Bringing on 3 year olds.

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Welshie Squisher

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I have two 3 year olds, both were backed this spring and have been worked lightly through the summer.
They have mainly hacked, and both clearly enjoy it.
We've limited schooling to brief and only odd times due to age, so both are yet to be taught to work correctly.

My section D carries herself really well, her natural outline is very good so I have no concerns, she has surpassed as expectations for 3 years and it's time to turn her away.

My TB/cob cross is a different matter, he tries bless him but clearly thinks he's a girraff :D
I'd obviously like to encourage his head down so he'll work through his back better.

We have just changed him from a french link full cheek bit to a straight bar happy mouth. I think he's happier but it made no difference to his head carriage.
He's had his teeth done, wolf teeth removed, tack fits great and back seems fine.
I think it is just youth.

What will help?
Getting an instructor isn't easy, availability can be an issue.

Thanks :D
 
I swear by draw reins! Love them because your not forcing the head down like side reins! I just start with a very slight contact to start with and with plenty leg on so your not letting them think you want them to go back and your riding them into the bridle, once your walking and the the horse is happy I'd just pick up a bit more of a contact and keep doing this until horse is starting to ride into the bridle and coming onto the verticle! I always school my youngsters with them and even my older horses! 9 out of ten I'm not using them at all but they're there hope this helps :)
 
All of the horses I've brought on have benefitted from loads of lunge work, ideally in at least side reins, if not a Pessoa. Make canter circles small and large, same with trot as it really helps them to learn where their balance is- I've found when they are balanced and moving forwards they tend to work in an outline by themselves
 
*fetches the popcorn and settles down for the fireworks*

OP, I'm sure plenty more people will comment at much greater length, but really would not worry in the slightest about where your 3 year old's head is at this point. Just going forwards, basic steering and stopping are enough for a 3 year old IMO, then turn away again for the winter. Even as a 4 year old there is lots to work on before thinking about 'outline'.
And as for draw reins on a 3 year old.... Please, just no.
 
Agree, I would never use draw reins on a 3 year old. In fact I didn't like using any gadgets on the lunge either.
He may be a bit immature still and finding it easier to carry your weight with his head in this position. Is his head and neck carriage any different to how he is with no one on his back?
 
Ecrozier - I have clearly stated that I'd just like to encourage him to bring his head down. I have not said I wish my 3 year old to work in a proper outline, he's 3 and due to his age generally only hacks and is rarely schooled - this is very clearly stated.

So there is no need for your comment regarding fireworks, especially considering you have no idea how far I am thinking ahead regarding his training.
 
Rowy, he's the same with or without a rider really.
I don't lunge much to know, again due to age. I am paranoid about lunging a 3 year old because I don't want to ruin his joints.
I'm not really looking for suggestions on gadgets, more riding expercises.

It's my 10 year old daughter who has backed and brought him on, she's done a great job with both of them and has done way more than ever expected.
I just thought he would be more comfortable in himself if we could gently encourage him to drop his head a bit.
 
What shape is your TB X cob? Conformation has a lot to do with where a horse naturally wants to carry it's head and neck and many TB's are not naturally round. Draw reins on a 3 year old are not really to be recommended my dears....
 
Nor are 10 year olds, no matter how marvelous they are..............simply DO NOT have the experience to teach horses anything: one of the two in the equation must know more than the oither!
 
I think ecrozier was responding to the suggestion above that you use draw reins, not in any way thinking you would want to.
Your cob is obviously more naturally balanced and probably physically more mature than the cob x, the less mature types will often find balancing themselves difficult put a rider on and they tend to counter balance by keeping their head up, back hollow while finding their own balance. Keep going as you are for now, he should with a quiet approach gain his self confidence, physical strength and in time learn to lift his back and lower his head.
Stretching exercises on the ground can be useful to teach them a range of movements inc. tummy lifts to strengthen the abdomen without putting any pressure on them while riding.
 
How can a 10 year old possibly be experienced enough to teach a baby horse what it needs to knoe? Old horses teach young riders: Old riders teach young horses.
 
The horse in question and my 10 year old daughter who has backed and brought on this boy, with only help from me from the ground and she's tried her best. I am proud of her and Merlin is her pride and joy that she has put her heart and soul into. She even had the courage to teach him how to pop over a jump in the past few weeks, just a few for experience and I happily caught on camera.
The video will answer some of your questions regarding his conformation and how he carries himself.

He will be turned away to mature soon, so all this may be irrelevant.


http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en-GB&client=mv-rim&v=Hen-NmiI_Tk
 
Lunging is an absolutely key stage of backing and breaking?? If you keep the circle large the stresses on the joints are no more on a young horse than being ridden :) its a very effective way of letting them find their own balance without a rider being thrown into the equation.
 
Deseado said:
Nor are 10 year olds, no matter how marvelous they are..............simply DO NOT have the experience to teach horses anything: one of the two in the equation must know more than the oither!
Click to expand...

My 3 yr old cob x is currently being backed by my nine year old child. How exactly do you think small ponies are backed if not by small riders?

OP, I wouldn't worry too much about head carriage at the moment, if he's being turned away for winter soon anyway you may find when he comes back into work next year things have changed :)
 
I think small riders are PERFECT for small horses; but inexperienced riders are not. Young children, no matter how game and plucky they may be, are simply not possesed of sufficient knowledge to school green horses.
 
Deseado - again very presumptive. At no point did I say my daughter was inexperienced or small. She wouldn't be capable of doing what she has done with both 3 year olds if she were.

Even international riders have lessons and seek advice, so asking a question doesn't make you inexperienced.
 
I usually leave backing till 4, but with a 3yr old I'd work on the same idea. All I do is hack on a loose contact, but with the horse moving forwards in nice swinging gaits. What they do with their head is their choice. But a youngster going forwards will automatically drop its head to some degree as it works from behind. And its also affected by how much natural rythym the horse has, as well as confirmation. With unspoilt youngsters if they work through the back then the head sorts itself out. Then I just do everything long & low out hacking till 5.
And without seeing ops 10yr old ride, its not possible to comment on her ability to bring them on. My 7yr old backed her pony last year age 6, & I assume ops child, like mine, isn't teaching the horses anything she doesn't already know herself. I'd rather my child rode a youngster than a lot of adults I've seen.
As to draw reins to yank down a 3yr olds head, excellent way to create future horses with issues.
 
Pessoas are safe - but probably best left til next year. He looks very grown up for 3 and she is riding him very confidently. I'm watching on phone - has she taught him to do a flying change?
 
I think you may be missing my point: NO ten year old child has the necessary experience to school a horse/pony due to the pure lack of time and experience. Yoyr daughter is doubtless enjoying and having a good time riding your young pony, but is she capable of really schooling it? OLD horses for young riders: OLD riders for young horses (there are small, old riders).
 
No ecrozier he did it naturally so she quickly cottoned on she didn't have to come back to trot. Sometimes he changes repeatedly, I started to have olympic dreams lol :D
 
I think she has done a very good job on him. He looks a little fussy in his head, has he had his teeth done recently. I wouldn't worry too much at all he looks very good and you are rightly proud of her.

Perhaps she would like to come and back a pony for me in about a years time :D

I think if you are turning him away you can get him working in a better shape in the spring.

Would like to see a vid of her on the other one of you have it!
 
Both of your 3 year olds seem to be going nicely forward with your daughter obviously enjoying herself as well, the cob x does not look as hollow as I expected just a little unbalanced still, asking for a change at this stage is not going to help with his balance but I guess that is down to rider being rather over enthusiastic:).
When they come back in next year some basic work on long reins or the lunge will help establish rhythm and balance, it looks as if they will both quickly learn to carry themselves.
Some lessons with a really good instructor will be a great investment as your daughter is doing so well she is at the stage where her riding should develop very quickly with some correct guidance to get the basics honed while she is still young and full of confidence. Just the sort of pupil I love working with but I think you are in the wrong part of the country.
 
News to me Deseado. I must remember to inform pony to stop going so well as its only a kid on her. Whilst you may not know any kids capable of schooling, as I do I will assume ops child is too.
 
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