How long.

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How long do you think is a realistic time to get a horse from just backed, green 5 year old to:
Hacking nicely,
Working well on flat - able to do a nice prelim / novice test
Jumping a little - mainly small workers type fences and maybe some small xc fences.

I know what I think but will not say as do not want to sway anyone!! I have been informed that i'm being overly optomistic so just want to see what you think. I will not rush to meet a deadline, the horse will be done properly but I want to plan ahead so want to know a rough timescale!!

BTW, she is very easy going, takes most things in her stride, is a quick learner and has been well handled, she is also fairly bold.

Thank you!!
 
Around 3 months maximum.
Especially the hacking and jumping that would be sooner, whereas working on the flat may take a while to build up properly.
 
Depends how much time is available to you during the week! I reckon it would take me a year, but I work full time & have no all weather surface!
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Have all weather surface and indoor school. Also lots of jumps but it is a dressage yard so would have to get them out and then put away at end of session so won't be making long courses!!!! Will take it out and about though and take it XC schooling.
Time is not an issue at all.
 
A couple of years ago I got a just backed 5 year old at around easter time. She had been backed the year before then turned away. She was the most relaxed little mare ever and took everything in her stride. I was hacking her out striaght away, I took her to her first show a week after she did her first jump (the class was only 18inches) Flat work took a bit longer but she came 11th in her first intro after 4 months of jumping, would have been placed had the rider not had 2 down in SJ! She was a really special little horse and I was gutted when her owned asked for her back. and I was working full time as well

Thats her in my avatar.
 
6 months?!! I am rubbish at questions like this! If she is willing (which my boy is not!) then you would have time to practice all disciplines and her temperament to take on what you are teaching.

It is a difficult question as different horses learn at different speeds. My Mum's TB is a steady progresser who gets better & better, but very gradually & slowly. Mine is more of a roller-coaster
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, but when it clicks with him it is easy there on in
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. What time scale did you have in mind?
 
For me this is a "How long is a piece of string?" type question.

I really think it all depends on the horse, how long you have to spend on training, your ability etc etc.

If the horse is backed and riding nicely i see no reason to take it out hacking and start its education. Likewise with the flatwork and the jumping, i think you just have to start slowly and see how she comes on.....

Good luck, she sounds lovely.
 
I cant speak for the jumping, but to do a Novice test would mean consistant schooling to build muscle in the right place, to accept the aids and work soft across the back into contact. I suppose it depends on the horse, any tension to overcome, rider ability etc.

If I could get a newly backed horse to Novice in 3 months I would be well chuffed! My trainer told me that a rough guide is 2 years at each level before you move on.

Good luck.
 
Wow, two years at each level - I never spend that long!

Thanks for all the answers - quite varying!
I aim for 4 months - I am very confident that this is realistic to do a good job.

Kirsty - the horse is your sig looks lovely - well done with her!!!
 
I think it depends entirely on the horse and the riders expertise.

Some horses come very quickly - some take longer. I'm not sure you can put an exact timeframe on it to be honest.
 
Asuming the horse has been long reined first then a fast learner that is naturally balanced and well developed could be at a show within 3-4 weeks doing novice test, but a slower one could take months.

We used to back them and have them trotting over poles on the floor the first time they were sat on, and hopping over small fences within a week, but they had been loose jumped and long reined first. Hacked out on the same tracks they had been long reined on with a quiet companion within the first 3 days of being ridden.
This was in a competition yard with time, facilities and people who were used to youngsters, so not everyone would be able to do it. Horses were broken taken to a few shows and then turned away for 6-8 weeks before coming back and starting again.
 
I also agree with AM, it depends on the horse and the rider.

I rebacked Grace in November (we did a month of lunging in October to build up her understanding of the commands and her fitness), and didn't rush her too much because she was a very green horse who would panic about things that were different.

She has been in work now for six months, but I would say only since January has she been in 'full work' (ie. having weekly lessons and being ridden 5-6 times a week for 45 mins). She can now go out and do a fantastic Prelim test, but I didn't want to take her out before she was ready so she has only been out three times in total now, two of which have been this week.

I think the flatwork is very much a 'how long is a piece of string'. Like someone above has said, it is not just about getting them going, but about the horse building up the correct muscles, being relaxed in their outline and even in Prelim they should be learning self carriage.
 
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