Backing a Youngster - Help Needed

SammyDoodle · 06-18-2004, 01:21 PM

I have recently started backing my youngster. We are getting on really well - he stands to be mounted, walks forward happily on a lead rein and is very well behaved.

Yesterday I mounted him on my own with no "leader" he did walk forward (albeit he had no balance and straight was not a word that could be applied) however when it came to halt he seemed to forget all his voice command training - he just kept wandering!

Eventually I just got off and then he halted

Should I just go back to lunging and long reinning for a while until he gets the voice commands firmly in his head or should I try riding him again?

I dont want to rush him - he is a very willing pony and we have done everything slowley and happily so far

Dawn · 06-18-2004, 01:22 PM

How old is he? How long has his ground training been going on, etc?

SammyDoodle · 06-18-2004, 01:28 PM

He is 5 now

we have been doing "serious" ground work for 6 months

I was not intending to back him really - I only got his as a companion for my other horses. However he is a smart little chap and was getting bored and naughy so I decided to start working with him - he is only 11.1 hh!!!

We have been to a few in-hand shows this season and he has been place every time out. I think he will make a super lead rein or first ridden one day

Dawn · 06-18-2004, 01:30 PM

Have you tried ground driving him? Then when you do mount him, you will have voice and bit commands to work off of.

SammyDoodle · 06-18-2004, 01:35 PM

yes he is great on voice commands on the ground

I think maybe I just need to take a step back really and keep on with the ground work

It is hard when I dont have a small rider to sit on him while I work him on the lunge - I think that would help a lot

06-18-2004, 01:21 PM	#1
SammyDoodle Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,282 Images: 67 Blog Entries: 1	Backing a Youngster - Help Needed I have recently started backing my youngster. We are getting on really well - he stands to be mounted, walks forward happily on a lead rein and is very well behaved. Yesterday I mounted him on my own with no "leader" he did walk forward (albeit he had no balance and straight was not a word that could be applied) however when it came to halt he seemed to forget all his voice command training - he just kept wandering! Eventually I just got off and then he halted Should I just go back to lunging and long reinning for a while until he gets the voice commands firmly in his head or should I try riding him again? I dont want to rush him - he is a very willing pony and we have done everything slowley and happily so far

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06-18-2004, 01:22 PM	#2
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,458 Images: 1390	How old is he? How long has his ground training been going on, etc?

06-18-2004, 01:28 PM	#3
SammyDoodle Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,282 Images: 67 Blog Entries: 1	He is 5 now we have been doing "serious" ground work for 6 months I was not intending to back him really - I only got his as a companion for my other horses. However he is a smart little chap and was getting bored and naughy so I decided to start working with him - he is only 11.1 hh!!! We have been to a few in-hand shows this season and he has been place every time out. I think he will make a super lead rein or first ridden one day

06-18-2004, 01:30 PM	#4
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,458 Images: 1390	Have you tried ground driving him? Then when you do mount him, you will have voice and bit commands to work off of.

06-18-2004, 01:35 PM	#5
SammyDoodle Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,282 Images: 67 Blog Entries: 1	yes he is great on voice commands on the ground I think maybe I just need to take a step back really and keep on with the ground work It is hard when I dont have a small rider to sit on him while I work him on the lunge - I think that would help a lot