Backing and Breaking !!

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emilymai

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Hello everyone !

My name is Emily,
I'm in my final year at university and currently researching into the effects of turn out on the backing and breaking process for my dissertation as this is an area of the industry i have a particular interest in.

I'd really appreciate it if you could take the time to complete this short questionnaire if you have any sort of experience with young horses!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1om5woyw1OS2NUxIhEnilnsvcz8H-_Y6BKniLIlKzYB0/viewform

Currently there's very little research into what is more beneficial to the horse prior to backing and breaking. Some swear by turning the young horse away till they are ready to be broken and some handle the horse regularly from a young age in a stabled environment. There may be no correlation at all but it would be interesting to see if there is a significant result that suggests the best foundation for straight forward training. The skill of breaking in horses is a dying art in this country as few people want to do it, it will never be a quick fix but i hope if a trend is found it may help with the whole process.

I will keep all interested updated on the final results.

questionnaire - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1om5woyw1OS2NUxIhEnilnsvcz8H-_Y6BKniLIlKzYB0/viewform

Thank you in advance!

Emily
 
Done.

Have to say though - everything I've ever backed has been living in a field prior to backing. Only the remedial ones that had to be re-backed as it'd gone wrong with someone else, were stabled. They had issues all of their own that didn't relate to the stabling. One was wild though, completely unhandled off the Welsh hills. It took a few weeks to handle her and get her to trust people, but once that was achieved, the actual backing was just as straightforward as those who had been handled all their lives.
 
Sorry, but i gave up.

You ask for details of one horse and then ask for comparisons. If there's only one, they isn't going to be a comparison, is there?

There are so many of surveys on here, and we have to fill in so many stupid forms in every day life, that it would be an elementary courtesy to think out the questions a bit more carefully.
 
mystiandsunny said:
Done.

Have to say though - everything I've ever backed has been living in a field prior to backing. Only the remedial ones that had to be re-backed as it'd gone wrong with someone else, were stabled. They had issues all of their own that didn't relate to the stabling. One was wild though, completely unhandled off the Welsh hills. It took a few weeks to handle her and get her to trust people, but once that was achieved, the actual backing was just as straightforward as those who had been handled all their lives.
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Same here, I wonder if it's more down to the horse's temperament. Two that spring in to mind for me are the 2 year old colt I did who was bred for racing, and my feral welsh pony. The colt was getting daily turnout in the school up until he was ready to come off the lead rein and start to be ridden away, unfortunately the first time we let him off resulting in a spectacular broncing session which put me on the floor twice in about 10 minutes. This is what he did when he was turned out so from then on he was in 24/7. He was, I'm told, always a quirky ride and he was a very cocky little horse.

The feral welsh went from living out, to living in with daily turnout in the school until I could handle her properly, she then went out during the day. She took 12 weeks from arriving at my yard to being ridden away, and always took everything in her stride, she was a very bold type though.


I would think that anything that is timid/nervous etc would take longer as you would have to take your time to reassure the horse.
 
emilymai said:
If you read it carefully it is for one or the other. All questions are optional answer what is relevant to your horse.
Click to expand...

I don't have one horse, I have eleven ponies. Four are not in training (brood mares and a stallion), the remaining seven range from weaned foals to fully broken, so ostensibly all "in training" but at different levels. Then there are others that have been sold on.

I suppose I just have a blind spot when it comes to forms. Sorry, but it is impossible for me to complete the survey accurately.
 
I just filled it in based on the first one I backed, then added how I changed things later.
I agree with the posters who say they have better results from horses that have lived out in herds prior to training. I believe their psychological development can suffer if they are stabled and handled too much when young.
 
I should fill in your questionnaire twice as we have two different breeds and they respond slightly differently to training.

The so called 'stubborn' Cleveland Bay is easy to back but doesn't get this schooling marlarkey. Better backed and hacked then schooled on.

The Arabs are much more at home in the school, although of course, we don't overdo that.

Personally I find nothing wrong in stabling and handling youngsters. They need to have their feet trimmed within the first few months so must cope with headcollars and lead ropes.

Our youngsters have the same routine as the rest of the yard. Stabled at night in winter and during the day when temps soar. They still get the companionship they need. I have not found this is detrimental to their psychological development.

Our CB yearling filly gets turned out with different adults she is a joy to handle.
 
Thank you for completing. Unfortunately it's impossible to have an exhaustive list to chose from which is why the 'other' box has for you to include your own answer :)
 
Thank you to everyone who has completed the questionnaire.

This will be used alongside a longitudinal study of young stock turned away and young stock that have been bought from stud etc and stables / handled like a mature horses. However due to having a small sample number the questionnaire aims to provide a general trend to compare to the field study.

I appreciate not all questions can be applied to all horses but please use the 'other' selection and add your own answer if you feel none of the options fit the horse. This is only on questions that have immediate relevance.

I also wouldn't expect those who have experience with lots of young horses to fill out a questionnaire for each of them but only if you have any experiences of two totally different horses.

Thanks

Emily
 
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