How did you start your horse

[Magsndan]

Seeing as its subject in interested in atm, would be lovely to hear peoples storys

[ChrissieW]

Oooh interesting question for me too  , I just seem to be meandering through the start of the process with Daisy at the moment, but not too worried as plan to leave her to back till next year.

[Magsndan]

Me to, never mind the letting them mature bit... I always think its to much effort to go through it twice You back them at 3, turn them away and then you have to bloody do it again WAY to much effort

Seriously though I have a pretty good plan in my head of the direction I want to be going but influence is good

[Larri DB]

Waaaay too much info for a single post as the IMO the whole process starts long before you ever even think of getting on....... So here's all the info from the last one I did, Bally 

Blog of basic pre-backing stuff
http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php/topic,35488.0.html

The actual prep, backing and schooling on blog
http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php/topic,38893.0.html

I'm starting the whole process with Cezar as he's four and unbacked, but atm we're working mainly on bonding, although he's already doing in-hand work, lunging and wearing tack. I introduced the concept of long-lining today and the boy is doing brilliantly

[lmevans]

I'm lucky, mine is fitted with a keyless ignition. Sadly, he is also fitted with an immobiliser that seems to kick in at random sometimes 



Seriously though, Chrissie started this thread a short while ago http://www.enlightenedequitation.com/ee/boards/index.php/topic,44234.msg581634.html#msg581634
that brought all sorts of useful ideas together.

I tend to follow the same pattern with any horse, but what varies wildly is the timescale, both overall and on each phase or activity. I think backing is a process that begins at birth and continues. I don't think the actual "sitting on top" bit should be a big event at all, but more just the next obvious small step that follows on from what they already know and are comfortable with.

So for example, Orio is two. He is well handled and works free in a school from hand and voice signals. It's all a big game to him  He will walk and trot on command and is learning "big trot" which we ask for when we show in hand anyway (and it's not as big as he is easily capable of, he's sadly limited by his asthmatic and slightly lame mother!!  ). He also works nicely in hand, just off a headcollar, stepping forwards away from a driving body position, and he does basic shoulder-in in a headcollar from a hand aid. I haven't lunged him as such, but he does know how to circle on the end of my long rope and will walk and halt from voice commands. I only ever 'work' him for ten minutes at a time. He is a bright and well adjusted little chap and loves to come in to play in the school once every ten days or so. He's worn numnahs and surcingles, a variety of rugs, has had my saddle plonked on him loose in the field (he used to carry it in from the car for me as a yearling  ), and is accustomed to having me on both sides, above him, round his bum, under his chest, arms on both sides hugging his barrel, all sorts. So he is unflapped by any weirdness I choose to throw at him 

I will continue this sort or 'work' until he is rising four, adding in more formal in hand work and liberty work, and adding in a saddle and bridle eventually, then I'll put weight on him. I don't expect he'll find any of it remotely surprising!

[ParisDiamond]

Well I'm currently learning by numbers!!!  Well following Richard Maxwell's Birth to Backing really.  My filly is 2 and is long lining, lunging, doing poles, and going out for in hand walks.  She would have been showing as well but she's been a bit itchy  so that's been a no no this year.  Loading and travelling occasionally to friends for experience is good for her though.

Also being left alone, which she's come to terms with pretty quickly and maturely.  She's a good kid.

I aim to back her next summer, then just do bits and bobs over the winter before starting lessons under saddle when she's 4.  I had intended to send her away to be backed, but in all honesty, she's so damn easy I can't see me needing to do this.

[ChrissieW]

  Oops my goldfish memory strikes again, forgot I started that thread, although I did take on board the info.

I've got Birth to Backing too, very good and one by Ingrid Klimke - now just got to find the time to read the darn things and actually get my brain in a logical order! 

Mind you, I've been dead lucky with Daisy so far as she seems to just take to most things quite happily even with my ineptitude! 

[jenb]

Full details on my blog   Lots of groundwork before ever getting on!

[lmevans]

from a more ridden work viewpoint (although right from the lunging and backing part too), I really like Anthony Crossley's Training the Horse, the first two years (1978). It's quite old fashioned, but in a good way   It was recommended to me by Trish (shoveltrash)

[Magsndan]

Iv been reading all afternoon and my heads going to explode

Why is it always so different when its you own, iv broken in loads at work and all have had lovely attitudes. Minus one who my 'ground' person did join up with and she joined up that much she was a beautiful ride till he though it funny to walk out the arena and she would go sailing off after him 

I realised though it not the starting riding, that bits easy, its the ground work im differing about. Im really not used to long term things and find it hard. You back it, get it going and someone else gets the ride

So the question should be about groundwork and direction in that. I would like her to be fairly well established in her work before i even get on. What I need is a nice set of dvd's I can follow and work through   

I have to say though I think im going to be lucky, she is bloody easy to school. I need to be sure first though as she has shown in the past she will learn the wrong stuff quick too

[ChrissieW]

Oops have now just added Anthony Crossley's book to my Amazon account, oh and they just happened to "suggest" Jennie Loriston-Clarke's young horse book too............

Hope Daisy is good at reading............     By the time I actually finish reading all the books I keep ordering, she will be an unbacked veteran.........