Breaking in- what age and whats your process?

[noodle_]

As title.

I have a very bored almost 3 year old, whos done most basic *basic* groundwork.....long reining/walk lunge/bags/seen trains/cars/motorways/traffic/been thrown bags at etc... nothing phases her.

Im planning on starting long reining/lunging properly again in the next month (basically when i know i can be consistent due to work...) and then get on her hopefully december to do some walk, then turn her away until spring.

What did you do with yours? age wise and what level of work?

then where did you go from there?!


p.s im not even thinking of getting on her until i know she is 100% ready!...which is a while off yet!

 

[Carrots&Mints]

My pony will be just turning 3 when I will send him away to be backed, I will ten work with him over summer and then let him have the winter off and brought back into work the following spring If that all goes to plan of course

 

[Meowy Catkin]

My three year old is not ready physically or mentally yet. Hopefully he'll be lightly backed at four, but if he needs more time I'm happy to wait longer.

My grey was lightly backed at four.

Both have been walked out regularly in-hand from when they were yearlings.

 

[showjump123]

I broke mine myself slowley at 3 over about 6 months in the summer then turned away over the winter and started with her again this summer and she took it all lovely

 

[Gypley]

Your doing really well!

Mine turns 3 in December, we've done some basic long reining/lunging at which hes a pro.
But i dont know where the times gone!
All of a sudden hes nearly 3 and i feel like weve not done as much as we could have.

I had hes wolf teeth out today so as of next week ill start bitting him and walking him out on the road in hand (i had previously done this once or twice in a headcollar but i felt i didnt have as much control as id like)

Ive entered him in his first Pony Party in September though so its all very exciting!

Good luck with yours !

 

[YasandCrystal]

I like to do very little but ground handling until they are 4 years old, then take it slowly. My 4 yr old mare had 5 weeks of daily long reining and slowly adding tack - I started with a Monty Roberts headcollar and longreined off that , then bridled, adding a roller until the final week, a little lunging and long reining with saddle and stirrups flapping. I sent her away for 5 weeks backing and basic ridden away and light schooling. Home now with time off (unrelated problem).
My 3 yr old has been introduced to the bridle and led about - getting him to be obedient and responsive to my hand on his flank etc. Will continue infrequently doing this with him just to stimulate his mind. I will start jhim in earnest next summer at 4.

 

[Oscar]

I don't do anything in terms of 'starting' until they have turned 4. Lunging a 3 yr old is far too much for those young tendons & bones.

At 4 mine are long lined, tack introduced, led off an older quieter horse to do short hacks in straight lines, then a rider introduced. We spent a few sessions in the school establishing stop, start, steering etc, only 3x a week, now we are hacking out. He will have the winter off, and start again as a 5yr old.

 

[noodle_]

Thanks for the replies

i have done most things with her but all very baby basic as i dont need to push her.

but shes only 4 NEXT november...! i was going to break her in properly at 3.5, do summer with her and turn her away for a couple of months over next winter when shes actually 4

 

[pennyturner]

They're all different. I've got two 2yo NF's. One will be starting long reining later this summer, because he's a cocky, confident, outgoing little fellow who'll love it. I already know he won't react to saddle/bridle/bit as he's been walked out once wearing the lot, and didn't bat an eyelid. We might or might not get as far as putting him in a light exercise cart and going out a few times. This will allow me to do lots more walk-trot transitions on voice and rein than I could possibly manage running behind. I would say this will give him some traffic exposure, except that this one really doesn't need it - nothing scares him. The other one is still a baby in the mind, so will almost certainly wait for next year.

If things go well, I might throw up a child, and do a few little walks with a jockey. When we've done this before at 2 (for quiet NF's), it has set them up very well to start riding out calmly through the following year.

Saying all that, we don't do much/any schooling, and I do think that gentle hacking asks a lot less physically. I wouldn't want a 2yo riding circles on soft sand.

 

[Cortez]

I used to run a large-ish stud farm producing 15 - 20 foals a year and with outside horses would have 20 or more to break every year. We would introduce tack in the autumn of their 2 year old year, started them in February of their 3 year old with 7 - 10 days of light lunging say twice a week until they were settled, hop up and ride away and then continue riding very lightly (20mins 3 times a week), over the summer, with maybe an educational trip to a little show towards the end of the season. Never had anything go lame, most were ready to go out to a dressage show in the spring of their 4 year old year. I think a lot of people leave their horses too long to break and work; as long as you are sensible and not jumping or galloping around, all but the gangliest and most backward should be doing something by the time they are three. All this "leaving them to mature" means they are missing out on some essential education and discipline at the time they need it most.

 

[Joyous70]

I used to run a large-ish stud farm producing 15 - 20 foals a year and with outside horses would have 20 or more to break every year. We would introduce tack in the autumn of their 2 year old year, started them in February of their 3 year old with 7 - 10 days of light lunging say twice a week until they were settled, hop up and ride away and then continue riding very lightly (20mins 3 times a week), over the summer, with maybe an educational trip to a little show towards the end of the season. Never had anything go lame, most were ready to go out to a dressage show in the spring of their 4 year old year. I think a lot of people leave their horses too long to break and work; as long as you are sensible and not jumping or galloping around, all but the gangliest and most backward should be doing something by the time they are three. All this "leaving them to mature" means they are missing out on some essential education and discipline at the time they need it most.

Just out of interest, if you had a late foal, ie. born June, would you do something in the spring when they were then almost 3, or leave it until the spring of their 3rd year when they were almost 4?

 

[Cortez]

All else being equal, i.e. if they were well-grown and mature, I would perhaps start getting them used to tack and maybe doing a tiny bit of lunging, leaning over, but not riding away until 3-off (old fashioned expression nowadays; rising 3 = not three yet, 3-off = reached 3rd birthday and after, but not yet rising 4). It's all down to common sense really; you do what is appropriate when the horse is ready - there is no prescription and I feel a lot of people call the "don't touch them 'til they're 4" card when really the horses are better off starting to learn their place in the world, mentally & physically, at 3. Research actually bears this out.

 

[Goldenstar]

I am with Cortez I think more harm is done leaving them to late than starting at three .
Just because you have backed a horse younger does not mean its done to much, people who are skilled at backing and riding away can get the job done with minimal stress and mileage, we undervalue people who start horses in this country it's an important and specialised skill.
I always rode away at three sometimes if weak I left the canter till four I just felt my way depending on the horse when I was on a yard the worse horses to work on with where the over handled homebred four and five year olds you tried to be else where when the boss was choosing who be in charge of them.

 

[vieshot]

Wait till four. Long rein until my legs fall off.

 

[Cortez]

I am with Cortez I think more harm is done leaving them to late than starting at three .
Just because you have backed a horse younger does not mean its done to much, people who are skilled at backing and riding away can get the job done with minimal stress and mileage, we undervalue people who start horses in this country it's an important and specialised skill.
I always rode away at three sometimes if weak I left the canter till four I just felt my way depending on the horse when I was on a yard the worse horses to work on with where the over handled homebred four and five year olds you tried to be else where when the boss was choosing who be in charge of them.

This! This! This!^^^^^Thank gods there are other practical horsemen out there (I was beginning to despair........)

 

[Meowy Catkin]

All this "leaving them to mature" means they are missing out on some essential education and discipline at the time they need it most.

You can do a lot of training without putting heavy weights on their backs. My horses started their training the first day I got them, it's just that until they are ready for backing, it is done from the ground.

However, some (who back many horses as a profession) have written on here that some mainly 'unhandled' horses were easier to back than the well handled ones. So being pretty much untouched isn't always a disaster.

 

[Goldenstar]

That's my experiance it did help however if they had had a headcollar on knew how to be lead and had had their feet picked out before they where three .
Six and not headcollared and the owner expecting it back in work and ready to go in six weeks max was challenging and not fair on the horse .

 

[madlady]

Mine are generally long reining at 2 - we start of long reining off a cavesson and then progress to full gear.

We've got various bits and bobs that we can introduce them to from saddle pads and rollers to a full driving harness.

Daegs was backed and riding at the beginning of this year (rising 4) but I didn't back Freyja until a few weeks ago - she turned 4 in June - just because she didn't feel ready at the beginning of the year. I did a bit more ground work with her and then she backed nicely in July.

For me it's important that they see as much as possible before the start of the backing process so I will introduce them to as much as I can - plastic bags, noises, traffic, wind rain, so that I'm not asking them to learn everything all at once.

 

[YasandCrystal]

I agree Faracat - my 4 yr old was pretty much unhandled and quite the little bolshy madam. Not my doing I hasten to add as I only just got her. She was crying out for some attention and stimulation and really loved all the groundwork from Day 1. She was quite straightforward and clever and went very sweetly for the trainer I sent her to.

I think you need to gauge the maturity carefully. My 3 yr old Dales is nosey and keen, but such a baby and my gut says just do some basic groundwork with him and leave him to play and mature. I will start him early spring next year - so rising 4.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Y&C - so true, they can be so different mentally at the same age (different length attention spans etc..). It's certainly the case with my two arabs.

 

[Cortez]

Depends on the horse of course. I have "broken" TB's (National Hunt, not the poor little yearlings) for the track, but that's different kettle of fish entirely and not something I would want to do again. I have also, once, broken a 2 year old to ride, also something I'll not do again (it was a warmblood); wasn't ready mentally to do the work - didn't in the long run end up harmed by the process, but I felt it was not ready and told the owner so. But 2 year old quarter horses are regularly "started" for western in the US, by great big 'ol cowboys. Must say they are most pleasant, advanced horses to ride at 3, but not sure about their longevity......But a bit of not-very-COMMON SENSE would seem to be in order in the horse world. What has happened to the old fashioned nagsman?

 

[Goldenstar]

Depends on the horse of course. I have "broken" TB's (National Hunt, not the poor little yearlings) for the track, but that's different kettle of fish entirely and not something I would want to do again. I have also, once, broken a 2 year old to ride, also something I'll not do again (it was a warmblood); wasn't ready mentally to do the work - didn't in the long run end up harmed by the process, but I felt it was not ready and told the owner so. But 2 year old quarter horses are regularly "started" for western in the US, by great big 'ol cowboys. Must say they are most pleasant, advanced horses to ride at 3, but not sure about their longevity......But a bit of not-very-COMMON SENSE would seem to be in order in the horse world. What has happened to the old fashioned nagsman?

Old fashioned nagsmen went out of fashion I think.
There where loads around when I was a child they ( the good ones that is ) all had the same quiet confidence about them .
On backward youngsters sometimes a few weeks learning things will do wonders for a mentally backward young horse it helps them to develop mentally .

 

[Fools Motto]

I started very gentle basic long lining my filly last summer when she was only 2. She is a cocky little madam and needed something to think about. I did it maybe twice a week for barely 10 mins each. (off head collar initially, then bitted with plain rubber straightbar snaffle) I also led her off my mare on a few hacks, as I believe it was good to get off the farm for a bit. Would say we were out about 30 mins, walking with a few very short trots. She was very good. Then she had time off, Oct - March, where, hate to say it, she reverted back to being a naughty cocky little so and so. Then just tacked her up, legged a light weight experienced lady up and went straight out for a 10 min ride! Just the way it was. Been doing that maybe twice week all summer so far, and when I haven't had rider available, I've continued long lining and upping the commands. She has been very good, we can canter on the lines, trot, change rein all on voice. She now halts (was very impatient!) and wait for me to ask the next thing. She has backed up straight, and also seen jumps (max 2ft!) on the lines too. She loves jumping, think it will be her forte! Some may have siad it is too much far too quickly, but it has suited her, and I know i need to fulfil her needs to keep her mind away from planning naughty things! ~I want her to be a childs pony and she needs manners. If I could change anything, I'd have maybe got her a young playmate, which would have halved my work! But, i can't have another in my situation. She is also far too fat, (ashamed!) so some exercise has to help?! She will be left to turn feral over this winter and we will repeat next year, with a plan to loan her out during the summer holidays for PC camp and the odd show. She is a NF x, standing about 13h.

 

[Tia0513]

My new girl was 3 in May and, when I went to view/buy her at the beginning of June, she had been backed about 8 weeks. She had been worked a max of 20-30 mins each day during the backing process, and had learnt walk, trot & canter. She had also been hacked out with another horse & will follow or lead. Since I have had her she has only done hacking & I will maybe ride her about 1-3 times a week. We generally hack for about 30 mins, mainly walking but with the odd short trot in. This is all I plan on doing with her up to winter. End of Sept/beg of Oct she will have three weeks off when I am on holiday & then I plan on resuming the hacking end of October and, depending on the weather etc, will hopefully hack her out a couple of times a week over winter. She's very laid back, quite bold and I want to keep her that way!

It's down to individual horses as to how much you do with them. What works for one wont work for another and you have to assess each one as it comes. My appie who I lost in May was a late bloomer and I didn't back him untill he was 3&1/2 and then I turned him away to mature over the winter, to bring him back into work in his 4th year. Purely because he wasn't ready mentally or physically.

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

Broke a warmblood for a friend. She was the kindest sweetest horse who loved people. I started her in spring and worked consistently through the summer. She was very mature at 3 and I lunged and long reined. She came for walks round the village and on my paper round from the age to two and I lead her on hacks from another horse.
When we did the actual backing, I got a saddle pad and rubbed it up and down her back. Strapped it on with a surcingle and took her for walks like this. Eventually I just hopped on her bareback in the field. Did this a few times a day for a few days and progressed to a friend leading her around with me on.
Appreciate this probably wont work for all horses as she was exeptionally well behaved, mature, kind and chilled out
by september of the same year she was hacking out

 

[Joyous70]

All else being equal, i.e. if they were well-grown and mature, I would perhaps start getting them used to tack and maybe doing a tiny bit of lunging, leaning over, but not riding away until 3-off (old fashioned expression nowadays; rising 3 = not three yet, 3-off = reached 3rd birthday and after, but not yet rising 4). It's all down to common sense really; you do what is appropriate when the horse is ready - there is no prescription and I feel a lot of people call the "don't touch them 'til they're 4" card when really the horses are better off starting to learn their place in the world, mentally & physically, at 3. Research actually bears this out.

As im not experienced in breaking/starting horses etc., i was always told back them at 4, however, my girl has been backed at 3, advised by more than one professional that she was MORE than ready and starting to get bored. If im honest i was a little suprised, but it was the best thing we could have done for her. She enjoys having a mooch up the drive on the yard, and pottering around and seems a happier more settled horse these days.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Have had a saddle and put my daughter on our 2.5yr old section A a few times. I am going to bit her soon and start taking her out ride and lead. Will do the rest in the spring I think. Funny she was a yearling forever it seemed then all of a sudden she needs to be doing some bits and pieces

 

[Orangehorse]

I think going to two or three shows if you can is a good idea, it gets them out and about, it doesn't matter where you are placed, it is the experience of going out, plus the work you do at home to get them to walk and trot nicely and stand up correctly will stand them in good stead for later.

You could advance the ground work ifyou liked, and do obstacles where they have to think about where their feet are going, it balances them, also things like walking over canvas.

I agree with Cortez though, the old traditional way of light breaking at 3 has stood the test of time. There are some nagsmen around, although they are getting fewer. There is one right next to a motorway around here, so if the horse is sent there it is pretty sure to be quiet in traffic when it comes back!

 

[Alyth]

I reckon everyone with a youngster should read Dr. Debs Ranger article about the rate of maturation of the horses skeleton....of which the last part is the spine - right where the riders weight goes is 5/6 years.....this is not to say the horse should be left until then!!! There is so much you can do without actually sitting on them!! Not just lungeing and longreining - those are only 2 things!! Can you move each leg one step only when you ask? Forward? Backwards? Sideways? Can you ask for precise number of steps - say 20? Can you ask them to move sideways across something? Can you stand on a mounting bock and ask them to side up to you? Both sides? Can you lean over both sides and rub all over in a friendly fashion? While standing on the mounting block with the horse side on to you can you ask him to flex both ways? To back a step or 2? To move his hq away and turn 180 degrees so he is facing the other way? Can you ask him to lower his head and is he happy to lower it enough for you to halter/bridle him while you are kneeling on the ground? Can you pony him from another horse? Can you send him forward, away from you, over an obstacle, turn him and return to you over the obstacle? Can you move his forehand and hindquarters with both direct finger pressure and no direct touching - rhythmic movement of your fingers? Sideways and backwards? Can you ask him to go forwards with you when you are standing at his girth (both sides), flank? As well as behind him? Can you ask him to go backwards with you in those positions? When standing there can you back 6 steps, turn his forehand away from you 2 steps then continue backwards? Can you do the same with moving his forehand towards you? Can you rub him all over with scarey things, like raincoats, oilskins, tarps, balloons, plastic bags....can you use your imagination and think of other tasks for him to conquer??? If so well done, he is ready for you to start rubbing him with your foot and jumping up and down with your foot in one - both sides!- stirrup then standing up in the stirrup before you actually put your leg over and sit down quietly with no bump and he stands still as a rock!!! Then it's time for him to stand still as rock while you swing your arms around, move your legs, move around in the saddle and pretend to fall off - with a piece of carrot in your hand as you lie on the ground under his neck!!.....Then it's time to teach him to move off from the lightest touch of your legs....This is my system!!!!
I forgot something!! Can you put the leadrope/rein over the far side of the horse, around his quarters, step back and will he follow the feel to turn to you? And of course can you do all this in a strange environment?

 

[Wheels]

We're back again to it depending on the horse and the trainer. Some are ready before others and it's our job as owners / handlers to work this out. When I worked with NH horses I found the early training and backing process fairly easy and the horses all willing and seemingly enjoying their new found jobs. Incidentally these horses although lightly handled were not lunged, long reined or backed until they were four years old, we backed them in the spring ready for the winter season.

My own youngster was trained by me he can be very sensitive and almost shuts down if he gets confused, he likes to have a bit of time to process things but once something clicks he doesn't forget it. For this reason I've taken my time to make sure each step is taught before moving on to something else. I did sit on a few times when he was 3.5 and then he had the winter off, I didn't 'ride away until he was 4 and I think that was well early enough.