opinions on turning away?

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beckyjg312

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i have a very clever youngster, he is soon to be 3 and we long rein, lunge, free school, everything and he thrives on work he loves it but as im coming to back him i see people back and then turn away? i feel if i was to do this it would just undo all the hard work i have put in and he would come back a complete wild beast as he requires alot of attention at all times otherwise he picks up bad habits. is turning away necessary?

thanks guys
 
We have a 14yr old CBXTB mare, now on loan to my daughter, this mare was backed late (7) and was an opinionated, bargy, nappy tart, she bonded too well with her field mates and broke my OH's ribs barging from her stable and rolling him along a wall, to get to her friend who was, oh 6' away in the yard.
Due to my daughters army commitments, the mare was turned away for six months, she went from being downright dangerous at times to being a plod
 
sorry twitchy finger, my daughter was this mares last chance, she worked with a NH instructor and was as stubborn as the mare, now has a horse she can enjoy, we visited last year and the difference in the mare was amazing, everything about her was calmer, my daughters theory is that she had time to think things over while not being ridden, but turning the mare away was definately the turning point
 
Turning away is a good thing, i have never had one come back any worse for it infact they have all come back better for it. Its as if everything sinks in and when they come back they are ready mentally to take on more.
 
I don't know how many horses I've backed, but it's a lot, and when I decide it's time to back one of them I do not turn away once I've started. Turning away has never made any sense to me tbh. Horses are either ready to be backed or they're not, in which case why bother starting until the horse is ready?
 
Spring Feather said:
I don't know how many horses I've backed, but it's a lot, and when I decide it's time to back one of them I do not turn away once I've started. Turning away has never made any sense to me tbh. Horses are either ready to be backed or they're not, in which case why bother starting until the horse is ready?
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Out of interest spring feather ever started and continued a 2yo like OP?
 
dianchi said:
Your baby is still growing and developing, what breed is he?
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he is welsh X TB, i know he is he wont stop growing till about 5-6, iv never done anything detromental to him, we play games, do join up, long rein (in a headcollar on walks) to get him used to traffic and other things, lots of parrelli games, to build a bond really
 
beckyjg312 said:
he is welsh X TB, i know he is he wont stop growing till about 5-6, iv never done anything detromental to him, we play games, do join up, long rein (in a headcollar on walks) to get him used to traffic and other things, lots of parrelli games, to build a bond really
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Good luck then!
 
I have started many at 3 yo and turned away with no probs. The latest I have was backed and ridden away at 4. Due to owners (not me) lack of time, was brought back into work by me 2 months ago at age 6 and just jumped her first grid at age 6. The time off had no detrimental effect and she now thinks for herself during
 
beckyjg312 said:
he is welsh X TB, i know he is he wont stop growing till about 5-6, iv never done anything detromental to him, we play games, do join up, long rein (in a headcollar on walks) to get him used to traffic and other things, lots of parrelli games, to build a bond really
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I don't play games with my youngsters. Getting him used to traffic is good though.
 
I have started many at 3 yo and turned away with no probs. The latest I have was backed and ridden away at 4. Due to owners (not me) lack of time, was brought back into work by me 2 months ago at age 6 and just jumped her first grid at age 6. The time off had no detrimental effect and she now thinks for herself during jumping.
IMO I would give time away but could still bring in once or twice a week to groom, work in hand, lead in traffic, walk past tractors etc etc. You can still educate without schooling/riding.
Do handy pony courses in hand and prepare them for anything. Nothing to lose.
Hope it goes well!
 
by games i ment parrelli style like with barrells etc i find its a good way for him to learn respect and spacial awarness as when i bought him in he had no stable manners what so ever lol
 
this is unbelievable i have a horse thats 3 next month and i come here to ask for your opinion on turning away and get blasted with sarcastic comments that are completey irrelivant? iv said nothing to offend
 
beckyjg312 said:
this is unbelievable i have a horse thats 3 next month and i come here to ask for your opinion on turning away and get blasted with sarcastic comments that are completey irrelivant? iv said nothing to offend
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Written words can be read as you want, no one has blasted you, i merely made a comment. In fact I wished you good luck when you mentioned the breeding!
 
beckyjg312 said:
he is welsh X TB, i know he is he wont stop growing till about 5-6, iv never done anything detromental to him, we play games, do join up, long rein (in a headcollar on walks) to get him used to traffic and other things, lots of parrelli games, to build a bond really
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Sorry to be blunt, but you say you're not doing anything detrimental to him, but you're lunging and long reining a 2 yr old, and planning to back it the moment the poor blighter turns 3. Im afraid that you are not doing him any favours, and risk compromising the development of a musculo-skeletal system that needs to hold him up for the next 20+ years. I would strongly recommend putting him back in the field, stepping away from the carrot stick, and allowing your youngster to grow, develop and be a baby for a little while longer.
 
I was always advised that we back in the third year (sit on) when youngster is still weak then turn away for them to grow stronger.
Horses don't forget what we have taught them - may require a reminder but it's all there.
For me I would either turn away or if you are sure he would forget then don't back till his 4yo and developed.
It sounds like as a 2yo his done lots of lovely stuff - don't rush him, let him be a baby.
If you push to hard at 3yo IMO you are just setting yourself up for issues in the future - bones not fused correctly ect.
 
Auslander said:
Sorry to be blunt, but you say you're not doing anything detrimental to him, but you're lunging and long reining a 2 yr old, and planning to back it the moment the poor blighter turns 3. Im afraid that you are not doing him any favours, and risk compromising the development of a musculo-skeletal system that needs to hold him up for the next 20+ years. I would strongly recommend putting him back in the field, stepping away from the carrot stick, and allowing your youngster to grow, develop and be a baby for a little while longer.
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i value your opinion but dont most people back at 3? he has been turned away until 2 1/2 then iv moved to an active yard ready to break him in and for the past couple of months we havent had turn out so iv been taking him in the school and taking him on walks and in the lunge arena to stretch his poor legs! its not like iv pounced on him as soon as he turned 3 iv havent even lent on him, he is not in work so i dont think i have affected his body in the past couple of months :/
 
beckyjg312 said:
i value your opinion but dont most people back at 3? he has been turned away until 2 1/2 then iv moved to an active yard ready to break him in and for the past couple of months we havent had turn out so iv been taking him in the school and taking him on walks and in the lunge arena to stretch his poor legs! its not like iv pounced on him as soon as he turned 3 iv havent even lent on him, he is not in work so i dont think i have affected his body in the past couple of months :/
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I personally prefer to leave them as late as possible in their three year old year, and preferably til 4, although people do back them earlier. I figure that they are going to be in work for maybe 20 years,, so I like to allow them to be babies for as long as possible.
It worried me that you talked about lunging, long reining and the like. They are hard on a mature horse, particularly lunging, and I really cannot see any justification for lunging a 2 year old.
I would be moving him to a yard where you have turnout asap. Babies shouldn't be shut up in stables - they should be out with other babies, learning how to be horses.
 
I personally wouldn't be lunging any young horse to much pressure on that circle. Long reining is fine.

I don't think everyone backs at 3yo. There is no written rule - i think its more each horse and there growth and development also some may not be mentally there. I think ponies are started earlier as 3yo but horses tend to be longer.

Lots of people start the long reining and in hand excercises as 3yo, leading in traffic, getting use to tack etc. Then usually lay over and sat on. Then turned away till the 4th year.
 
Is he for yourself? Your future?

Or are you planning on backing and selling on?

If his for you and your future I wouldn't after coming this far rush him now. I would find him a good yard with great turnout in a herd and let him mature. Let him learn respect and manner from the other horses. When summer comes let him eat and fill out then around July spend a month backing him then turn him away in September through the winter. Then come April crack on with him.
 
ok thanks guys iv taken all this into account,when i was at college and on my stud course they were all broken in at 3 so iv never really thought any different, i guess its just everyones opinions, we will hopefully be out full time again as i do agree 100% he should be out and playing with his mates. he is for me, had him since 6 months old and dont plan on letting him go :)
 
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