those of you who break horses please

[Megibo]

Haribo is 18 months old -ish so only another year and a half until he's potentially ready for backing. depends on how he has filled out!
what do you like them to have had done when they arrive?

He's fine to handle, wears a saddle and it's girthed up. We only do that every so often though. Not worn a bridle yet, he had one put on when we went to see him but he wasn't impressed with the bit at all.
Going to get a book (probably foal to full grown) but what would you be doing with them and at what age? He is our first youngster so want everything to be done correctly.

Also, I wonder if he will make height? He is supposed to make 15.2. Dad is 15.3 (Welsh D) mum is 15 hands(3/4 tb)however he's not been properly cared for up until now. As I said previously he is about 18 months and 13 hands at the wither at a push. His hindquarters aren't quite the same height as my girl who is 13.3 but I plan to get a height tape on him soon. And he is just a little bit too long for 5ft rugs! Any ideas?
Is it possible he could be a late maturer and keep growing until he is 6 or so. He is underweight though has improved since we've had him and is fed on HiFi Lite (soon to be happy hoof) and a scoop of Mare and Youngstock Mix by Dodson and Horrell.
Thanks.

 

[HeatherAnn]

I used to work on a yard where horses were broken and one of the biggest problems they had were when people sent horses with no manners. Make sure your horse is good to catch/turn out/good with the farrier and all these things. The person you send your horse to can deal with getting the horse used to tack but that is made 100% times harder if the horse has no manners

 

[be positive]

Most people that take horses for breaking will have their own way of doing things so will start them the same whatever the owner has done or not.

I found that wearing rugs is a good experience, they are confident with flappy things on them and straps round the legs or a filet string. Walking out to see traffic is also helpful and can shorten the time they need to be away.

Generally handling, doing feet, tying up are a sound foundation for any youngster. A trip to a local show in the summer is a good idea, they see a lot of new things and you spend time getting them used to being bathed plaited etc.

 

[loobylu]

Really helpful if your horse is happy to be touched all over- pull ears, rub face, belly, back legs etc. Generally- leadable, moveable and touchable. Rest if usually pretty easy then.

 

[TuscanBunnyGirl]

I do leading and take her out for little hacks (in hand!), pick up feet, move away from pressure, walk over scary things etc best of luck with your lil un x

 

[lastchancer]

I used to work on a yard where horses were broken and one of the biggest problems they had were when people sent horses with no manners. Make sure your horse is good to catch/turn out/good with the farrier and all these things. The person you send your horse to can deal with getting the horse used to tack but that is made 100% times harder if the horse has no manners

What she said - also lead him out in hand in traffic, the more he sees at this age the easier he'll find it when he's older.
Next year you could introduce some long-reining in walk and maybe sit on him very briefly and get him used to the feel of a roller around his middle. One thing I would advise against would be a lot of lunging and definatley no side reins or other gadgets.

 

[cob&onion]

Also, I wonder if he will make height? He is supposed to make 15.2. Dad is 15.3 (Welsh D) mum is 15 hands(3/4 tb)however he's not been properly cared for up until now. As I said previously he is about 18 months and 13 hands at the wither at a push. His hindquarters aren't quite the same height as my girl who is 13.3 but I plan to get a height tape on him soon. And he is just a little bit too long for 5ft rugs! Any ideas?
Is it possible he could be a late maturer and keep growing until he is 6 or so. He is underweight though has improved since we've had him and is fed on HiFi Lite (soon to be happy hoof) and a scoop of Mare and Youngstock Mix by Dodson and Horrell.
Thanks.

Hi just to give you an idea, my 18month section D is supposed to make 14.3/15hh, he is currently measuring at 14/14.1hh.
My cob was 13hh at around 11 months and now measures 15hh at 3.6 yrs old....she had a poor first winter but soon caught up, her final height is estimated at 15.1hh, its only really since last spring that she filled out and grew quite a bit.
He may have a quick growth spurt too

 

[be positive]

Just to add , the easiest generally were ones that had been shown inhand, the most difficult or time consuming were ones that owners had lunged or longreined and allowed bad habits to become established, they were worse than the wild and unhandled ones.

 

[Foxhunter49]

I agree that manners are the most important thing. The horses that take most time are not the ones that haven't been handled but the ones that have been badly handled.

As for height. a good guesstimate from 18 months on is to get a piece of string and measure from the point of the elbow to the back of the fetlock. then reverse the string from the elbow point to above the withers and the difference is how much he has yet to grow.
Usually accurate to an inch.

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Well actually I'd prefer no handling to bad handling or spoiled. But I don't think that's the case here.

Have your horse's teeth done including the woof teeth out. People sending horses for breaking don't want money wasted yet I'm not going to annoy a youngster by carrying on with a crappy mouth. Not fair to the horse.

Don't know if you have picked someone yet but check out a few different yards. If they don't have an open door policy, within reason, I personally wouldn't leave my horse there. I always had one.

For the moment let your horse be a horse. This is his baby time. Sounds like you've done good basics with him and he should be fine.

Terri

 

[Megibo]

I used to work on a yard where horses were broken and one of the biggest problems they had were when people sent horses with no manners. Make sure your horse is good to catch/turn out/good with the farrier and all these things. The person you send your horse to can deal with getting the horse used to tack but that is made 100% times harder if the horse has no manners

yep we are big on manners!

I do leading and take her out for little hacks (in hand!), pick up feet, move away from pressure, walk over scary things etc best of luck with your lil un x

thanks

What she said - also lead him out in hand in traffic, the more he sees at this age the easier he'll find it when he's older.
Next year you could introduce some long-reining in walk and maybe sit on him very briefly and get him used to the feel of a roller around his middle. One thing I would advise against would be a lot of lunging and definatley no side reins or other gadgets.

nope don't plan to do any lungeing! thought about the roller though he's used to girth and saddle.
may sit on him when he's bigger.

Hi just to give you an idea, my 18month section D is supposed to make 14.3/15hh, he is currently measuring at 14/14.1hh.
My cob was 13hh at around 11 months and now measures 15hh at 3.6 yrs old....she had a poor first winter but soon caught up, her final height is estimated at 15.1hh, its only really since last spring that she filled out and grew quite a bit.
He may have a quick growth spurt too

oh right thanks

Just to add , the easiest generally were ones that had been shown inhand, the most difficult or time consuming were ones that owners had lunged or longreined and allowed bad habits to become established, they were worse than the wild and unhandled ones.

don't think we will be able to lead out in hand or show etc as he is timid and will not leave the other horses/yard!
getting someone in who deals with youngsters to start taking him out inhand for us next spring as we have no ideas on how to get him out! especially as he doesn't wear a bridle so limited control!

I agree that manners are the most important thing. The horses that take most time are not the ones that haven't been handled but the ones that have been badly handled.

As for height. a good guesstimate from 18 months on is to get a piece of string and measure from the point of the elbow to the back of the fetlock. then reverse the string from the elbow point to above the withers and the difference is how much he has yet to grow.
Usually accurate to an inch.

we tried that string test, not sure if it was right but it said about 16 hands! hard to believe as he is such a runt!

 

[be positive]

He needs to learn to leave the others at some point, take him for walks with another one, when you can and he will gain confidence a little at a time.

 

[mystiandsunny]

On the height front, my 6yo grew nearly a hand in her 5yo year. She's still getting longer and filling out now, so some can grow very late indeed!

 

[Megibo]

okay, thankyou

 

[TallulahBright]

I backed my three and a half yr old this summer, very lightly, but prior to that did loads of in hand stuff. Out around the lanes to get used to traffic etc, in company and alone. Then this summer also long reined. Saddle pad, bridle and some in hand showing, even to county show (didn't get placed but she was bum high and unlevel!) where she heard bands and saw lots of exciting stuff. Am really looking forward to starting properly in the spring!!! The best thing about her is that she is well mannered with vet, dentist, farrier and so on. Height wise, 16.1 now, parents were 16 and 16.1. Bum is now poking out of 6'6 rugs!!!

 

[Inchy]

Sounds like you're doing all the right things!

As said above - manners are important, also that the horse is used to different people handleing it rather than just its owner...

A young horse that accepts the saddle and bridle quietyly is always nice when you have one to break in. When you start with a bridle lead them from both sides - I find youngsters often lunge/turn better on the left rein to start because they're used to being lead/steered from that side, in one case I had a horse that freaked out everytime you went to the right rein because it was never handled that side!

 

[henryhorn]

I'd estimate he will end up at least 15.2 hh Leahurst Liverpool Uni did a trial some years' ago which proved provided a horse obtains sufficient nutrition before the winter of it's third year, (three and half) it will have no ill effects re lack of it previously.
Our homebreds sometimes take until 6 to mature fully, we have sold them at 15 2 hh only for them to end up 16.2 hh aged 6.
If he is immature I would leave him until at least three and a hlf, possibly the spring when he is four. Atthe age he is now just play with him, take him walks so he is used to traffic (always use a lunge line) do ground work and basically ensure he is bomb proof. We sit sideways on ours in the field if they lie down, and sometimes lean over them if they are quiet enough. I wouldn't lunge him until he's ready for breaking.

 

[shadowboy]

Going to shows just to look around. Being safe to turn out bring in you won't believe how many cans do this! At 18 months my boy was 12.3 in front and 13hh behind. He's rising four now and 13.2hh in front and 13.3hh behind wearing a 5'9 rug! I would say your boy may only make 14.2hh but may well catch up. Mine was in a 5 foot rug too at that age. (in sad enough to keep a growing up diary)

 

[shadowboy]

Oops post should say can't not cans! Also phone sent before I managed to say its vital he.gets used to being away from others. Backing horses constantly wailing for each other and not focussing is a nightmare and can be dangerous. Try very short periods and build them up. Perhaps use a stable mirror when in, oh and practice loading in BOTH a box and trailer.

 

[Marydoll]

As others have said, you seem to be doing all the right things.
Manners on the ground are imo the most important, if youve not got them,youre on a hiding to nothing, you sound like youre putting them in place.
Control of his feet on the ground and moving away from pressure are all good ways to set them up before backing.
Walks out away from the others, and wee outings just for a look, i remember my friends horse the first time he heard a tannoy and saw a tent
But because he'd been well handled and confident, took it all in his stride

 

[rowy]

I have mine back checked, teeth checked and have a properly fitting saddle so as to give the horse no excuse to mess about.
Also, probably would make it easier to have the horse bitted and possibly start lunging or longreining so the person backing wouldnt have to start from scratch.

Height wise. They say a horse grows 2 hands from when its 1 year- 1 hand between 1 and 2 years and then 1 hand 2 till fully mature. so if your horse is 13hh at 1 1/2 I would say he may make 14.2hh- 15hh. Then again, welshies mature quite late, mine is still croup high and rising 5..

 

[Megibo]

thanks all i have some good ideas now

going to bit him and teach some basic steering and then take him out inhand with my mare

 

[Cortez]

Agree with the basic manners, also would prefer no handling to bad or over handling. Putting tack on is very good, but wouldn't lunge until 3 at least, and also wouldn't longrein at all unless you are very experienced (many, many mouths ruined by bad longreining, also by being shown in hand in bridle - can make mouths very one-sided before we even start to break). Mostly, at rising two, I would leave the horse to be a horse and enjoy his childhood and let the pros sort him out when he's ready to "go to school".