Books about riding newly backed youngsters

[Kub]

My boy has just come home from being backed and going nicely, we've been out everyday for short hacks and we're just walking mostly with some trotting up hills. He's finding his balance well and I can get him walking quite nice and forward, though he can't maintain it all the time yet, and he's very good out and about. His spooking so far has been very little and even when he does, it's split second shift of feet and then he's fine again. He's been out with another horse once but with OH and bike the rest and he's a complete star.

He's quite responsive to the leg but hasn't got moving over down yet. Although he listens, he also speeds up and it can take a little while for him to move away from my leg. He's not so great at the straight lines at the moment either, but that's no surprise whilst he's still learning his balance.

What I'd really like is to do is do some reading up on what I should be doing with him now. I don't want to be schooling him as such but would like to get him bending a bit more and understanding my leg a bit more, whilst out hacking. This may be me getting ahead of myself and if I am, please say. This is my first youngster so I'm trying to make sure I learn and understand as much as I can before I try implementing anything with him, and any resources that can help me with that would be fab.

I am in no rush to do anything with him, he is with me for life and I'm hoping we'll have a long and happy working relationship, so we'll do things at whatever pace is necessary.

Thanks peeps

 

[Maesfen]

Sounds like you're doing everything right by letting him learn to balance and carry himself which is so much easier when out hacking; to my mind, it's the best schooling ground you can have especially if you can vary the terrain so he needs to find his fifth leg, nothing teaches them balance and sense better IMHO. You'll find that as he becomes stronger and more in balance he will hold himself better and make your job that much easier; to my mind, there's nothing as satisfying as riding your own young horse away as long as you give them plenty of time before you start asking for outlines which they aren't ready for.
A book I like is From Paddock to Saddle by Elwyn Hartley Edwards, very down to earth. Both Training the Young Horse, Anthony Crossley (I think) and Basic Training of the Young Horse, Reiner Klimke are worth reading too. Jennie Loriston Clark did one a few years ago which was very good but can't remember the name.

 

[Kub]

Thanks Maesfen, I'm trying my best to be the best and do the best for him Great suggestions, I will go and have a nose.