Those with young horses...

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FinkleyAlex

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Have you adapted your tack/equipment to reflect that you have a young horse and an increased chance of getting hurt at some point? My 4yo was recently broken and is being ridden away, I'll be taking over the ride asap but have to wait for my saddler to come fit my saddle for him. I noticed his breaker always rides her young horses in bent leg stirrup irons as a precaution, and I also know that some of my friends will only hack out if wearing a body protector when riding their young horse. Does anyone else take certain precautions when riding young horses?
 
FinkleyAlex said:
Have you adapted your tack/equipment to reflect that you have a young horse and an increased chance of getting hurt at some point? My 4yo was recently broken and is being ridden away, I'll be taking over the ride asap but have to wait for my saddler to come fit my saddle for him. I noticed his breaker always rides her young horses in bent leg stirrup irons as a precaution, and I also know that some of my friends will only hack out if wearing a body protector when riding their young horse. Does anyone else take certain precautions when riding young horses?
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Always a body protector and a neck strap or martingale.
 
I remember to put my hat and boots on rather than baseball cap and trainers ...

A Holy Crap Strap is advisable as you have something to grab other than the horses mouth and it will keep your hands settled. It's not too far forwards or as far back as the saddle so it is a nice compromise. I never wear a BP when breaking as I like to be fully flexible. I ride everything in peacock or bent leg irons. I hate fillis irons and won't have them. I don't care if I am the only one in the Hunter/Riding Horse/Racehorse classes with them I have seen too many people dragged to want to know what that feels like!
 
Two fingers has wedged under a neck strap at all times ! has saved me on several occassions ! mobile phone at the ready for 4th emergency service search and recover team (my brother & parents). Hip flask for dutch courage thats before we can go on a fully fledged hack to the pub (thats when you really know you have made it - ultimate goal)
 
i think i must be odd because i dont take any extra precautions really, i back and break them myself and have ground work 100% and a strong bond and mutual trust in place before backing, i hack out inhand alone and with others the route i start them off on (my youngsters dont see a paddock for at least 6mnths after breaking its hacking and kept fun and easy for them) so thats it really, strong bond and mutual trust are my precautions, may sound mad but i take it at a pace they are happy with and it works for me and my very well behaved youngsters (not inc sec A but i didnt break him myself im too big or he wuld be perfect like my others)
 
I don't do anything differently except wear a hat for the first few weeks (don't normally). If they're especially lively I might put on a neck strap. I've never come off or been injured whilst breaking, but then I don't get on board until I know they're good and ready either.
 
Apart from a neck strap I don't really do anything differently. I used to pop a headcollar on over her bridle and have someone on standby with a leadrope just in case but I don't tend to do this now we're getting a bit more established.
 
I don't change anything. I don't like neck straps they plant your hands. Like Cortez I don't get on til they find the whole idea boring... I don't like falling off so I try very hard not to do it !
 
Bent leg irons, we call it the "Oh ***** strap" but yes we opt for that on our babies (all though, i don't think i have ever grabbed it - even when horse messes about) and MIL will be kitted out in body protector when taking baby out and about :). I'm a little more reckless and don't, but feel i can move better without it - however if mine turns out to be a complete idiot, i too eill opt for the body protector... and maybe some super glue :P
 
blitznbobs said:
I don't change anything. I don't like neck straps they plant your hands. Like Cortez I don't get on til they find the whole idea boring... I don't like falling off so I try very hard not to do it !
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I don't mind the falling part - that doesn't hurt but you can be sure as hell I don't want to be hitting the ground! That's the sore bit lol!
 
Nothing different but on this one I do have breastplate but only as hogged so assists with getting on and as doing hills a precaution to prevent saddle slipping.
 
I must confess I adopt a "belt and braces" approach - breastplate, back protector, decent hat, full suede chaps and safety irons. I always think if you plan for the worst, it's normally fine :)
 
I don't do anything different with a youngster, always have caged stirrups and oh **** strap on saddle anyway and I spend a lot of time on ground work both in school and on lanes before I even attempt to get onboard.
 
Always a breastplate as I use treeless or HM saddles. I use safety stirrups and a bp anyway. Oh and hi vis! Currently debating whether to put the "caution young horse in training" tabard on, not sure about it over the bp. Last time I used it I didn't own a bp!
 
Neck strap, only recently been introduced to them by the lady who has backed our boy. Dab bit if kit and I've put them on the others for my brother (is disabled) for when he looses balance so get dies t grab mouth.
 
Always wear hat and gloves. Wore a bp in the school initially and still do on hacks with the new boy. And always have a neck strap. Might invest in a balance strap. Rather have it and not need it, than the other way around.
 
Out of interest what safety stirrups would people recommend? I've heard the bent leg stirrups can actually be dangerous in themselves, and I'm apparently over the weight limit for peacock stirrups?
 
I don't do anything different either, but I always ride in a helmet and gloves. I am careful about reading the horse and not pushing the envelope, and I like to quit while I'm ahead.
 
The best bit of advice I've ever been given for my youngster is 'ride him like he's old bones'. If you start thinking he may do x, y or z because he's a youngster, he probably will.

Horses are unpredictable. All horses. The worst fall I've had in recent years is when I got over complacent with my then 26yo and he spooked in walk. Your safety precautions should be the same whatever horse you are riding.

Re Stirrups, I use endurance caged stirrups - they are much more supportive than regular stirrups too. And it means I can ride in trainers so if I do ever need to get off and run, I can.
 
FinkleyAlex said:
Out of interest what safety stirrups would people recommend? I've heard the bent leg stirrups can actually be dangerous in themselves, and I'm apparently over the weight limit for peacock stirrups?
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There's a weight limit for peacock stirrups??? We have to use them for all the adult riders at our RDA group.
 
Yes there is a weight limit for peacock irons I believe it is about 8stone, this is because all your weight is held by 1 bend in the metal and repeated heavier loads can cause them to bend or cause metal fatigue resulting in the stirrup iron falling apart!
I always ride everything in bent leg irons and I always wear a hat but I don't take any extra precautions on my young lad. I broke him myself and made sure that he was well ready before ever venturing into the saddle.
 
conniegirl said:
Yes there is a weight limit for peacock irons I believe it is about 8stone, this is because all your weight is held by 1 bend in the metal and repeated heavier loads can cause them to bend or cause metal fatigue resulting in the stirrup iron falling apart!
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Mine came with horse 10 years ago and have carried my 10-11 stone weight perfectly without showing any signs of bending or weakness- Now they've been swapped onto my youngsters saddle.
Although some of the cheapy peacock irons do look weak to say the least but I guess this could be the same for any irons!
Only other precautions I take are body protector if going near any hard surfaces (roads or tracks) and a breastplate as we have a lot of hills around here and its always there to grab onto quickly if needed. But tbh I do seem to trust her more than I would most, its more of a struggle getting her to move forward properly than it is to get her to stop! :rolleyes3:
 
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