The process of backing

[lunaeclipse]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if I could bash some ideas around re backing youngsters.
For those of you who have had a youngster, what did you think was vital to have taught or done before getting on and riding and what did you find the hardest/easiest?

I'm finding teaching to long-rein quite hard. The youngster I'm starting, whilst he can be mellow, gets pretty head strong and quick witted when learning new things. Unless I get a whip invovled (only as an encouragement! Not as a hitting device) I think it could take a pretty long time to get him walking out confidently to start teaching other things!

So, what are your tips and tricks?

 

[Springy]

Little and often and repetition

They can get bored very easily.

Lots of lunging long reining even long rein behind a horse hacking out for encouragement to go forwards (not too much as you dont want them to not go out at all alone)

Sometimes someone walking at their head when they start longreining helps too.

Jumping up and down next to them tapping both side of the saddle etc lots of desensiting to items the more done the easier the actuall 'breaking' part is.

Enjoy it

 

[Fransurrey]

I was very unconventional and not everyone will like the way I've done things, but for me, the most important thing was that she was confident out and about, so I sat on her, but then concentrated for a while on taking her out. First it was walkies (OH leading my other pony), then I did ride and lead, then I took her out walkies alone and under saddle. She learnt walk on and trot on from the riding and leading.

I have nowhere to lunge and am not too good with long lining, but I will do that, too. Currently we're at the stage where she goes out alone and I walk her a little way (making sure she's settled), then get on and ride! We started with a few mins, but am now up to about 30, just walk (we've had a couple of trots, but only a few paces).

When I first sat on her, it was after putting tack on her a few times in the field. I led her around like that (and more walkies!), then one day it just felt right to get on! I let her wander of her own accord, just not doing anything but balance.

So there you go. I'm a BHS manual reader's nightmare, I expect, lol! It's working so far for us, though!

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Little and often and repetition

They can get bored very easily.

Agree with this, it sums things up /\

I have done little and fairly often with Nell, she learns quick and gets bored quick, when she gets bored I quickly do something else to keep her interested.

I have in truth done a very minimal amount in the school but have done a lot more work out walking her in hand with her, i first started leaning over out on walks as opposed to in the school. I only started using the school a little so she got used to it for when I first got and and I had a soft landing if needed! Though today the school was busy so my mate walked me on the yard instead!

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I'm a BHS manual reader's nightmare, I expect, lol! It's working so far for us, though!

Same here! I just take things steady and I try not to think and just do otherwise I may scare myself if I think about what I am currently trying to do

 

[dominobrown]

I like to have steering and breaks on the long reins and lunge before getting on. You wouldn't drive a car with no brakes or steering but some people think its ok to ride them.
Repetition of everything is handy too. If the horse is not happy with me putting a pad over its back I will put it on and off until the horse is bothered for example.

It takes as long as it takes, and often if you spend a lot of time doing groundwork, often the actual 'getting on' is a bit of a non-event!

 

[ladyt25]

I have just 'backed' mine - never done it before but decided last Oct to get sat on him as he's 3 (will be 4 this May). I had done some ground work with him with the help of an instructor and this mainly involved getting him to walk forwards when asked, stop and stand. I used a whip tapping on his side to ask for forward - you tap gently and increase the intensity of the tapping until the step forward, you then stop the tapping, praise and repeat essentially. We also practiced asking for 'back' (tapping with whip on his front legs) and he was expected to stand and I was able to walk infront of him and to either side whilst he stood. If he moved, he was asked to stand again.

He got it very quickly and we then taught him to control his flight response - ie not to leg it whenever he saw something scary - I did this in a school. He caught on very quickly as he loves to do 'stuff' and keep his brain active but, he tired quite quickly so it is a case of little and often.

I didn't long rein at all but I did lead him out in hand along the roads a couple of times. I basically didn't feel confident long-reining so didn't feel it would be beneficial. My instructor actually said it wasn't a necessity and, if you are long reining on a road you can't react as quickly to them spooking for example as they are likely to be in the middle of the road before you regain control. What she said actually made sense - she does long rein and also lunge but said you need to do what suits you and your horse and the facilities you have essentially.

I am happier on board i have to say and I braved a short hack out with my sister on foot. We then progressed to going out with another horse. Today we have been on our 4th hack which was long for him (about an hour) and he's doing really well!

I have lunged him a few times but I don't have a school so have had to hire them. This was good though for getting him tp move away from me and to get him used to moving with his tack on.

Essentially i think you know your horse best and what stage they are at and how fast or slow you should go. It is helpful having an expert to help but at no time did i want to sned mine away for backing, would much rather do it myself! I think the basic ground work I have done has really helped as, if he's not sure about something out hacking and my leg aids are not working 100%, that little tapping behind my leg gives him the confidence to move forward as that is something he knows and is familiar to him.

Oh, (sorry this is looong!) I took mine to a couple of in hand shows too to get him some life experience. I think this is a really good think to do!

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

Fransurrey- cant quote as on my phone but I also backed a friends horse by just getting on her loose in the field

Intrestingly I read somewhere a while ago about a stud farm/establishment and the horses there spent the first two weeks of being backed just being sat on. If I remember correctly they may have been young race horses but they were just sat on on the gallops and left to wander about. They could gallop off if they wanted to but most just walked about of their own accord

 

[Springy]

I like to have steering and breaks on the long reins and lunge before getting on. QUOTE]


^^^ snap

 

[DosyMare]

Just wondering if I could bash some ideas around re backing youngsters.
For those of you who have had a youngster, what did you think was vital to have taught or done before getting on and riding and what did you find the hardest/easiest?

I think its really important for the horse to have manners before you start your backing. And you as the rider need to be top of the pecking order.

Little and often and repeat.

With long reining for the first time I was advised to long rein in the morning and then again that afternoon. And if not twice on the first day then the following day.

Also there are lots of inhand exercises you can do with him that will help later in his schooling.

 

[_GG_]

I do what is right for a particular horse on a particular day. It will always vary. Some respond to the BHS manual way as someone put it. Some respond to being started with join up and follow up, some respond to a mixture of both.

I do what will work with the horse that is in front of me. I have my preferences, but that means nothing if my horse doesn't agree, so I do what is best for them, not me.

I keep sessions to a maximum of 10 minutes for the first couple of weeks and keep things interesting. A bored youngster will look to make some fun for itself or get moody and impatient so I keep it brief and easy and always finish on a good note.

 

[_GG_]

And I echo the sentiment about actually getting on being an anti-climax. By the time you get to that stage, the horse should not have a care in the world. If a horse overreacts to backing, it is usually because the preparation has been rushed and it just isn't ready yet.

 

[KEF]

I recently sent my young horse away for backing but did quite a bit of the ground work first - mainly getting him accustomed to different environments and equipment.

He liked hacking out in hand and showing but hated schooling.

He went to a professional for backing. He was by no means straightforward and there were times that I and the trainer were unsure if he would be backed. They first get on the horse (to ride having previously mounted elsewhere) on the lane - giving the horse a direction and focus that isn't intense. This especially suited my boy as he enjoyed in hand hacking. My first reaction when they said this was shock but obviously they didn't get on him until he was ready and all was good.

I definately agree with little and often - have an aim for the session but be flexible - it won't always go to plan. Always end on a good note - even if its a step back from a previous session and as soon as they do what you want - leave it at that. Some say that long reining is invaluable others disagree. It's good for them getting used to you controlling them from behind and not being able to see you. Work in different places and around different objects - squeezing through gaps and under things etc. I also reward alot and never punish because he's such a sweet natured boy if he didn't anything wrong it wasn't because he was naughty but because he didn't understand what was being asked of him or was scared. He was very nerovous - a year earlier he couldn't be caught let alone rugged etc. Best of luck - it has been hard but very rewarding.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I have them well schooled on the long lines from the ground, circle and straight lines. Lay across them now and again in the stable. Once the are proficient on the long lines get on and ride them. Job done

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Little and often as others have said and yes, they can get bored quickly.

There are a bunch of ways to get from point A to B. We've often sat up on ours before official backing and they didn't bat an eyelid. However, we always go back and do proper groundwork for starting one. A hop up on one is no big deal but all the groundwork before riding serves a purpose too. It's getting them used to working and also building muscle to be able to balance and carry a rider. So really it's not how easy they are, I think it's also key to development.

Brakes and steering backed up by voice commands mean backing is a non event. By this stage the horse knows what you're doing. If they aren't comfortable with the backing than we've missed a step and we need to take a step back.

Start as you mean to go along. If you want a super partner in the future than don't skip steps and pay attention to what your horse is telling you. You learn an awful lot about your horse from the groundwork too. It's not just about climbing on board.

Things don't have to be perfect. Don't over analyse. You can't be over reactive. If they have a little look at something give them a pat and keep going. They are learning. You set the stage.

Forward motion. Don't be getting on and stopping every 2 strides. Trust me on that. Even if your first few times is being led around, keep walking. It's ok to let them stop and give them a pat but then walk around again. Don't be a kicky kicky with your legs all the time. They need to know forward with a squeeze and yes you will probably have to give an odd good kick sometimes, but constantly nagging is annoying for a baby. Again, think forward. Really, once you have this all other things are easy.

Terri