Work Experience - Backing and Training Younsters

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sjdp92

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Hiya, I'm wanting to get some more experience with youngsters and the process of backing and training the young horse. It is something that has always interested me but I'm unsure how to go about getting the experience. I have had my own horses and worked on various yards but before I take the leap in getting my first youngster, I want to know I can handle it! I did have brief experience in the early training of some horses a few years ago, however this was not a very reputable yard and not somewhere I want to return to. I can read all the books I want, watch all the videos out there but nothing will compare to actually going and gaining some knowledge first hand.

I was hoping one of you lovely people would be able to tell me some places where this is possible, or where yards may have given work experience in the past.

I'm around the Gloucestershire area, but would travel further afield...

Thanks in advance!
 
sjdp92 said:
Hiya, I'm wanting to get some more experience with youngsters and the process of backing and training the young horse. It is something that has always interested me but I'm unsure how to go about getting the experience. I have had my own horses and worked on various yards but before I take the leap in getting my first youngster, I want to know I can handle it! I did have brief experience in the early training of some horses a few years ago, however this was not a very reputable yard and not somewhere I want to return to. I can read all the books I want, watch all the videos out there but nothing will compare to actually going and gaining some knowledge first hand.

I was hoping one of you lovely people would be able to tell me some places where this is possible, or where yards may have given work experience in the past.

I'm around the Gloucestershire area, but would travel further afield...

Thanks in advance!
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I will be backing my young WB x in the week starting 4th March, if you can get over to Melksham in the afternoons, you are more than welcome to come and be as involved as you want to. She has been started correctly and is currently long reining nicely. She has been leant over lightly and has is happy in her tack, but I will not back until my EDT has seen her again which is next Friday.

I welcome anyone that wants to observe the way I do things so you are welcome if you want to be there. I can even stretch to dinner and a room for the night if you promise not to be an axe murderer ;-)

The thing to remember with babies is that one rule does not fit all. Same with everything really. You tailor your training to the individual horse so more important IMO than how you do it, is how to recognise what a particular horse needs.

I would say watch as many different people as you can to get a really broad view of the different techniques and methods.
 
_GG_ said:
I will be backing my young WB x in the week starting 4th March, if you can get over to Melksham in the afternoons, you are more than welcome to come and be as involved as you want to. She has been started correctly and is currently long reining nicely. She has been leant over lightly and has is happy in her tack, but I will not back until my EDT has seen her again which is next Friday.

I welcome anyone that wants to observe the way I do things so you are welcome if you want to be there. I can even stretch to dinner and a room for the night if you promise not to be an axe murderer ;-)

The thing to remember with babies is that one rule does not fit all. Same with everything really. You tailor your training to the individual horse so more important IMO than how you do it, is how to recognise what a particular horse needs.

I would say watch as many different people as you can to get a really broad view of the different techniques and methods.
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Wow, thank you so much, that would be a fab opportunity for me, even to just be able to observe! You are about 1.5hrs from me, but think I could manage maybe once/twice a week? And I promise I'm not an axe murderer :) just a keen been for learning! Could you email me on sjdp_92@live.co.uk (so we can chat outside of the forum) Thanks! :D
 
sjdp92 said:
Wow, thank you so much, that would be a fab opportunity for me, even to just be able to observe! You are about 1.5hrs from me, but think I could manage maybe once/twice a week? And I promise I'm not an axe murderer :) just a keen been for learning! Could you email me on sjdp_92@live.co.uk (so we can chat outside of the forum) Thanks! :D
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Will email you on Monday and the other poster has suggested a wonderful idea as well.

I have only one condition when it comes to sharing my knowledge and that is that people have a genuine desire to learn. This is because I do as well....the day we think we know it all is the day we should give up horses.

You sound so enthusiastic, how could I not offer :-) x
 
Jon Trice Rolph near Moreton in Marsh. Probably one of the best at starting young horses. You will learn so much, he is a great trainer too. Pm if you want me to send his contact details.
 
I have just emailed you. Molly had a lot of dental work done on Friday so had the whole weekend off, so I won't be backing her until Wednesday after a couple more days long reining. X
 
A bit OT and I am not sure if it is allowed to post links of possible competitors (!), but are there any forums out there devoted to this subject? I am passionately interested in training/animal behaviour and have been all my life. I'd be very interested in swapping thoughts with others.

BTW, I'd like to take this opportunity to compliment _GG_ on her sensible approach to training and her patience in explaining how it is done. I am sure the OP will have an excellent tutor. My only criticism is that she is far too modest! There really is no substitute for hands on experience and being shown how it is done by someone who knows.
 
Dry Rot said:
A bit OT and I am not sure if it is allowed to post links of possible competitors (!), but are there any forums out there devoted to this subject? I am passionately interested in training/animal behaviour and have been all my life. I'd be very interested in swapping thoughts with others.

BTW, I'd like to take this opportunity to compliment _GG_ on her sensible approach to training and her patience in explaining how it is done. I am sure the OP will have an excellent tutor. My only criticism is that she is far too modest! There really is no substitute for hands on experience and being shown how it is done by someone who knows.
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Thank you for the very nice words :-)

It has interested me since I was about 6...got a very badly started (broken in S. Wales in the worst possible way) Welsh Section B to share with my sister. It was lots of trial and error and bless him, he put up with us trying all sorts, but 2 years later, we were enjoying doing everything without fuss. He still put the odd enthusiastic buck in every now and then but we loved that about him.

Understanding that when we train horses, we are effectively teaching them a whole new language is the most important thing to grasp in my opinion.
If you don't speak Welsh and I ask you to "gweiddi", you can want to do as I ask very much...but you won't be able to as you don't know the question.
If I then say, " gweiddi, gweiddi, Gweiddi, Gweiddi, GWEIDDI...GWEIDDI...you will understand that I really really want you do something, but even though I have shouted it really loudly at you again and again, you still won't understand, but you will most likely become confused and stressed and anxious...all because you are trying your best for me.

In my opinion, if you remember that theory when you are training animals, especially horses, you are far far less likely to become frustrated and/or impatient with them...things that should never happen.

Hope that made sense. I have written so many case studies of horses and ponies I have started and backed over the years I could fill a library, lol. But...we all still have lots to learn.

By the way, I am Welsh, but I used google translate for this post as I cannot speak it, lol. Oh...and "gweiddi" means shout :-)
 
^ This.

As I regularly tell people, "You have to explain it to them (i.e. the species you are attempting to train) in terms they can understand".
 
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