What age to back and break in ?

Bettyboo222

Bettyboo222

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Bridle goes on at 2 1/2
Saddle at 3
Longreining in saddle and bridle until 3 1/2 or 4
Light weight rider at 4
'proper' riding at 5.

This seems very fast to some people and very slow to others. It looks like I will be helping with the backing of a fell, who is 3 and I think we should take it slow.

So just wondering, when do you people back and break in ?
 
That is a little slower than I take it, but you know the pony and Fells are very slow growing.

My 2 1/2 y/o has been bridled and worn lungeing roller/cavesson/boots.....anything I can put on her without full weight! I am starting to lean against her and putting a little weight across her just to get her used to the concept! I would like to start walking her out on the roads this year too.

I will pop a saddle on her this year to get her used to it and am intending longreining and then backing her VERY lightly in the spring/summer. I am aiming for very gentle, short hacks out and short school sessions by the end of the summer.

She will then be turned away over the winter and brought into work in the spring which will be her fourth year.

She is roughly 16hh ID/TB and I am 5' and 9 1/2 stone so percentage of body weigt will be much less than the Fell I should imagine.

ETS my experice with this breeding is that it's pretty slow going. I won't be putting her into full work until I feel she is mature enough physicaly as well as mentally.
 
I agree with the above it's up to the individual and the rate at which the horse matures. My filly was lunged, long reined and wearing tack from a yearling. Last summer I sat on her and had her walking and trotting around the paddocks. This year she had 10 weeks of work April-June only hacking out walk and trot, seeing the sights and traffic and then has had a good 8-10 weeks in the paddock. She's now back up in work for about 8-10 weeks and is doing short schooling sessions on the stubble, hacking out and popped her first cross pole on Monday. She is taking everything in her stride and will be roughed off in approx 5 weeks time. She will then resume work as a 4 year old next spring. She has the most amazing attitude to her work that she will not be getting rushed or worked too hard.
 
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