Do you back your youngsters or do you send them away?

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alpha1

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Do you back your youngsters or do you send them away to be backed for you?

Just wondered what everyones experiences have been, good or bad?

I cant decided if I should give it a go myself or get the pros in....
 
I back them myself. I know them so well by the time they're backing age that I can read their body language and tell if they're coping or stressing, it's good for them as they know and trust me (hopefully!) and we have so far (touch wood) avoided any mishaps.

I just find it better because I can take it as slowly as I need to, rather than having them at a professional yard where you're paying, the bill's going up, and I guess they have to do things within a certain time frame.
 
I generally sell my youngsters before they are 2 so don't need to bother.

If I have youngsters in that need backing I pay someone to come in and get on them for me, I can't risk getting broken myself.
 
I backed all our youngsters years ago, I really enjoyed it. I handled them since birth and did alot of ground work with them all so found them excellent to back on the whole. The 5yr old cob was a bit more of a challenge as she was quite sharp, even after becoming a mum but a bit more patience really worked wonders and she was great on the whole afterwards.

If I did buy another youngster which I would love to one day, I would love to bring it on myself, but that's just my personal experience of it.
 
I was in the same position this year with my youngster. after a lot of debating and seeing the pros and cons of each side, i decided to do it myself at a yard with help from the YO. I began relatively easily. He was so good at everything and got him to the stage where i was walking and trotting on him.
Then something went wrong, we are still not sure what, we think he got scared at something. But basically he started broncing and twisting till he got me off. then really experienced YO got on and he bronc'd again and when he didn't come off, he reared right up so the YO slid off his back in case he went over :S
I then made the decision to send him away. I didn't want to ruin him as he was my perfect horse and i wanted to go to a high level in dressage with him. I sent him to a lady just down the road and i was so glad i did. They were really nice and treated him well and i went to see him everyday and when he was ok being ridden, i had small lessons on him. It was really nice to see someone else on him and how he moved. Because i had done everything preceding it only took 3 weeks.
 
I back my own generally. There has only been one who was exceptionally awkward, was a dream to lunge and long rein, but kept having me off when I sat on him. I just couldn't stay on, so sent him to a man to sit on.

Currently I am re-training a racehorse off the track to a riding horse and going well so far :)
 
MosMum said:
Out of curiosity how much does professional backing cost over here?
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:) That is a "How long is a piece of string?" question I think. I suppose it depends who is doing it, a professional yard with all the gubbins or someone equally as capable at their own smaller yard perhaps.

If you are looking for someone in the Swansea area I know of someone with an excellent reputation I can recommend.

I pay my rider a flat rate of $40 an hour.
I know heaps of people here send their riding and work horses off to the Menonites (who take no messing) they come back broke alright but sometimes other issues have to be sorted out. It would cost me $150 a week to send a colt to them for breaking locally.
 
Thanks for your replies.

It a difficult decision as I dont really want to get hurt (not that any of us do) but at the same time i'd like the satisfaction of having done it myself.
 
I am in the process of doing it myself - so rewarding! I couldn't send away as he gets too stressed and goes wild (not sure why). My padding isn't what it used to be and I bruise easier but when I'm finished the feeling that I did it will be amazing!
 
I backed my 3 year old this year, and tbh, he was so easy I keep thinking I havent done it right!!!

He throws the occasional buck, when excited or when being told off, but other than that, he has (touches wood) been perfect!!

I have turned him away now until October, when I plan to hop on a few times before the winter sets in.....then he wont be ridden till next Spring....

It was such a rewarding experience, and I am so glad I didnt sent him away!

Having said that, he is a cobby kind....I probably wouldnt have been so brave on a damned great TB!!!!
 
my boy was very easy to do, and as it was my first time, I keep thinking I've done sommit wrong.......but he's a cracker ! He's turned away now, but next spring I'll start having lessons and take it from there.

Start, and see how you get on. I used the ABC of Breaking and Schooling book (modifed to our pace). Most rewarding thing I have ever done. sm x
 
It depends entirely on the horse!

I backed and broke in my mare about 2 years ago, she's 17hh ID x Section D and very laid back, she was very straightforward and easy to do. I have a 3yr old Hanavarian gelding that I 'could' and feel I should back at the moment, but.. I feel I'm too heavy for him, he's also quite athletic which is good as he was bred to showjump, but I have 7 horses to look after this winter and no help, so I really can't afford to be injured..
 
enfys said:
:) That is a "How long is a piece of string?" question I think. I suppose it depends who is doing it, a professional yard with all the gubbins or someone equally as capable at their own smaller yard perhaps.

If you are looking for someone in the Swansea area I know of someone with an excellent reputation I can recommend.

I pay my rider a flat rate of $40 an hour.
I know heaps of people here send their riding and work horses off to the Menonites (who take no messing) they come back broke alright but sometimes other issues have to be sorted out. It would cost me $150 a week to send a colt to them for breaking locally.
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Thanks, I will need someone to help me with Mo in a year or so, he's fine for now but want him broken for Western riding, I've called the schools around here and can't find anyone with that experience which is odd (to me). I would back him myself but I got 2 kids 1 with medical issues so I can't afford to break anything anymore lol.
 
MosMum said:
Thanks, I will need someone to help me with Mo in a year or so, he's fine for now but want him broken for Western riding, I've called the schools around here and can't find anyone with that experience which is odd (to me) I know someone who trains western in the area, I'd have to look up her name...it could be on the WES registry, I'll have a look for you.. I would back him myself but I got 2 kids 1 with medical issues so I can't afford to break anything anymore lol. Children tend to remind us of our own mortality and the fact that we have other people relying on us don't they?
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....

Here you are:
:)
www.wes-uk.com

Level 2 Instructors in Carmarthenshire:

Lisa John 35 Uwch Gwendreath, Drefach,Llanelli, Carms, SA14 7AR
Tel 07977 07084 Ceredigion:

Thea Lloyd – Tel. 01239 654506.
"Rhandir", Blaencelyn, Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 6DD.
 
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Can you not do all the ground work yourself and get him to the stage where you feel he is ready for backing and then ask a professional to visit and pay them to help you?

I have always done my own and I must say that when we bought a so called ready made pony for my daughter it did feel a lot like cheating, plus it cam with a few learnt problems.

If you do it yourself then make sure you do all the basics right so that he is ready when the time comes, also make sure you have help on the ground from someone you trust and work well with.
 
ticki said:
Can you not do all the ground work yourself and get him to the stage where you feel he is ready for backing and then ask a professional to visit and pay them to help you?
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Think thats a really good idea! I will look into it. My new (unbacked) boy is arriving tomorrow...i've always bought youngsters that have been ridden away so not sure if i'm excited or nervous!?
 
Ive backed and broken all my horses myself too! Im in the process of handling 2 2 year old Warmbloods at the moment which haven't had much handling and theyve already reached 16hh!
Lots of fun, one is really earshy he's slowly getting over it though just have to take your time and persevere! As nearly everyone else has said on here! You know your horse, you'll know how he will react and you have the ultimate thing his TRUST, and the satisfaction of doing it yourself is priceless ;-)

Good Luck x x
 
I backed my youngster last summer and then turned him away over winter. I loved every minute of it. He was so easy to do and like others wondered what I had done wrong. Got an instructor in to give me a lesson incase I had done something wrong and she told me everything was fine and just keep going and when I needed it to give her a shout. Its a great feeling to know I had done it myself and had got it right
 
I have started my wesh sec a earlier this spring, she has worn full tack, been sat on and walked round and led out (without a rider though) she has taken it in her stride. Before the year is out am hoping to long rein her then turn her away about oct/nov then bring her back in spring as a riding pony.
My daughter is a bit young yet to ride her (shes 5) so i have a capable 10 yr old to help me with the rest.
I have a cob who i plan to start in the spring, will see how we get on but i dont think she will be a problem - shes so laid back and has already worn a roller and been led about.
At the moment though shes out just being a baby :D
 
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