The time has come :D breakin in my lad

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bambigirl

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Hes rising 3... Sec D x TB can't believe its time... so im not gonna start till hes turned 3 but iv not done this before and need advice on where to start.. hes a lovely lad, really laid back can hang off his back legs and he wouldn't blink

Anyone with bitting advice and where to start i would appreciate some advice
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Im on a very nice yard and have loads of help there but i kinda want to do it myself... i know i can ask them these Q's but im homebound today due to illness so i thought i would pick your brains
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i have just bought a great book called "birth to backing" by Robert Maxwell. so that i can get the basics done but as for backing im sending away to a professional.
 
That book is really good!
I just bought some basic snaffles but instead of the metal ones they are sort of like plastic, Im about to bit mine at the weekend so they get used to it, to start with I used to lay saddle cloths or even a saddle and girth and lean on them or lay accross their backs.
You shouldnt have to much trouble if your bonded and he's laid back x
 
TBH if your youngster hasn't had any tack on before you will need to be very patient and do everything in a confident but quiet manner...

I would bit with a nice regular french link snaffle - smother it with toothpaste to make it taste nice and pop it in! you may want to undo one cheek piece initially and put it in one side at a time instead of putting it in and then having to try and get it over his head. I tend to avoid plastic or rubber bits as they can be too chunky for small mouths...

as for the rest, I'd introduce a roller, then a roller with a numnah underneath, then a saddle, then a saddle with stirrups down... you want the horse to be comfortable working at walk, trot and canter at each stage.. it should all be fairly natural progression. once he is comfortable with the above, and the bit you can introduce Loose sidereins...
 
I'm re-backing mine, he is nine!! wasn't done properly the first time and as a result her has loads of fear issues, scared of his saddle and in general a diffiuclt ride.

i much prefer jointed rubber bits to anything metal for breaking in/training, and also spend lots of time just walking near horse wiht saddle, giving treat and walking away before carrying on your normal day, putting bridle on briefly, giving treat then taking off etc. don't do anything about getting on yourself until you've spent weeks and your horse lokos confident when they see both saddle/bridle, adn can walk aorund (poss be longreined) in these.

then, jsut make sure eveyrhting is really nice and positive, and that you work with him in his own time. i've backed quite a few, and find the best thing is to take it REALLY slow particualrly if you are nervous about the actual moment when you change form leaning to actually sitting on them - i.e., when you think you are nearly ready for this, put on all the relevant stuff (body protector etc) each time, and give yourself at least a week of doing it every day (wiht a few rest days interpspersed where you just feed and make a fuss of pony). Every day act as if 'today will be the day', even in your head; one day just put your foot in the sitrrup and hop a little, the next day just a fraciton more weight etc. you'll find that there will be a day when it's just easy, and it's the right day to do it. you won't have psyched yourself up going 'i'm going to sit on him tomorrow' which is the worse thing, imo. before you start all that make sure you do lots of days with saddle and bridle on, etc.

some ponies are much better wiht another pony next to them. depending on the horse, i sometimes prefer to back bareback first, but that's personal preference.

the first time you actually sit on him properly just stay there a short second, get the person on the ground to give lots of praise and you give a ncie (quick but calm) neck-scratch, get off, lots of fuss and put him away immediately.

some horses freak out when they move and find they have to balance differently. i find the best thing to get them to take a step is to get your helper to hold a treat a step away - this way, they are thinking about getting to the food and not how weird it is to move wiht this weird weight on them, adn also they immediately are rewarded for their first effort.

this way does take a week or two longer than more conventional 'sit on em and let em deal with it' methods, but i have had the best results by far form doing it, and given that it's such a massively important time i think it's worth taking time over it. others may differ though!!

do let us know how you get on...!
 
If your asking then you shouldn't be backing you own horse. Go to a few breaking yards, get some practical experience, then do it, with help. This is partly why there are so many sub standard horses on the market.
Sorry if this seems harsh but 'm fed up of dealing with other peoples mistakes!
 
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