backing my 3& a half year old....

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jess2353

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quick question should I get my horse backed & then turn her away for a year to let her mature ?

She's a Mitchelltroy sec d :)
 
Has she almost finished her growing?- if not I'd be inclined to leave until spring.

If you think she's almost where she's going to be and you've done all the ground work and she seems ready for that step then Id back and turn away

Good luck
 
thankyou. ive only had her a month so im not really sure,both her parents are only 14.1 & shes already at 15.2 so not quite sure when shes going to stop :/ ive already backed her & shes done amazing,very well behaved. but i think i will turn her away maybe even if its just through the winter.

thanks for the reply :)
 
I would just get her going off the lunge ridden and hack out in company a couple of times ( not more than half an hour ) and then turn away.
 
I would say when the weathers better- but seems like that may never happen again. good time is when the clocks go forward as it'll give you more time (i think it works that way around:confused:) I usually leave them until May as my life settles down a bit then after winter.
 
As Goldenstar said :)

The section D I had, I got her to the point of wearing tack and being leaned over then sat on at 3 1/2. Then, turned her away all winter. At the start of this year, she had a growth spurt and looked very gangly. She was slightly bum high. Apart from bringing her in to groom and handle, I left her while growing. She had filled out loads by May, and her back was level, so I started again with a bit of work. This time, I got to the point of walking and trotting in the school with me on board. She is currently having another break.
I sold her in June, but she is still at the yard I'm at as her new owner had had an accident with another pony, leaving her with torn muscles in her leg and needing physio. I'm still looking after "my" sec D until her new owner is fit enough to continue with her education.
I'll be hacking the mare out until she goes to her new owner's yard. She will have another break over winter, then is going to be produced for novice M&M ridden showing classes next spring. :)
 
I was going to ask this, mine is backed and doing little walks out but looks like he is due a growth spurt so I was going to leave him clock change to clock change to grow and hopefully reflect on what a lovely 4yr old he will become!
 
My Sec D is 3 1/2 hes been backed and is going for little rides out and short sessions in arena walking and trotting. Im planning on giving him the winter off, Il still handle him, groom him etc and then bring him back into work when it starts to get lighter on a night again.
 
God, how long is a piece of string? It depends on a combination of factors, growth and temperament being the main ones. I chose to back mine because he will be a good height and I don't want to wait for his attitude and height to develop, so I backed him at 3 as opposed to 4 as originally planned, should he have major growth spurt, he will be left to rest, should he indicate to me via his behaviour that he can't deal with work, he will have a rest, but if he's fine (which so far he has been) I continue to work him 3-5 days a week. Some horses suit it, others don't, take each day as it comes and consider all factors. If he's going to be a big boy, id back him as planned and take it from there. As I said Ben was backed at 3, so far I can say that was the best decision I made for him, he loves his work and strops if he has a day off. Just play it by ear and have fun
 
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