How did you back your youngster?

michellev123

michellev123

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Hi everyone!!! I am backing Oscar when he is 3.5-4 (next summer or summer after) but wondered what you all did with yours when the time came?

1) What did you do with them?

Ie) How did you bit them? What did you bit them with? Happy mouth?

Did you lunge or long reining
When did you put saddles on?
When did you lean over them? etc etc

2)How old were they when you did it?

3) What would you be doing with him as a 2yo? 3yo? 4yo?

Oscar will lead out in hand and is very good with all traffic (lorries, busses, cars, biles etc) He is a really chilled little man actually so hopefully he will take it all in his stride.

Thanks so much guys in advance!!!
 
I sent mine away to be backed by a professional as I believe the backing stage is the most important you can do and it has to be done correctly. If you have any doubts or uncertainties as you probably have with your list of questions I would consider some experienced help. I don't mean that in a negative way but what the horse learns and experiences at this stage will be the difference between a happy in his work and confident horse or a sour horse put off by his experience and more likely to be passed from home to home with everyone trying to deal with his issues.
 
Hiya !

I started my boy from October last year, when he was 3.5. I used the ABC for Breaking and Schooling Horses (second hand off ebay), my bible, but did a lot of stuff extra, and omitted some bits. And we are still going, totally traffic proof, balanced and happy. Some "tips" -

- I have only lunged a few times to teach him how to do it, but don't want to do too much circle work yet.

- I spent a long time leading and long reining,after bitting, including in traffic (with hubs at the head), and turned out near a very busy road for a few weeks.

- I bitted using a mullen mouth rubber thing, which he hated, so binned that, and on the third attempt, he's in a happy mouth jointed snaffle, so good place to start ? I simply covered the bit in some honey, and holding both ends, popped it into his mouth while grooming, never for more than a few seconds for the first week. Build up gradually.

- Once we had the bridle on, we carried on walking and stuff, with a polypad surcingle, over which I hung a length of rope with two wellies tied either side, and gradually filled these up to get heavier. Then I added a feed sack with some haylage in on his back, and yet more walking round. I used the bridle to teach him about turning from the ground.

- when the time came to try backing, I did it bareback. I got him level the mounting block, and spent days teaching him to stand while pretend jumping up. Finally, slipped on leg over, and then when I finally sat on him, laid down, then over a few days sat up.

- then led, we walked around, and went from there. I school as we hack, but I only ride for 20 mins or so 3 times a week atm, walking and trotting (if he'll stay calm !!). I finally got my saddle for Christmas, and he took to it no probs at all.

Probably not the conventional way, but we are having a great time, and when he is stronger, we'll ride out more and get into more intense schooling. I loved every second of it, and just took my time. I have to say both friend's horses that were sent away have come back good, but don't have that "extra trust" bond, if that makes sense, imho.

Hope that helps, sorry a bit long !! And I know that this is NOT the conventional way of starting a horse, it's just the way I did it...... sm xx
 
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Thanks shysmum!!! Very useful tips!!!

LHS; thanks for your concern!

I have helped back 3 youngsters previously and have another one to help with this summer and do feel confident about it but also know that experiances of others are so helpful as no two horses are the same....... hense the post!!!

I also have many experianced frineds who are happy to help me if the need arises!!!

:)
 
Lunged him, then leant over him in stable bareback a few times, lunged him, then leant over him school bareback, lunged him in saddle, leant over him and got rodeod/bronked off, lunged him and decided to use friend as crash test dummy so legged her up!!!!!

He was a bit of a bugger to back, but glad I did it before he damaged his leg – he was backed, had six months off with injury (lovely) then was sent straight away for re-backing and breaking, had 5 months off over the winter, and is now back in work again full time :)
 
I've just broken my mare over the last couple of months! I had to bit her early as she had to have a bit for her gradings as a 2yr old, so i started with that at about 18months. I used a loose ring french link snaffle and had no problems.

Right from that age i started walking her out on the roads in hand to get her used to everything, and also for longer hacks from my other horse. I did a bit of long reining in the field (not on the road as i didnt have anyone to help me). I have avoided lunging her as i was told it is bad for their developing joints. Basically, til she was 3 i just did loads of groundwork and getting her used to voice commands. She had a saddle on at 2 but just being led around the field and long reined with it on. I sat on her for the first time at 3.5yrs and she didnt even notice, she just stood there! I spent about 4 months just sitting on her and letting her stand and get used to having someone on her back, or having someone lead her a few strides with me on her. Over xmas I moved to a new yard with an indoor school so i have worked on transitions and just getting her to move forward and working out trot and canter. She now has that all down pretty well, so we mostly just hack now. She is just 4 now.

As you can tell, i've done everything really slowly lol. I know some people prefer to have them backed and schooled in a few weeks, but im not in any rush so im just doing it as and when i decide to at our own pace, im not pushing her to be schooled well enough to do a dressage test! But im doing lots of schooling with her on hacks - just the basics and going in a nice outline but its more interesting than doing circles in a school, i get so bored with that! Im sure i did it all wrong, its the first time i've ever broken a horse! But its worked for us, my mare is the most beautifully mannered girl and bombproof to hack :)
 
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I had a professional come in and help me all the way so whilst he was done at home by me, it was all overseen so I didn't screw up. I now have a lovely little horse that I know all that has been done to and have to say, I am very proud of him.

He was wearing a bridle at 18 months, had a saddle on at 20 months and I did a lot of very short ground work sessions with him doing a little different each day but did not lunge until he was nearly 4 and even now, I don't work on a circle, I alway use the whole school.

He did a little long reining at 22 months and then was taken led out off my old horse for hacks - again very short ones from the age of two which he really enjoyed and got to see life. I also showed him as a two/three and four year old in hand and worked on getting him used to walking over poles, bags and general despooking.

He was sat on at 27 months - and I do mean sat on for a few minutes and I did things again to get him used to a rider on but not work, ie mounting, leg up, adjusting girth and then a tiny bit of walk. After two months he was back to ground work as he was having a growth spurt.

I left him until just over three, but continued with ground work, he has never been turned away, but there again he has never been in that much work that he needed time to recover. At 3 I got back on and again did 5 minutes a week very slowly building up until he did his first few strides of canter at 3 1/2. He did his first show at nearly 4 - just small local stuff and we started affiliated showing at 4 1/2 and started jumping when he was just over 5.

I have spent a very long time doing everything very slowly and gently as I had no time limit and for him it has worked out very well. He is a sturdy gypsy cob, hence sitting on him fairly young and my vet and physio were very happy that he was capable too be sat on. Other horses need leaving for a lot longer. Our clydie mare is rising 6 and is only just starting schooling this year as she has needed time to grow and develop whilst Chancer who is also six this year, is far more ahead.
 
please feel free to pm anytime. I made loads of mistakes, but fortunately had a forgiving horse - e.g. I fell off, he'd stand there looking at me almost saying "you ok mum ?" lol.

ps, forgot to say that I can now ride almost just by vocal commands. All I have to do is say "ss" and he stops straight as a straight thing, so lots of voice commands too. Oh and I will be having lessons as soon as he is strong enough !! sm
 
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I have backed quite a few over the years. I find what you do is purely dependant on the horse! One mare I 'broke' took weeks and weeks, simply because she didn't take it in her stride. She was mouthed ok, had roller and saddle on fine, but couldn't grasp the idea of a rider. After 'Legs' (straw filled dummy) did his job, she was better and time and patience proved a winner with her as she went on to be intermidiate (sp) eventer. (And hope somewhere she still is!) Can you imagin what the bill would have been for her to be away at 'professional backing yard?)
Meg, on the other hand took all of 4 days!! I found myself getting on her without any problems and riding out down the road (in company). Looking back it was a bit quick, but I've never had any issues. (DON'T DO THIS UNLESS YOU KNOW ITS OK!)

You will soon read their signs and do whats best for the horse when his time is ready.
Good luck
 
But in answer to your questions...


1) What did you do with them?

I used to walk him a bitted bridle EVERYWHERE like a dog always with lunge rein....we used to go round fields, up roads, etc. I then started long reining him with someone leading him and someone behind, eventually on my own..Then did lots of lunging with 2 reins, but not so much he got too fit....then (see above)

Ie) How did you bit them? What did you bit them with? Happy mouth?

He was bitted with a headpiece (no noseband) and keyed bit, then he changed to a vulcanite mullen mouth

Did you lunge or long reining

Both

When did you put saddles on?

AFTER I had leant on him bareback

When did you lean over them? etc etc

Always after exercise, firstly in in stable then in school

2)How old were they when you did it?

LOL!!! He was a twinkle in my eye :)

No he was 3 and a half at backing and 4yrs 2 months at breaking/schooling

3) What would you be doing with him as a 2yo? 3yo? 4yo?

2 years leading him like a dog and bombproofing him, 3 years backing, 4 years breaking and schooling.
 
Thanks for all the advice!!!
Oscar is coming up to two and has lead out in hand in comany for many months and twice alone now :)
He has had the saddle put on and taken off many times and didn't bat a eylid!! He is a very chilled little man so imagine he will take it all in his stride but as has been said above I am not in a rush and will take it all very slowly, whilst allowing him to be a baby!!!

Thanks again for the advice..... Anything else is welcome :)
 
Ooooooooo Theresa !! A sturdy gypsy cob - SNAP !!! sm xx

Michelle - see you've already started !! Common sense (and that book,lol) will see you right. sm x
 
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) What did you do with them?

Leading (Dually monty roberts headcollar) then long reining

Ie) How did you bit them? What did you bit them with? Happy mouth?

Yes but she ate one a week :-)so we switched to sweet iron french link snaffle and are still on that 3 years on.

Did you lunge or long reining

Both but having done join up she interpreted eye contact on lunge as 'send away' and so our lunging was more like hang on the end of the line. Long reining she got straight away and thought it better for joints so mainly did that.

When did you put saddles on?

She wasnt used to rugs when we got her at 3 so started with that and then roller for long reining and after we cracked that the saddle wasnt an issue.

When did you lean over them? etc etc

Always after exercise, in school with RI holding lead rein

2)How old were they when you did it?

3 and a half as she was very mature (she hardly grew after 3 at all and was very strong)

3) What would you be doing with him as a 2yo? 3yo? 4yo?

2 years leading , 3 years backing, 4 years bit of schooling and lots of happy hacking, mainly in company but some solo.
 
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