Qs for those who have backed own horse/s

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GeorgeyGal

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I'm over a year away from this but a few questions keep swimming through my mind and I'd be grateful to hear others experiences.

At the initial backing stage do you find if you have a strong bond with the youngster can it be beneficial to have someone else mount so you can be at the head on the ground for reassurance and confidence or is it better to get on yourself?

My next musing is has anyone started a horse without going in a school, (I've never been into schooling in an arena and prefer to school around the farm tracks). Maybe as my youngster matures I will introduce her to the manège but for now she is v happy going round the fields and I was planning to start long lining this way to.
 
I backed my horse last year and I did the initial leaning over and getting on myself, my instructor was on the other end of the lunge and my horse never settled. One day he went mad and bucked me off as person on the ground let go of lunge line.

After that I got an experienced friend to help and I stayed on the ground. My horse seemed to settle much more and we had him off the lunge the following day. Then once he was off the lunge I cracked on on my own but I do feel he felt more confident with me on the ground.

Even the other day I took him to a show and friend was hosing him off for me, he was panicking and running round showing the whites of his eyes. I took him off her and he did a massive sigh and then just stood there and let me finish hosing him.

Each horse is different but from my experience the person they trust more should stay on the ground.
 
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It's fine to back eiout an arena- I backed my last one and rode straight round a little hack loop, she's been lef off another horse around the loop several times in full tack so it was a natural progression. Se hacked for 4weeks before going in a school
 
I always get on them myself, but I know others who always stand by the horse's head and put someone else on first. I like getting on first myself because the general idea is that they transfer the trust they have for you on the ground to trust in you in the saddle.

I frequently back them (as in get on them the first time) in the stable, and then will get on them in an enclosed space that they feel comfortable and confident in to walk them on for the first time and just let them amble about a little. But the first few times you really are only doing a little walk and some basic stop and go, so it doesn't really matter where you do it.
 
I did all the leaning over and sitting on myself but when it came time for the first little ride I held the lunge as he trusts me. Next time round it will be my hubbies horse and he knows both of us so I will be crash test dummy being lighter
 
Thanks for the replies, they are really helpful!

Does everyone long line before backing?

Has anyone added weights to the saddle, especially for going up transitions, if so what do you use as the weights?
 
I've backed both of mine without a school, in the field. I've also done both myself without anyone at their head (don't have another competent body).

I did the first without long reining, the second has been long lined a fair bit and is probably more established as a result. I haven't used weights on either, but it's not a bad idea. Some folk make weighted dummies.

However, what works for one won't necessarily work for another - horse temperament and handler/rider temperament play a massive role in determining what approach you should take.
 
My daughter's always been my crash test dummy as she's small and light enough to grab off if anything unexpected happens. We generally start with me at the head, and another trusted friend to help daughter on and grab off if needed. As we share a small private yard, and most pony duties with a good friend, both people on the ground and the jockey are all known to the pony.

We're in the process of very lightly backing a 3yo C at the moment and don't have an arena. We have a small enclosed yard so use this when daughter first gets on. First couple of times we just walked around the yard, third time we went around one of the fields, fourth time we went around the same field but did some of the return leg solo. Next time I hope she'll do a lot more solo but probably following another pony.

At this stage we're just getting pony used to the idea of someone faffing around on his back. And we do this without tack - well just a headcollar with reins attached. He has worn a saddle once, but never had saddle and jockey on together, and hasn't yet been bitted. This particular pony has only been sat on 4 times so far over about a 4 week period. We won't do much more with him until next year, when he will be bitted and we will do more groundwork with him including long reining, before he is properly backed with tack. By dealing with the weight and flappy legs issues this year and occasionally from now until next Spring, the hope is that proper backing is pretty straightforward.

It's not the conventional way of doing things, but we've found it's worked well with us - this is the 6th pony we've backed this way and all so far have been cracking little ponies.
 
One I backed in a school, with no one else around, the other I backed on the yard with someone else on the ground. Both of these had been long reined, one more so than the other as she hadn't been handled at all before I got her. The anglo was not long reined for various temperament related reasons. I don't always have access to a school its useful but not imperative.
 
I'm another one that uses my children for backing (bad mum!)

We do have a school, but I don't use it for backing. I start by walking out colts from the yard, getting them used to the idea that a bit of attention and something wierd (brushing, feet picking up etc) is a precursor to a bit of a jolly outing.

It's a natural progression to adding bits of tack, bitting, long-lining etc, a little at a time, each time with the 'reward' of a little walk out, during which he gets used to the feel of his new equipment. When we eventually throw up a rider, pony has already got a mouth, and voice commands. He may worry for a moment about the weight, but settles as soon as we walk forward, as he recognises the routine, feel of the bit etc.
 
I'm my own crash test dummy (emphasis on the dummy part sometimes, I swear!), but I do find it helps if you can rope in one other person that the horse is familiar with consistently. My current partner in crime is my yard owner. She handles my girls regularly, so the youngster is comfortable around her, and thus she was the one to hold Bug's head and lead her around in circles the first time I got on. She also rode my other mare out with us the first ride we did that wasn't walking circles around the yard and is still accompanying us on hacks. I deliberately didn't start Bug in a school and/or on the lunge as she came to me with some epic issues about the school and is prone to throwing a circus act on the lunge. We went straight from me riding Orange and leading Bug to me riding Bug with YO on Orange.

I didn't have B long-lining much before riding her, but she was lunging/walking and riding out in hand/manoeuvring through, under and over obstacles, moving all four quarters and backwards on command, comfortable with a bit, etc. I also don't use weights, simply let the horse give a pace when it's offered (e.g. coming up a hill, Orange is asked to extended walk, Bug offers trot to catch up, I gently ask and let her do a few steps, then build it from there). *IME* to find if they've done all the gaits lunging (or long-reined) in tack, with stirrups, most cope just fine adding a rider.

I would also add to all this, though, that before I started backing Bug (or any of the others I've done) I made sure I had a groundwork session with an experienced trainer with her and that said trainer was willing to come back as and when. We touch base every two months with a session (to date nothing under saddle), just so I've got the support there in case of - and preferably to avoid - any complications!

Good luck!
 
Ours are always backed in the round pen first. Quickly we move onto the arena, and as soon as they have directional movements figured then we take them out on the trails. I find the trails are a great place for youngster to understand why we ask what we ask of them. Some we long line, rarely these days though, we tend to do the ground work and then just get on with the ridden work. We don't use dummies or weights.
 
Probably not many people would agree with me but here is what I have done and have had very little problems:
I got my horse at a year, did lots of work on the ground, then turned him away.
At 2 years lead him from the ground on hacks out. Then turned him away.
At 3 years lead him out whilst ridding another horse. Then whilst leading him got my husband to sit on him. Then turned him away.
Then finally a few months before he was 4 started hacking him with other horse and on his own. We have done all his training on hacks out. He has never been in a sand school and he is now 4 years and 4 months. He is confident with traffic, opening gates, tractors,dogs, livestock etc.
I think this is the best sort of training as it put little stress on the joints compared with going round the sand school.
Please also realize this is my only ever youngster and I have nothing to compare him with. He is most of the time chilled out, maybe I have just been lucky with his character. It has been nothing but fun and so rewarding. I hope you have lots of fun next year and creating a really special bond with her.
 
GeorgeyGal said:
I'm over a year away from this but a few questions keep swimming through my mind and I'd be grateful to hear others experiences.

At the initial backing stage do you find if you have a strong bond with the youngster can it be beneficial to have someone else mount so you can be at the head on the ground for reassurance and confidence or is it better to get on yourself?

My next musing is has anyone started a horse without going in a school, (I've never been into schooling in an arena and prefer to school around the farm tracks). Maybe as my youngster matures I will introduce her to the manège but for now she is v happy going round the fields and I was planning to start long lining this way to.
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I've always got on myself and asked someone else to hold. Neddy can still hear your voice if you keep waffling, and it's my horse therefore my risk to take. If neddy opts to throw a strop and land on top of me, so be it, but I'd be weary of asking someone else to get on for that reason (unless you're paying a professional).

My first youngster didn't see a school until 6mths after breaking - it was all done on the yard / in open fields / on the roads (when safe to do so). Current youngster is in the process of being backed, majority of which we've done on the yard, despite having a school there to use. IMO, it's less pressurised when NOT in a school, which suits me to begin with.

Everyone has their own methods, and there's no real right or wrong. Just listen to your horse and go with your gut - they'll tell you whether they're comfortable with what's happening or not.
 
I was the first on my lad when breaking him in myself. The YO at the time got on the session after but I wasn't happy with their dynamic so I got back on after that.
I did a lot of walking out inhand with tack and the odd lunge. He never wore weighted things and I didn't long line him (he stresses out every time I try, even with help off an old driving groom.)

He's been very straightforward though, at 3.5 I got on him, basic W&T in the school and going out on hacks. Turned away Sept-April this year.
Brought him back into work this year as a 4yo and he's working on some more schooling, polework, the odd jump and we are going to crack solo hacking this summer.
 
I've just broken my 4 year old mostly alone without a school. I started by lunging with 2 reins progressing into long reining around the field until I was confident that the halt, walk on and back aids were established. I then started long reining out on the lane, as I didn't have any help getting him past a scary object could take a while as I had to come round to the head and lead past but other than that it was fine. I would then do 5 minutes of leaning over the saddle, pulling on stirrups, touching all over at the end of each session.

I did have a helper the first two times I sat on which I did in the yard, I decided to do this myself and I do think he knew it was me on board which helped stop him panicing. He's now been broken for 5 weeks, we have a nice trot coming on and have had a couple of canters.

I took him over to a friends at the weekend and rode in her school which is the first time he has ever been in one and then went out for a hack in open fields with 3 others where he behaved perfectly so I don't think not having a school has been detrimental so far and doing our work in a field has taught him that open fields aren't places to get all silly and excited!
 
I backed my home bred mare and as myself and my MIL had handled her since birth she was very comfortable with both of us so MIL stayed at her head and I sat on her. I didn't take her into a school either as I have a slight phobia about schools, not really sure why. She was coming along nicely and then I found out I was pregnant and she had a year off and I had somewhat lost my bottle when it came to getting back on so sent her away for schooling at that point.
 
You're really lucky to have the time - a year or more - most people are in too much hurry. I've nearly always longreined out with tack, we go for long, long walks that way, one day while we are out I get fed up with walking and just get on and ride back. I never have the option of either help or a manege. If you have the right understanding with your young horse that's all there is to it - do it when you know he is ready. One horse I bred myself I never sat on or long reined or put a saddle on until she was 3 years old and then one day just got on her bareback - no prep at all, I swear - and she swivelled her ears a bit and then sort of mentally shrugged and waited for me to tell her what to do next.
 
florayG said:
You're really lucky to have the time - a year or more - most people are in too much hurry. I've nearly always longreined out with tack, we go for long, long walks that way, one day while we are out I get fed up with walking and just get on and ride back. I never have the option of either help or a manege. If you have the right understanding with your young horse that's all there is to it - do it when you know he is ready. One horse I bred myself I never sat on or long reined or put a saddle on until she was 3 years old and then one day just got on her bareback - no prep at all, I swear - and she swivelled her ears a bit and then sort of mentally shrugged and waited for me to tell her what to do next.

It's very reassuring reading these replies as I have just been following my own routine with no time limits, just adding little extras on when I feel she is ready and hopefully the ridden aspect will just be a natural progression of what we have already been doing. I did think it quite unconventional how I'm doing it but it just feels right. I love the phrase 'the long way is the short way with horses'.

I remember a poster (apologies cannot think of their name) who said that one day they just popped on and rode their horse to the field like it was no big deal, that just stuck with me and goes to show its worth trusting your own instincts.
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We've now backed several ponies here pretty much as above.

The only thing I do differently is lots of desensitising with a plastic bag on the end of a long stick, then an old coat dangled from the stick. The coat will be dragged all over them and held up to full height so they get used to a large object above them! The actual backing is just leaning over then, then sitting on, probably done in the same session. By this time they are so desensitised to things on their backs that it goes without incident. The last two ponies went from tacked up to ridden in three afternoons.

I did sell one two year old filly to a girl who insisted on getting her vetted. Everything went well until the vet said she needed to get the pony into a dark stable so she could examine her eyes. Now that was a problem so I suggested just throwing a coat over the pony's head. The vet said that would not work as the pony would never put up with it. I promptly removed my coat, put it over the pony's head, and the vet disappeared underneath to do what vets do! No problem!
 
abbeyjoll said:
Probably not many people would agree with me but here is what I have done and have had very little problems:
I got my horse at a year, did lots of work on the ground, then turned him away.
At 2 years lead him from the ground on hacks out. Then turned him away.
At 3 years lead him out whilst ridding another horse. Then whilst leading him got my husband to sit on him. Then turned him away.
Then finally a few months before he was 4 started hacking him with other horse and on his own. We have done all his training on hacks out. He has never been in a sand school and he is now 4 years and 4 months. He is confident with traffic, opening gates, tractors,dogs, livestock etc.
I think this is the best sort of training as it put little stress on the joints compared with going round the sand school.
Please also realize this is my only ever youngster and I have nothing to compare him with. He is most of the time chilled out, maybe I have just been lucky with his character. It has been nothing but fun and so rewarding. I hope you have lots of fun next year and creating a really special bond with her.
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Well I certainly agree with you. I bought my mare at age 9 yrs, but I started by taking her out ride and lead, so she became streetwise to farm traffic, trial bikes, polo ponies en masse, road traffic... Because I've had no real motivation to back her (have another to ride), things have been very intermittent, so effectively she's been turned away in between every session, sometimes days, sometimes weeks. I lightly backed her last Autumn and even got to a stage where I rode her out for a short ride, leading my other pony as a confidence giver (how's that for unconventional, lol!). I stopped over winter, as my back went downhill, but recently I've started again. Riding and leading, lots of clicker training, a couple of walkies out with OH leading my gelding...After nearly 7 months, I sat on her and rode her for 5 min a couple of weeks ago. Last week I rode her for 5 mins in the school, CT for 5 mins, then rode her for 5 mins more. She was so good I took her down the drive to graze the hedgerows before getting on and riding her through the busy yard. A few days later I took her round the hay field and got on once I knew she was ok. I've done another session in the school, similar to the last session and today we did ride and lead again. Doing this she's learnt all the commands from voice alone, including canter (we had so much fun, this morning, cantering for quite a distance). She also does opening gates whilst being led AND being the ridden pony. I agree with you, Abbey, that this is so much more fun. When I'm out, I can stop at any time and let her graze. She's unbelievably accepting of everything I ask of her and most importantly, SHE'S enjoying it. She's now 13 and all I can say is, doing things this way has been right for both of us.

Sorry, I'm rambling (but I'm soooo proud of my little exie and she's the first horse I've backed). OP, follow your heart. If it feels right, it probably is. I sat on my mare in a field with nobody to help and not even a mounting block. I used a haynet to distract her initially, whilst she just got used to the weight, then I let her meander around the field, grazing if she felt like it. It's worked for me, so far!
 
im backing mine - as such...!



I think its as easy as you want to make it - i handle mine daily and everything i do is preparation for riding - the other week she had a plastic bag over her nose (breathing test), she wasnt phased in the slightest - even with 8 people watching her and 3 touching her sides listening to her heart/lungs at the same time - 6 months ago she would have murdered anyone near her stomach never mind doing all that....

but ive long reined her, groomed her, bathed her, walked her out, prodded and poked her - thrown bags at her, chucked brushes flying past her legs - she dosent freak out at anything...we still have issues with the hose but i am working on it....i have sat on her (shes rising 3) but theres no way im riding her until next year when shes 3.5/rising 4....

She lives next to a train track and trains dont phase her, shes lived next to a mortoway, cars dont phase her!... shes had chickens running around her leg's, dog's near her etc....again invaluable teaching a horse this imo.....of any age especially before backing - as let's face it - how many stupid dog owner's let their dog's run at horses!? hope to god i dont meet any loose chickens flying at us but stil....... :D

its a long process but id never buy a horse someone else has backed again...!!! i also plan to break her in properly alone...i trust her - shes trusts me....

(i may regret saying that :D )
 
After A LOT of ground work for discipline, bond and strength I have backed mine in a stable, round pen, on the yard, in a ménage and in a field- depending on what I had or where I was at the time. Also depending on the horse. I generally hack all my youngsters out once backed for few months, usually alone, to get them going forward and confident. I prefer taking my youngsters out alone as I feel more in control and think it makes them bolder/more confident to do things without a lead or latching on.

Defo like your plan of long lining round fields etc- I did a lot of this but also a lot of taking the youngsters out on hacks, leading from another horse- helps to get the idea and saves my legs :p

Good luck- youngsters are fun :D
 
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