Backing a 3yr old - next steps?

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SpruceRI

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I've ridden my 3yr old 3 times. She's been led round the field, round the lanes and fields with another pony and on a short hack round the hay field with a friend riding my other mare.

She's not all that keen on going forward, nor does she seem to understand the 'walk on' voice aids, though she's fine on the lunge and great to long rein, and will go back and move over under saddle from voice commands.

Should I ride her more on the lunge in walk and then trot?
How long for - 10 mins?
How many times a week?
Should I establish canter on the lunge? Our hacking or not at all?

And I'm not sure whether I should carry on riding her until the Autumn, or just for 6 weeks as some people do, or through the winter so she's never turned away?

What do you suggest?

Thanks
 
Go back s o she understands the voice aids... a building is only as good as its foundations!

once you have gotten walk and woah established, concerntrate on straight lines. Loads of hacking, and go from there. Keep long reining and go back over turning on the long reins, you will find the penny will drop more quickly! You can even teach the horse left and right on the voice!

The horse is young, so take things slowly, keep lessons short. I wouldn't bother with canter till the horse is confident in the other paces. My rule is that if a horse can't do it in walk, don't attempt it in trot... if it cant do it in trot, don't do it in canter! You are building confidence slowly. This confidence can be destroyed in a moment.
 
Can I help
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OK so I backed my now 4 year old last year. I got her walking and trotting to voice and leg aids. Short hacks out and small (15mins) sessions in the school all the time continuing with the long reining and lunging. I even took her off somewhere for a short lesson. I stopped ridden work in Oct then started again in Dec but this didn't work so stoppe again and turned her away till last month. She is now 4 and has been in work for 4 weeks now and the difference in her balance and her concentartrion is amazing. This worked for me but whatever you decide good luck.
 
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