welshied
Well-Known Member
Good or bad i was thinking of breaking my welsh in next year at 3 and just doing light hacking till he is 4. What are your opinions would you wait till 4 etc?
What are your opinions on breaking in at 3?
- Thread starter welshied
- Start date
Silverspring
Well-Known Member
I would expect to start ground work at 2 and be on their back at 3 but only for very short sessions at a time. Lot's of long lining and walking out in hand at 3 too (so worked most days but not always ridden) then turned away for the winter and brought back into proper work as they rise 4.
I've never had any problems starting horses this way, I have seen people have serious issues with 4 year olds that have spent 4 years dossing about in a field and don't take kindly to the 'idea' of work.
I've never had any problems starting horses this way, I have seen people have serious issues with 4 year olds that have spent 4 years dossing about in a field and don't take kindly to the 'idea' of work.
Ellies_mum2
Well-Known Member
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Good or bad i was thinking of breaking my welsh in next year at 3 and just doing light hacking till he is 4. What are your opinions would you wait till 4 etc?
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I'm planning on doing this too although have to wait over 2 years as she's only 9 and 1/2 months old. At the moment I put my arm across her back with a little bit of pressure for a minute or so to get her used to the idea of things on her back and that its no big deal.
Good or bad i was thinking of breaking my welsh in next year at 3 and just doing light hacking till he is 4. What are your opinions would you wait till 4 etc?
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I'm planning on doing this too although have to wait over 2 years as she's only 9 and 1/2 months old. At the moment I put my arm across her back with a little bit of pressure for a minute or so to get her used to the idea of things on her back and that its no big deal.
nobbster
Well-Known Member
i like breaking themin at 3 but i do strongly disagree with being saddled and fully backed at 18 mths which people up my yard do and i am very close to breaking point watchng these youngster get thir spirit broken,
also being bitted up witht heir chin toching their neck
arrrrgggghhhhh
also being bitted up witht heir chin toching their neck
arrrrgggghhhhh
Ezme
Well-Known Member
Unless they still look like they are very immature that work schedule sounds fine. They normally tell you whats too much/ too little! Our chunks are generally started at 3 in harness and in light work (including bombproofing, harnessing demos and other junk to get thempublic proof) until 4 when they start doing the carriage rides.
sleepingdragon10
Well-Known Member
My boy is 3 and had my daughter sitting astride him for the first time yesterday
i've done little bits with him over the years to prepare him for the backing process, so as long as you take things slowly and introduce them to everything gently I can't see a problem with it.
Kenzo
Well-Known Member
I don't think there is a hard and fast rule on this, its all down to common sense and the individual horse.
I think they should be backed before there 4th birthday, light work and enjoying some hacking before there 5 and real work work from 6 and onward, as some horses are just not ready or fully developed mentally and physically to cope with consistent work until then.
I think they should be backed before there 4th birthday, light work and enjoying some hacking before there 5 and real work work from 6 and onward, as some horses are just not ready or fully developed mentally and physically to cope with consistent work until then.
lucy1984
Well-Known Member
It depends on how mature the horse is physically and mentally. The sooner they are taught manners and are able to accept equipment the better for their adult life. It doesnt matter if they are 1.5 years old, you just have to go by their physique, but saddling/bridling up is all id do at 1.5 years old.
I have broken 3 horses altogether and this is what ive found best.
My horse - at 2 years old i sat on her occaionally (she was already 16.1hh at this point) she was brill and even walked off on her own as she wanted to be nosey and see what was round the corner. - from 2 years old to 3 years old, long reining, desiensitizing etc
When izzy was 3 (2 months ago) i rebacked her and spent 15-20 minutes on her gradually building it up for her muscles to develop under my weight. I now hack occasionally/ride her for more than 40 minutes. She loves anything new.
Im not even going to turn her away this winter - its not as if ill be able to ride her as often as the summer anyway. she is now 17hh.
Not all people will agree, but then again i dont agree with jumping a horse until its atleast 4.5 to 5years old.
my sig is of her having a canter for about the 3rd time ever!
I have broken 3 horses altogether and this is what ive found best.
My horse - at 2 years old i sat on her occaionally (she was already 16.1hh at this point) she was brill and even walked off on her own as she wanted to be nosey and see what was round the corner. - from 2 years old to 3 years old, long reining, desiensitizing etc
When izzy was 3 (2 months ago) i rebacked her and spent 15-20 minutes on her gradually building it up for her muscles to develop under my weight. I now hack occasionally/ride her for more than 40 minutes. She loves anything new.
Im not even going to turn her away this winter - its not as if ill be able to ride her as often as the summer anyway. she is now 17hh.
Not all people will agree, but then again i dont agree with jumping a horse until its atleast 4.5 to 5years old.
my sig is of her having a canter for about the 3rd time ever!
scotsmare
Well-Known Member
I didn't send my 4yr old away last year as she was still growing and mentally wasn't mature enough.
She had however, seen plenty of 'life' via showing etc so wasn't completely unhandled.
I think if horse is able to cope with a bit of work at 3 then it's fine, otherwise leave them for a year.
She had however, seen plenty of 'life' via showing etc so wasn't completely unhandled.
I think if horse is able to cope with a bit of work at 3 then it's fine, otherwise leave them for a year.
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
My gypsy cob was bitted at 18 months, had a saddle and long reined at 20 months, led out off old horse at 2 years to get used to seeing the world. He needed to do something from the age of 16 months or he was bored, bolshy and destructive.
We started with 5 mins twice a week and went up to 10 - 15 mins 3 - 4 times a week doing a few mins of in hand, long reining, loose schooling and general despooking to keep the sessions interesting.
Just before he was 2 1/2, I sat on him and for 3 months, he was sat on once a week for 5 mins whilst I walked, turned and halted and did things like doing up girth, adjusting stirrups, waving arms and legs round whilst onboard. He was taught to stand at the mounting block, be mounted from a leg up and off the ground.
A couple of times he went into trot and I just went with him for a few strides then asked him to walk again. It was mentally tiring but not that physical for him. He is a big chunky lad and I am small, my vet and physio were happy for him to be sat on at the age he was.
He then started teething and had a big growth spurt so went back to ground work only until nearly 3. At 3, I got back on - he went immediately from where he was left and started doing 5 mins in the school and once walk, trot, halt and turns were mastered, then a second ride of 10 mins hack each week - within three hacks he was going out by himself. I built this up over 6 months, still ridden twice a week but up to 20 mins in the school and 30 - 45 mins slow hacks.
At 3 1/2 we did our first few strides of canter. He then did his first show when nearly 4 and we spent 6 months doing small local shows and at 4 1/2 we started affiliiated showing.
He has just started jumping rising 5. I have done the backing early, but everything has been done very very slowly. He has never needed to be turned away in the field and for us, this method has worked very well.
We started with 5 mins twice a week and went up to 10 - 15 mins 3 - 4 times a week doing a few mins of in hand, long reining, loose schooling and general despooking to keep the sessions interesting.
Just before he was 2 1/2, I sat on him and for 3 months, he was sat on once a week for 5 mins whilst I walked, turned and halted and did things like doing up girth, adjusting stirrups, waving arms and legs round whilst onboard. He was taught to stand at the mounting block, be mounted from a leg up and off the ground.
A couple of times he went into trot and I just went with him for a few strides then asked him to walk again. It was mentally tiring but not that physical for him. He is a big chunky lad and I am small, my vet and physio were happy for him to be sat on at the age he was.
He then started teething and had a big growth spurt so went back to ground work only until nearly 3. At 3, I got back on - he went immediately from where he was left and started doing 5 mins in the school and once walk, trot, halt and turns were mastered, then a second ride of 10 mins hack each week - within three hacks he was going out by himself. I built this up over 6 months, still ridden twice a week but up to 20 mins in the school and 30 - 45 mins slow hacks.
At 3 1/2 we did our first few strides of canter. He then did his first show when nearly 4 and we spent 6 months doing small local shows and at 4 1/2 we started affiliiated showing.
He has just started jumping rising 5. I have done the backing early, but everything has been done very very slowly. He has never needed to be turned away in the field and for us, this method has worked very well.
welshied
Well-Known Member
My welsh already looks like he has another year (every one thinks he is already 3) on him as he is very chunky, so i think he will cope fine just some people say they would never break in at 3, but i thought if you left them till 4 they would be alot bigger and stronger
lucy1984
Well-Known Member
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but i thought if you left them till 4 they would be alot bigger and stronger
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....yes a lot and bigger and stronger to misbehave, challenge you, mess you around and say 'your having a laugh' lol
but i thought if you left them till 4 they would be alot bigger and stronger
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....yes a lot and bigger and stronger to misbehave, challenge you, mess you around and say 'your having a laugh' lol
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
IMO welsh's mature pretty late - mine has only just finished maturing last year at 8yrs old! I wouldn't tend to start backing until they are very nearly 4 (say 1 or 2 months before they're 4). And I'd take it very slowly and see how they go. But up until this point Id be doing lots of stuff on the ground, like getting them used to loading/travelling, leading them over poles/tarpolin etc. and probably taking them out for some in-hand classes just to get them used to it.
welshied
Well-Known Member
Yeah thats what people haev said because of his breeding he shouldn't be backed untill 4 as the are really slow to develop. I am doign ground exercises with him like walking over tarpauling, loading, getting used to bin bags etc and am taking him to his first shwo next month
Ezme
Well-Known Member
I tend to agree with magic_magpie but IME welshie need to do something when they're younger. They're too clever for their own good and need to be occupied! lol Maybe go onto ground would, poles, bombproofing etc and see how he copes
welshied
Well-Known Member
Would you have thought he was older than a 2 year old?
Lill
Well-Known Member
Ahh, yes i would, he definitely looks a lot different to our 2yo welsh d's!!!
welshied
Well-Known Member
He is def only 2 got him from breeder
salee
Well-Known Member
i was always told if you apply a little pressure on the muscles of the back just behind the withers and they push back up they are ok, if they dip= wait,
as to what work it depends on the animal, and the trainer, i used to let my foals follow mum on walks along the canal, and later the edge of the road, led of course.
i think lots and lots of preparation, you can take them out to places, introduce them to things all that with no need to ride,
think of the type of training a police horse gets & why? so it does not flip its lid and have a potential accident out in the real world, sounds good to me for any modern horse.
no physical damage is likely from gentle and SLOW work, the danger is mostly to concussion damage of the legs, bear this in mind.
some youngsters are thick, lets be honest, you need to repeat, repeat, repeat, some are too quick and you will bore them and then they play up, any training has to be at the horses speed not yours.
yesterday we backed a breton (french horse similar to a big welsh cob) we did it by putting a little very very sloppy sugarbeet in his tub in the barn so he could still wear a bit and gently putting my 11y old son on him,
now since food is the love of this horses life he couldn't care less that someone sat on him so long as he was munching, by the time he had finished he had almost forgotten the boy was there and so we went off walkies around the barn, no stress no problem.
it don't matter that its unconventional, i have used it before and it works,
been at this game almost 40y and all that stays the same is.............. every horse is different. bye
as to what work it depends on the animal, and the trainer, i used to let my foals follow mum on walks along the canal, and later the edge of the road, led of course.
i think lots and lots of preparation, you can take them out to places, introduce them to things all that with no need to ride,
think of the type of training a police horse gets & why? so it does not flip its lid and have a potential accident out in the real world, sounds good to me for any modern horse.
no physical damage is likely from gentle and SLOW work, the danger is mostly to concussion damage of the legs, bear this in mind.
some youngsters are thick, lets be honest, you need to repeat, repeat, repeat, some are too quick and you will bore them and then they play up, any training has to be at the horses speed not yours.
yesterday we backed a breton (french horse similar to a big welsh cob) we did it by putting a little very very sloppy sugarbeet in his tub in the barn so he could still wear a bit and gently putting my 11y old son on him,
now since food is the love of this horses life he couldn't care less that someone sat on him so long as he was munching, by the time he had finished he had almost forgotten the boy was there and so we went off walkies around the barn, no stress no problem.
it don't matter that its unconventional, i have used it before and it works,
been at this game almost 40y and all that stays the same is.............. every horse is different. bye
Helbert
Well-Known Member
With our dressage horses:-
Learn manners and ground control at 18months, by 2 accept stable environment, rugs, grooming. Lead safely and introduced to saddlery.
At 30months - 3yo. Backed for first time, taught to lunge, accept a rider. Can be turned left, right, trot, stop. So a rider has very basic control and horse accepts rider/leader. This should only take about 2-3 weeks. Then turn away to continue growing and learn about being a horse in a field with a herd.
Then (depending on physical and mental development) bring back in at 3half - 4 to learn about work and begin foundation work to being a competition horse.
But that's just us...
I strongly believe you must move at the horse's pace! If they have grown need to learn to keep their brains active (and often to keep them out of mischief) then you bringing the process forward, but if they are relaxed and happy to be a polite and an obedient young horse then give them time to grow and don;t push them.
Learn manners and ground control at 18months, by 2 accept stable environment, rugs, grooming. Lead safely and introduced to saddlery.
At 30months - 3yo. Backed for first time, taught to lunge, accept a rider. Can be turned left, right, trot, stop. So a rider has very basic control and horse accepts rider/leader. This should only take about 2-3 weeks. Then turn away to continue growing and learn about being a horse in a field with a herd.
Then (depending on physical and mental development) bring back in at 3half - 4 to learn about work and begin foundation work to being a competition horse.
But that's just us...
I strongly believe you must move at the horse's pace! If they have grown need to learn to keep their brains active (and often to keep them out of mischief) then you bringing the process forward, but if they are relaxed and happy to be a polite and an obedient young horse then give them time to grow and don;t push them.
Annette4
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't back until 4yo personally, especially a welsh, but doesn't mean I'd leave them be until then. I do think getting them used to tack, lunging and long lining, traffic/bomb proofing, going to shows etc does them the world of good and makes breaking them far easier.
ginginandtonic
Well-Known Member
QR
I've had my boy since he was weaned at 7 months.
For the first year I pretty much groomed him, led him around, picked his feet up, tied him up, got him used to all general things like rugs, noises, moving things... he was handled everyday but most of the time he was left to be a baby in the field.
At 2 I started taking him out and about to see the world outside the yard.
Between 2 and 3 he was bitted and started long-rening.
At 3 I introduced the saddle and started a little lunging every now and then (in walk and a little trot for only 10 minutes at a time).
In May this year he was backed - he was 4 on June 5th. He is now turned away for a couple of months and then I will slowly bring him back into work.
He took to backing like a duck to water and I believe this is because he's been lucky enough to have a steady and careful upbringing.
My boy is the most pleasant, well mannered, laid back, balanced, willing 4 year old I've ever met. Everything has been taken slowly and steadily with him but he's my horse for life so I'm in no rush and have the luxury of doing things when he's ready.
I've had my boy since he was weaned at 7 months.
For the first year I pretty much groomed him, led him around, picked his feet up, tied him up, got him used to all general things like rugs, noises, moving things... he was handled everyday but most of the time he was left to be a baby in the field.
At 2 I started taking him out and about to see the world outside the yard.
Between 2 and 3 he was bitted and started long-rening.
At 3 I introduced the saddle and started a little lunging every now and then (in walk and a little trot for only 10 minutes at a time).
In May this year he was backed - he was 4 on June 5th. He is now turned away for a couple of months and then I will slowly bring him back into work.
He took to backing like a duck to water and I believe this is because he's been lucky enough to have a steady and careful upbringing.
My boy is the most pleasant, well mannered, laid back, balanced, willing 4 year old I've ever met. Everything has been taken slowly and steadily with him but he's my horse for life so I'm in no rush and have the luxury of doing things when he's ready.