backing a youngster

kerrieberry2

kerrieberry2

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 June 2009
Messages
2,680
Location
Basingstoke
Visit site
Just wondering what age most people start backing their youngsters?

My boy is only 2yrs and 2 months so not somethinig I'm planning on doing yet but he is massive already, was only supposed to make 15'2 but is already 15'3 and bum high.

I've always thought people that back horses his age are sick and wrong but actually looking at him he'd not struggle!

So I'm thinking that maybe around 3 I might start lightly backing him!

013-2.jpg
 
yes well 4 was my plan, was thinking by the time he was 4 my 27yr old would be slowing down and not wanting to be ridden as much but looking at him he's just so big! so maybe just do a little bit in about a year and then turn him away over the winter and start again just before he turns 4? thats kinda what I was thinking!
 
Lightly at 2 1/2 [ie, sat on bareback and walked around a couple of times, happy to be vaulted on from the ground etc.] and all through their 2 year old year, just get all groundwork covered [bitted up, wearing tack, long reining out walk and trot etc] to then be ready to start ridden work at 3 - just light hacking a few times a week, light lunging and then proper schoolwork at 4.
 
Sometimes the end of summer after they turn 3, so closer to 3&1/2 but only very lightly then turn away till spring they are 4. Or more normally & what I prefer to do is just wait till spring they turn 4.
 
There's nothing wrong with getting him used to the bit and roller now and desensitising him to movement above his eye level etc. This makes it sop much smoother for later down the line
 
Mine is 3 this year and is about 16.1hh now but still growing!!! I intend on having him backed and hacking out (hopefully) by the end of the summer so have some work to do over the next few months. He's had a saddle on and has been out to a few in hand shows to get out and about so i now need to work more on walking him out in hand on the roads. I think it does depend on the horse and how mature they are mentally and physically. I suppose I'd rather take time than rush things and risk ruining a youngster by over-facing them.
 
My boy is 3 and I plan on backing him in the autumn (light riding for a few weeks) then picking up again in the spring when he will actually be 4. Whenever I teach him something new he gets a nice break which seems to help it all sink in so thinking this will be good for him to be turned away after the initial backing process
 
I backed mine at 3 1/2 having bitted her at 2.

But sessions were limited to 15 mins and she did this for the next year, no jumping, not much canter.

She was so bored and was delighted to start some very light work. So delighted, the planned turn away never happened as she got upset when she was left out of things!

Slow and steady, but I wouldnt back before 3 1/2. Interestingly in my old pony books they mention a pony being 3 and so ready to be ridden, it isnt some evil new craze.

I do think tho the bigger the horse, the longer they take to mature. My 17hh grew 2 or 3 inches after we got him at 6. Whereas this pony mentioned above never grew a cm after her 3rd birthday. So with a biggie, I wouldnt do much more than back and turn away as they mature quite late in many cases.
 
I have backed at 3,4 and 5 years old. Hate to break it to you, your lad is very bum high.....lots of growing going on..........:-)
 
I have backed at 3 but my current 2 are about to be backed at 4. One was still bum high and just not mentally ready until she was nearly 4. The other was feral until nearly 3 and I wanted her to have more time mentally. Physically she had not been in great condition so I felt she should wait as well.

I had also read some research about when their joints fuse and felt that 4 may be a better time.

All that said they have been long reined and walked out to see stuff so not just been stuck in a field either.

I think you just do it when they feel ready but do not be pressured into thinking you must do it at 3 they are individuals.
 
I had also read some research about when their joints fuse and felt that 4 may be a better time.
Click to expand...

It's not the legs that you need to worry about - it's the spine (right under your weight when you sit on the horse). The final vertebrae to fuse are at the top of the neck and that happens at 5 1/2 years old, unless the horse is very big in which case they often take until they are 6.

My grey has been backed at 4 and she's having a few months off now, I'll do the same with the gelding.
 
I've got one the same age but far leggies and even more bum high :eek: He's 15.3 ish too :o So much for 16-16.1 at maturity :rolleyes:

He has worn a roller and a saddle and is almost ready to bit (was unhandled until couple of months ago so taken a bit longer). He goes out for walks a couple of times a week.

I will probably start teaching him to long rein at the end of this summer as he's bored and looking for something to entertain himself. If the ground ever ever dried up :(

He is FAR too weedy to even think about sitting on this year but I plan to sit on him next year and maybe hop on a couple of times whilst out on his walks. He'll learn to walk on, stop and turn undersaddle and no more until he's 4.

My previous baby (a cob) was more developed for his age although much smaller. He was sat on (tied to a tree :o) at 2.5yrs then long reined as a 3yr old and occasionally sat on whilst out on walks. He didn't start to do any real work until he was 4yrs old. He's now 5 and and only started any form of fittening work this spring. Roo will be pretty much the same.
 
guido16 said:
I have backed at 3,4 and 5 years old. Hate to break it to you, your lad is very bum high.....lots of growing going on..........:-)
Click to expand...

I know, its scary how bum high he is! He's already grown about 3 1/2 inches since Feb :s
I'm thinking either he's a freak of nature or his mum was a hoe and had an affair? His dad was only a 14'2 conny and mum was 15'3 tb. I have looked back at his mum family history and the ones that have heights listed weren't anything over 16'2 so no idea where he's getting his height from haha!


Thanks everyone for your advice on when to start etc!

He's already wearing a bit and bridle without a nose band and has had a saddle on a few times. He's walking out in hand and meeting lots of scary things likes bike riders, sheep and England flags! he's taking it all pretty well! but again like a lot of youngsters he is getting bored out in the field and any opportunity to play he will take! including playing with my jacket, rearing up and boxing it!

Winchester-20120704-00348.jpg
 
Miss L Toe said:
Because he is so croup high he would struggle with his balance, leave him for 18 months to grow in to himself.
You can do plenty of handling, loose work, and so on.
Click to expand...

this is a very good point that I've not really thought about! Thanks for point that out! I will wait until he's leveled out and just carry on with walking him out, getting him used to the world first :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top