When to back youngster?

appylass

appylass

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I'm the proud owner of a delightful Highland who will be 3 in May. He has a sweet nature, is well mannered and laid back. He also is very much a baby still, he has the attention span of a goldfish
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and he's very croup high (around 3 inches difference) I am in absolutely no hurry to ride him, a very lightweight friend sat on him in the stable a couple of times and he appeared not to notice! I was thinking I would maybe put this friend on him in late autumn and lead him out for 5 - 10 mins a few times, turn him away over next winter then bring him back and do some gentle work in the spring. I feel he is not emotionally mature enough to do more than this right now. I would hope he would be in moderate work when he is 5. However another person at the yard thinks I am being too soft on him and that he should be doing more now. I would be very interested to hear other peoples opinions. Thank you very much in anticipation!
 
I decide when to back mine depending on how competent their legs are. If they make good use of their legs and know how they work, have a mature mental attitude and a willingness to work then I will back them. If they stand on themselves and don't know what their legs are capable of, then I will not back the horse.
 
I agree with you, three is too young to do much physically, as they are not finished growing so are more vulnerable to damage.
I have a rising 3yo who will be doing nothing at all apart from maybe in hand walkies this year. I also have a rising 4yo who will be backed in the autumn and turned away again.
S
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you know your own horse and will know when hes ready
it sounds to me like your plan would work very well for his training, dont pay attention to these people, he is your horse and if this is the plan you feel best for him then stick with it
 
I know a lady who buy horses at 2 for her riding school. She backs them at 2 and a half, turns away over the winter. Then lunges/long-reins/very lightly rides them at 3 and again turns them out over the winter to be brought up at 4 to use in the school. It seems to work really well for her, and she has been doing this for years.

I have just bought a 2yo who is a full ID so will be quite stocky. I won't consider sitting on him till next spring time. He is very croup high at the moment and I don't think a horse which has a huge amount of growing and filling out to do needs to be backed at 2 or 3. Especially if they have good manners and you have done some basic groundwork.

I think a lot of people would say this is too early, but I think it is kinder to the horse as you are introducing things very gradually and hopefully they will benefit from the patient handling and constant reintroduction of things.

But we are all different and so are our horses!! Ideally I want to bring my horse out at 4 to start going to a few little competitions, but if he's not ready then it's no worry to me. Good luck with your boy, you sound very considerate! Don't worry what other people say, he isn't their horse and you know him best.
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Post some piccys!
 
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I agree with you, three is too young to do much physically, as they are not finished growing so are more vulnerable to damage.
I have a rising 3yo who will be doing nothing at all apart from maybe in hand walkies this year. I also have a rising 4yo who will be backed in the autumn and turned away again.
S
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Thats what i did with my lad,he was backed at 4 and really did not do alot,infact he still dosnt,lmao,spoilt bugger with an easy life
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(tb,matured to be 16.3 so dont regret not pushing him)!!!
 
Major baby look bless
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!!Looks to young for anything there bless him,have you not any more recent to show how he has matured??
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Thank you Tia, he is really quite good with his legs but his brain is definitely not so co-ordinated! He tries really hard but gets bored in 5 minutes! For example yesterday I showed him a trailer for the first time, he walked sensibly in and out, then in again and stood calmly but that was enough he then wanted to go check out what his field mates were up to!
 
appylass, i think your plan sounds spot on, fwiw.
i agree with the others, i go on their overall maturity, balance, look, etc etc, not calendar age. if they're strong and solid-looking, i'll get on them at 3 ish, if not, i leave it till they're older. but i'm not 7 stone unfortunately, i'm closer to 10 stone, and that plus a saddle is a fair bit for an immature back, so i keep that firmly in mind.
i would tell the other person at the yard, respectfully, that it is your horse and your decision. just make sure they're not the sort of person who will ride the horse if you're not around (i've known this at some livery yards, the cheek of some people is unbelievable.)
 
Thanks shilasdair, it's good to hear someone else is doing much the same. I plan on keeping him for life and reckon taking time now will reap rewards later on
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Thanks shilasdair, it's good to hear someone else is doing much the same. I plan on keeping him for life and reckon taking time now will reap rewards later on
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I, too, plan to keep mine for life...and I'd rather do it right than quickly. I've known a lot of people do too much too soon, and 'blow' the minds of their youngsters and/or sour them, so I'm keen to keep work fun and easy til they're fully adult.
My older horse, I didn't back til she was 5yo (I bought her as rising 5 after she'd had a foal) and she's still sound aged 19 so it can't be all bad
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Highlands are groovy.
S
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Excellent! I'd much rather he enjoyed his babyhood and learned about being a horse than 'grew up' too quickly. And I'm having lots of fun showing him new things including hopefully his first show (since he went as a foal with mum).

I agree Highlands ARE groovy!!
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