Breaking Livery

burtondog

burtondog

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 December 2002
Messages
902
Location
SE London/Kent, UK and Devon
www.michellehudson.co.uk
I think I must be losing my mind because I'm thinking of buying an unbroken 2/3 year old.

The youngest horse I've owned before was a 4 year old who'd been backed and turned away so just needed restarting. That was fine.

I don't have a clue how to back/start a youngster so I'd need to find somewhere to send him (and me maybe).

Any ideas where I could go ?
 
This youngster is identical in breeding and appearance to my first horse who was absolutely perfect. If he has the temperament to match I'm pretty sure he'll be the one for me.

It might work out just right, I'll have to do a fair bit of travelling for work next year so it'll be nice to have a horse to come back to without feeling guilty about not riding regularly while he's 'filling out'.
 
My only concern would be finding the right place to back and bring on your youngster. You hear such horror stories these days. And also, although I'm a bit old fashioned I always think it is better to do all this yourself to really build the bond with your horse and get them used to your way of riding from the start.
 
I agree with ISH_Mad - I've seen too many horses come back from breakers traumatised. There are some very good yards out there tho - make sure to get recommendations etc. I start ine out by working them in hand - first in halter then bitting them and moving on to in hand in a bridle. 95% of a young horse's education can be done from the ground - teaching them how to stand, be handled, walk through doorways etc. I've always found if you do solid groundwork with them the actual backing is a bit of a non-event!!
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I bought a 14 month cob - never had anything so young but have had horses for years and at the end of the day I really wanted this little chap and thought I could deal with him as he is very steady and sensible.

What I have done is to bring him on all the way by myself but I have had an instructor over every two weeks to monitor us. Anything new, that I was not 100% I was capable of, my instructor started him and then I took over.

However, I was the first to ride him. Sitting on your baby horse, knowing you are the first to do so is a very special, and for me, a wonderful feeling that I will never forget.

This may not be an option for you, but if you can do it this way it is very rewarding. I have taken 18 months from first putting on a bridle to just starting a few strides of canter - he was sat on at 2 1/2 and is now 3 1/2 and starting a tiny bit of schooling. The whole process has been very relaxed and I know exactly what has happened with him.

Personally I would prefer to do this than send away but then he is an exceptional little chap and has been so easy to bring on (so far).
 
Due to work commitments I sent my boy away to be broken by a professional event rider just outside Reading in Berkshire who was recommended to me. It was the best thing I have ever done as he wasn't the easiest horse to do anything with and was bolshy yet very nervy and took life far too seriously - I imported him as a rising three year old and he'd not been handled much. The yard handled him properly - quietly and without any aggression and he was backed and brought on so well that I left him with the rider for almost two years to bring on for pure dressage which he did with great success before being taken on loan by a dressage rider. I've ended up with a respectful horse, easy to handle in every way, an absolute delight to ride and more importantly for me a happy, confident horse with no hang-ups who wants to be with me and enjoys his work. He was beautifully looked after and I often dropped into the yard unannounced and was reassured to find that he was happy and settled and in tip-top condition - numerous friends of mine have sent horses away to other riders and have had to make appointments to see their horses and turned up and quite obviously the horse has been prepared for them. I found it very reassuring knowing that my horse was being looked after to the highest calibre when I wasn't expected.
If I'd tried to do the job myself then I would have been struggling to cope with my job and an unruly youngster and I know that it would all have gone terribly wrong and I would have ended up with a nightmare horse.
If you have any doubts about your capabilities and if you can afford it then seek recommendations for a professional rider.
 
Never be tempted to do what you're not confident or set up to do. Or what needs two to do if you're on your own!
If you establish the trust and the groundworks, and find someone well recommended by different types of owners, you should end up with the best of both worlds.
Good luck and enjoy!
 
It really depends on the yard, and the actual person who will be working with your horse.

Its the easiest thing in the world to mess up a horse when you're starting/breaking/backing them.

A good pereon will give you back a lovely horse, and the wrong person will give you back a nightmare which could take YEARS to retrain.

I'd get written refs from trainers AND (most importantly) spend some time WATCHING these trainers train other young horses, before your give them your horse.
 
there's only 1 person in Irelnad I would personally recommend. Really good trainers who will do their best for your horse and take the time and patience it takes, esp for youngsters, are hard to find.
 
for the last few years every horse i have owned i have broken and produced myself, it is very rewarding, the only thing you have to way up is that you are confident to bring on a baby, as they can buck, spook, mess around and the financial cost of having them broken, often when you work out the cost, its cheaper to buy a ready made one!
 
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