Breaking in a broodmare

[Spencer]

I am going to look at a 9 year old mare. She was lightly backed a few years ago but the owner's circumstances changed and she was sold to a stud farm.

She's bred a lovely foal but the stud owner is looking to reduce numbers. She is offering the mare for a fair price on the understanding that she will need starting from scratch.

My question is....what kind of schedule would you follow for such a horse? Obviously in hand work, then long reining, then backing, then riding away....but would you go as slow as you would with a youngster? Or would a 9 year old mare be able to go along a faster pace physically?

She's living out in a herd at the moment.

 

[LadyRascasse]

Personally I would treat her like a youngster as although physically she is mature you might find she isn't mentally in terms of being ridden. Every horse is different I would take each day as it comes. I am a big fan of giving them a week off here and there to keep them fresh (even full fit competition horses) they don't lose fitness in a week.

 

[MagicMelon]

I agree with LadyRascasse. I've just backed a 9yo mare. I found I had to take things slower than usual at the start as she was more sore of stuck in her ways and couldn't understand why she was now having new things put on her and being asked to do things, whereas proper 4yo's are more innocent and accepting IMO. I took her out to her very first ridden thing today and she surprised me with how mature she was so in that sense their age means they've experienced life a bit even if it was just stood in a field. I now feel I can move along more quickly with her now the basics are in place. So to begin with I'd say it was slower than with a 4yo but now I think I can move her faster because she's generally more sensible. Really it depends on the horse though of course. I did lunge and long-rein her to begin with and only moved onto the next stage when I felt ready, as you would with a 4yo.

 

[JanetGeorge]

I've just backed a 9yo mare. I found I had to take things slower than usual at the start as she was more sore of stuck in her ways and couldn't understand why she was now having new things put on her and being asked to do things, whereas proper 4yo's are more innocent and accepting IMO.

lol, I've just had the opposite. My little 10 year old was never backed - just became a brood mare and has had 6. I decided she wasn't quite good enough as a brood mare so we backed her - and it was about the easiest we've ever had! Nothing fussed her from day 1.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Mine was a brood mare until the age of 7. I bought her 10 weeks after she was backed. The people I bought her from said she was incredibly easy to back but she was hard work for me to bring on.

She was pretty green and unbalanced and I think it took longer than usual to get her going nicely and I had a RI come to work with her to help things along.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I'd expect the worst and hope for the best to be honest. And I wouldn't put any value on her being backed already whatsoever, unless there is a lot of proof and even then photos and videos are just a moment in time and she could have ended up being a broody because she's nuts.

I'd probably try and sit on her before I bought her

 

[teabiscuit]

I've done it twice, both totally different, but very enjoyable thing to do. Just took it slow due to mummy tummy (theirs, not mine lol).

 

[Spencer]

Thank you for the replies. From what I understand now, the mare was shown inhand a fair bit as a youngster. The owner had her own baby and never got round to backing her, then lost confidence in the job and swapped her for a happy hacker. I've seen pics of her with tack on but not actually ridden.
She has only bred one foal (last year) but was not bred from this year as she isn't the stud's preferred bloodline. I believe she is a sweet mare but a bit 'hot' (as was her sire). I suspect she'll be spooky and green and will need lots of confidence building.
I'll go see her but I'll be making sure my head rules rather than my heart!

 

[Fides]

I've been there but the one I backed was 18! Same home as a brood mare all her life and never backed. She was a dream - it was almost like she liked having a job to do... Mind you she was probably glad to be away from the foals