Backing mature horses

[PurplePickle]

I have a little welshy whos never been ridden, shes 15 but weve got her feet right now and shes galloping about of her own accord so I thought it might be nice to get her backed and then have a little jockey to share her.

How do the older horses take to it? good idea or not?

 

[scrumpygus]

I did mine at 13 and honestly it was a lot easier than i expected - no broncs or tantrums whatsoever - i think life experience made it easier plus i wasnt on a time schedule to do it which made everything more relaxed.

 

[Biscuit]

I think it depends more on the horse and how it has been handled so far/whether it has any issues, than how old it is.

If she has been well handled and her ground manners are good I reckon you should have a quite good starting point.

I briefly knew an 8yo horse who had been backed at 7 - but said horse apparently was also apparently gelded late and not handled much, and I think that mattered more.

 

[PurplePickle]

been very well handled, used to being lead out on roads, bitted, lunged, although no concept of anything but rushing round in trot. Extremely stubborn though

 

[cptrayes]

I did a 6 year old last year and an 8 year old the year before. No problems at all.

 

[haras]

My arab mare was backed last year at 8. Prior to that she had been pretty much unhandled. This year she should be going out showing under saddle if all goes to plan.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

My rescued gipsy cob mare was backed at 13 with no problems. Won a walk and trot test just 5 weeks after being backed.