Breaking/training, where do you start?

[Jadejods]

I have rode horses for years (25 to be exact) but i have not had to break or train a youngster.

My horse is 3 years old and is a heavy gypsy cob x Clydsdale.
Where do i start?
He walks calmly in hand and has let me sit on his back at stand still, he did not move at all when i mounted him.
I got straight off as i do not want to push him.
He seems a good lad but he does headbutt me in the stable, i have told him off and he stops, but he does it again when i go outside a little later.

I have only had him one week.
Should i start with lunging?

 

[burtie]

You will need someone to help with the early stages of backing anyway as it is a 2 person job so I suggest finding someone local who is knowlegable at starting youngsters and get them in to help you. if you have only had him a week, I'd say spend a bit more time getting to know each other first, if he is only just 3 this year I would avoid too much lunging and stick to long-reining.

 

[soph21]

hi i broke my cob x when he turned 3, my good friend is a horse/rider trainer/instructer, she came for an hour once a week. she would show me what to do i.e lunge and longreign. and i would carry it on for a week and the next week go on to something else, i had sat on him and had a saddle/bridle etc on him (cobs are so laid back!!)but before we done any of that we taught him lateral work on the pressure halter, a horse is meant to follow you and not you having to 'lead it' so if you walk in front of him he should be watching your every move. your more important than him or anything going on around him,and teach him to go back by just flinching your finger (honestly it does actually work!!) in only 4 weeks he was broken and i was hacking him out!!! that was back in september and he is my dream horse!!! if your in cornwall i'll put you in contact with my friend if not good luck it will be easy!!

 

[phaseone]

[ QUOTE ]
He walks calmly in hand and has let me sit on his back at stand still, he did not move at all when i mounted him.
I got straight off as i do not want to push him.


[/ QUOTE ]

Cocobay, it sounds as though the approach you are taking is a good one. You aren't pushing him and you are taking things step by step. As others have said, it is best to get advice from people who know what they are talking about (but these should be people you trust and repsect) and to read all you can about training youngsters.

Keep on taking your time and enjoy your new horse.

 

[MagicMelon]

I think you need to find a knowledgable friend who can help put you in the right direction. Luckily your 3yo is a heavy type so hopefully (!) should be a pretty chilled out, nice natured type who *should* accept being backed easily. I assume you have him used to a saddle and bridle if your sitting on him (or is this done bareback?). If not, then Id introduce these things first, and begin lungeing him tacked up until used to that. It'll also help with him getting used to voice commands so hopefully when you get on and say "walk on", he should know what to do.

I usually lean over them twice, pat the saddle and wobble about a little etc. Then I'll get a friend to lead them around gently in an enclosed area with me leaning over. If fine, then I'll slowly get on properly and be lead about again. From leaning over for the first time, to sitting up and being lead about in walk - I usually do this in 5 days (in a very short session every day of about 10 / 15 mins only).

Just take each session gently and see how it goes. Obviously if he's unbothered about the whole affair you can move on quite quickly.

I wouldn't worry about the headbutting, that's nothing to worry about. Just ask him kindly not to do it.

Have fun

I love backing horses! It's so interested to see how they react!

 

[soph21]

the reason i had my friend was because it was my first youngster and i didnt want toput a foot wrong and p**s him off and ruin a good horse so even with years of experience its better to have someone in who knows what there doing, good luck he sounds like my boy so he should be easy!!