Poll: How long does it take you to bring on a young horse?

How long does it take you to bring on a young horse?

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Booboos

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Suppose you bought a newly backed 4 year old horse with a nice temperament and wanted to sell it on as a hack/allrounder (i.e. hacks alone and in company without killing anyone, will do a Prelim/Novice DR, will do a clear round 2.9" SJ, will go round a small hunter trials course), how long do you estimate it will take you to bring the horse on?
 
It would take me a summer, however I don't flip horses therefore although all the work would be covered in a summer I would likely keep the horse a year or two before selling it on.
 
Reckon a summer? Bee was 6, and was backed mid summer but in 2 months was doing well at prelim and competing at 70cm... Another 2 months and I think she'd have been at 85cm/ 90cm happily.
 
Think it really depends on the horse!! My friend broke her horse in and was competing affiliated SJ within a few months. My horse couldn't even canter for the first few months he was so unbalanced but now the balance is coming, he is flying along. My other friend broke her horse in before mine and even tho initially he seemed to be taking to it like a duck to water, she has found he is not very brave at all and panics every time you push him out of his comfort zone so is having to take things very slow. So how long is a piece of string I would say??
 
It depends entirely on the horse, and I never quite trust what peope have done with something, ie being told something is backed and riding quietly. I would expect a straightforward horse to be doing that by the end of the summer, but they are all individuals, and there are a lot of factors to take into consideration!
 
Barring 'issues' then I think it can be done within a few months but really I don't think there is a timescale it can be done in, I 'backed' mine myself and all wad going well at the beginning of the year, hacking out etc. But we've hit problems (saddle/back/girth related) plus two unplanned dismounts so we've gone backwards. Had that not happened I would have hoped to have had him doing some low level competing and having regular lessons now. It's not worked out that way though! :-(
 
Depends on the horse - taken me longer to get Fergs to jump a 2'9 course well... (or rather it would take us longer if we could do it!). But he hacks, is nice to be around, has been out at novice for a couple of years, TRECs and does other stuff too...
 
If buying something to sell on, then financially it doesn't make sense to spend a year or more. Starting with a 'blank canvas' with no pre-existing issues then 6 months should see it well on its way to becoming a responsible citizen :D Don't tend to do much xc with a 4yo though, little bit of schooling at the back end of the summer but that's all.

Saying that, I would still clearly be selling on a young, green horse so would not expect to sell to a novice or someone who didn't understand the importance of continuing to work and develop the youngster.
 
If its been backed correctly, then you would need at least the summer but totally depends on horse. Had many youngsters all different, some you could push and they handled it well, others you have to give more time. Patience is the key, no rushing or expecting too much and correct basic work, the abc needs to be right before you try move on. Medals are won at home, not in the ring lol. Always remember nick skelton saying that and tried to stick with it. My man gets regular mixed work to keep him interested and not over do it, schooled twice a week, lunged twice a week and hacked twice a week, one with anothrr horse and one on his own and one day off. This seems to work well for him!
 
I said a year because I like my youngsters to have a solid grounding in each area before heading onto the next. Also it allows for any problems which may arise.
 
Really depends on the horse. But generally I'd say a summer. Quickest I've done was a really nice quality pony - barely walked on the lead when I got him but got him backed and out jumping easy clears at events at 2'3 and winning local showing classes, at 6 weeks. BUT this pony was seriously easy, the nicest, happiest pony I've ever had. He was so pleased to move onto the next thing! Most usually took about 3 months to back and take out to their first low key dressage event or tiny SJ outing.
 
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Depends on the horse but assuming its been backed properly and is calm and happy then on average 6 months to be ready to sell on to a home who will continue the education sympathetically
 
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