Backing, esp for Janet

[dooble]

Hello all (especially Janet George )

Just after a bit of advice for my young man. He'll go off to my very competent trainer to be backed, but I'd like to do the most I can in preparation. Theoretically, for anyone who backs horses professionally, what would you like your young horse to have done before he comes to you? What makes the whole process easier and is there anything you really don't like to be done, before he arrives at your yard?

My little man ties up, stands for grooming, etc, good with farrier, dentist (sort of!), leads (walk, trot, halt), will stand for a while without fidgeting, will happily walk through village past cars, etc (although he has an aversion to puddles and drain covers), has had a bit and bridle on. He travels well alone (although likes to kick the back wall for his own amusement).
In the next few weeks, he'll have boots, a roller, saddle pad and will be long lined every day before he goes away to be backed - is this the right thing to be doing?

Thanks

 

[SophieLouBee]

Sounds like you are very well prepared and I think the people you send him to will be very thankful

I think, the more experienced the owner is, the more I like them to have done, and if they are less experienced, not so much, just encase they cause more harm than good through lack or knowledge!

I think, for me the most important things are good groundwork, so it leads, stands, lunges/longreins etc nicely and politely, and having the bit introduced before I start working with it is also a big help, as for a lot of horses this can take a bit longer to get used too than other things! However, a lot of owners who don't have sufficent knowledge give me a totally blank canvas to work with, which in this case I don't mind so much as the less problems the better (usually they know how to lead) but I have done a few who don't even know what a headcollar is....

Good luck!

 

[frustrated]

I like them to tie up, lead, be groomed and have feet picked out. But to be honest i treat them all like they know nothing then i can build up a relationship with them and make sure theres no holes in the ground work.
The more confident and well handled a youngster is the easier the whole process is, but a good proffesional, should be able to make the youngster confident and well handled the process just takes longer.

 

[JanetGeorge]

I like them to tie up, lead, be groomed and have feet picked out. But to be honest i treat them all like they know nothing then i can build up a relationship with them and make sure theres no holes in the ground work.
The more confident and well handled a youngster is the easier the whole process is, but a good proffesional, should be able to make the youngster confident and well handled the process just takes longer.

Hi dooble

frustrated has hit the nail on the head! Even if a horse has been backed and ridden away, and has just come for "re-starting", we start at the very beginning. A hole in the education can result in rider on floor!

We don't longline - partly because I'm too lazy to do that much walking - but also because unless you're VERY careful, it can teach a youngster to come behind the bit. But it's a nice surprise when we get a well mannered youngster in, who has a lot of good 'life experience' - and it certainly speeds the job up (therefore saving owner money!)

If you have a suitable fenced surface, I would lunge rather than long rein, and concentrate on teaching him voice commands and to go forward (rather than fast!) And from a physical point of view, get his teeth done (you'd be amazed how many youngsters we get in who have retained caps, sharp edges, huge wolf teeth!! - obviously we deal with it but it delays getting on with the job!) - and don't have him too fat!! If a horse can barely waddle - or if its been stuffed so full of grub it spends its days charging around the field getting uber fit, it again makes life a bit more difficult (and slows the job down!)

 

[dooble]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

He has his teeth done every six months and the dentist came out last week as I didn't want a bit interfering if he's uncomfortable in his mouth - no wolf teeth, I'm pleased to report!

I'm not overly keen on the long reining but the school I use hasn't been looked after - the surface isn't great and I think it'd be better for his legs/joints on the road than in a poorly surfaced school. I'll probably trailer him over to a decent school a few times a week before he goes away.

How about putting a saddle on him? I know you'd go through all the stages again but do you reckon it's better for me to leave that for my backer to do? Perhaps if I just use a roller and pad, I wouldn't want to cock it up afterall...

He's quite a good little chap, pretty confident and keen to do new things. Although I'll be watching from the safety of behind my video camera as he has been known, whilst cavorting in the field, to throw a mean buck

Obviously, the less time he's away, the better (from a finances point of view) and my old gal would miss him

Thanks for your comments allx