Once backed, how long before you turn away?

E

ecrozier

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 October 2006
Messages
6,173
Visit site
Hi guys,
Just looking at various options for OH's next horse!
If you had a 3 YO, backed it the summer it was 3, how much more would you do before turning away? Would you get to point of hacking out a couple of times a week/lunging, or would you say that would be too much for still growing bones etc?
 
Completely depends on the horse. I have backed a fair few youngsters and they are all different.
For example, my big big baby (17hh, IDx) was backed at 3 but he was scrawny and undernourished (I bought him from Ireland straight from the field) we had great trouble backing him but got to the point of him being walked and trotted off the lunge line and he was then turned away for the winter.
But my friends pony (14.2hh App x ID) was cantering and popping a small fence before he was turned away.
Others we have had out hound exercising. So it really does depend on the horse.
 
If the horse is physically mature enough to be backed then i personally keep the horse going, but gently, and dont turn away. If the horse isnt mature enough then i dont back it. Turning away is very old fashioned and i dont feel very necessary. So i back a horse when it is ready and keep it going with light work, gradually building its muscle and stamina as it gets older.
 
My baby horse is 4 and is currently in the process of being backed. I left her last year as she wasn't physically mature enough to do it.

Once she's backed then she won't be turned away she will do light work for the rest of the summer to build up her muscles, a bit more over the winter and then she'll come out and start competing next spring (all being well
wink.gif
)
 
Thought I would just add that the reason my friend and I turned our horses away over winter is that we work 8 to 5, 6 days a week so couldn't give our babies the work they would of needed.
Most of the babies we do back don't get turned away.
 
My gelding has just turrned 5 and has been broken this year and is cantering and popping tiny cross poles. When he was 3 I was laying across his back, when he was 4 I was sitting on him bareback and being led around, but I waited until he was mentally ready as well as physically before having him properly backed and into work, last year he was a nightmare for barging and needed work on his manners. I won't be turning him away, but he'll do less in winter than in summer due to dark nights and nowhere to ride on the yard, riding will be weekends only.
 
Just to illustrate how different babies can be, our two baby percherons (same sire, Dams are half sisters so closly related) Both were started in harness and lightly backed (wandered around the estate in walk with v short trots) but one needed to stay in work, he became calmer, more supple (has mild trouble with stiff joints) and generally was mentally and physically happy so he carried on work in harness with an older pair horse building him up. The other... well he was a bit of a terror and was (and still is) growing so once he was going reasonably he went out and has now come back much better for it.

I think they tell you if they need the time to be honest. Ours did anyway. The boys all have november to feb off but we're already considering a foster home for the one who needed the work so he doesn't seize up over the winter!
 
I would always turn away at least for a short while, just lets the horse have time to mature, yes you can get away with not however why take the risk especially after reading the article posted above.

In my experiance horses forget nothing of what they have learnt and go almost straight back after a break to what they were doing before the break.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top