If you have quite a close bond with a horse...

L

Lill

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Do you think its easier to break them in ?

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I've still got months to go before i sit on Merlin but just wondering if the fact he seems quite attached to me will work in my favour or not!
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as long as he stil respects your boundaries and does not invade your personal space

some of the hardest horses to break in are homebred babies who have got so used to humans that they have no respect and just walk all over you

however, if he knows you and trusts you, then the process should be much easier as he doesn't expect anything you do to be scary
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I really think so, as they have trust in you and know your voice. I also believe it helps with all the firsts you do too. But obviously the only horse I have ever backed is Bodey.
 
He kinda is a homebred baby but he has to have manners!

He definitely knows my voice i can call his name and he looks about trying to see where i am
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yep definitely.

although the easiest horse i have ever broken was Millie- i have owned her since 2 weeks old and she has always been a madam, a real handful.
she was broken in under a week with no antics at all, a real gem to do. i am sure she was only that good to prove me wrong!
 
Yes definitely. I had intended to send a pony to a professional for breaking but he was so relaxed and easy at home having got his confidence in his routine and in us handling him that I decided to get on with it myself.

Did plenty of lunging and longreining with his tack on then just got on him and he was fine. Much less stressful than being in a strange place with a stranger. I did have help from a professional rider with his schooling at home once we had gone through the basics but i'm sure the bond we built up on the ground helped hugely when I did eventually get on board.
 
Yes and no, I met mabel when she was two days old and had her for 21 years she was a superstar to back however William, her son, was far from easy and has remained a challenge.
 
Yes & no.

I would personally do all the groundwork with them - e.g. lunging/long-lining - but possibly wouldn't be the first one to actually sit on them, sometimes it can be more beneficial to be the one they trust on the ground, after all, to the horse it could well be a sack of spuds on their back!

Having said that, a lot will depend on the horse - some will benefit from having you on their back, some will benefit and take more confidence with you on the ground to take their confidence from.

How exciting for you though!
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