Question for vicjip or other racing people..

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matthew

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Was whatching an old horsie vid yesterday and part of it was showing a 2yr old in a racing yard being backed. But they were backing it in the stable and then just kicking it round in circles.
Is this common practice to back in a stall like this- luckily it had a high roof but never heard of it before. But nobody was holding the horse-rider just vaulted on?
 
Some look down on it...I'll only ever back in a stable, done loads and not had a bad one through it! Seen some dodgy backing outside, can be dangerous.

When we did the yearlings they were all backed in large stables with high ceilings.
 
Wouldnt happen in any racing yard I have worked in or known. Some people do get on in small spaces incase the horse panics, but imo if they have been done properly from the start there is nothing to worry about. I would prefer to be in an open space, as I have seen some youngsters jump out of the stable when a roller is first put on, so wouldnt want to get on in a stable!
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Besides I do believe that horses should be left in peace when in their stable!?
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At the yard I wokred at they would be backed outside, after doing lunge work, long reining etc etc.

Never had a horse do anything dangerous this way.
 
Hmm- i have never seen it done like this before- as mentioned i would be worried horse would injure itself trying to jump out.
I would have thought if done gradually a horse shouldnt (in thery! lol) panic too much when someone first gets on top!
 
It is common in racing.
I think its very unsafe, and a bad way of doing things. If the horse is prepared properly it wont move a muscle when you get on anyway.
I had a horse that was apparently 'un breakable'. They had been working with her for 4 months and still she wore the headcollar in the stable(they used to force bit in her mouth and tie it on with string) - was a total cow. Within 2 weeks I had figured she had only ever been lunged flat out on one rein, and had lads chucking themselves at her in the box.
Took me a week of lungeing and longreining to get her settled. Then 4 days in the field jumping up and down beside her (hour or so a day). When I got on she was as good as gold and cantered upsides within a week.
When I get on a horse I dont expect it to play up. I expect it to trot away and have a little canter. I would expect a horse to play up more in an enclosed space, being unbalanced on a tight circle. I imagine being fired into a wall hurts and have no wish to find out.
I have also known people back horses whilst on a horsewalker.
 
Ive seen it done on dealing yards too. I think maybe its a practice thats fallen out of favour a little over the years although I will admit to having the odd go myself on a past mare.
 
Have done this in past (not on racing yard) but not keen, much prefer to back in school or round pen, as above posts have said if properly prepared should be fine.

Work on yard at moment, not race yard as such but manager is ex jockey and still backs a few yearlings, he does it in stable.
 
I find it interesting how the people who favour backing horses outside say they don't do it inside for fear of the horse having a nutty session and ditching them against a wall yet they also say they do it outside because the horse won't do anything as they've put in the appropriate work....the same would apply for those who back inside.

In the case of a muppet, either (inside or outside) could be dangerous, if the correct work is done then neither way should incur problems, its just preference I think.
 
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I find it interesting how the people who favour backing horses outside say they don't do it inside for fear of the horse having a nutty session and ditching them against a wall yet they also say they do it outside because the horse won't do anything as they've put in the appropriate work

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I dont really think that is the case. Id prefer to look at it the other way - you get on outside because you are ultra confident that the horse is not going to do anything.
A horse either plays up when backed for 2 reasons: not prepared correctly, or unbalanced maybe due to being nervy. If the horse has been prepared properly then either way shouldnt be a problem, but I prefer to do it in an open space due to the fact I think that corners are the major issue for just backed youngsters. Hence there is more chance of them becoming unbalanced in a stable.
Most people tend to think im mad, I tend to back mine on the road. Lean across, leg over, lean down, put weight back, put leg on - get handler to unclip as soon as im up and leg is on, then I trot on. The leaning over - leg across, leanng down can take weeks (months in one case) or minutes but theyll never play up.
I look on people who back in a school (or even worse, on the lunge) as mentalists. Figure that one out!!!
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I know of a trainer who breaks all his like this:
Tack up, chase round loose in lunge pen till knackered, get on, point up gallop, kick and sit.
That has got to be the worst way of all!
Hes quite lucky in that most of his come from yearling sales (ie, bitted/lunged - some semblance of a mouth), but last year he had 2 homebreds off a prominent owner. Both ended up at Leominster sales, rang a girl up who works there (one was a model of a 15hh).
'Dont touch them, they wont go anywhere except backwards off the muckheap.'
What a to55er.
 
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