Views on backing a two year old

Pipkin

Pipkin

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I would never do it, and yes know TB`s are backed before this but whats everyones views on backing and then hacking a 2 year old everyday for a couple of hours.
Some **** who used to keep him horse at my old yard has posted photos on FB of him riding his new 2 year old who he quite happily boasts about taking out for 2 hour hacks. I normally wouldnt be so mad about it but judging by the photos the poor horse hasnt long turned 2, is 15hh, underweight and this guy is 14 stone (not fat yes i know)

Short of going and knocking this twit out and stealing horse (lol) anything else that can be done.
 
Two is far far too young, I know they ride them at that age in america. It is wrong regardless of the breed of horse, their skeletons haven't physically matured yet and being an xxx doesn't make it acceptable.
I wouldn't be comfortable with a 14 stone bloke backing any horse of any age, far too heavy for a first rider.
The yard owner should have a word with this bloke, if that was happening at a yard I ran he would be told to stop, if he didn't like that then he can leave pronto.
 
common practise in ireland i believe, the 3 year olds are out hunting etc, i have 2 year olds and a couple of yards that i've made tentative enquiries at for breaking next year said they normally have them in the summer of their 2nd year and get them backed and hacking up the lane then turn them away over the winter and have them back at 3, personally this is a year earlier than I'd do this, so mine won't be going this year!!
 
team barney said:
Two is far far too young, I know they ride them at that age in america. It is wrong regardless of the breed of horse, their skeletons haven't physically matured yet and being an xxx doesn't make it acceptable.
I wouldn't be comfortable with a 14 stone bloke backing any horse of any age, far too heavy for a first rider.
The yard owner should have a word with this bloke, if that was happening at a yard I ran he would be told to stop, if he didn't like that then he can leave pronto.
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Yard owner is telling him what fantastic job he is doing with said horse, and also backs all her horses at 2:(
I`m not normally one stick my oar in but the photo has shocked me
 
Hate seeing youngsters working personally, even if they can handle it physically, they are still just babies and mentally I think its too much for them.

My 4 year old struggles to keep concentration let alone a 2 year old.

I also like to think that if you plan to have them for many many years then what the heck is the rush.
 
the only reason (TB's not withstanding) I could see to start a horse off at 2 if it was going to be a very very big horse and could do with starting an education but I would leave it to a start and not working so it could carry on developing.

We have a couple of 3 year olds on our yard. YO has backed them, ridden them on

and now they are both out feeding their faces till next year!
 
Ayla84 said:
Yard owner is telling him what fantastic job he is doing with said horse, and also backs all her horses at 2:(
I`m not normally one stick my oar in but the photo has shocked me
Click to expand...

The yard owner is jut as bad then, unfortunately I don't think there is anything you can do, it is wrong though, poor baby :(
 
Poor little horse. Totally, utterly devastatingly wrong. What is the MATTER with these people?? I feel your pain OP, I too would be tempted to step in and liberate...
 
Someone I know lied about her 2yo ages and took him to a showjumping competition.

It's cruel if you ask me and does so much harm to the horse mentally and physically.
 
IMO backing and hacking a 2yo isn't excessive - although 2 hour hacks on this hard ground is a bit too much.

However, I think the rider is too heavy and I don't think he's considering the horses mental or physical development.

But it is relative between horses. My 1yo is more mature than my sister's 3yo (not that I'd break her now!! but I suspect if I broke her to tack next year she'd simply take it in her stride!).
 
Riding a 3 year old for two hours on perfect ground would be far too much.

It is more than excessive to ride a 2 year old, it is ignorant, idiotic and cruel.
 
Sorry but backing and riding 2 year olds is disgraceful. Why can't people leave them be until they are mature enough to cope mentally and physically with work. Oh and just as a side note my NH TB mare wasn't completely mature mentally and physically until she was 7... yes 7! And she had been well looked after and fed etc as a youngster (I had her from 6 months old - not weaned I hasten to add). So it's a fallacy that all TBs mature early.
 
God, I look at my 2 yo (2 in May) and there is no way I'd sit on him!!! He is quiet mature in some ways and is just getting used to anin hand bridle and I do intend to do a bit of work in the school with him but sit on him? Hack him out? Er NO!!
 
No.
Why would you?? What's the rush??
I wouldn't back a horse untill 4. The two horses we had that were backed after their 4th birthday (and not the jan 1st bday) were competing well into their 20's.
My friend had a WB who was backed on the continent as a 3yr old, he was broken by 5. poor boy when he had scans at 5 his growth plates in his knees hadn't fused.
I just do not see the point, even if it's a big horse even more the reason to wait. Big horses mature later. Even my little TBs haven't stopped growing and filling out untill 7.
I honestly cannot see what is to be gained by breaking a horse early (racing aside obviously).
 
Arggggh I`m going to have to delete him off FB, he`s now boasting how "horse was so amazing even had a canter up the slope to farm", there is no slope there is just one great big hill which is a bloody tarmac road.....
 
I just don't get why people would do it? I may sit on mine next summer when he's 3 IF think he'll cope but it will be sitting and maybe, If I see fit a little amble along the roads. I would like to try to the young event horse classes when he's 4 but that will depend on how I feel he is maturity wise. There is just no real need to do things too early.
 
Nooooooo!!!! As horses don't fully develop until they are 4/5, IMO only ground work and mouthing should be done at 2 years old. Their backs, muscles etc would not be developed enough to cope with a rider. I would imagine that 2 hour hacks on a regular basis, would cause problems later in life.
 
Definately don't agree with backing a 2 year old, their bones aren't properly fused and ooo just thinking about it makes me cross.

Fair enough get them bitted and used to having a roller on and do some in-hand work (don't get me started on lunging babies :mad:) but leave them time to mature before cantering up hills! Totally understand your frustration OP!!

Personally 3 is the earliest I would sit on a horse, them turn away for a think and bring into proper work at 4 at the earliest, its just not worth the long term probelms by starting them too soon :(
 
i backed my mare at just gone three and yes hacked her out but never more than 30 mins of walk maybe a little trot on soft ground, ridden on weekends only and regulary had 4-6 week holidays, she`s 5 now and still isnt even in hard work (has actually had 2 months off), IMO she`s been quite slow to mature, started big girl schooling last weekend and will still be taking it slow because it`s what i think is right for her....dont get me started on my very very slow maturing CB and her workload lol:D
 
No i would never back a 2 year old whats another year when said horse is going to give you plenty of years of pleasure. My youngster looked mature at 2 however the next year when he was 3 he looked very babyish you can't say the look mature because the bodys are changing all the time so the are bound to have a lot of weakness when going through a growing spurt etc
 
Ayla84 said:
Arggggh I`m going to have to delete him off FB, he`s now boasting how "horse was so amazing even had a canter up the slope to farm", there is no slope there is just one great big hill which is a bloody tarmac road.....
Click to expand...

Is this in England? Whereabouts?? In all the years I have owned horses I have never met or heard of anyone who would ride a 2 year old at all, never mind out for a two hour hack. Racehorses excepted.

I sat on my big boned and well grown 2 year old in walk or halt for 5-10 minutes (max) once or twice a week, because he came from a big bucking family and I wanted him to know about having a rider on his back before he realised how strong he was. That's the most I would ever do with a 2 year old.
 
I hate it, i really do.

There's a girl on my FB that i also know that had a just turned 2 yo and did similar thing, long hacks jumping etc. I had a massive disagreement with her over it. Funnily enough said horse ahs been sold and will be moving to our yard beginning of July, i wonder if she realises how knackered it will be in a few years. Trouble is she pretty much idolises the girl who backed him so she probably doesn't care.

Completely disagree with how young racehorses are started and how little time to grow up they have. When Major came out of racing (rising 3yo) he couldn't even eat grass due to never being turned out... please explain to me how that is fair on the poor animal. And how people can defend it is beyond me... right sorry rant over hehe!
 
Depends how far you take or interperet the backing. I clambered onto one of mine bareback at 2 and sat on him in the yard, didn't do any more than that. Got him used to people doing strange things around the side and on top. He was a 17hh hunter and I weighted under 9 stone so doubt I hindered his growth, as he managed another 2.5 inches before he was 5!
At 3 he was carrying a proper saddle, and doing stop start and steer and some trotting - max 15 minutes a time.
 
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