Sending away for backing - good storie, pleae

kerrieberry2

kerrieberry2

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I've read so many horrible stories about people sending their horses away for backing, so decided I would do my boy myself, with help from instructors but I don't think this is going to work, I don't have a school, I have use of one but have to box there and back, so by the time I've paid an instructor £25 an hour, boxed there and back and paid to hire a school, maybe it would be better to send him away! he's also a very difficult horse at times! through some big paddies today and trying to do it in a field isn't helping!

so can anyone try to convince me that sending him away might work? and that horrible things wont happen?!?

He's only 3yrs 3months so not backing him yet but just want to make a decision before next year
 
My 5 year old went way to start ridden work after I had spent a couple of years doing groundwork, longlining, getting him used to tack and someone sitting on him. I chose carefully and had every confidence in where I was sending him. I visited regularly and they were great with him. Couldn't have asked for better. He went to Ian at Hartsop Farm in Oxford.
 
sandy3924 said:
My 5 year old went way to start ridden work after I had spent a couple of years doing groundwork, longlining, getting him used to tack and someone sitting on him. I chose carefully and had every confidence in where I was sending him. I visited regularly and they were great with him. Couldn't have asked for better. He went to Ian at Hartsop Farm in Oxford.
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Okay that's cool, Oxford isn't too far from me, how long was he there? Because I'm struggling with the long lining at the moment, I have found a lady that can take him or a week or 2 to do some long lining stuff with him, hopefully going to see the yard and stuff this week!! just worried what might happen because he is difficult, I don't want someone that will beat him! I do worry about him as he's really sensitive! also have spent ages doing ground work, only to find that its having a negative effect on what I'm trying to do now! so don't want to get into that again! keep paying for help and it ends up not being helpful??
 
Mine is the same age as yours and I have sent him away to be backed after he proved to be too much for me at home. He has only been there a week but so far so good, I can call in any time and he is shiney, happy and learning! He really likes the lady who has him, too, which is a good sign in my eyes.
 
I backed mine myself - got as far as walk/trot on the lunge with a rider on board but then decided to send him away to get the next stage established. After a rocky first week it then went really well - he was away for six weeks in total and now he has been back for almost a week and I am schooling him in walk, trot and canter quite happily. He is a big WB and I have never backed a horse on my own before, so I'm really glad I did send him away. He is now a pleasure to ride, and is starting to produce some really nice work. I couldn't be more pleased with the result and I am now able to start having lessons on him, take him out and about, etc. I would definitely recommend the place I sent him - PM me if you want further details (it's in Essex).
 
My 4 YO mare is away at the moment, she is definitely enjoying the experience. When you walk past her stable with tack, she whinnys. Rushes to put her head in the bridle! She is just hacking at the moment, but has now taken the lead, proving to be bold and confident. She's in cracking condition too. Hoping to get on at the weekend !
 
It is important that you feel confident in where he goes, take your time and get references or recommendations as well as going to the yard to meet the person that is going to work with the horse, arrange for some sessions yourself once he is established so you are confident before he comes home.
Regarding the backing much the same but most professionals would prefer an unspoilt, untried young horse rather than one that the owner has tried and had things go wrong, if you find he is getting the better of you leave him rather than let bad habits become ingrained, a bad mannered or difficult horse is more likely to end up having to be corrected, not beaten but possibly a needing firmer hand than one that has not learnt he can take advantage.
A horse going away will often be far less difficult than expected, a new environment, new handler, new rules plus hard work can have a very positive effect.
 
be positive said:
It is important that you feel confident in where he goes, take your time and get references or recommendations as well as going to the yard to meet the person that is going to work with the horse, arrange for some sessions yourself once he is established so you are confident before he comes home.
Regarding the backing much the same but most professionals would prefer an unspoilt, untried young horse rather than one that the owner has tried and had things go wrong, if you find he is getting the better of you leave him rather than let bad habits become ingrained, a bad mannered or difficult horse is more likely to end up having to be corrected, not beaten but possibly a needing firmer hand than one that has not learnt he can take advantage.
A horse going away will often be far less difficult than expected, a new environment, new handler, new rules plus hard work can have a very positive effect.
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its so difficult to know what to do for the best! the instructor I had out today seemed to think that teaching them from a young age is the best, getting them to learn little bits at a time and thinks that he is having paddies because he's had such an easy life for so long, and now I've brought him in and expect him to do some work! altho I have been leading him out for a while!

yet other people think leaving them to do their own thing is the best thing!! arrghhh its so confusing!

If anyone has any recommendations of people/places for backing in Hampshire, please let me know! I don't want him to go too far as I want to visit lots!
 
I sent my rising four year old to Charlotte Rowe on the recommendation of many of our customers, and was delighted with the whole experience. She kept me updated, was very honest and most importantly to me she asked questions and listened to the answers. She wanted to know what I was expecting from Tinner once he was backed - my criteria was that he had to be safe to hack, and that he must hack alone. That was all done and more - he hacked alone, with one other, in groups, with horses on ride and lead exercise, he cantered alone and in groups, he was hacked out turned around mid hack and taken home, and then the next day taken on the same route and beyond to check for nappiness... all things I simply couldn't do if we'd backed him at home. I rode him out seven times before he came home, hence I was confident to ride him on as I knew what he was like under saddle. I doubt I would have found Charlotte though without the recommends (owning a feed merchants does have it's uses!)
 
kerrieberry2 said:
its so difficult to know what to do for the best! the instructor I had out today seemed to think that teaching them from a young age is the best, getting them to learn little bits at a time and thinks that he is having paddies because he's had such an easy life for so long, and now I've brought him in and expect him to do some work! altho I have been leading him out for a while!

yet other people think leaving them to do their own thing is the best thing!! arrghhh its so confusing!

If anyone has any recommendations of people/places for backing in Hampshire, please let me know! I don't want him to go too far as I want to visit lots!
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I don't think horses have paddies as such, they react in their own way to situations they find either mentally or physically difficult, you need to set them up to succeed by making everything easy to start with, that does not mean you dont push but you should have everything set up so they can learn, enjoy the experience and if something does go wrong you can step back into their comfort zone without having an argument.
Most young horses are very willing to learn new things, they rarely object to the concept of working, an easy life is not something a horse can really understand they live for now not what might be, doing a little each day is hardly working, it is whether he is really able to understand what you want that is most likely to be the issue not that ha doesn't want to do anything because he is idle.
 
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