Backing your youngster- being nosey really!

JoBo

JoBo

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So how many of you have actually backed your youngster yourself?

Just wondering how many of you actually backed your youngsters yourself and how many of you sent your youngster away to be backed? What was your reasoning behind your decision?

If you have backed youngsters yourself, how did you find it the first time?

If you could give one tip to a person thinking of backing a youngster themselves for the first time what would it be?

Just being nosey really!
 
I broke my younster myself - I had, had him since he was 5mths old.

He was about 15.2hh at the time and was a hanXTB he was very well behaved!
 
I halter broke mine watched him being born - bless - got him used to having stuff put on and taken off him, got him used to rollers and then eventually a saddle and girth. Then took the chicken route didn't want to die and sent him away to be sat on and taught manners. He came back beautifully backed and now just need to find a crash test dummy to sit on him for his first few rides after being turned away for the winter
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ANY OFFERS ANY ONE? he's only 15.1hh
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The best tip - whenever something goes wrong in the lesson quickly follow it up with something the pony can to happily and well so that you can praise them.

We started backing ours and got to the point of my daughter sitting on her but the pony and my daughter were both so scared of what might happen that we turned her away and then got someone to come over and restart her. She's now been ridden by my daughter and then turned away and will be brought back into work shortly.
 
I am planning to back my youngster myself although I haven't done one at home before, I used to work on a small breaking / dealing yard as a fearless sprog and often had the job of being the first person on board !

Best thing I took away from the experience was knowing how different horses progress at different times and best bit of advice I would give would be to take your time and try not to rush it.
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ETS: That my youngster is only two but I have already sat on her twice and led her out in traffic, been to shows, I have even clipped her beard off with a full size pair of clippers! I try to treat her as I do all the others and therefore I know when it comes to being properly 'backed' she won't be unsure of anything. It helps to have a calm confident character, which she certainly is!
 
Thanks Julie, that actually what I’m doing. Bodey being the sensitive type needs time.

Good luck with backing your youngster, not that you will need it!
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Can I borrow said him/her please! I notice you are in east anglia so at least your crash test dummy is in a similar area? I'll send you video footage if you send me some! and when it gets shown on YBF we can go out for some drinks
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I broke my second horse myself (with the help of a couple of friends who had done it before) got him to the stage of walking, halting and turning before getting my old instructor back and pointing me in the right direction thereafter.
I had got my horse to lunge using voice commands which really helped him to understand when I started to ask him to walk and halt etc using the correct aids, good luck with yours.
 
I've backed about 10 in total, most my own, but a few for other people.

I think I was 8 when I first backed a pony, with lots of help from my mum who's pretty experienced and done it many times before.

I think the main things are firstly to get someone to help you who knows what they're doing - you'll need a helper there anyway for the first few weeks, and secondly only do it if you're a confident rider and not worried about some mishaps to start with, some youngsters will put their back up and get aggitated at the very beginning, and may buck or spook etc, you've just got to stay calm and quiet.
 
I backed my girlie myself!

I'd watched others do it and had been the first jockey for a few ponies when I was younger but my girl's the first one I did from the start. I used what I already knew and did some reading and used this to make a (flexible) plan. I made sure the process was pretty quick making sure she didn't get too fit before I got on her properly. We had no major dramas, probably because I kept the whole process pretty relaxed and also because she's generally quite chilled!
 
Backed the first one myself but had the second one sent away. The first time I was at a livery yard with good facilities and plenty of help, whereas the second time I had the horse at home with no school and little regular help, so decided was better to send her away.
 
I did my boy by myself. He is a really calm and quiet horse and nothing had ever fased him. first time i got on board was in a field of 19 acres, not exactly the safest way!
 
I am lucky I have my test pilot!! I have only sent one away after she had been sat on & ridden. As mine are handled & shown the sites (ie they get shown as youngsters), they have tended to take everything in their stride. My test pilot has very good hands & balance, she is a nice quiet rider so I feel happy that in 2.5-3yrs she will be even more capable of backing a youngster. If you are going to back them, then you have to be able to stay in balance with them. They will already have been mouthed, through long reining, & before that showing, as they will need to wear an in-hand bridle.
 
I broke Chantin myself last year when she turned 3. she was over 17hh. I spent lots of time with her long reining her and lots of ground work beore I backed her.

Best thing is to take things slow and dont get impatient with them. Dont force them to do something that they dont want to do as inevitable its not that they dont want to do it but dont understand how to do it.
 
I broke my latest horse myself - with ground help from Mum. Very easy but only if you are confident you know what you are doing.

My tip is - ALWAYS ALWAYS end on a good note. Little baby steps to start with.
 
I bought a recently backed youngster, so didn't do the actual backing myself but introduced her to most 'new' things in life.

Best tip? Think forwards forwards forwards. Youngsters are often backward thinking & the worst thing you can do is fuss & mess & not get the horse thinking forwards. Without this approach, you can end up with a nappy horse, a horse who goes backwards, rears etc.

2nd best tip? Don't treat your horse as if he is breakable. Although it's good to take things slowly & crucial to get good foundations in place, if you molly coddle them you can create real problems. They should be able to cope with clippers, carrier bags, people running on the yard, hosing etc. You have to just assume that the horse will be fine with EVERYTHING unless he tells you otherwise - so just get on with it - he'll take confidence from your attitude.
 
I have have backed Chancer and still continuing his early basic ridden education. I have an experienced instructor present every time I sit on him, though am now at the stage when I am about to ride him in between lesson but only doing what we have gone over. I will not do anything different without expert advice being present as this is my first ever youngster.

I am lucky in that so far Chancer has been very good apart from one huge bucking session which so far has not been repeated.

My instructor is helping with a little lateral work on the long reins - turns on the forehand, yielding which once he has taught Chancer, I then take over. I prefer it to be done initally by someone who really knows what they are doing.
 
[ QUOTE ]


If you have backed youngsters yourself, how did you find it the first time?

If you could give one tip to a person thinking of backing a youngster themselves for the first time what would it be?

Just being nosey really!

[/ QUOTE ]

I backed 2 horses this week - not mine though!
I remember the first one I backed. Id done all the breaking in and just needed top get on but my dad wouldnt help me. Jumped on it off the gate. Have come on a bit from then though - was about 13.
For first time backers my advise would be dont listen to what anyone else says. Take your time and listen to the horse, do whatever the horse is comfortable with.
The only rule is there are no rules!
 
Fantastic advise al always vicijp. Wow, your brave jumping on from a gate, shame you can’t bottle your bottle! You would make millions!
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Ground work is the key before attempting to get on.

Good tip, get someone knowledgeable on the ground when you do get on! It really helps when being walked round and to reassure the horse that the monster on top of him won't hurt him!

Must admit, I have not always had a person on the ground, so have also jumped on from gate! I am suprised I am still here to tell the tale!

Good luck x
 
Yep - backed her ourselves.
TB mare. Was always the plan that we would take her as far as we could, then send to pro if we encountered a problem.
However didn't have one issue at all - she was totally angelic, so did it all ourselves.
Good advice - nice quiet arena to work in, and someone you can trust to help.

Fiona
 
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