New Youngster-where to begin !

R

RachaelV

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 January 2007
Messages
211
Location
Kent
Visit site
hey there , this is rachaels daughter ! I came on to ask some peoples advice about bringing on and breaking in a youngster.
I Have never done it before and have no hands on experience in this perticular area, I have bought a 2 year old 13hh (will make 13.3 ish) welsh section B as a project for a year or so , and i was wondering if anybody had any advice they would like to share with me as anything would be greatly appreciated.

Regards Charlotte
 
I appreciate that but you have to start somewhere , and i have lots of people around me who are very knowledgable and i would just like the benifit of everybody elses experience
 
QUOTE:
Personally, I would not be doing it myself with no experience. So much can go wrong..

I disagree, everyone has to start somewhere. If she has lots of experience with adult horses then why shouldnt she train a younster? Ive just got my first yearling, ive had no youngster experience before and i seem to be doing fine so far. As long as shes willing to ask other people for help if she needs it then whats the problem?
 
thank you very much that is the point I was tryning to get across and i would be greatful for any advice .. you no to do's and not do's hehe x
 
Hiya Charlotte

I think you just answered your own question. Yep we all
have to start somewhere and if you have lots of good knowledgeable people around you, you will be fine. Get yourself one or two people (or an instructor) that are willing to help and listen to their advice and accept their assistance. Its when people think they can do it all on their own that problems happen and can be compounded.

Good luck with it and keep us posted on how things go.

p.s. there are also lots of excellent books out there you could learn from as well.
 
Quote :whats the problem? :

The problem is that this is why horses become project horses or problem horses.

Personally, I have backed a couple of my own horses, but I had years of training with a lady who did it professionally and I learnt from her.

If you don't know what you are doing, you can ruin horses. Unless Rachel has an experienced person with her every time she handles the horse, problems may arise. It isn't something to be taken lightly.

I am very sorry if this offends.
 
All id say is Dont get on its back till its at least 3, preferably 4, i hate seeing horses broken to early.
For now id make sure that you get it used tro all the things that are going to happen when its older eg. boxing, farrier, clippers etc etc.
 
I've read lots of posts from other people who have asked for advice and previuos experience from other people and i appreciate that i am young (rachaels daughter) which is why i would like some information about how other people have produced a happy, and quality pony.
personally the pony i have purchased with my own money has had a great start as she has been well bred(Burstye line) and well handled and i would like to continue this and would be really interested to hear other peoples opinions (good or bad ) as i appreciate that posting this will result in lots of different opinions. Thanks
 
Also all the things that you dont think about like having baths, spending long periods of time away from the other horses(like overnight) as having a horse with seperation anxiety is not nice! Also put rugs on, even if just for five minutes, have scary objects near them that they could encounter out riding like plastci bags etc. Would be great if you could introduce the pony to other animals such as cows, pigs, sheep etc and maybe get a tractor to drive round the field to get them used to it (how many horses do you know who have an issue with tractors!) obviously traffic training, getting them to walk in front when there is another horse being led so they dont learn to just want to be behind.
 
Thats really useful thnx , we deealt with some seperation when my mum took her mare out for a walk today. i handled her and after a while she was fine. we have been in the sand school doing join up ..... mums a bit synical about this ! there were jumps up and she was very brave and bold and was sniffing and wondering around them all , follwing me around and trotting after me whinnying , she is also great in the stable !!!! didnt make a fuss , gret about having her feet picked out (apart from a nibble on my elbow) also agree about backing to early i aim to do this next summer.
 
Well done on getting a youngster. I always buy mine in as youngsters sometimes as foals. After a while say 4-7 years I sell on to get another, Ive usually got a few at different ages. Its fun and I enjoy it. yes you do have to start somewhere but you do learn and pick up bits on the way. Every pony is different and so you adapt. There is lots you can do now as a 2 year old. Take it for walks , let it get familier with you, brushing , grooming , tying up, feet picked out, just a little bit every day. (they get bored quick and have younge brains and bodies). good luck and have fun. I would'nt start breaking it until its rising 4, no reason why you cant have tack on now or next year. Good luck and have fun...
Your section B should'nt go over 13.2hh other wise he will measure out (too big)
 
Actually join-up works really nicely with young horses - they treat it a bit like a game and so long as you don't overdo it, they usually very much enjoy it.

You can take her out for loads of walks, do some long-reining with her, get her used to everyday things like plastic bags, traffic etc. Don't pussy-foot around her, make as much noise as you need to, treat her like a pony rather than a puppy and introduce her to as much as you can. A word of advice though, never fully trust her - at this age they are still full of beans and can turn and have a bit of a jolly at your expense sometimes, so do keep your wits about you.

Late Summer is always a nice time to back them, but make sure you get all your groundwork done before you attempt the backing. Have her used to saddles, make sure she is bitted properly before doing any work in a bridle. Put rugs on her to let her get the feel for flapping things on her. Put boots on, tail bandages on etc. Everything she may meet when she is an older horse....now is the time to show her that these things don't hurt and that she shouldn't become concerned over them.

People are generally happy to pass on information and so long as you have experienced people around that you can bounce ideas off then I think you should be fine. Always be careful though, don't take short-cuts and when you teach them something make sure you are teaching it correctly - it takes time to teach good manners properly, it takes seconds to teach bad habits.

Having done it this way for years, I can honestly say that you do tend to get a fabulous horse at the end of it when you start with them young. If they have been out in fields for all of these years you can often have your hands full when you start to bring them in to learn to do some work. Everyone has their own way which works - you have to find the one which works for you.
cool.gif


Good luck, have fun.
smile.gif
 
Thank you very much Tia that was very helpful we always listen to your advice , although we dont post much lots of what you have said has made perfect sense and i wil be taking all this information on board.

Did you see the photo what did you think any commetns would be fully appreciated I will be posting more this week hopefully!
smile.gif


She only came yesterday and has settled in really well with the other horse and my mums mare.
She has also made many new friends!
 
Its a wonderful time of year to have plenty of time to play with your youngster. As you have said you have people around to lead a hand if needed. The key things are time spent and patience.

A nice idea would be to make a diary, plan of what you want to achieve and set your goals.

For example, week 1, catching and turning out

Then go on to leading, handling etc and build up to tying up.

I am sure you have lots of common sense and this pony of yours will have a super time. Enjoy the whole experience, expect things to go wrong and dont be upset and angrey when they do. Its all about building a relationship and trusting each other. You will learn from each other as you go along and each day spent will be a small stepping stone in the right direction.
 
Thank you , she is great at leading and has let me catch her so far and has great stable manners but can be very cheeky !!!!!!!!!
 
I got my pony as a 3 year old, she had been sat on once before i tried her. So i did have some help however she was only handled for 6 weeks before i got her!

Just be firm but with a gentle manner. The lady that had her before me let her squish her when she was scared so i have a very bulshy pony.

I just take things slow. indtroducing her to new things, not running off, standing when being hosed off, standing for the farrier, that she didnt seem ot understand even picking out her feet was a mission.

We still have our issues both ridden and on the ground (shes nearly 5 now) but we have progressed slowly.

I would advise you not to rush things and dont be put off if you have to take a step back sometimes!

Good luck!!!
 
i think she is very pretty indeed! i also agree you need to start somewhere. I have had my boy for a few months and he is a six year old 14.2 which hasn't seen anything other than trees and grass (no horses so is scared of other horses lol), but he is very quick to learn and it helps that my mare (same age) has a very sane head on her shoulders and is unflapperble (sp) so it helps to calm him down, he is coming on realy well and although i had to go back to basics with handling and everything he is now happy walking over plastic bags walks infront and behind my mare, getting better with traffic can be tacked up, sat on walks round with me on him and long reins like a dream, doesn't run away when he sees another horse
smile.gif
it is very rewarding to see the progress they make and i wish you all the luck in the world
 
Good luck Rachels daughter. I too have a two year old. We got her a 9 months old. I was somewhat younger with my last youngster and it was a lot of trial and error on both our parts. But she turned out to be a super super pony who I owned for 27 years before she was pts sleep last Jan. She taught me a lot. And I hope to transfer a lot of what we learnt to my new horse. Myself and my daughter have spent a lot of time getting her used to the sights and sounds she will be acustomed to when she is older. Taken her out in traffic. 2 minutes at a time and then gradually extended. Walked her over plastic bags, round cones, let kids pass on bikes and with prams, see dogs, have people start car engines and rev them up. Let her see diggers, horses being shod, clipped. Had a saddle on her back (no girth and stirrups and only for a couple of minutes) but so that she knew there was nothing to be scared off. She is becoming very laid back and nothing is fazing her and I do hope that when we come to back her at 4 she will trust us. Good look with your youngster. It will at times be hard work but well worth it in the end.
 
Plently Of Handling Don't turn them out and leave it. Feed it and Bring it in, groom it. Anything ANYTHING is good for it just being with humans. Take it for plods around your yard to down a quiet road only a few paces. Juts very light easy things, don't overload it with work, otherwise it'll be too much for it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top