Backing 3 year olds?

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moneypit1

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Just wondered what peoples opinions are on backing youngsters at 3? I have only ever backed 4 yo's (in their 5th year) but my Friesian x is huge (bone wise) and just seems 'ready'. He will be 3 at the end of April. I am thinking about long lining etc this summer and perhaps getting on at the end of the summer if all goes well. Has anyone else backed 'early' or do you think it depends on the breed/individual horse?
 
I backed my warmblood as a 3 year old she just seemed ready. She was very lightly backed in the summer then did some long reining for a month or 2. She was then turned away for the winter and is now just coming back into work. So far it has worked well although I hadn't planned on backing her until now she needed the stimulation and she has really benefited from it!!
 
my 3 year old was 3 in june and we backed her in august. turned her away in novemeber and bringing back into work at the end of feb

it was the right thing to do with her as you could tell she was ready -

when she comes back into work i will be lunging her for a bout 2 weeks and then getting straight back on and starting schooling properly.

she gets bored very easily and you always have to be doing something new.

btw shes a welshie x tb
 
I think it depends on the individual horse. I backed my Sec D at rising 3 which I have never done before, because he was big, bolshy and bored ! It gave him something to think about and then he was turned away for the winter. My Sec C fillly however was less mature (and far more polite
smile.gif
) so she will be backed this spring at rising 4.
 
I think you have to go on the individual. I have two horses whom are full brothers. They are both around 18hh, the eldest was very lightly backed just before his 3rd birthday but his brother won't be backed until his 4th birthday, they are both completely different with the elder being much stronger. I think its important to handle them and teach the basics from the ground with lungeing etc especially with the big horses as they take soooo long to mature!
 
We backed our cob at 3, but we don#t turn them away as it just means you have to start again.

He is now 4 and going really well. We always do ours at 3 n ot too much work just a little each day.
 
Backing at 3 is actually very common but at the end of the day, you know your horse and you'll know what's right. My youngster was physically ready aged 3 but mentally he wasn't ready, anything new just blew his mind and ended in a violent reaction. At 4.5 years, he took it in his stride and was easy!

Start the basics, see if he's coping well and take it from there, you'll be able to judge if he's coping or not!! By the sounds of it, he'll do fine!
 
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We backed our cob at 3, but we don#t turn them away as it just means you have to start again.

He is now 4 and going really well. We always do ours at 3 n ot too much work just a little each day.

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I agree with this. I have never "turned away" after backing, can't see what the benefit is unless you found the horse wasn't ready and needed another few months before re-starting. I usually do a little bit each day, mainly gentle hacking before any serious schooling starts usually 4 - 6 mths later.
 
Depends on the individual horse. Where I work all the horses are backed in the later half of their second year, turned away and then come back in in their third year where they start doing serious work, they are all well schooled on the flat, jumping grids and small courses and do a few hunts. They're then turned away agin til their fourth year where they then start to do some intro and pre novice events. I'm not saying this suits all horses but these ones do ok with it. Personally I prefer to start and back them in their third year and then turn them away and start to do more serious work in their fourth year.
 
I backed my Haffie at 3 1/2 as she was ready physically and raring to go. I didnt turn away but just went really slowly and a bit each day with several days off a week.

Shes now 4 1/2 and an absolute cracker.

But the Welsh D at the stables wasnt backed until nearly 4, because she was still leveling up and not strong enough and also her ground manners needed work. But she was backed this week and it went great (I was leadrope girlie)

I would have turned my Haffie away if she had shown any stress or signal but she thrives on life being interesting and loves getting out and about.

I def wouldnt consider it before 3 /12 tho and then only if they are really ready.
 
Personally I would usually back at 3 1/2 at the earliest. But do so gently and letting them set the pace. I have one just now who is still a bit weedy but I think a lot to do with it is that he'd been wintered out rug-less (before I bought him) etc. so he's rather thin. He's turning 4 in about 2 months. Ive been on him but its still very early stages. I think how they are mentally is the big thing. This pony is super and very accepting. But my 6yo Welsh D who I bought as a 3 1/2 yr old was awful when I got him home! They'd backed him as soon as hed turned 3 and there's no way he was mentally ready. He basically had shut down already! He's 6 now and only just showing signs of growing up.

I think the horse tells you in a way. As long as you listen, you'll soon know if they arent ready or you're rushing them.
 
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I've backed quite a few horses and always backed them at 3 during the summer and then turned them away over the winter, started riding them again the next year when they are 4.

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But WHY? Just interested, what do you feel they gain by turning away?
 
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