Trying horses that need rebacking/youngsters/lightly broken horses

N

NewHeights_SJ

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www.newheights-showjumping.co.uk
After not finding a project horse i put the search on hold, but i've recieved an email from someone that has a mare that sounds perfect. So, i think i am going to go and have a look, but the question is - what can i expect to do considering she was only backed in July last year (and only lightly - she only walked around a school for two weeks) and then turned away for the rest of the year?

As far as i know she is good on the lunge/to long rein so i could see her working this way. But would you be tempted to lean over her back, perhaps sit on her? Personally i'm not so sure its a good idea, but the person i am taking with me (for an extra pair of eyes) thinks its perfectly reasonable.

What would you expect to do? Any ideas would be apprieciated. I'd like to post the picture i have of her, but not sure if i can since shes not my horse?

Thanks, N xx
 
couldn't someone else there lean over her? just so you could see how she reacts/her attitude......

as for posting the pic I'm not sure.......probably best not to!
 
I took my horse on from project horses and she was exactly as you describe- I saw her being caught, tacked up (in full tack to see her reaction) then lunged. I was then given a 6 month trial to see how we got on- but thats unusual- however I would not want to just hop onto a horse that had not been worked both in case you hurt yourself but also frighten the horse when its not ready. What i would do is to touch it while tacked up on the bum, flanks etc to see how it reacts from the pressure and maybe bounce up and down next to it, as if you were hopping before mounting to see how it reacts.
 
Friend sold a just backed Andalucian last year - not one purchaser got on - all saw him on lunge in full tack and long reined up our farm track.

Personally I wouldn't consider getting on myself - though would probably ask vendor to lean over/get on - reaction would show what they were expecting! Saying that if I were selling one at this level I would certainly have got to this stage before advertising
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If they were selling it as backed, i would expect them to have got on it a couple of times before anyone viewing it. My boy had been sat on a grand total of 6 times before I brought him, I saw a vid of him being backed, and then the owners sat on him, and then I sat on him. However, the first time he was sat on, he was trotted around the school, by the third time he was cantering around, so he was quite advanced i suppose!!
 
I'd want to see them get on it. If it's already been backed then it shouldn't be a problem for them to do a few days prep before you view and for you so see them at least sit on the horse.
But you should get a fairly accurate itea from seing it longlined
 
It depends when it was last "done". See what they are prepared to do, and how both they and the horse react to that much. Remember that they could be overly nervy, or the horse could be trouble, or neither!

I know of someone who insisted on sitting on a "backed and turned away" horse, he panicked, they fell off, owner was devastated, horse was set back months. If they'd accepted he needed to retrace his steps a bit, they might have had a nice little horse, he was just rusty.
 
Having spent over a year rebacking a horse that was sold to its previous owners as broken and ready to go, you def wanna see someone at least lay over it to see its reaction. My boy was seen to canter over a small fence on the continent, once in this country anyone so much as attempting to lean over was very quickly and effectively dumped at speed. Buyer beware, don't trust what anyone tells you.
 
If you don't get on there, when will you get on it? at least the owners are there and your friend is there, watch the horse being lunged first (if the horse still lunges that is) take a body protector and don't put your feet in the stirrups!
Get on using a mounting block nice and slowly, have someone lead the horse round while you sit quietly, don't using any contact on the reins or use any leg contact. While the owner stands in the middle as if you are lunging.
If you are in safe surroundings, in a school then too much can't go wrong if you think about it, worst that will happen is you'll get thrown off, but this can happen on any horse.
If you want a project then you need to brave anyway because a well broken in 'project' can be just as dangerous as a just backed horse.
Good Luck, hope everthing goes ok for you.
 
DEFINITELY see her leant over/sat on. If the seller is unwilling to do this then walk away, chances are it'll play up.
 
Before you go ask the vendor how they would feel about you leaning over her or sitting on her. Or ask if they will do it. Personally I would go for the leaning over option as if the horse reacts ou can quickly remove yourself. If they know you are going to do this they might do a bit beforehand!!!
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I'd generally have expected the seller to get on first? That goes for whatever age the horse is. The last one I bought was 3 and had been sat on a few times with someone leading. I just asked the people selling him to show me what they'd done with him- so they lunged him for me then went through the routine of leaning over, leading round, then sitting on and leading round at walk. I didn't get on myself as there was nothing really to gain from doing it myself. That was last September and he's going well now.
 
When you speak to them on the phone say that you want to see them ride it around the school - if they say no don't go to see it.

If it is backed and genuine it should be able to cope with someone riding it in walk in a circle
 
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