Turning Away After Backing . . .

LeannePip

LeannePip

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just wondering who does this? why you do this? and what are the positives of this?

i backed my three year old early this year, shes not in hard work i ride her out about 3 times a week and shes just grasping canter transitions. i had always planned to turn her out for the winter but my circumstances have changed and i have a job as a groom in dorset so shes coming with me but due to the clay-ey ground turnout is limited however she will go out and can go on the walker every day but not for as long as where we currently are, just looking for some opinions really would it be worth turning her away but she'll still be living in and going on a walker it will just be minus the riding or carry on with light work over the winter when no doubt she'll have a couple of weeks off anyway when the weather turns again? she has also suffered with locking patella/stifles and this deffinatly improves with work!? confused.com!
 
Thats what i've heard it can be really good to help them grow up which is why im wondering wether it would have any effect shes already very mature, compleetly bombproof not silly in any way and has never had any problems being ridden :) although im not complaining!! trying to weigh up wether giving her a couple of months off would send her back in her training - she forgets things very quickly! but would maybe be beneficial in other ways? he stifle issue is another concern of mine :S thank you for your reply! x
 
The only country in the world where turning away after backing is routine or considered sensible is Britain. Speaks for itself, I think.

They grow and grow up whether you turn them away or not. What they don't do is go backwards and need rebacking after the break, by then knowing their own strength, and, some of them, using it against you.
 
I know that giving him time out after 2 months riding work done us both good. Not saying every horse is the same just that it worked for me. I believe he's no longer a baby and i've given him time to be a baby and enjoy running around in the field with his friends but now he has a job to do and he loves it! Will happily jump 1meter10 i'm not exactly brave but he is lol no matter what I ask of him he'll give it a try bless him. A year ago he was completely different pony who I would've sold had I not been pig headed and determined to prove people wrong lol
 
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