Backing Youngster

[Misskim89]

Hey everyone I have a 2 year old Gypsy Cob who I want to get sent away for backing next spring. I just wondered if anyone knows of any trainers who can do this in the Herts/Essex area. So far I have come across two people and the price is £160 a week. I would like in the future to do dressage with my cob. I just want to keep my options open with who I decide to break him as I want him to become the best he can be. So if anyone knows of anyone then let me know I am near Stansted Airport so need someone no more than half hour away from there

 

[Jnhuk]

I would do your homework speak to folks and go and visit backing yards and watch them if you can as you will get a better feel for what they are doing and how they are treating the horses. Word of mouth is good too so speak to folks who have got their youngsters backed. When I did this a few years ago, a couple of names kept coming back to me from a wide range of sources so they are the ones that I visited and chatted to.

I am not in your area so can't advise anyone specific but also don't be in a rush to back too early. Cobs can look physically mature quickly but that doesn't mean they are and sometimes better to allow them the extra time to mature for their long term health/joint/skeletal development.

 

[Goldenstar]

My choice is someone who specialises in backing and riding away as its a special skill You might would look for someone who has backed lots of TB's as its a skill the TB industry values and rewards .
You need to do your research and ask lots of people who the would use .

 

[tristar]

look for someone who understands that you wish to compete in dressage, for this discipline the initial teaching of lunging and long reining for some time is important, but not someone who uses tight side reins.

a correctly started horse will progress better because the foundations will there to build on, i would always want to see the trainer ride themselves and ride a horse broken by them if poss. read about backing in books so you come to realize the time scale necessary and what is involved in the prep so you know what you are aiming for, and don`t settle for anything less