Did you send your horses away for backing/breaking...........

[Rainbowrider]

....and if so, would you mind telling me how long they were there, if you paid seperate livery, or an all in one package,
and how much did you pay?
Also, what standard/level they were returned to you at?

 

[Matafleur]

Hi, mine went away in March this year (she was 4 last week). She had been lunged and longreined a tiny bit when she went and had tack on and been sat on briefly, she had also managed to ditch me hence being sent away!

She was there for four weeks at £180 per week all in, when we went to see her on day 5 she was trotted and cantered round the outdoor school and I rode her on day 6. When she came back she was good to hack alone/company and had popped a few small fences. I was confident enough in her to take her up the road on my own and walk, trot and canter in open spaces etc.

Hope that helps

 

[Laafet]

I used to this for a living, I was based down in Hampshire and charged £175 a week and used to advise that it may take upto 8 weeks. It usually 6 weeks. I got the horse well backed and ridden away, hacking out and capable of walk, trot and cantering on both reins, maybe popping a small cross pole depending on the horse. I always made sure the owner rode the horse a few times before I sent them home to make sure that they could manage the horse and see if there were any potential problems. Some people do so much then send the horse back to the owner for a break before restarting them. I left this up to the owner.

 

[Rainbowrider]

This sounds like a good service. The fact you could treat her as a normal (although babyish) horse and get on with things when she was back must have made you feel you got good value for money? Was she stabled as a full livery while she was there, or turned out and just brought in to be worked?

 

[Rainbowrider]

This is about the same as I would return them. Were they in and on full livery at that price? If not what was included for the price?
Did you get on them yourself, or have a "jockey" to ride for you?

 

[Matafleur]

I was totally thrilled with the service, couldn't have asked for more to be honest. I rode her at weekends with the chap there to shout at me to kick on etc which also helped give me confidence in riding through whatever she tried.

She was on full livery, stabled all the time but on the walker and exercised every day. She went with a stable rug and that was all. She had ad lib hay but they didn't feed her a great deal as they like them quiet. Having said that she came back to me in lovely condition, shiny coat etc.

If I get another youngster I won't even bother trying to start it myself as this worked so well. The first week she was back we boxed to my instructor for a lesson and then a couple of weeks later she did her first show, all v well behaved.

 

[Laafet]

Mine were on full livery, were stabled at night, ridden/worked every day, sometimes twice if necessary, went on the walker and got daily turnout, which I believe is very important to a youngster. Obviously groomed etc. The only thing not included was hard feed as I thought it was best they brought what they were used to, I would sometimes change it as I saw fit and this was included in the price.
I primarily worked the horses and ponies. I prefer to work that way, and as an instructor I always wanted to check the owners standard of riding so I could train their horse to that way of going.

 

[Rainbowrider]

Excellent. Is it a professional yard?

 

[Rainbowrider]

Sounds a good service. If you don't mind me asking, did you make a living out of just backing horses, or did you do livery, teaching etc too?

 

[Matafleur]

Have PM'd you...

 

[Lyndz]

We're sending our boy away in 3 weeks, from the video's we've seen, he will come back able to go out alone or in company, at the back or in front, jump a little have seen big and small traffic, basically, able to do everything we'd want him to do! Will be paying 130 a week, full livery! He'l be away 4 to 6 weeks! My mare was done in 5 weeks on the same basis, but cheaper cos it was 12 years ago!

 

[Lonesome_Dove]

I have only done it with one, and three years on, you still can't ride him without him throwing a mental at some point - worst decision I ever made! I would never send a horse away again. This lady is very well known in my area, and very respected - you just don't know.

My sister had a similar problem with a NH trainer, the horse almost killed her - twice!!

 

[scotsmare]

My 4yr old is away just now. Cost is £130 per week but I supply hard feed. She's stabled (shavings) and gets ad lib haylage. Also turned out for a couple of hours a day. Worked once a day.

Am v. v. happy with the service (small yard) and am really chuffed with how she's coming on.

She's been there 3 weeks now and is lunging with saddle, bridle & side reins on, and is now getting ready for a pilot (hopefully next week).

I expect her to be there til end June.

 

[bailey14]

My friend is thinking of sending her 3 year old away next spring to Miles Pearson of Bromsgrove Saddlery (West Mids) after speaking to him and being very impressed with his attitude towards young horses and a more natural approach to backing/breaking in. Miles is also a saddle fitter of strong repute who specialises in fitting Farrington of Walsall saddles, and also does yard visits fitting saddles to your horse, and will also reflock a saddle to a horse whilst on your yard to get a clearer idea of fitting which is pretty unusual and amazing. After seeing him and his attitude to work many heads were turned at our yard. What is even more remarkable is that my very best friend is a trainee physio in her second year and has done a lot of study regarding the physical damage that can be inflicted on horses which are too young to be broken in (according to breed/size, etc) and her views are very much in line with Miles who practically echoed her thoughts and ideas without her mentioning them first.

His link should you be interested is:

http://www.bromsgrovesaddlery.co.uk/

 

[Rainbowrider]

That's a bit cheaper, and including shavings is good. Are they not going to long-rein her? Or do you mean lunging on long reins?

 

[scotsmare]

[ QUOTE ]
That's a bit cheaper, and including shavings is good. Are they not going to long-rein her? Or do you mean lunging on long reins?

[/ QUOTE ]

Long reining is next week - pilot is only just leaning over her so not quite ready for sitting on yet.

Meant to say that she's mucked out twice per day too.

 

[Rainbowrider]

That sounds a good deal for you. Nice to know they are putting the work in, and you're getting your money's worth. Some people charge that to drag them out a field, spend 20 mins in school with them, and turn them back out!

 

[scotsmare]

In fairness, yard is two mins from my house so it would be easy for me to discover nothing was being done! Plus the chap doing it has an excellent reputation.

 

[ihatework]

I did all the basics with mine myself as a 3yo, all the longreining and initial backing to the point of just being rideen around paddock at walk.

Horse was then turned away, I had intended on rebacking in spring of 4yo myself but as it turned out I was really busy with work/house move so someone else did it for me. Can't remember how long they had him, 4-6 weeks, it was £130 a week and he came home walk / trot and wobbly canter and hacking out.

 

[horseywelsh]

i back them myself

 

[atouchwild]

Hi, my sister and I have just started our own business doing this, as well as full liveries, racehorse pre-training, rehabiliation etc. How we do it is charge £140 p/w, that includes everything, ie straw, feed, hay etc. It is up to the owener how the horse is kept, so it can be in 24/7, out in day in at night or out all the time. Persoanlly I prefer them to be in all the time for the first week or 2, but it really is up to the owner.

Normally takes about 6 weeks. but always give or take a couple of weeks. By the time they go, we like them to walk trot canter in school on their own and working with another horse in the school too (following, leading, at the side etc.) and the same on a hack. They will have seen traffic, and we like them also to be confident hacking out round the farm on their own too. We will take them on our gallops if owners like, with another horse, just to do a steady canter.
They will do some poles and probably jump a couple of fences too. Basically try to do as much as possible without overfacing horse, and any thing the owners might request.
We too like an owner to ride the horse a few times before they take him home.

 

[atouchwild]

[ QUOTE ]
I have only done it with one, and three years on, you still can't ride him without him throwing a mental at some point - worst decision I ever made! I would never send a horse away again. This lady is very well known in my area, and very respected - you just don't know.

My sister had a similar problem with a NH trainer, the horse almost killed her - twice!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I can see why a bad experience would put you off, but to be fair, some horses are just like that, and it's not necessarily the fault of the person you sent it to. Yu say he throws a mental 'at some point' which sounds like some f the time hes ok.

I now how frustrating it is when you break in a young horse and it still, for example, throws the odd buck in, then owners moan! Sometimes there is nothing you can do to prevent something like this.

I have a pony who i bought 6 years ago , and he bucked like stink. I thought i could stop him, and certainly hes 200% better than he was and has done showing, HT, SJ hunted etc., but he will still throw in a buck here and there, it's just the way he is. I know he was sent away for backing before i got him, but I would never blame them for a bit of attitude.

 

[diggerbez]

i got my 4 year old to point of being leant over and sat on and walked round. he then went away for two weeks as he was splatting me everytime we tried to move off on lunge...he came back walk,trot and cantering off lunge and hacking out in company. he's still a bit nervy to get on but i think that will just take time... apart from that he's super duper. cost me £220....was very impressed!