Backing an older horse - please share your experiences

Cobiau Cymreig Wyllt

Cobiau Cymreig Wyllt

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As title....will be backing a 7yo who was entire until gelded earlier this year. Even as a stallion he was very friendly and handle-able, pretty calm although a bit territorial herd-wise (this has since settled and he is in a mixed herd with no probs). He has basically done no work whatsoever (and no covering) but has had tack on and been laid over. I plan to start from scratch with groundwork to build a relationship and a foundation and see where we go from there. His ground manners seem good so far.

So, from your experiences of backing the older horse - what differences (good or bad) did you find compared to backing a younger horse and what similarities??

Please submit your 1000-word essays in double-spacing by the end of the day...nah, kidding!!! :D:D Cakes all round for contributors though! :D
 
I originally backed my Mums 'pet' homebred 15hh mare as a 4 year old (just lightly), was led out on a leadrein with her for about 3 rides and then she was left...................................................................till she was 14!

Bless her little heart, I moved her to a DIY livery yard when my Mum got diagnosed with cancer and had the most enjoyable 4 years with her. We did everything form local level showing, funrides and mini evening jumping. She had her first set of shoes put on at 15 and the farrier said she was so light footed after spending so many years unshod that he only removed and tidies up the feet as a rule. She was level headed, never bucked or did anything nasty and was a sheer joy. No tantrums or anything really, just a little stubborn, but that' just her nature.

She's now back outside my Mums bedroom window....she's rising 20 and still has the legs of a 3 year old. We love her to pieces. :)
 
A friend of mine had a mare who was backed as a 3 yo, turned away and not brought back into work until last year, as a 25 year old.. she does very little, just the very occasional hack with the kids, but it didn't faze her at all.

Other than that, nothing useful, but good luck with him.
 
Fany had been sat on and lightly ridden but understood none of the aids etc. She was so simple to get properly started, still very stubborn and opinionated about work. She does not see where it and her are compatible! But she learned quickly and is working well most of the time.
FDC
 
My first pony i bought as a 12 yr old broodmare. Shed done nothing but breed and i backed her all by myself from scratch. She was the best horse ever. I never had any problems with her compared to the youngsters kv backed. Id back an older horse again definitely! :)
 
I have a 9yo who was bought out of market as a ride and drive broodmare, alledgedly (spelling not working after night shift) was used as a 3/4yo and then turned out as a broodmare.

Its been a rocky rocky road, although with lots of patience and ground work we are coming along. I dont think she had been ridden really I could get on but understood no aids.


Shes my most rewarding project but also the one that has given me the most scars and tears. Love her to pieces wouldnt have her any other way. Nutty hackney x welsh :)

SO in backing the older horse I think the obvious ones are

-old tricks
-unstable foundations-like fears
-poor education from previous training
-If well handled hopefully more relaxed around new things aka being ridden, and respect for the person doing this.
 
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Fantastic to hear all those experiences, thanks very much!
Fany du Champ and Toffee44 - interested to hear that both of you had no problems getting on but them not understanding the aids - how did you go about sorting that out, did you do anything different from with a youngster?? Did it take any longer/shorter to sort out?

I think 'old horse new tricks' might apply too...I've hardly done anything with him yet (he's not arriving for a while) but noticed when I went to lead him away from a gelding he was interested in on the way back to his own field, though he was easy to handle, when he then planted and I circled him and made him shove his quarters over, he just kind of looked at me with a tolerant, slightly bemused expression that seemed to say 'I'm completely used to making my own decisions thank you but I'll humour you as you seem nice!' and I noted that and thought 'Hmm....! This horse has got his own mind and at some point he will want to make different decisions from mine!!' :D
 
I backed my 14 year old pony myself :)

He was rescued by my mum's friend, but she gave him to me as he was pretty much unhandled and terrified of everyone.

I spent months slowly progressing from leaning over him to sitting on him, all bareback in the stable. Eventally, I tacked him up, sat on him and he was as good as gold :D

Tont's a bit unusual though, so it would probably be much easier with a normal horse :p

Let us know how you get on! :D
 
Tonty Tont said:
I backed my 14 year old pony myself :)

He was rescued by my mum's friend, but she gave him to me as he was pretty much unhandled and terrified of everyone.

I spent months slowly progressing from leaning over him to sitting on him, all bareback in the stable. Eventally, I tacked him up, sat on him and he was as good as gold :D

Tont's a bit unusual though, so it would probably be much easier with a normal horse :p

Let us know how you get on! :D
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Oh that's very heartwarming - I've also got an 'unusual one' who's waiting in line to be backed but he's normal backing age, so leaving him for a while! :D
 
I've done a six year old and an eight year old and both were easier and less flappable than the 3 year olds I've done. Much more matter of fact about "life".
 
I have just bought a 7 year old Welsh D who was backed this summer after being a broodmare. The person I bought her off said she was the easiest horse she had ever backed and she has been fantastic so far, I have had her 8 weeks with no problems at all.
 
Not newly back but had to be rebacked. He's been in a field since he was 9. I got him when he was 13, was easy with a few hiccups. It wasn't forgetting it, just that he had go used to staying in a field.

I'd start a older horse again, as with my boy hes legs are pretty good for an ex racehorse!
 
Myrddinwylt: he feels fresh constantly, the farrier and vet have both remarked that his legs are good and very sound. Compared to a lot of ex race horses around anyway. His mind as well is mature and he's able to deal with new situations quite well.

Go for it!
 
We backed our new forest mare late last yr as a 9 yr old. She grasps things much faster than when I've backed younger horses. She also seems to have a really good attitude and loves working.She absolutely tries her heart out. The only thing I have found slightly different to a youngster,is if you don't explain things very clearly to her,if she then does it wrong,she gets quite upset,and it takes her slightly longer to forgive us our error,whereas the younsters I've done,have never seemed to mind and just relearn quickly. Obviously its ideal to not make mistakes,but it occassionally can happen.
 
Spottyappy said:
We backed our new forest mare late last yr as a 9 yr old. She grasps things much faster than when I've backed younger horses. She also seems to have a really good attitude and loves working.She absolutely tries her heart out.
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Love that!

Spottyappy said:
The only thing I have found slightly different to a youngster,is if you don't explain things very clearly to her,if she then does it wrong,she gets quite upset,and it takes her slightly longer to forgive us our error,whereas the younsters I've done,have never seemed to mind and just relearn quickly. Obviously its ideal to not make mistakes,but it occassionally can happen.
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That's interesting - the result of a mature mind maybe..
 
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