| 10 Tips on breaking and backing a young horse | | | | again. |
| with a real life experience. | | | | The things I learnt and my 10 tips for breaking a |
| When I started writing my tips for breaking a | | | | young horse are: |
| young horse I thought I must be mad, what did I | | | | 1./ Spend time bonding with your horse or pony, |
| know? There are loads of experts out there all | | | | don't just rush into breaking it. You will need time |
| offering advice and I was just a humble horse | | | | to build up mutual trust. |
| owner, not a trainer etc. Then I decided that if | | | | 2./ Learn your horses moods. Learn their normal |
| my story helps anyone to have the confidence to | | | | behaviour and pick up when something is wrong. |
| work with their own horse then I believe they will | | | | 3./ Spend time before you try to back your |
| find it a rewarding experience and it will be | | | | horse getting it used to basic commands, both on |
| beneficial to both the horse or pony and | | | | the lunge and long rein. Stand, walk, trot will be |
| themselves. | | | | invaluable once your horse is first backed. |
| Backing, Breaking and Training a young horse. Well | | | | 4./ Introduce the bit slowly - don't just expect to |
| its something that we are told is best left to the | | | | put it in your horses mouth and leave it there for |
| experts and to some degree I agree, as you can | | | | hours. Try a few minutes at a time over several |
| do a lot of damage to a horse at such a young | | | | week and get a bit suitable for a young horse. I |
| age, but with the right support and information I | | | | used a copper key bit. |
| do believe you can make a good job of it. | | | | 5./ Introduce the saddle without girth, stirrups and |
| Its easy to say leave it to the experts but for | | | | leathers to begin with and remove again after a |
| most of us our horses and ponies are part of our | | | | few minutes. |
| family. We are the one's who are with them | | | | 6./ Before you even think of putting someone on |
| every day and the one's who have built up mutual | | | | your horses back get the horse used to wearing |
| trust and a bond with them. | | | | the saddle and bridle on the lunge or in hand. |
| I took a break from owning my own horse for | | | | 7./ When lunging the first few times in tack make |
| about 15 years. Then found myself, in my | | | | sure stirrups and leathers are not flapping around |
| naivety, being the proud owner of a 2 yr old filly. | | | | and spooking your horse. |
| I fell in love with her, what more can I say, but | | | | 8./ When you do introduce someone on their |
| she was 16.1hh and very powerful. A lot could | | | | back ensure you are the one who is talking to |
| have gone wrong. I did contemplate sending her | | | | your horse, after all you are the one who is built |
| away when the time came, to have her | | | | up the trust. |
| professional broken, backed and schooled. There | | | | 9./ Try to get someone light to be the person |
| were several problems with this idea though. | | | | who first sits on your horse. Start with them just |
| Number one was the cost, I just didn't have the | | | | lying over your horse and then gradually sitting. |
| money to do that as the quotes I had attained | | | | Make sure every movement of the rider is slow |
| were extortionate. Number 2 was this was my | | | | a fluid. Again make sure this isn't rushed and is |
| horse, I had spent hours and hours in the stable | | | | done over weeks. |
| with her, bonding, grooming and just sitting there | | | | 10./ Take backing your horse or pony slowly, |
| gaining her trust. I didn't want to send her away | | | | take the lead from the animal. If they are looking |
| and lose all that. I knew she trusted me, she | | | | stressed or anxious or are really misbehaving |
| would follow me around the paddock like a dog, if | | | | stop. There is generally a reason. |
| I ran she would trot after me. Quite scary when | | | | It took me about 2.5 months to back my horse |
| you have a 16.1hh thoroughbred chasing you. I | | | | from only ever having a head collar on to gently |
| had never read a natural horsemanship book, but | | | | hacking out with me on her. |
| I realised that this was just what we were doing. | | | | I introduced everything bit by bit and talked to |
| I also discovered she had never been walked off | | | | her constantly. It might seem a long time to |
| the yard, boxed, lunged or had a bit anywhere | | | | some people but I was left with a well adjusted |
| near her. I figured it was going to be a long drawn | | | | horse who doesn't get stressed or act up very |
| out process. | | | | often. She takes the lead from me and will |
| In reality I couldn't have been more wrong. | | | | attempt new things because I firmly believe she |
| Although I did take things very slowly I found | | | | trusts me. |
| backing her to be extremely straight forward. | | | | Make sure you are safe at all times and that |
| I used a lot of common sense, sought loads of | | | | someone is with you if necessary who is more |
| advice from local tack shops and the people on | | | | knowledgeable but don't be afraid and take the |
| the yard, and read as much information as I could | | | | lead. |
| find including everyone else's tips on breaking a | | | | There is no excuse when horse breaking to be |
| young horse. A lot of the techniques and | | | | cruel, and remember animals including horses are |
| equipment had evolved from when I had had my | | | | not born bad, they react to what we as humans |
| last horse. So I had to learn what to do with it | | | | do to them. |