly not allowed to beat up my mare, she’d try to get the one behind her - so we had to ride home with me holding her back enough her back legs were away from my mare, my son boxing her in from behind with his whip stretched out to stop her falling back and trying to kick. Which she tried twice, and got a tap on the bottom twice to send her forwards.

When we got home I remembered another similar youngster, who kicked up an almighty fuss on the lead when she felt ready for an off lead rider. So I popped my son on her. Lo and behold they made it up and down and round the track by the field just fine on their own in walk, trot and canter! That’s that one backed then!
 

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maya2008 said:
Yesterday, the youngster I was leading decided, half way down a hill in walk, to squeal and reverse into my pony, kicking. No reason that anyone could see, a second before we were all picking our way quietly down a grassy hill. Mine was too stunned to react - I swung her out of the way, let out the lead rope so they were a good distance apart and then verbally told off the little madam, whip transferred to her side for threat. She then decided if she was clearly not allowed to beat up my mare, she’d try to get the one behind her - so we had to ride home with me holding her back enough her back legs were away from my mare, my son boxing her in from behind with his whip stretched out to stop her falling back and trying to kick. Which she tried twice, and got a tap on the bottom twice to send her forwards.

When we got home I remembered another similar youngster, who kicked up an almighty fuss on the lead when she felt ready for an off lead rider. So I popped my son on her. Lo and behold they made it up and down and round the track by the field just fine on their own in walk, trot and canter! That’s that one backed then!
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What a madam!
All the girls here are seemingly having their first obvious season, lots of hormones in the air!
 
Mylo has been largely left alone since last summer. By 2 he had learned what he needs to know before backing including picking me up from the mounting block with draw cues and standing still while I faff about on the block rubbing him all over etc.

Today I pulled him out of the field to start the saddling process. Ran through all the groundwork patterns again and he’s remembered it all. Then started saddling: pad on and off, on his neck/bum, chucked on him from a few feet away. Couldn’t have cared less. Surcingle done up nice and snug. Then finally saddle. He was more or less asleep 😅. I’ll carry on with in hand walks in tack. He needs bitting too & Joe is using him in a demo on fitting a young horse’s first bit based on mouth shape etc. That’s in April. I think he’d happily accept a rider but he needs a fair few more months to grow first. He still looks like such a baby! Felix was a lot more physically solid at this age. But both seem to have Amber’s level headedness. If Mylo also has her jump he could be an awesome event horse! I’ve already seen that he has his dad’s floaty trot. It’s exciting….
 
Rabbit is at that stage where he isn't physically mature enough for a rider or his first rider experience, but mentally he is sharp and smart as anything...

So this weekend's task is to teach him to long rein confidently, he's happy following someone, but when his lead person goes away, he doesn't understand what to do. It should be an interesting task as his go to thing is to turn around, walk up to me and then nudge me in front before resuming what he was doing with a lead person 😅

He's now 16 hands and as wide as he is tall....I'm going to need to start pilates to be flexible enough to ride him at this rate aha!
 
AppyLover1996 said:
Rabbit is at that stage where he isn't physically mature enough for a rider or his first rider experience, but mentally he is sharp and smart as anything...

So this weekend's task is to teach him to long rein confidently, he's happy following someone, but when his lead person goes away, he doesn't understand what to do. It should be an interesting task as his go to thing is to turn around, walk up to me and then nudge me in front before resuming what he was doing with a lead person 😅

He's now 16 hands and as wide as he is tall....I'm going to need to start pilates to be flexible enough to ride him at this rate aha!
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Mine is big and chonky too. Was supposed to make 15/15.1 like his full siblings but he’s already 15.3!
He turned 3 last week
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rhino said:
Mine is big and chonky too. Was supposed to make 15/15.1 like his full siblings but he’s already 15.3!
He turned 3 last week
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Rabbit's siblings range in height from 15.2hh to 16.3hh - it's hilarious as his parents are only both 15.2hh each, so I guess the height must come from grandparents etc......

Your lad is absolutely gorgeous - your photo looks like it should be on a magazine or something x
 
After a few quiet weeks due to lack of time & grim weather when I did have time have done a bit more with him this week as been off work.

He’s had his tail washed using my new favourite toy (although OMG it’s so thick I swear there were bits that I didn’t actually manage to penetrate with the water)

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He’s also been out for some more walks. Tuesday’s didn’t go great in that he kept trying to shove me on the narrow bits / trying to trot to catch his friends up which led to a few discussions…. Today we went to the pub which went a bit better & pony enjoyed the snacks.

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Please excuse the extremely dodgy clip lines… it started out as just under his neck & his chest & then went back to do his armpits today as they’re getting a bit matted and sweaty but didn’t have time to tidy the shoulder line up properly before we set off (it’s his first clip so more for function than aesthetics anyway). Will go back to it tomorrow or day after to make it look a bit nicer but trying to keep it minimalist as I don’t want to have to rug him if the weather turns again.
 
ElvisandTilly said:
Aww how lovely! Is your highland in the stable opposite? Your highland is gorgeous too and has such a kind eye 🥰. How is everything progressing? My lad is coming on so well and Guy is so calm and doing an amazing job! Bailey has just started his 4th week.
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Sorry, somehow missed your reply! Yes, that's my boy. He just came home today after being there for 6 weeks and seems to have had a great time. I would definitely recommend Guy as he has done a brilliant job with my very sensitive, quirky pony.
 
fabian said:
Sorry, somehow missed your reply! Yes, that's my boy. He just came home today after being there for 6 weeks and seems to have had a great time. I would definitely recommend Guy as he has done a brilliant job with my very sensitive, quirky pony.
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He is a lovely boy! I’ve said hello to him a few times while visiting Bailey. I was there on Friday visiting but Bailey is staying another week to give him more time to be more forward on the roads. I sadly lost my father in law suddenly on Sunday so it’s also helping give me the time to sort things at home before Bailey comes back. Guy has also done brilliant with Bailey and another that recommends him. Hoping to get to one of his training sessions later in the year.
 
Just ticking along with my 4yo. In the arena we are going back to basics to address some destination addiction (draw to certain areas like the gate, other horses), forward and bend. To break it up we hit a new trail over the weekend at a local state forest. We haven't been out for over 2 months. He was amazing! Apart from a spook at a donkey he did so so well. It was a big day for him so he is getting the next few days off.
I made a video here:
 
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