bringing on and backing horses

[Vikki89]

At what age would you start introducing things to a young horse e.g bitting, long-reining etc.

I have been given some very different opinions on what and when i should be doing things with my youngster and wondered what others experiences have been.

 

[ecrozier]

We have just bought our first 3 year old, but have been drawing extensively on experiences of friends etc! Our boy has been bitted, but not lunged/long reinged yet.

Plan is to let him settle in for a month or so and just go for walks in hand and see some new stuff then crack on in the menage, with saddle/lunging/long reining, spend a month or so doing something brief most days culminating in backing him and getting him hacking out (when I say something every day that will include going for walks in hand, farrier practice etc as well as backing.). Aiming to have him hacking by the autumn then make a call whether to keep quietly hacking through winter or give him a break, either way will start with more intensity on school work etc probably april/may next year. Hoping to do a little bit of in hand showing this year as well to get him out to see the sights and used to showgrounds etc!

But as you say everyone will tell you a different thing! I am planning to listen to all advice from everyone but have two particular friends who have lovely 5/6 year olds who they have had from 3 year olds, so I know their methods worked, and also my SJ instructor lives 10 mins from us and always at end of phone so will be working very closely with her the whole way through. I've had tricky horses I have had to reschool in the past and have backed one very straightforward one for a friend but think the most important thing will be not to be afraid to ask for help!

 

[1275gta]

We normally bit at 2, and then start long reining 2 to 2.5 depending on temperment etc, then introduce lunging and then back at 3

 

[Vikki89]

I have friends and my instructor who can offer me good advice but one person i know is telling me i should get on my boys back now which i don't agree with, he has only just turned two!

 

[charlie55]

QR
No definetly dont get on him yet!! Not until he is atleast 3. Bitting and doing some bits on the ground is plenty for his age x

 

[emilyw]

I dont plan to start backing my boy until he turns 3. He is already bitted as I am doing a few shows this year (he is a yearling). I will carry on as I am, odd few shows etc etc but any lunging/long reining etc etc will wait until he turns 3.

 

[MagicMelon]

I wouldnt touch the horse until he was late 3yr old if he were mine. Id then begin riding him as soon as he turned 4. I wouldnt do anything at all earlier in life except general handling and maybe leading him out in hand and over spooky things on the ground (tarpolin) etc.

 

[ecrozier]

I definately wouldn't get on him yet! I do know someone at our old yard who back their QH at 2 and know a lot of people do, but I wouldn't do it. they were jumping him as a rising 3 year old. Not for me. Our boy actually turns 3 on 1st June and we will probably back hin in August!

 

[Theresa_F]

Chancer was bitted at 18 months and we did in hand work from 16 months to get him ready for going out in hand to show, three 5 mins sessions a week to start.

He started wearing a saddle at 20 months, a little long reining at 22 months and he was also led out off Cairo when he was two which he really enjoyed.

I sat on him at 28 months - and I do mean just sat to get him used to be mounted and did things like swinging arms and feet, moving in the saddle, having a leg up - nothing very physical apart from 5 min walk and halt and turns in the school every other week. Vet/instructor said he was ready as he is a chunky cob to do this and I am small.

Back to in hand work from 30 months until nearly 3 when I started doing very short hacks - 10 mins once a week at a walk building up over 6 months to 20 mins. He also started to be hacked out solo. We did 5 mins schooling each week and at 3 1/2 did our first few strides of canter. At 4 we started a few local showing shows and at 4/12 we have started affiliated showing and some local dressage.

This year at 5 my aim is starting a little jumping and for the winter to do a few local shows at SJ.

I did start very early but have only done a tiny bit each week so he has never been stressed and had plenty of time to think things through. For him this has really worked as even when very young he would get bored and bolsy if left in the field. Some people prefer to leave until later and do things faster.

All horses are different, Farra is the same age, but far more backward than Chancer as she is a big gangly clydie at 17 hands and we are only just starting to do some schooling with her as she is taking time to strengthen up and learn where her legs go.