Backing age query

[RoughcutDiamond]

This is just out of personal curiosity and not meant to be inflammatory!

To set the scene:
A friend has a homebred 5yo mare who has been saddled and bridled, done some long reining and has done the basics of backing as I understand them - rider jumping up and down alongside, weight in and out of stirrup, leg over back with torso low down and finally rider sat upright at walk with horse being led - most of which done this summer but no further progress due to injury to person helping out (unrelated to horse!).

Friend intended doing all this last year but fell pregnant, hadn't the funds to send horse away and at that time didn't know anyone able to start mare for her. Mare was still fairly immature.

Mutual acquaintances (who don't, afaik, have personal experience of backing youngsters) have done the whole lip-pursing indrawn breath and said if she doesn't get the mare backed imminently it will be too late.

Is there really a time in a horses youth when backing doesn't work or is pointless? What problems might occur as a result of delayed starting? The intention is that the mare will take over from ageing coblet as friends' main ride - she won't be sold unless they really don't suit each other.

Please, no nastiness or criticism of friend - we all know how life can get in the way of horsey ambition/plans. Interested to hear from those with experience.

 

[Goldenstar]

IME they are much more difficult to back later in life , I was on a yard that did a lot of backing when I was younger there was a rush for the door every time the owner said there was a five yo unbacked homebred coming in no one what'd to be in charge of that job my experiance is they where difficult stroppy and physically strong and the whole job was much more difficult than with an untouched three year old.
My advise to your friend would be to get the backed and in work as soon as possible.

 

[martlin]

I wouldn't say that delayed starting will have a particularly detrimental effect on the mare, I would me more concerned about having several goes and not finishing the job properly.
As they get older, more confident and ''set in their ways'', it is quite easy to get into a bit of a pickle, where the horse knows the drill (or so it thinks ), will go with the flow up to a point and then will see no reason to carry on, as it hasn't carried on on any previous occasions, so it throws a wobbly.
In the end, it all depends on the backer/rider, and the horse, of course.

 

[othbsits]

I've started a quite a few horses of all ages and it's my opinion that it depends on the horse and trainer as to how difficult it will be and the end result. For example, our most kid safe mount, the one you can set a beginner on using a stable halter as a bridle and give voice commands from the sidelines was bought as a unbroke 7 year old. She is now well into her teens and she has given a quite a few people their first riding experience.

 

[cornbrodolly]

^+1
Temperament and previous handling more important then age! If the previous handling was stopped due to 'bad behaviour' on hors s part , then you will have problems. But if it stopped and all had been going well, then theres no bad memories/habits to deal with when you start again. As horse seems to have been handled well so far, I see no problem. Have backed horses of various ages- oldest was 8 - she has been a dream ride for her owner for last 7 years!
Make sure you have a good person to back - thats the most important factor.

 

[kellybee]

We bought a 16yo shetland; "been everywhere done everything" for my 2yr old niece to learn on. She's tall and talkative and pony mad, and my 14.2 isn't particularly fond of screaming kids, so we decided to look for a pony she could ride now and again. We found said shetland on a classifieds ad, she seemed too cheap but we'd tried a few others and found them to be a little too boisterous, so we borrowed a friend's eleven yo daughter and went to see the pony. They asked us to bring our own tack as they didn't have any for her (sold with another shetland they said), and we put the 11yo on the pony. She planted her feet at first and played with the bit, but they said she was used to a happy mouth, and this was a plain eggbutt, plus it was a cold day. Hacked her down a main road and back on a lead rein, no issues at all. Did a little trotting, and realised she was a very quiet, kindly little mare, and would be perfect for my niece to climb all over if nothing else.

A month later, and the pony who seemed mad keen to please was being used in the riding school. She jumps like a pro, takes real care of the kids and the only problem we've ever had is that she's turned out to be laminitic. Perfect angel of a pony. Best thing we ever bought, and I have to say I've cried shamelessly with outright pride when she's exceeded herself with the kids.

Then one day I dug out her passport and got in touch with the breeder. I wanted to know if she had particular triggers for her lammy because she wasn't overweight or on rich grass when she came down with it. The breeder then promptly told me she'd given the pony away free to a good home because she was nasty, uncontrollable and unsafe. She had never been ridden in her life. And that statement was valid right up to the day she left the breeder, just before I bought her. She's never had much contact with people, never been used as a broodmare or anything and has never been on the road or in a trailer, let alone to a show. I was absolutely mortified at first, then convinced she was talking about a different pony. Then I realised it was the same pony, but something had changed. Her attitude. It crossed my mind that she's capable of being vile, but that's never happened. She's a very happy, safe and competent riding pony whos never yet set a foot wrong with any of us.

Now, less than a year later she's doing allsorts and loving it. I have never had a safer pony, and can only think the reason she's so different with us is that she's a) been relieved of her boredom and b) happier in a more social environment instead of being turned out with 20 other untouched ponies. I'd never have so much as looked at the pony if I'd known the truth, but they are capable of learning at a later age, and she's the perfect example. I don't believe that's applicable for all horses, but for this one, apart from the cold bit and the planting of feet when we tried her, I'd never have known she was unridden.