Well baby coblet would appear to be backed...

Buds_mum said:
Everyone who is critising and for want of a better term b*tching actually read CS' post properly?!! The very title is 'backed' not ''woop baby coblet is broken and ready for our first road race tomorrow!''
I wouldnt ride bareback in a headcollar but worse things go on in the grand scheme of things. CS didn't post this to be told she a horrible owner. if you don't like it or understand the context and dont have anything nice to say then dont say anything at all :p
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She posted on an open forum, not everyone will agree with her and give her the big thumbs up. There were several things wrong with what she did that usually gets the HHO members all riled up, but because this is a regular member it is ok?

If a new member came here and said, I have a 2YO who has been sat on, I then took him too a busy residental area and rode him around, I didn't bother with any hi-vis even though we were on the road, I also didn't bother with a saddle or bridle, I just hopped on with only a headcollar and hoped everything would be ok, but its ok because I have done some bombproofing with him. I doubt one member here would say well done. It doesn't matter if this is a regular poster, it was a stupid thing to do.
 
LaurenBay said:
I haven't seen any of CS's posts, whilst bombproofing is is a great idea for any Horse, you still cannot predict how a Horse is going to react, so saftey measures should be put in place, Especially with a very newley backed 2 YO on the road. At 2 years old there is still plenty to see and learn.
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LB you NEVER know how a horse is going to react - I don't think it matters what age it is! Whilst cob is technically 2 (blah blah blah) lets face it if CS did not know when he was born he would essentialy be a 3 year old! Of course riding on a road is a dangerous thing to do but by having done major amounts of ground work/bombproofing CS HAS put safety measures in place. I wonder how many other have done so much work on their youngsters before taking them on the road for the first time. OK whilst I personally wouldn't ride in headcollar on the road she obviously feels confident in her horses nature to do so. Is a bitless bridle (without shank) so different? From photos it looks as it rope is attached to either side of headcollar. Some of the Micklem bridle settings are essentially as riding in a headcollar.
I live in a racing area.......lots of REAL 2 year olds on the road everyday that really have no business being there and that are really not safe ...... :(
 
Whilst I agree, no Horse is 100%. a 10YO Horse who is used to being ridden and used to being around cars will be more reliable then a Horse that has been sat on a handful of times and doesn't have as much experience with cars. IMO Horses should be backed in a safe secure place.
 
I'm another one who things sitting on a 2yo, on a public road in a headcollar is a really silly idea. Wonder why a lot of horse riders have a bad reputation among drivers? Really not the most cracking idea I've seen today.
 
ChristmasSparkles said:
He's a dude. Always has been [so far]. Though I won't tempt providence - I'll wait to see if I can repeat that when he's 5 still. ;)
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Ha, yes, you may come back to eat yr words! I backed mine exactly like you've done and she was 100% in every way until she turned 5. Things got bit more, shall we say exciting then! He's gorgeous though, love him.
 
And IMO, he looks very immature (wether he is 2 or 3) and shouldn't be ridden. OP has obviously put a lot of time and training into his groundwork, she should carry on with that. He does look relaxed and happy (a credit to OP) but I still cannot condone taking a Newley backed Horse onto the road with just a headcollar. It is my opinion which I am entitled too.
 
Soooo, in your experience how would you back him to raod without going on a road? You are suggesting he should be in a safe place - are you confused in thinking this is the first time he has been sat on? He hasn't been 'backed' on this road.
 
Billie1007 said:
Soooo, in your experience how would you back him to raod without going on a road? You are suggesting he should be in a safe place - are you confused in thinking this is the first time he has been sat on? He hasn't been 'backed' on this road.
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Before riding out on public roads my youngters have always been used to tack, responsive to aids and ideally accompanied by a schoolmaster for the first few times, with youngsters you just never know when something might spook them, so it is best to be safe and secure.
Using a headcollar and being bareback isn't my idea of making things as safe as you can. I also tend to avoid main roads until the horse is going well, just common sense really.

I think Run to Earth has made a very valid point about how we appear to other road users too tbh.
 
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Billie1007 said:
Soooo, in your experience how would you back him to raod without going on a road? You are suggesting he should be in a safe place - are you confused in thinking this is the first time he has been sat on? He hasn't been 'backed' on this road.
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In one of my previous posts, I did say he has been sat on a handful of times. I did not say this was the first time he has been sat on. I would not be taking any Horse on the roads, in a headcollar only. I would wait for the Horse to be old enough to bit and then lead in a Bridle. I would also have hi-vis on myself and on the Horse. I would also be in the company of an older Horse. I would ride only in the school or a fenced off area in a paddock. Then I would introduce riding on the roads, again with proper tack, hi vis and another Horse.
 
zigzag said:
Riding in a headcollar on a main road, horse is supposed to be 3 but bet his real birthday isn't in Jan :p infact rider has been riding him since he was two... so yes if it was someone else they would be slated...
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Actually I disagree. I was overwhelmed by how chiled and well mannered he was and that would have been the case whether the OP was a prolific poster or a newbie. He looks extremely well prepared for backing. As for birthdays I've posted pics of myself backing my 3 year old - and yes, his birthday is in January (I knew his breeder and saw photos days after he was born), so I'd say assumptions on that front are a bit daft imo.

caterpillar said:
Hacking a 2yo in a headcollar, bareback along main roads is stupid. Add the fact that you are too tall for him doesn't make a pretty picture.
.
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Whilst I aree that headcollar and road are probably a bad combination for backing, there's nothing wrong with the principle of backing in a headcollar or bareback - I've personally done both and prefer it for numerous reasons. It's always a gamble getting on a youngster, and I'm not sure tack, bits or anything else really improve the situation - it's preparation which counts, and the pony was undoubtably well prepared. Personally I'd prefer to do the first couple of sit ons in a field / away from traffic, though.

The OP is not too tall for the pony either. I really hate this idea that being tall on a horse is wrong - it's nonsense. Weight, certainly is a factor, and too heavy would be an issue, particularly for a baby. However, I doubt the OP is too heavy. Too tall may not be aesthetically pleasing to you, caterpillar, but it is hardly a crime :rolleyes:


eta - CS, I didn't want to ride my recently backed 3 y/old on byways or near roads relying on a bit either. However, due to the statements in the HWC and concerns re 3rd party insurance, I didn't want to only have a headcollar either. Therefore I put his headcollar under his bridle, with a second set of reins. I rode off the headcollar reins, but had the 2nd reins attached to his bit knotted and available for use in a crisis. It's maybe something to think of next time?
 
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Maybe next time you all start slating a Dragon Driving advert you should think twice about this thread.

It is entirely possibly that the 2 year olds advertised on DD have done lots of groundwork too, were only sat on for 9 minutes going up and down a quiet road. That the horse is quiet, bombproof, turning 3 this year etc.

Because apparently all those things make it ok....
 
JFTD, yes he may look chilled, but it doesn't make it right.. he is 2 years old, he shouldn't be ridden in a headcollar on a main road... He shouldn't be ridden at all. He looks very immature and needs time to grow up. I actually read back on some of OP posts and saw one when she was jumping him on lunge over a log... So she is doing a lot wrong.

I also agree she looks big on him, don't know what she weighs...
 
CobsGalore said:
Maybe next time you all start slating a Dragon Driving advert you should think twice about this thread.

It is entirely possibly that the 2 year olds advertised on DD have done lots of groundwork too, were only sat on for 9 minutes going up and down a quiet road. That the horse is quiet, bombproof, turning 3 this year etc.

Because apparently all those things make it ok....
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^^^That
 
zigzag said:
He shouldn't be ridden at all.
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In your opinion.

Lots of people back horses or start them at 2 or rising 3. Racing TBs are racing younger still, draft horses will be in harness and pulling at 2. The rights and wrongs are not absolute and are very much still open to debate.


eta, I can kick my highland's knees bareback. I'm certainly tall on him. We still manage well enough.
 
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Big Ben said:
This screen captured from the video that CS posted

Capture.jpg


It is my guess that if that were a DragonDriving ad, or a newbie sharing the joy of riding their 2 year old, that there would be an outcry from many people.
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Yes, I know she is bareback but her feet are below his knees, she looks miles to big in this screenshot.
 
Billie1007 said:
TS, the only discrepency then is the tack?
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For me yes as well as the lack of a companion if anything scary were to happen and riding so soon on a main road; but I appreciate that not everybody has a schoolmaster that they have access to. Fine if you are off the public road to ride bareback and in just a headcollar, but the public highway is a different kettle of fish.

I honestly don't think that the pony will come to much harm pootling about for ten minutes here and there, (although mine was rising 5 before I started her, and didn't mature fully until she was eight) especially after I saw a 7 month old foal being driven hell for leather on a facebook vid :(
 
Hippona said:
I'm not on anyones bandwagon......

CS can do what she wants on private property...she can do coblet Grand National on a daily basis for me...couldn't care less.

Its the stupidity of riding an unbacked unbroken 2 year out on public roads bareback in just a headcollar that I object to....

Anyone one of us could have been driving along and baby coblet end up on our front bonnet...

Oh.....I forgot...baby coblet is such a cool dude that wouldn't possibly happen:confused:

Get a grip.....
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LOL Coblet grand national.. that made me chuckle... thats about all i have to say, relatively new poster myself so shall keep my ore out
 
JFTD said:
In your opinion.

Lots of people back horses or start them at 2 or rising 3. Racing TBs are racing younger still, draft horses will be in harness and pulling at 2. The rights and wrongs are not absolute and are very much still open to debate.
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Yes and when debated on here, it is always wrong... but for this poster its is ok...
 
Im all for sitting on babys his age (mine has been sat on twice) but literally a sit, in the field or stable for 2 mins. Can't say I think riding or being on the roads is a good idea but this is also why I havent put photos on here.
 
As a total aside, I hate it when people say they need breaking to 'amuse their minds'. They really don't They can amuse themselves perfectly well in a field with some chums, and have a more beneficial 'childhood' as it were doing that than being ridden.

Reg is a fit, keen eventer. He's 12. He spends about 3 months of every year in a field with some friends and has a fantastic time just being a horse. He doesn't get bored or anything like that, he loves being 'wild'.

FWIW, I disagree strongly with backing any horse at 2. Including TBs. Both Al's were backed at this age, and Bee has actually had a lot of time off since then as part of letting her grow up- she's just turned 6 and this winter grew 3 inches in front...
 
zigzag said:
Yes and when debated on here, it is always wrong... but for this poster its is ok...
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How is it OK for CS? She's had plenty of you tell her otherwise on this thread? If you mean that there are a couple of us defending aspects of what she's doing, I can honestly say I have never indulged in a debate on here about it - because I'm not overly interested in what people say about an advert with a couple of blurry photos and badly written lines of text and how they choose to interpret it.

This is different, because the forum member who posted those videos will actually see what is written to her - this isn't a discussion about backing horses at 2, or about a random advert, it's a discussion of her backing her horse. So yes, I will offer my opinions here even if I choose not to on other threads :cool:
 
It doesn't bother me if CS decides to take her coblet to Badminton this year... Her pony, her choice... My previous comment was about the fact that because people had disagreed with a regular poster they were obviously the ones in the wrong. It's a public forum and we're not all going to agree on everything, I'm on my phone so can't quote but to the poster who made the comment about how many people lunge their 3 year olds and don't call it work, what gives you the right to say it's wrong? If people aren't allowed to say that sitting on an immature rising 3 year old is wrong why are you then allowed to voice your opinions? At that's all these comments are...people's opinions, no one person on here has the right to say anothers views are wrong and they shouldn't say them.
Oh and I don't lunge my rising 3 year old or my rising 4 and I never have. Funnily enough when I say he does nothing but basic ground work I mean it.
 
JFTD said:
How is it OK for CS? She's had plenty of you tell her otherwise on this thread? If you mean that there are a couple of us defending aspects of what she's doing, I can honestly say I have never indulged in a debate on here about it - because I'm not overly interested in what people say about an advert with a couple of blurry photos and badly written lines of text and how they choose to interpret it.

This is different, because the forum member who posted those videos will actually see what is written to her - this isn't a discussion about backing horses at 2, or about a random advert, it's a discussion of her backing her horse. So yes, I will offer my opinions here even if I choose not to on other threads :cool:
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So you think it is right she is riding her pony at 2?
 
zigzag said:
So you think it is right she is riding her pony at 2?
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Do I think it is a problem sitting on him for under 10 minutes, a couple of months before his 3rd birthday? Absolutely not.

Am I advocating starting schooling, lunging, jumping or even hacking for an hour and going for a canter a few times a week? No, that's a whole other kettle of fish.
 
I think the sensible thing would be to agree to disagree (but who is sensible on here).

I don't remember any of OPs previous posts on working her 2yro otherwise I would probably have commented on them too.

My opinion doesn't change based on whether it is a new poster or someone 'known' on the board.

I disagree with riding a 2yro full-stop and I disagree with riding on the roads (particularly on a young horse) in a headcollar.
If the OP is offended by the comments then so be it I'm afraid, I don't think pictures and videos of 2yro horses being ridden should be condoned and accepted as normal.
 
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