Hate the term "breaking in/broken in" ...

DJ

DJ

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Oooooo it just drives me insane .... Now, i`m not a fluffy bunny hugger, but over on facebook when I hear people say, 'I broke it in' or 'it was broken in last year' I get so cross.

Backed, started, light schooling, ridden away ...... Much nicer, and clearer. I simply detest saying a horse is "broken" .....

Sorry, I shall get down from my soapbox now. Think I may be a tad hormonal today :D

Does anyone know where the term "broken in" originated from?
 
No, I always make sure I say backed to non-horsey people but with horsey people I just shrug it off. We all know what it means... I don't like it either though.
 
I think it originated from the idea you are breaking a horses spirit by making them let us ride them (if that last bit made sense) ....so it is a sad term really...
 
ajph said:
I think it originated from the idea you are breaking a horses spirit by making them let us ride them (if that last bit made sense) ....so it is a sad term really...
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Agree. I've always thought that too OP - I don't like how it sounds. But then I sound like a tree hugger bunny lover when I say that !
 
An old falconry term was "make". Sometimes falcons (but never hawks) would be flown in a cast (two), one an old experienced bird that knew what to do and what to chase and an inexperienced one. The experienced bird was called a "make hawk" and once entered and freely chasing the correct quarry, the one with less experienced would be said to be "made".

The meaning of words change with time. English is a living language. I don't know where "broken" came from but the probability is that it meant something much softer in the past.

Incidentally, a falconer "serves" (i.e. flushes) quarry for his bird.

As an old falconer I find it very sad the old terminology is being lost. Young birds were called eyasses in my day. Now they are chicks. The female was a falcon or a hawk. Now they are hens. Birds of prey used to make eyries, now they make nests.

Yuck!:(
 
I genuinely don't see the problem with the wording... It doesn't mean anything these days.

The wording is irrelevant in a way... The actions that have been carried out are the important bit! It doesn't matter to me if a horse is started, backed, broken in or brought on... I'm much more interested in how.
 
Oh dear, really don't see the problem, it's just a word!

I think there are more important things going on in the world TBH
 
I'm another that diesnt think it matters, its a well known term that even non horsey people understand so i use it
 
khalswitz said:
Because cowboys used to get on and hang on until the horse gave up trying to get you off.
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Mmmmmmm cowboy ....... sorry **mind wanders** :p

Dry Rot said:
An old falconry term was "make". Sometimes falcons (but never hawks) would be flown in a cast (two), one an old experienced bird that knew what to do and what to chase and an inexperienced one. The experienced bird was called a "make hawk" and once entered and freely chasing the correct quarry, the one with less experienced would be said to be "made".

The meaning of words change with time. English is a living language. I don't know where "broken" came from but the probability is that it meant something much softer in the past.

Incidentally, a falconer "serves" (i.e. flushes) quarry for his bird.

As an old falconer I find it very sad the old terminology is being lost. Young birds were called eyasses in my day. Now they are chicks. The female was a falcon or a hawk. Now they are hens. Birds of prey used to make eyries, now they make nests.

Yuck!:(
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That was very interesting to read, thank you :) My mums partner had a couple of falcons (i think they were falcons) beautiful birds up close.
 
I think there is little wrong with the description. To me "backed" means pretty much just sat on, getting used to the feelings of a rider, the leg and hands. "Breaking/broken in" means basically start, stop, walk, trot, canter, turn, (and hacking out). "Starting" I feel is the process of basic schooling that begins after those are established (I guess they merge into one really). I really don't think that there is anything wrong with describing that all as "breaking in". It's all the same process, and the only thing that really matters is just how it's done.
 
Thanks guys .... thanks to those who get what i mean, and also thanks to those who don`t think it matters. True it is "how" it`s done that makes a difference, how ever, it still annoys me. Like toast crumbs in butter, or grains of coffee in the sugar pot, or a shavings bed after a week LOL !!!!
 
Dry Rot said:
An old falconry term was "make". Sometimes falcons (but never hawks) would be flown in a cast (two), one an old experienced bird that knew what to do and what to chase and an inexperienced one. The experienced bird was called a "make hawk" and once entered and freely chasing the correct quarry, the one with less experienced would be said to be "made".

The meaning of words change with time. English is a living language. I don't know where "broken" came from but the probability is that it meant something much softer in the past.

Incidentally, a falconer "serves" (i.e. flushes) quarry for his bird.

As an old falconer I find it very sad the old terminology is being lost. Young birds were called eyasses in my day. Now they are chicks. The female was a falcon or a hawk. Now they are hens. Birds of prey used to make eyries, now they make nests.

Yuck!:(
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I love all the "old" terms too...people dont realise just how many of our words and terminology originates from falconry. Such as mantle, hoodwink, boozer etc :)
 
Imo it's a case of accurate communication or inaccurate communication. Those who use the term 'breaking in' give me the impression that they are rough and ready. Those who use the term 'started' or 'educated' or 'backed' are people who are accurate, precise and careful......Your choice of language is part of the impression you give to people, along with tone of voice and physical appearance.......of course if you don't care what other people think it doesn't matter to you, but then you will never know what you may have missed!! A person covered in tattoos and piercings with dreadlocked hair may be a lovely person but I will never know!!!:)
 
This term has been used for many, many years and is a very common way of referring to 'starting' a horse, 'training' a horse or whatever other more gentle term you want to use. At the end of the day, it is what is done that is important, not what term is used to describe it surely?

I know of several extremely kind, considerate and expert producers of young horses that commonly refer to 'breaking in' young horses.

I can tell you for sure that I would far rather take on one of their 'broken' horses that some fluffy bunny, NH or whatever term is currently fashionable youngsters that are supposedly kindly trained, started (whatever) , and are totally confused about what the devil is expected of them in life when they find themselves in your average horse owner's home who usually just wants to get on the horse and have a nice hack.
 
I have more of a problem with people who insist they are "braking" their horse in. I have visions of a horse with 4,000 bits in it's gob.
 
Someone could "start" a horse in a totally barbaric way - calling it "backing" rather than "breaking in" is not going to make it any better.

It's just a phrase, surely how it is done is a lot more important?

(Not read all replies so sorry if I have repeated anything!)
 
While I agree breaking in is just a phrase, I have a horse and a pony that were "broken in" traveller style, my horse was bought as a six year old, wouldn't stand to be saddled, rugged or harnessed, now ten he's fine, my three year old, bought this year, actually trembled when being tacked up, he's also ride and drive, the three year old has had mounting issues due to having a fright, but no longer trembles when being tacked up, he is ridden once or twice a month, led out with older horses or walked out in hand while he matures a bit, I prefer to think we are mending him, or restarting, he came to us already broken
 
It depends what mood I'm in to what comes out. It all means the same thing really :) sometimes I've started them, sometimes broken them in, sometimes backed, sometimes even started backing and breaking ! I don't know why but we generally we term anything that has started to have the basics is started, having a body on its back as backed... Yet the finished product is broken In :)

The term 'made', even when referring to birds to me is a beautifully old fashioned word. We used to love hearing the stories that a family friend of ours used to tell about 'making' hunters or describing them as 'made' and her telling us it was one of the highest accolades to be given as a groom for producing a made hunter from scratch. Makes me smile thinking about it.
 
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Then I suggest you don't use it? It's just a word. The term "starting" horses always makes me think of the old fashioned cars with their starting handles..........and wondering if they ever "finish".
 
katastrophykat said:
I genuinely don't see the problem with the wording... It doesn't mean anything these days.

The wording is irrelevant in a way... The actions that have been carried out are the important bit! It doesn't matter to me if a horse is started, backed, broken in or brought on... I'm much more interested in how.
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agree totally :)

Cortez said:
Then I suggest you don't use it? It's just a word. The term "starting" horses always makes me think of the old fashioned cars with their starting handles..........and wondering if they ever "finish".
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lol technically the learning/teaching process is never finished but i'm thinking that's not what you're remarking on, i think there's plenty of 'started' horses out there who have out witted their teachers and got no further than the basics!
 
The wife said:
It depends what mood I'm in to what comes out. It all means the same thing really :) sometimes I've started them, sometimes broken them in, sometimes backed, sometimes even started backing and breaking ! I don't know why but we generally we term anything that has started to have the basics is started, having a body on its back as backed... Yet the finished product is broken In :)

The term 'made', even when referring to birds to me is a beautifully old fashioned word. We used to love hearing the stories that a family friend of ours used to tell about 'making' hunters or describing them as 'made' and her telling us it was one of the highest accolades to be given as a groom for producing a made hunter from scratch. Makes me smile thinking about it.
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I always refer to getting horses used to hunting as making them and the ones that are hunters I call made.
 
Alyth said:
Imo it's a case of accurate communication or inaccurate communication. Those who use the term 'breaking in' give me the impression that they are rough and ready. Those who use the term 'started' or 'educated' or 'backed' are people who are accurate, precise and careful......Your choice of language is part of the impression you give to people, along with tone of voice and physical appearance.......of course if you don't care what other people think it doesn't matter to you, but then you will never know what you may have missed!! A person covered in tattoos and piercings with dreadlocked hair may be a lovely person but I will never know!!!:)
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I expect you've missed some cracking reads. What with judging a book by its cover.
 
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