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Post by ccrider77 on Jul 4, 2012 21:17:46 GMT
People need 2 keep their noses out its your horse u'll bk it wen ur good n ready n u feel the times right 4 ur boy xx
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Post by pocketrocket1 on Jul 9, 2012 19:58:37 GMT
Piaffe, Iwill also be sitting on a rearing pony that wont go forward etc etc etc as i will not back my 3 yold until next spring. He is a large native and i would like him to be as mature as possible when i clamber on. I am not frightened of him or any other twaddle. but merely want him to be sound and working into his 20s and beyond like all my other neds have. Stick to your guns hun, it will be well worth the wait!!!!
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Post by piaffe on Jul 25, 2012 15:33:18 GMT
just been discussing this with a customer from work who works on a dressage yard in Basing stoke part time. She was absolutely horrified at the thought of breaking a 3 year old. I said it's quite common here, and she was just mortified. She said mature horses on their yard are backed at 4 and the others 5 or even 6. Just shows how opinions very  |
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Post by angelena on Jul 25, 2012 20:08:11 GMT
My girl is broken and hacking away nicely. She is mature for a 3 yr old. However I don't over do her as they do tire out quicker than when older. I mainly just play around with her, join up, lunge and long reins. Can't wait until she's 4  |
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Post by hch4971 on Jul 26, 2012 21:29:37 GMT
We have just broken our section A, he is just 6, the whole experience has been absolutely brilliant, hopefully for him too. We haven't had a single spook, buck or rear, he hasn't put a hoof out of place but just settled straight into his job, he was in a lead rein class 2 weeks after having a rider on his back. I am convinced he has taken to it so well because he is older and more able to understand what is being asked of him. We haven't done it deliberately, although I would never start one until at least 4, we just didn't have time to start him. I now have a 9yo, 8yo another 6yo and 3 x 5 yo to try and get started this summer and hope they go as well as this boy.
You know your horse better than anyone, you are going to be the one to ride him and you should start him when and how you want, that way you will ge tthe horse you want at the end of it. Good luck when you do and I hope you find him as easy as ours.
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Bexy
Junior Member
Posts: 153
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Post by Bexy on Jul 27, 2012 17:08:12 GMT
You know your horse!! I backed mine last year at 4 and he's fantastic. Don't let pressure rush your horse, if your happy with the work your giving him then your fine! |
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Post by carrie17491 on Jul 29, 2012 12:41:04 GMT
mine is 3 and backed. She is amazing and took to it like a duck to water, we hack out on main roads, pop the odd jump in the school and sometimes have a gallop. She is really loving her job and until she decides she doesn't, I'll carry on doing what I'm doing. You know yourself if your horse is ready or not
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Post by ravenclaw on Aug 10, 2012 20:46:41 GMT
Dont rush As they say rome wasnt built in a day You know your fella and how they are mentally and physically, you know if they are ready or not No point doing it if they arnt ready Id prefer to back a 5yr old than deal with a badly broken 2yr old Sadly far too many people are in a rush to get them ridden but it does no one any favours Take your time and enjoy the experience together Good luck
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Post by quest101 on Aug 13, 2012 16:27:58 GMT
also when you do decide to back him don't rush him, girl at my yard has a 4 year old this year backed last year at 3 who is out weekly to hour long lessons, once she had 5 hour long lessons with him in less than two weeks. hes a big lad too so still lots of growing and development to do
horses need time to grow and develop i never understand the rush to get them going when you can have years with them giving them time and doing them justice.
sounds like yours is getting a good look at the world at a steady pace don't let anyone tell you to do differently
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Post by elmere on Aug 13, 2012 17:04:44 GMT
I back mine in the autumn of their 3rd year and they are just hacked out on and off for a year or so.
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Post by missbananas on Aug 21, 2012 17:50:42 GMT
Everyone said I was frightened of my home bred Irish draught x tb, cos I took him slowly, when we backed him I just got on and rode him and he was a star-didn't even put his back up!! Don't listen when people start making you feel stupid!! If you wait til he is bigger and stronger physically you will have less problems with soundness later, and waiting till he is ready mentally will mean he enjoys being ridden instead of causing friction between you both. Leaving them too long only becomes a problem if they are left feral or get bored and it sound like you do plenty with him for that not to be an issue. Enjoy your time together like you have been doing, you will just know when it's time to get on him. I agree with you about the jumping too, why risk him hurting himself? You have the rest of your lives to jump! Don't let other people ruin it for you with non constructive critism!!!!!!!!! BEST OF LUCK
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Post by lfequestrian on Aug 29, 2012 18:30:14 GMT
in the horsey world everyone thinks their opinion is right lol, just ignore them. i have two 3yos i have broken and riding (they are rising 4) and they are happy to work so thats what they do. But i have another that is not mentally ready to work at all so he is left to mature, it all depends on the horse
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Post by sometime on Sept 2, 2012 9:40:57 GMT
I dont back mine until they are rising 5 usually partly because we are short of riders and partly because I like to give them a chance to mature and grow. Dont do much with them at all until then they are taught to lead and load as they do a couple of show per year from foals feet done every 6-8 weeks from birth and groomed wormed etc. All are really easy to deal with and are friendly and happy to come to you. All have lived out 24/7 all year and in a small herd. Not sure if it is this concept that makes them so laid back or the fact I am a very laid back no worries type of person
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Post by ikklecob on Sept 2, 2012 10:34:18 GMT
It is ready when it and you are ready. Many people take on a youngster and don't have the patience to wait for then to grow up. Mine was backed at five turned away and rebacked at the end of last year. The only time it made a difference was in the ring as she looked greener than some others. If this doesn't worry you then what the heck.
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Post by glorybe100 on Sept 10, 2012 7:09:40 GMT
I have no intention of backing my boy until he is at least 4. He is 2 and a half and a traditional coloured colt exeptionally quiet and well mannered but by no means will be ready to back at 3. He is handled on a daily basis but i am not rushing to start him at all, I am letting him be a baby (which in my eyes, he still is) playing with his friends out in the field. I have owned him from a weanling, know him inside out and i will know when the time is ready to start his further education. I would only listen to one person and that is yourself you will know when your horse is ready. All the best x
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Post by wildnative on Sept 10, 2012 23:46:28 GMT
YOU know your own horse best  . People keep asking me if I have backed my New Forest filly yet. She is 3 years, 4 months old. For most of this year, she has been growing. From one week to the next she looks either level or looks bum high. She is bum high right now, so I measured her....140cm at the highest point of her withers and 148cm at the highest point of her croup. She will be carrying more of her bodyweight on her forehand right now due to having such a difference in height between withers and croup. That is good enough reason for me to NOT back her yet....she will find it difficult to balance with the added weight of a rider plus tack on her forehand as well as most of her own weight, and I don't want to damage her lovely clean legs. Another reason for not backing her yet is that she is teething at the moment. Her permanent lateral incisors are coming through, she will be getting her permanent 3rd premolars through just now too, and possibly the 4th premolars and 3rd molars just starting to push up through her gums. Her mouth is sore, she struggled to bite into and chew an apple yesterday so imagine how painful it would be to ride with a bit in her mouth. (The apple was a "soft" fleshed one - Mackintosh Red, rather than a crunchy hard fleshed apple.) I've had her for 16 months now, most of which she has spent out in the field. Apart from basic handling, all she has done in this time is 3 in hand shows. One, as a 2 year old in a rope halter, and 2 in a bridle with an eggbutt snaffle but led from the noseband. Her last show was on Saturday, she will do nothing more now until next year as although she is mature enough mentally her body is nowhere near mature enough physically yet to be backed. I'm in no hurry, she is with me for life. |
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Post by keepsake on Sept 11, 2012 15:47:24 GMT
To add to the insult. I was told over the week end "if you don't get on that horse soon it will never go forward"  Why does forward motion stop at 3? You'll end up with a rearer ? Again what evidence is there to suggest this!! He has matured lots this summer and I am now starting to see a young horse rather than a crazy baby. Thanks for all your support, I am so pleased I am not alone in feeling you don't have to jump on the second they hit 3 Some people REALLY need to get a life  Honestly! Back your baby when you think its right, its your horse so your decision. I have a 3 yr old that I just wouldnt ride due to the fact he mentally isnt ready to have a rider on board, they have their whole lifes ahead of them to be ridden so why not let them be babies for they're 3rd year??? Dont get me wrong, there are some big 3 year olds that can be broken in and some that are mentally ready but I hate seeing 3 yrs pushed! |
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Post by piaffe on Apr 3, 2013 10:37:10 GMT
Well just a quick foot note to this thread. My boy is 4 tomorrow We started to back him on Monday 25th March. He has had tack on, been long reined and been sat on in the stable prior to this. He was a star. We are only doing 10-15 minutes a day with every 4th day off. He is walking and trotting round our outdoor school, which is right next to a busy main road with out a care in the world. All the in hand work we have done with him has paid dividends. He will walk and trot off voice command and just a tiny squeeze of leg to send him forward. Not a hint of a rear I hasten to add and he actually seems to be loving every minute of it. Ears pricked all the way. So many thanks to all those who posted and helped me hold firm in my decision that 3 was to young for him. He matured so much over winter and is taking everything in his stride. No Drama. Not sure I would be saying the same if I'd listened to the "ones who know best" |
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Post by B_31 on Apr 3, 2013 11:36:00 GMT
glad it worked out for you im backing mine properly once shes 3 this year....but only walk and lightly once/twice a week for 5-10 mins - my choice - shes an evil cow not doing aynthing... since starting long reining shes a differeent pony... then turning her away over winter and once rising 4 she will be broken in properly.... i have already leaned over her to bombproof her and she was fab each to their own for sure - i guess it does depend on the horse too - mentally mine is well upto the job - she just needs to grow up (height) a bit now |
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Post by hs on Apr 3, 2013 14:36:57 GMT
My pony was backed at 4 and half as he used to be a stallion and he has a good temperment and does not rear or refuse to go forward.
I think a lot of people back at 3 because they are in a hurry to get going and do things or because they want to sell and a horse than can be ridden is normally worth more than an unbacked one and disguise this by saying if they waited longer the horse or pony would be difficult to back.
I think what makes a difference is if a horse is used to being handled and trusts people or if it has been semi ferral for years, and if the horse has been properly prepared for backing rather than the age of being backed in terms of making things easy or difficult.
Very rarely do you see people saying they are backing their horse at 3 because they want to ride or because by doing so they might be able to sell if for money, nearly everyone always says it is for the horses' benefit or because they might be difficult if left later.
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Post by LinsopStud on Apr 7, 2013 14:12:25 GMT
That's fab news, so glad he's going well for you. Stick to your guns |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2013 14:31:45 GMT
I don't touch anything until it is 3.5, Some of my mares breed 2 foals before they are broken, I am breaking one at the moment who is 7, it doesn't affect the way they go at all, have done it for years with no problems.
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Post by nomdeac on Apr 7, 2013 15:16:23 GMT
I don't touch anything until it is 3.5, Some of my mares breed 2 foals before they are broken, I am breaking one at the moment who is 7, it doesn't affect the way they go at all, have done it for years with no problems. Excellent policy with all native ponies. I'm going to leave my 3 year old connemara until the end of her 4th year and have bought myself a 5 year old fell to bring on slowly in the meantime |
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Post by mara on Apr 8, 2013 11:05:30 GMT
I deeply regret backing a 17hh horse at the age of 3 back in the 1980's, he was jumping by 4 - only tiny stuff but I strongly suspect he wasn't mature enough within his frame, he then went away to event at the age of 6.5 approx & was PTS with a back injury that didn't come right by the age of 9. He never showed he might have been struggling, he was easy to back & do everything with - probably too honest. I have no proof that we did too much too soon but I live with the guilt that we quite possibly did cause his injury early on in his life. I dislike the classes for potential eventers etc although I recognise that the types of horses entered or destined for this sort of life is very different to the type I had to have PTS - he didn't have a lot of TB blood in him which might have helped him mature a bit sooner. I don't back anything now until they're about to reach their 4th birthday & if they're still not ready they don't get backed. I would rather have a low mileage, older horse that is still fit & healthy into its 20's than have another one PTS before its time.  |
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Post by nici on Apr 11, 2013 12:51:07 GMT
Our Welsh C gelding is coming up to his 3rd birthday and we're just now starting some very basic groundwork with him - just leading in headcollar and leadrope and establishing voice commands. He's hardly ever worn headcollars as we normally just open the field gate to get them in and out between field and stables, so we really are starting with basics. He was walking and trotting nicely on command during his lesson at the weekend though, including over an old rug, over poles and around our jumps, so I don't think we'll need to do much.
He had the EDT a couple of weeks ago and has a wolf tooth that will need to be removed under sedation before we bit him. Not in any hurry, will get that done probably at the end of next month or so.
He's never had a saddle on, but has worn rugs a few times so is used to straps. When handling him I often stand next to him with my arm draped over his back, leaning a little to get him used to a bit of pressure.
I've promised Cerys (9yo and 5.5 stone) that she can have a sit on him sometime this summer.
That's probably about as far as this year's education will go. This time next year, around his fourth birthday will probably be the right time to start him, although it does depend how he's looking. He's very level at the moment and pretty close to what I hope will be his full height so I don't think he has a lot more growing up to do, just maturing and developing.
As long as Cerys doesn't grow particularly tall I'm hoping he'll be her pony for life, so I'm not risking anything by rushing him too early. He can have all the time he needs over the next couple of years.
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lfd
Full Member
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Post by lfd on Apr 11, 2013 13:11:37 GMT
Well done you for leaving him until he was ready! You obviously knew him best  My D was only backed at 5 and then left for almost a year and started again at 6 and he is brilliant, hes a big boy and would no way of been ready at 3! I Also backed a D Stallion last year as a 4 Yr old, Although he looked like he was ready, he just wasnt strong enough for the job, so he has been left all winter and will start again in the next few months as a 5yr old! I really dont see what the big rush is with backing and schooling babies, 3 is no age atall! They dont get long being babies, so let them make the most of it |
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sarahp
Happy to help
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Post by sarahp on Apr 11, 2013 14:15:46 GMT
Daughter has just taken her 4yo off to back although he's had all sorts of stuff done bit by bit - here they do leading, tying up, grooming, feet trimming and maybe loading done as weaned foals - and I drape an arm over and lean on them too nici. This 4yo has done one showing class (in a halter) and two BEF Futuritys too, plaited and bitted. In the course of it all he has been bathed, trimmed, plaited and worn lots of bits of clothing so is well ready for tack, long reining (or has she already done some of that?) and backing. Her 5yo, on the other hand, was lightly backed late in her 3yo year, covered at 4yo so will foal at 5yo and won't really be ridden until she's 6yo.
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Post by forester on Apr 22, 2013 11:13:43 GMT
my welsh stallion is 4 and was only back this year, wont be shown as he isnt mature enough in body or mind (although has been shown in hand as a youngster)
my ridden pony is 7 and people expect it to be at HOYS if not there this year or getting placed he isnt good enough, every pony is different every person is different I for one want my pony to last me a fair fews years not one or 2 seasons
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Post by xconnemaraponiesx on May 20, 2013 10:58:00 GMT
we had a pony that had been backed at 3 by someone in itlandand it took us 4 years of everyday training to get the mare to calm down and have confidence! you will find you have a Much easier job if u wait a while!
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Honestly! 
