Those backing or have backed horses - quick question

Vikki89

Vikki89

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Just been reading a post on here and it got me thinking at what point during backing would you introduce trot, how long generally would you stick to walking? I know it would vary with every horse. Also where would you first trot - out on the road, field or school?

Sorry should have added whilst being ridden.
 
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I usually introduce trot once the horse is happy walking calmly on the lunge and will stop and walk on when asked. Then i just really gently ask for a little jog just for a few strides and then bring back to walk. I always do it first on the lunge or with someone leading. when i was first backing, did it in a enclosed school and rebacked him this year in a 1 acre enclosed paddock. i would always start in a school though i think.
 
Personally, id follow a quiet bomb proof horse out hacking at walk from a few weeks and then introduce trot, for a few strides, praise, and back to walk x
 
Probably second time I sit on it in the school.

Bear in mind all of mine are well established walk, trot, canter on lunge and long lines (on a circle) before I sit on them. I think some people spend far too much time in walk and baby them too much but I also think some people don't put the groundwork in when they really should. I don't really want to sit on a horse that can't even hold itself up properly without a rider.

When I backed my gelding, I walked him up the drive first time I sat on him, second time we trotted round the school twice, 3rd or 4th time he was offering canter. No trouble at all. I think its very important to get them forward thinking.

ETA My friend backed her warmblood 3/4 weeks ago and he's just popped his first clear round and he is happy and relaxed in his work. I really wouldn't be staying in walk for more than one or two ridden sessions.
 
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I backed mine in a little 1.5acre paddock. trotted about the third or fourh time i sat on him.
 
Same as LouS, i think if you hamg around too much in walk, then trot for weeks the next gai is a "bigger deal." i like the to get them moving forwards and then concentrate on working them.
But likewise the key is to have them established and responsive on the lunge and in longlines imo.
 
I think you have to listen to the horse. Before backing i always have mine going well in walk and trot on the lunge and confident on long reins, working well off of voice commands and happy to stand on command. When backed i would stick to one or two short sessions in walk initially and try trot probably on the third time under saddle. But they may offer it sooner, or they may still not be willing on the third time. However, i would always try trotting first in school as you are never 100% sure what the reaction will be to the rise and sit or the increased leg pressure so definately safer to do it in the school. For canter i would probably try on a hack (down a bridleway or field following another horse if needed) once the horse felt confident enough to offer it but only after walk, trot and steering were understood in the school!! :)
 
I would also have the horse well established on the lunge in walk trot and canter before getting on. Then, depending on the horse, would spend a couple of sessions gettingone and off. ( I say this becuase one I had was very tricky about the whole mounting and dismounting thing)

Then walking on lunge - I tend to have the person lunging doing voice commands for the first few times of riding. I would trot the second or third time of riding. Walking for ever will be boring for them after a while I always think and give a reason to find something ore exciting to do! I would stay on the lunge or on a circle around the lunger for about a fortnight - this sounds a lot but I find that any trticky moments can be easily diffused and dont become a big deal on the lunge - last year my friends youngster had a spook and dash off but becuase he was so well established on the lunge and she didn;t panic, he very quickly came back with my voice (I was lunging) Also, you can introdue legs aids etc while doing this.

So I would be walking trotting and cantering with assistance for the first couple of weeks, then would go into schooling independantly.

I really wouldn't recommend trotting for the first time ever out on a hack and certainly not on the roads.
 
It really depends on the horse.

My boy is well established on the lunge (with voice comands) but once rider on board he hasn't got a clue!! lol!

I agree with the others though... keep them progressing so that neither you or they get too comfortable and it all becomes a big deal. once walk, halt transitions are established, ask for a little trot. If you're on the end of a rope you really can't come to much harm!
 
It depends on the horse/pony but as a genral rule the second or third time in a school going large, the horse should know your voice commands and at first this is all that is used. As the horse becomes more confidant carrying a rider. the legs aids can be used at the same time as the voice command. I have sat on horses that have moved of sharp as soon as they have been asked to walk forward. I never pull them back but gently using voice and pulling on neck strap bring them back to walk. These horses can usually be asked to trot again, quite quickly. You always need someone on the ground, at each stage.
 
I think my Cob is ready to start trotting but I can't decide if I will do it in the school or on a hack (road work), I know I won't be doing it with me on him on the lunge as we never have done that.
I did/do all the ground work on him, have ridden him in walk for short periods of time in the school and down the road (in equine company and just someone walking beside), he works better on a hack as he is more forward.
I read earlier that someone didn't like trotting their young horse on the road but would go cantering out on a hack.
 
i, personally, am plannin to do it on a hack, even if its a few strides in some woods, or on road, she is a million times better out then in the school.
 
i think the logic behind not on the road is
a) no danger to the general public
b) tarmac is harder than sand/rubber/woodchip
c) horse cant dissappear into back of beyond if you are parted
 
I also wouldn't spend much time on the lunge. For me a horse already knows how to be ridden before I get on it from the long lining. He knows what the rein and bit are for and he can already move forwards, backwards and laterally from little pressure. I would maybe lean over them and get someone to lead them, but with most I've backed I've been completely sure they're fine. Last gelding I backed I did completely alone, mounted up in the school second time and sent him large. No problems.

If your youngster is nappy/backwards then you haven't trained it properly in my opinion. Leg means go, no questions asked. If they don't go from a light leg aid I use a rope behind the saddle either side, it sends them forward and doesn't result in the resentment I find a whip does. Never had a nappy/lazy one using this method. I don't want them relying on other horses to go forwards. I also don't hack out until I'm comfortable I have full control in the school.
 
First ride mostly. Usually back them in stable, get led up and down the yard and then in the school to be ridden 'properly' on their own. Get them sent forwards and used to a rider on board as the're moving, and then I work on everything else after...long as the horse is forwards, can pretty much do anything from then on :)
 
The reason I would always have someone on the ground is you never know however good the relationship is how the horse will react to some thing different. I would also want the horse to be confidant in walk and trot, downward transtions and upward transtions before hacking out where anything can happen too many variables.:eek: First canter us always done on a hack or open field to youngster can go on a straight line, school can be too enclosed for some.
 
Vikki89 said:
Just been reading a post on here and it got me thinking at what point during backing would you introduce trot, how long generally would you stick to walking? I know it would vary with every horse. Also where would you first trot - out on the road, field or school?

Sorry should have added whilst being ridden.
Click to expand...

I think it depends purely on the horse - how s/he is physically, and mentally. A horse that's not particularly well developed physically would get more walk work from me to start out with than one that's a bit further ahead, for instance.
Where to first trot would depend on the temperament of the horse - some you wouldn't like to trot out for fear of disappearing, others could do with the extra excitement to get them moving! As with most things horsey, the whole thing is one big balancing act, imo.

The first one I did, I walked for 6 weeks. She was a big horse, but a bit physically backward, iyswim. Turns out 6 weeks was too long, although it worked physically, mentally she'd decided that with a rider up trotting wasn't 'the done thing' and I had the devils own job getting her to trot in the end - she thought she was being good, bless her! :)
 
We had our first trot today :D decided to do it in the school although he doesn't concentrate as well. My mum ran by me the first time as he was a bit slow and wasn't listening to my leg, he isn't as forward in the school as he is on a hack. Then mum went away from us and I came back to walk, I then tried a few more times and he did listen, he wasn't bothered about me rising in the trot at all. I just hope he continues to be good :)

How do you keep your youngsters interested in the school? He is fine lunging in the school and is more forward out on a hack just a bit lazy in the school.
 
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