Breaking-in

[Bananarama]

If a pony has already been broken to tack, leading, long reining and all the like and the only thing left to do is get on, then how much is acheivable in 3months.

I want a summer project (not this year) and will have 3months. I was hoping to buy a ready-to-break youngster and bring him on and sell him in 3months time. Is there any point?

 

[LCobby]

When youngsters are sent for starting, they can usaully do 3 paces in school, field and on a hack, although still green, in 8 weeks,
However, you can't be certain of a sale of any horse within any one month, so if you would have to sell in that timesacle, it woudl be a big gamble.
Also a gamble that the one you took on was not going to be a problme and that you would have the help on the ground and with another horse to ride out with as and when needed.

 

[Natch]

Personally, no. you would need a week or two for it to get used to you and the surroundings, in 3 months you will probably get decent walk/trot/canter but to sell on again the horse could be heading for total disaster; 3 homes in just over 3 months is pretty stressful, and it would be hard to judge if the new rider was going to get along with it, and anyone who was going to get along with such a newly broken horse would surely want to break it themselves. plus what do you do if you can't find a home for it and the 3 months is up - can you afford to keep the horse a few more months? New owners will have missed most of the summer with it, so may not be looking to buy until next spring

All things to bear in mind, nothing to say if you have thought it all through then still go for it!

 

[ajn1610]

Totally dependent on the horse and your ability. Wasn't Oliver Townend or some one going round a event on one that had been backed just ten weeks before?
If starting from scratch in 12 weeks I would expect a baby to be able to lunge and long line, walk trot and canter with a rider, have some basic school movements and maybe be able to pop a small fence. I've started a few and tbh it's how long is a piece of string, some take everything in their stride, others are slower learners.
However if you have any problems 3 months isn't giving you a lot of time and even if everything went great I don't know how sale able the horse would be. I would imagine people would either want something further along or be buying a baby themselves and by passing you and the associated increase in cost (I assume you want to make a profit). Having said that I've never tried to sell something at that stage so I am prepared to stand corrected!

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

At the end of the day the breaking in process takes time and no one can give you a straight answer as to how long it will take , Every single horse/pony is different , Some could say its possible but then at the end of the day , If you were to choose between a pony that was broken in within 3 mths or go for one that was broken in over a course of 6 mths , which one would you go for ? ? I know which one I would go for

 

[Bananarama]

I would be able to afford the horse after the 3months but wouldnt have the time to continue breaking it.

I never thought about the salability, ie. they would want to break it themselves...

The plan was not to make a profit, but not to make a loss. It was what I wanted to do the summer before university, so it would be fine if it didnt sell but i would not have the time to do any work with him/her after that point.

Guess I will have think of another plan for that summer..... Im so want to break-in a pony but I guess it can wait

Thanks for the advice

 

[ajn1610]

You still can, contact breeders or dealers in your area and go and work with them for the summer backing and breaking. I did and I'm no great shakes as a rider, as long as your tactful, have stick-ability, and aren't going to sue if you hit the deck, they'll be very happy to have you! You'll be able to learn loads, see how the different horses progress, without having to invest your own money or worry about selling on. You'll get all the benefit and none of the hassle.