Backing advice

Halfpass

Halfpass

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I have just started to lightly back my 3 year old. We have taken it very slowly over the last week and have just had her on a lunge line and been walking her around the school with someone on her for 2/3 mins each time.

Today we took the lunge line off and she was quite happy to walk out with someone to follow. I obviously don't want her to get used to following someone so we started asking her to walk away from the assistant.

I started by telling her to walk on and gave her a sqeeze with my legs. She didn't move. I kept asking her and using my legs until she moved which she did and eventaully took a few steps. At this point I stopped using legs and gave her lots of praise and she did carry on walking. Does this sound like the right thing to do?

I obviously don't want her to start ignoring my leg from the start. All I want to do over the next few weeks is get he walking confidently around the school on both reins, standing when ask and walking forwards when asked.

Any comments / advice very much appreciated.
 
You see I had heard that but was a little worried
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. I have backed horses before but never my own so really want to get it spot on right (although the last horse did seem to be spot on right!!)
Trouble is how the hell do I get her to trot when she won't even walk faster than a snail. Ah bless her she really is being good about it all. Is carrying a schooling whip a major no?
Just out of interest how do you do it?
 
I have a high hedged lane to my house. I get someone to leg me up and lean across (with toe in iron). Get handler to elad me on, as soon as they are happy I put my leg across and put other foot in iron. As they walk on I slowly sit up, then gradually put leg and weight on. Soon as they are happy with this the handler lets go and I more or less trot straight on.
Perhaps she is just lazy? Or maybe you need to work on voice commands a bit more? I generally always carry a stick after the first time, and give a gentle tap down shoulder if encouragement is needed. I always fill mine with food too - them being quiet is all very well, but it is hard work for them.
I really dont agree with getting on horses in a school, but appreciate that many find it effective.
Perhaps one of them will be able to help you more!
 
I don't work mine every day - or even every week

I 'fiddle' with them once every few weeks when it's nice and warm and sunny so they are chilled out and relaxed and never when it's cold/wet/raining/gale

I don't push on to get backing in a set period

mine have all come out OK and I've backed and ridden one in only 3 sessions - but over 3 months - so mentally they aren't stressed.

Just 'cos you've set out to 'back' one now, doesn't mean to say that you have to be sitting on it and trotting it now or even in 3 months time.

Now if it's a 'business' then that's a different thing - but mine are my own and they've all come out OK by taking time and patience and leaving them to absorb one lesson and chill before the next is presented.

Not everyone has the luxury of taking 4 months to back something but if you do have that time - take it !!
 
I can so see where you are coming from though. I am sure once she learns that legs mean forward she will be ok. She is already very aware of voice commands as I have done loads of long reining with her already. I did wonder if it was just lazyness aswell. I am going to have another go tomorrow but will leave her in all day and see if this makes any difference. Walking up the lane is also another option. Now I'm on and I know she isn't going to flip out it should be doable. What i don't want to do though is start using another horse or person on the ground to encourage her to move as I can see that this could end up with her not wanting to move unless they are there.
 
I'm not in any rush at all. I plan to have the summer to start her basic trainging ie walk and trot with small hacks out then she is having the winter off and being bought back into work next spring when the proper schooling will begin.
I just wanted to make sure what I was doing seemed ok and to get some ideas of what other did. Its very different starting your own horse rather than someone elses!!
 
absolutely

just remember - end each session on a good note - whether it's 2 mins long or 20 mins long

and chill - so long as you just make tiny baby progress then it doesn't matter how long it takes

I use a school - it's safer with fencing round and the landing is softer !!!

also I loose school mine with the tack on before I ever leg anyone up on them

routine is - loose school few mins. to get the kinks out (with tack on), then lunge for 5 or 10 mins total and then leg someone up on them and walk off - first few times with lunge line on to help jockey and then ending up with line off - so if horse does bronk then rider can concentrate on staying on rather than steering or brakes as I do those from the ground
 
Agree with Vicijp, we back in a lane too then go straight out for a hack, but a three year old hasn't the same confidence as four year old, in that case we would lead the youngster from another horse several times before backing and leading again from the other horse, allowing it to go alone only when it seemed happy.
We don't back ours until at least three and half but that's a personal thing.
get the youngster used to a stick from the ground and teach it to move forwards when tapped. then as V says, the sooner your trot is established the better the walk will be!
Oh and we don't put shoes on ours either, slightly sore feet is a very effective method of stopping leaping about..
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does she listen to your voice on the lunge? im helping back an awkward chestnut arab mare for a friend, and i cant put leg on as she's so flighty! we started by my friend leading me and letting the mare listen to her voice and then transfered it to my voice and now as i ask her i put the tiniest bit of leg on her! in theory it works. but im not off the leid reign yet as she's very insecure! she nieghs everytime i mount and dismount? has anyone seen/heard of it before?
sorry to change the subject a bit!!
xxxx
 
She just needs more time. Get your freind to lead you out on hacks, ride her leant across and get on and off every 50yds or so. Then progress to getting on and off proeprly 5+ times in a row.
There is no need to put your leg on staright away, much better to egt her going forward off voice and soft in the mouth. Then slowly increase the amount of leg as you go.
Its all about letting them settle with what you are doing, if they get stressed you need to go back a step and get it right.
I have a 7yo that I still cant put my leg on for a whole 10 mins or so, he is a special case though.
ETS. Just a thought, is your freind leading off the bit? If so then change to a leadrope off headcollar under the bridle. 2 sets of hands on the mouth will worry them when it isnt totally established yet.
 
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