re-backing advice needed

[Hemirjtm]

I'm going to re-back our other mare (Dee!), as the plan of putting her to foal this year hasn't gone to plan because of moving house! So that will be put on hold until next year!

So do I just treat her like she was a youngster, and start right from the begining? Do I lunge her in her pessoa? Or just start by lunging her in her headcollar? Then add her bridle...saddle...etc?? Then start putting weight on her back, by leaning over her? Just basically treat her like she had never been ridden before! I have backed and ridden away youngsters, but Dee has had a problem in the past, so just wondered if it would be good to start at the very begining!!

thanks (sorry if this sounds jumbled!)

 

[zigzag]

I wouldn't use a pessoa

 

[Herbie31]

how long has Dee been out of work?? What was her problem??

IMO it all depends on the individual horse e.g currently I am re-backing Herbs who has been out of work for 4yrs and I am letting him tell me when he is ready to move on to the next stage eg settled and happy in the stage we are at.

I started lunging in a head collar then moved onto the bridle, then the saddle - all over a period of time (eg aloowing him time to think and digest it all) and watching for his reaction and making sure he was happy about it all.

We are now up to walking out in hand fully tacked up and yesterday I leant over his back.

IMO its very important not to rush them if you want to have a happy mentally balanced riding horse at the end of it

 

[Hemirjtm]

[ QUOTE ]
I wouldn't use a pessoa

[/ QUOTE ]
could you please tell me why? PM if you prefer!

 

[Hemirjtm]

[ QUOTE ]
how long has Dee been out of work?? What was her problem??

IMO it all depends on the individual horse e.g currently I am re-backing Herbs who has been out of work for 4yrs and I am letting him tell me when he is ready to move on to the next stage eg settled and happy in the stage we are at.

I started lunging in a head collar then moved onto the bridle, then the saddle - all over a period of time (eg aloowing him time to think and digest it all) and watching for his reaction and making sure he was happy about it all.

We are now up to walking out in hand fully tacked up and yesterday I leant over his back.

IMO its very important not to rush them if you want to have a happy mentally balanced riding horse at the end of it

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks

She has been off work for about 3 years, she used to buck and buck and buck with her old novice owner, and in the end she gave up with her (imo she wasn't very experienced, because she didn't get anyone out to see her back or get anything checked!), we bought her as a companion knowing she had problems, but got vets, osteos out and they checked her over, she has had back pain/problems, but they said that there shouldn't be anythign stopping her being ridden, so we have just left her for a year, not even lunging her or putting any tack on her, she has come in for baths, grooming..etc, but nothing else!!

Thats what i feel like too, but glad someone else has the same feeling!

thank you

 

[zigzag]

Because if a horse has been out of work it can make them very stiff and it though it isn't supposed to it forces them into an outline, several horses I know have had back trouble since using a pessoa ... though maybe those people were using it wrong, I think it is a quick fix

 

[Hemirjtm]

I thought it was to help with muscly in the correct way

have i got this wrong then? I never use it so that it forces them into a false outline, just so that they use their back end properly?! but don't wnat to cause her any back pain!!

thank you

I will probably just llunge her in her headcollar then

 

[teabiscuit]

iId start from the beginning - that would rule the passoa out for me too.
I'd treat her as a youngster.
i'd imagine it would induce a feeling of claustrophobia in a youngster if you just bunged one on, and get a panic reaction?

i've never used one anyway so just guessing.

i start leading, leading in tack, lunging from headcoller or cavasson, and then loose side reins once the horse has got used to the bit, gradually take the side reins up as they become accunstomed to the feel of them, and so on.