backing

[lilym]

inspired by vicijp's post in the gallery, for those of you who have done it how long did it take?? i am in the process of backing a 5yo welsh cob and have leant over his back and walked around so far, once his teeth are done next week i will sit on and take a contact, tbh i'm not in a rush... my cob took a few weeks before she was truly happy with the process, but someone had given her a bad experience before i had her, i also backed 2 new forest ponies, a traditional cob, a welsh cross and a sec a a few years back, the foresters took minutes, i just got on! and the cob only took a couple of days, but the sec a was a little monster - i was asked to back him as he had decked all the lighter riders (wan't a pain issue as he went sweetly once he got over the fact he couln't remove me!!) he went on to be a fab kids pony!

 

[Tia]

Preparation starts from pretty much the moment I get them, which could be from birth or yearling or 2 year olds. Starts off with jackets, sacks, tarps etc.

Immediately prior to backing I teach directions from the ground and voice commands and the youngster will be accomplished at joining up/whatever you want to call it. They will be very familiar with a saddle and bridle and will wear them perfectly happily.

The actual backing process takes about 1 minute; I just pop a halter on, jump on bareback and ride. Once this is perfected then I move onto riding in a saddle and bridle, generally a couple of weeks later and from then on in, I alternate between bareback and saddled.

A horse who has been prepared correctly shouldn't take more than a day to back and be riding out confidently, in my opinion.

 

[lilym]

pretty much what i did with the newfies - just got on, i won't do so with the sec d at the mo as his teeth need doing, i want him to be 100% comfy first, considering he's just spent the first 5 years as a pet lol!! he's happy with saddle and bridle, although a little fussy in his mouth on the long reins, and i can feel some edges too, he lunges beautifully, and is a real gent so the actual process should be fine, although i do not bounce as well as i did 10 years ago LOL!!

 

[vicijp]

Hi Lilym, glad to hear I have inspired you!
If we go by starting from scratch, there is no time frame. I have broken quite a few in 5 days, most take 2/3 weeks, tricky ones take 2 months, the trickiest 6 months.
If you really take your time to get things right no horse will try and ditch you when you get on, the mouth is the key.
Some horses will take longer to actually ride astride, but I dont expect any horse to play me up when I actually put my leg across.
Some take 2 days of boucing up and down beside them in an open field before they will stand still to let you lean across. I have leant across several for weeks, riding them like that. The 6 month one took me a month of leaning across before he would even accept that. Id jump on and hed go about 2 strides before he started performing, jump straight back on and again and again. Slowly he got further and further and in the end I put my leg across, then I rode him with my weight off his back for 3 weeks before I could even sit up. He never even tried to do me when I got astride, and if he didnt I believe every horse should be like that.
Good luck!

ETS: Just re read Tias post, and totally agree. Your average horse shouldnt take more than a day to back. I expect every horse to walk and trot straight on without a leader, without problems the first day I get on.