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Post by tafsmum on Apr 26, 2012 20:10:10 GMT
Hi everyone, we have just backed my first youngster. He has just gone 3 but a very mature young man and certainly ready for his first taste of ridden work. We have gone very slow and having been under saddle for 8 weeks walking trotting in the indoor the outdoor and around the farm. We also had our first canter and have had no problems at all, he does look for confidence from his handler so we haven't been hacking nor have we asked him to hold himself correctly it has all been about accepting the rider and learning to balance himself with a rider. So the question I have is the weather is terrible at the moment and we have got to a stage where he stands at mounting block, stands like a rock when asked walks trots in circles (large ones) and has cantered, the horses are due to go out 24/7 in the next couple of weeks so is now a good time to turn him away for a period of time? My only worry is if we carry on we will be restricted to working indoors and pushing him into more correct work. He really has overwhelmed us with his attitude and everytime u get on u push the boundaries a little more.
What are your experiences and what would u do? I would hate for him to get fed up although has shown no signs of objections.
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Post by Kerbeck on Apr 27, 2012 9:38:02 GMT
I would definately give him some time out now to digest what he has learnt, then bring him back in in say 3 months when the weather is better (hopefully?!) and start some hacking with him.
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Post by carrie17491 on Apr 28, 2012 11:51:05 GMT
I have recently backed my 3 YO too, she was going foot perfect and I had reached the point where she knew the basics and so there was nothing more to teach her and so she is doing nothing but relaxing in the field. She has the odd hack just to remind her what the saddle and bridle do etc but nothing more than a walk out.
I personally dont like turning them completely away as (depending on the horse) can mean you starting all over again when you get them back in for work.
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Post by GinaGeo on Apr 28, 2012 12:11:17 GMT
I'd turn away. We started my then three year old last autumn, established the basics, hacked about a bit, alone and in company and then turned away for 6 months. He probably did 2months under saddle just happy hacking. We bought him back int work over easter. Started from scratch, but he hadn't forgotten anything so didn't spend quite as long on each step the second time.
He's going very sweetly, very enthusiastically and hasn't forgotten anything. He was becoming slightly sour before we turned him away, as due to the cold, dark nights he wasn't really doing enough to warrant it.
Personally, I don't think it does them any ill favours having some time off.
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Post by tafsmum on Apr 28, 2012 14:03:13 GMT
I am really thinking now is the best time, initially we were going to work him till July and introduce hacking (ours isn't the best it's quite busy where we are) then turn him away till January. However I am thinking maybe just bring everything forward a ninth or two and maybe we could do some winter dressage then before spring next year. In general I haven't lunged he is a big boy and personally I don't think his joints need the pressure of running around in circles yet today I thought we'd do a little bit in walk and trot, He was just not interested at all he just kept turning in and looking at me so even more so I think it a good idea. I was thinking that I would possibly take him to a show or two over sumner to do in hand.
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Post by rubydoo on Apr 29, 2012 21:05:10 GMT
agree with above i think they always come back willing when they've been turned away, id start hacking later on in the summer .
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Post by Kaseyleigh on May 2, 2012 8:19:48 GMT
If you have the walk trot and canter then give him a month off then bring him back into it with hacking out make riding fun for him please dont ruin him by constantly riding in the school many people make this mistake and make there horses rotten take him hacking get him going forward and even take him out hunting this season once or twice then let him relax another month then when he is four then start think about a bit of schooling and adding other things into that.
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Post by tafsmum on May 2, 2012 13:18:11 GMT
I wouldn't want him to be sour which is why we will sometimes just ride around the yard (it's quite a big yard) we also vary indoor to outdoor, sometimes we just stand at gate watching traffic under saddle or even stand chatting. We have got "forward" he is fab and really moves off ur leg now but sit up into saddle and a squeeze of the reins stops dead. we are going to walk down the lane next week (hacking is not great but he does look in the bottom of hedges so a 10minute stroll is our best option for now) then hopefully they will be going out 24/7 which will be a great time I think. Thank you all for your opinions
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