Taking a backed 4year old for walks

[Jazz18]

I've recently bought a backed 4 year old from Ireland. Hes very green and I'm doing in hand work until I can get a saddle fitted. I want to take him for walks and wondered whether it was best to take him alone from the start so he doesn't become reliant on the others or whether to build up his confidence slowly by taking him with another. Also what tack would you use?I took him for a little walk in the brisdle but found I was pulling all the time as he was very keen. I have a dually head collar which I could use or just a plain head collar .My plan was to just start little walks around the farm not put him on the road just yet,

 

[teddypops]

Definitely take him alone, but sure he knows voice commands so will stand , walk on and steady etc without you pulling on him.

 

[MissTyc]

I would take him with another to show him the way round and then go alone, and then alternative. Confidence building is very valuable.
As for tack, maybe get the groundwork solid so you know he understand pressure release - then should be fine in whatever tack you choose.
Enjoy!

 

[Littlebear]

I did this alot with my 3 year old, established the long reins around the yard and school and headed off a few times a week, was very good for confidence and voice control. I did it alone mainly but if someone was around that was heading out would go with so it wasn't one or the other.

I used to do that with my older horse too when i wanted to exercise without riding.

 

[emilylou]

He's not alone, he is with you. I would try long lining as opposed to in hand walking as it translates better to ridden work, but if you prefer to in hand walk then thats okay. I'd always take him in a bridle and long line for safety and if he's pulling, then he needs training to not walk past you when leading/ lunging first to take the edge off if he's a bit fresh

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I used to hand walk my 3 year old on his own all the time always in a bridle though as he was still entire, I then long reigned him around the farm fields and his always been so easy to hack will go anywhere on his own.

 

[jessss1993]

I walked my 4yo in the dually, mainly because that was what I started her basic groundwork in.
I walked her in company for the first two weeks and gradually am taking her for short walks by herself when I am on the ground and still in company now she has started hacking under saddle.

 

[paddy555]

I would long rein on his own because that is what you want in a ridden horse. Big brave boy happily striding out in front on his own.

 

[RachelFerd]

Long rein, yes. Leading in hand, no. And never, ever on the roads.

Long rein in an enclosed space first to check he's OK with it. Not all horses have been given a thorough foundation...

 

[canteron]

But, don't long rein him out on your own before he knows the route, too much to go wrong (and when long reining goes wrong out and about it can go very wrong). I walked my baby horse round the village and local tracks in hand, so we could investigate dustbins, crazy children, tractors, trailers, motorbikes bouncy castles, in relative safety and I think it helped her to be curious about new things, rather than scared.

 

[phizz4]

I must have been very lucky with my novice mare. I put her in a sidepull and walked her alone around all of the local lanes, leading from both sides, when I first got her and before she went to be backed. We met tractors, refuse lorries, rattly trailers etc and she was, and still is, rock solid. The aim was, as said already, to introduce her to anything and everything (although she does still twitch at wood pigeons in the hedge).
I still do this if she hasn't been ridden for a couple of weeks, and now I use a rope halter with a three metre lead rope. And I still lead from both sides so that I am on the outside whichever side of the road we are on. We usually walk on the left, with the traffic, unless a left bend is coming up when we move to the right to get a clearer look at the road in front, and to give vehicles behind a better view of us.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Long rein, yes. Leading in hand, no. And never, ever on the roads.

What is your reasoning for this?

It’s something I do a lot of so would be interested to hear why others wouldn’t.

 

[southerncomfort]

I love walking out with youngsters, it's a really great way to introduce them to potential hacking hazards.

I've long reined a LOT and think I'm fairly experienced but I wouldn't ever long rein out on a road. The potential for disaster is too high for me, especially meeting tractors etc for the first time.

The first couple hacks on board I have someone on foot and then solo after that.

 

[MyBoyChe]

Im also wondering why Rachelferd says long reining is safer than leading on the roads. Im just about to start taking a young pony out and about and to my mind, leading in a bridle is far safer. Surely long reining is akin to those wretched extendable leads you see dogs on, the chances of the horse backing up and turning around, leaping to the side etc and getting away from its handler are greater! Long reining done well is fabulous but its easy to tangle yourself up if the horse gets away from you. I would lead using a bridle with reins lying by the withers and a lead rope as well

 

[RachelFerd]

To be clear - I wouldn't take any horse in hand, or on long reins on the roads, ever. I have in the past, but have since changed my mind about whether it is appropriate. The risks to horses and the general public are far too high. You are always safest on board - because if a horse tries to leave at speed, you stand no chance of keeping up from the floor, but you have a chance to control the situation on board.

 

[canteron]

To be clear - I wouldn't take any horse in hand, or on long reins on the roads, ever. I have in the past, but have since changed my mind about whether it is appropriate. The risks to horses and the general public are far too high. You are always safest on board - because if a horse tries to leave at speed, you stand no chance of keeping up from the floor, but you have a chance to control the situation on board.[/QUOTE

This is a judgement call on how busy your roads are and how good a rider you are.
RachelFerd is clearly quite an accomplished rider which is the ideal …. but I am a more accomplished leader so would prefer that!!

 

[windand rain]

Kitten had her first professional walk out today the trainer said she wouldn't long rein her out as she is too forward and confident so doesn't need it and would be concrned she got away. She is very confident but can be silly
She feels walking in hand gives better control. The older baby it's 4 is completely the opposite so will be long reined out to get her more confident and forward. I understand the logic to be honest. Both are pretty bombproof with things but Kitten is much sharper

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I have always led mine out on the roads (with a bridle) and I would much rather be on the floor if something happened, I lead with a coupling on the bit and a very long rope. I also ride and jump off if needed and lead, I feel it gives a lot of confidence to the horse having a foot soldier if there’s an issue.

I wouldn’t long line on the roads, I think it’s a bit hairy with idiots on the road but then it would worry me driving them also, it’s personal preference and depends on what your roads are like I guess.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Mine walk out in hand regularly. I walk them more than I ride them because my older mare likes to get out but isn’t ridden. The young one has been walking in hand since she arrived, rising 3.

I walk them in their rope halters if we are pottering around the village or in their bridles if we are going further afield or somewhere new.

The young one is bitless micklem multi-way so she’s still effectively in a headcollar.

I think it might also depend on the horse and your relationship with it on the ground. I think I’d feel a lot more nervous leading a 17hh giant on the road than my tiny little arab. We also do a lot of work in hand so I feel like she will respect me. I’m less certain on board because we’ve done less work under saddle. And there’s not a lot of horse in front of me when I look down - it’s basically ears and then the ground.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I'm lucky, my long reining can be done all off road. Certainly done it with our recently backed youngster across the forest.

 

[RachelFerd]

This is a judgement call on how busy your roads are and how good a rider you are.
RachelFerd is clearly quite an accomplished rider which is the ideal …. but I am a more accomplished leader so would prefer that!!

I'm on the edge of a major city, which has probably influenced my position. But most of the worst accidents I've ever witnessed have been due to loose horses on the road - and that's why I'd exercise extreme caution about taking horses out in hand. You have literally no chance if they decide to run.

 

[chaps89]

I love walking out with youngsters, it's a really great way to introduce them to potential hacking hazards.

I've long reined a LOT and think I'm fairly experienced but I wouldn't ever long rein out on a road. The potential for disaster is too high for me, especially meeting tractors etc for the first time.

The first couple hacks on board I have someone on foot and then solo after that.

One of the worst experiences I've ever had was long reining a newly backed horse. Quiet country lanes in the Welsh mountains with the exception of the forestry vehicles which stop for no-one. It was utterly terrifying having a stonking great big truck coming down to us, horse starting to freak out and being stood behind him was possibly the worst place to be.
Wouldn't ever do that again, even with an established horse on quiet roads - if something were to happen I'd rather be at their heads if out and about, and to long rein in the field etc instead. Still, luckily no harm was done and I learnt a valuable lesson!

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I'm on the edge of a major city, which has probably influenced my position. But most of the worst accidents I've ever witnessed have been due to loose horses on the road - and that's why I'd exercise extreme caution about taking horses out in hand. You have literally no chance if they decide to run.

This just isnt the case, you set yourself up for success and do the groundwork, in over 40yrs ive never had a horse attempt to run while leading them out in hand, they may be worried but they look to me, for reassurance.

 

[southerncomfort]

This just isnt the case, you set yourself up for success and do the groundwork, in over 40yrs ive never had a horse attempt to run while leading them out in hand, they may be worried but they look to me, for reassurance.

I agree. If you've done all the prep work and the horse trusts you and looks to you for guidance if its unsure about something, then their is no reason for them to run off. I've never had it happen

I use a rope halter and 12ft rope with bridle over the top.

 

[RachelFerd]

This just isnt the case, you set yourself up for success and do the groundwork, in over 40yrs ive never had a horse attempt to run while leading them out in hand, they may be worried but they look to me, for reassurance.

I mean, my extremely well handled and generally calm FEI event horse got away from me because of a pigeon flapping in the hedge at home. Fortunately I was only leading him around our farm tracks, not out in public. Anyone who thinks they can keep up with a spooked thoroughbred is out of their mind!! I spent ten years working with young flat racehorses - so I know full well that it isn't an isolated incident. Unfortunately many horses have a 'react first, think later' instinct. Which is usually super easy to deal with riding, but isn't physically possible to deal with in hand. I do lots of groundwork with my horses, but I do it where I know we are all safe.

 

[ThreeWBs]

I long-reined my then-young horse on a private farm track where he was perfectly calm and happy walking along towards home when we came to a hidden gateway. As he was eye level with the gate, a cow came out of nowhere and rammed the gate, much to my youngsters horror. I didn't even have chance to react when he whipped round on a dime, crossing the long lines on his turn and ran past me down the track. I held the lines as best I could, but there was no way of stopping him. Thankfully he only ran about 100m away then came trotting back when I called him. For this reason, I would never long line on the roads.
I feel much safer walking alongside him with a bridle!

 

[milliepops]

really personal judgement call i think.
the last 3 that I've taken out in hand would have decked me fairly easily from on board and i'm quite a sticky person, whereas I've never had them run off in hand.

I've long reined on roads but only with the one I know has a really good emergency stop and only on quiet lanes where I can quickly get to the front of the horse before any traffic is close.

All that said I'm not taking my current young horses out in hand at the mo as we now live somewhere with much busier roads and I'm not confident that I'd hold them in an extreme situ until they are bitted.

 

[tristar]

first assess the horse, does it lunge and long rein reliably, if not not teach it to lunge calmly so you can take off the edge of exuberance and relax it, if it long reins well do that after lunging to put it on the aids, if does not do these things perhaps it needs to learn to, these are the things that give you control and build understanding of what is required manners and control.

the main thing is it will be a bit exciting and looky looky to start so you work down from there and in no time at all it will become routine

think through where you are going to walk out, always wear safety tabard, gloves, trainers, carry a schooling whip, to stop the horse from running forwards and round in front of you, always use bridle, and longish lead, make sure you can control the horse before going out, prepare by lunging to assess the mood, make sure it understands what walk on, and halt means, and to stand still at junctions.

i always talk to mine when out, the voice is an important aid.

going out with two people is a good idea if you are not sure, one to lead and one to cover the back end and to give hand signals to traffic or another horse, but most of the time you will be fine
a good idea is to teach the horse turn on the fore hand and quarters so you can move it around using your schooling whip.

sounds a lot but not in reality, just to make sure you feel confident

 

[tristar]

forgot to say, i would never long rein on the road, the end of two reins is too tenuous to have the degree of control especially with a novice goer outer

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I mean, my extremely well handled and generally calm FEI event horse got away from me because of a pigeon flapping in the hedge at home. Fortunately I was only leading him around our farm tracks, not out in public. Anyone who thinks they can keep up with a spooked thoroughbred is out of their mind!! I spent ten years working with young flat racehorses - so I know full well that it isn't an isolated incident. Unfortunately many horses have a 'react first, think later' instinct. Which is usually super easy to deal with riding, but isn't physically possible to deal with in hand. I do lots of groundwork with my horses, but I do it where I know we are all safe.

it’s about having the right equipment and the right training. I’ve led all manner of horses out over the years and it’s about preparing yourself and the horse. I don’t lead with a short lead rope and I don’t lead a horse from pretty much under the chin like a lot of people do.

There’s a lot of people on here that lead out successfully and it is safe to do so, when you are prepared. I worked at an international airport for many years and it’s amazing all the young thoroughbreds being led off transport aircraft, with huge jets taking off and landing next to the apron, never run off, it’s about having the knowledge and prep to set yourselves up for success. If you don’t have either, then yes, leading out probably isn’t the best idea.