Backing/training horses

[Midnight Rose]

I'd really like to learn how to back and train horses. How do I go about doing this?

Do I need to take courses (like the BHS ones) which I'm not too keen on, or can I learn practically?

Thanks in advance.

[xloopylozzax]

working closely with someone who does and trial and error- its hand on not text-book so not something to 'learn'

you will have to start at the bottom and work up but it will be worth it if you really want to do it.
be prepared for trips to A&E though!

[JamesJackson]

Yep, snap - you need to work with someone experienced who knows what they're doing, that's how I learnt. Luckily I had made all my big mistakes on other peoples' horses before doing the first that belonged to me...

P.S. If you end up in A&E 'Lots of trips', then you're doing something seriously wrong - breaking in a horse should be completely un-dramatic and un-stressful if done correctly.

[~*sugarlump*~]

see if theres any schooling yards, or maybe studs round your area. then see if they need a willing hand that would like to learn

[padiwak]

working closely with someone who does and trial and error- its hand on not text-book so not something to 'learn'

you will have to start at the bottom and work up but it will be worth it if you really want to do it.
be prepared for trips to A&E though!


Starting young horses is like riding a bike, very easy when you know how and very dangerous when you dont. So agree wholeheartedly with the above comments. There are some books and websites which claim to teach the methods required but they are useless and indeed dangerous. Hands on experience is the only way to learn.

[JamesJackson]

Hands on experience is the only way to learn.

Indeed, and to have backup available all the time. You always come across something you haven't seen before; usually you can work out a fix easily enough based on other things you've encountered, but sometimes when you're stuck, the 'mentor' can come along, spend 5 minutes explaining what's going on and from then on you're back on track, with another experience box to tick!

[posie]

i've jsut started a horse from scratch (about to post that i sat on her for first time last night - yipee!)
i have handled a lot of youngsters and assisted in breaking in a lot of polo ponies - but i made sure i was at a yard where i had an experienced person, who's methods i believed in and trusted, close at hand at all times in case i had a query - esp as she's a frieisan - so just a bit different from a polo pony!
she was a star last night - accepted me, rode nicely and did walk trot walk halt on the voice and even managed a change of rein in trot!
i've spent 8 weeks doing ground work to get to this point and it has been incredibly rewarding and the best feeling yesterday when i trotted off round the arena!
i have kept in calm, quiet and relaxed at all times - and never rushed her if either of us were having an off day - i think that is the key - and a mentor/instructor who is experienced, calm, quiet with horses and who's methods you believe in - there's not point learning say from a NH person if you are not a NH rider and vice versa if that makes sense?!
good luck!
xx

[AengusOg]

- there's not point learning say from a NH person if you are not a NH rider and vice versa if that makes sense?!
good luck!
xx

Well done posie with your Friesian mare.

However I have to take issue with you on the above quote.

In my opinion, if Midnight Rose wants to train horses she should be open to any experience available to her.

If she restricts herself to one ideal (particularly if she closes the door on the some of the many different methods/practices) she will not become a trainer of horses who can turn her hand to anything, think on her feet, and draw on experience.

She will, though, risk becoming a trainer with a limited amount of knowledge and ability, who is unwilling to acknowledge that there are many ways to train horses, and that there is much that can be taken from all of them to the advantage of an astute trainer.

Too many people these days suffer from tunnel vision when it comes to filling their tool box for their job.

I know lots of people who, because they stick to one particular teaching/method, and know nothing of anything else and, sadly, will hear nothing other than what they choose.

Midnight Rose, if you truly want to become a trainer of horses, make sure you have an inquisitive and open mind.

Take every piece of advice offered to you, sift through it and take what you will from it.

Don't restrict your learning.........you will need all the help you can get.

[xloopylozzax]

Well done posie with your Friesian mare.

However I have to take issue with you on the above quote.

In my opinion, if Midnight Rose wants to train horses she should be open to any experience available to her.

If she restricts herself to one ideal (particularly if she closes the door on the some of the many different methods/practices) she will not become a trainer of horses who can turn her hand to anything, think on her feet, and draw on experience.

She will, though, risk becoming a trainer with a limited amount of knowledge and ability, who is unwilling to acknowledge that there are many ways to train horses, and that there is much that can be taken from all of them to the advantage of an astute trainer.

Too many people these days suffer from tunnel vision when it comes to filling their tool box for their job.

I know lots of people who, because they stick to one particular teaching/method, and know nothing of anything else and, sadly, will hear nothing other than what they choose.

Midnight Rose, if you truly want to become a trainer of horses, make sure you have an inquisitive and open mind.

Take every piece of advice offered to you, sift through it and take what you will from it.

Don't restrict your learning.........you will need all the help you can get.

i think the post you are referring to was meant as if you dont believe in so and so method (free country and every thing) then there is no point getting a trainer who uses those methods because you wont feel comfortable, trust them or believe they are going to work.

dont rule it out completely, but dont try and use a method you arent comfortable with.

[posie]

hummmmm.... maybe my choice of words was not that great =
i use a variety of methods - i've used join up and more 'traditional' (gawd knows the correct terminology - i'll upset someone regardless of my choice of words here!!) methods to start the most recent horse.
in the past i have used argentine and/or traditional methods to start polo ponies.... and purely traditional methods to work with youngsters in america... and learnt about NH through work with a friend who does it a lot and lots of reading... but have not gone from scratch on my own with a horse - until now. i would not have felt expereinced/confident enough until now to be honest.
what i meant by pick an instructor who you believe in is that you need to pick one that you can work with - not one that will tunnel you down a blinked way as cautioned about above - my instructor and i have very similar ways of handling horses - both from years of just being with them and her from lots fo experience starting/training horses - i am in no way an expert but i know what methods i like and what i don't - ie - i would not use some of the argentine methods again. she is on the same wave length as me - that is more what i mean!! we use a variety of methods - neither of us is a die hard follower of one 'way' to do it.
i am still v much an amateur when starting horses - but i do know what i feel comfortable asking them to do and the methods in which i ask.
i suppose i was more talking about when you finally decide to train one yourself and who to pick to work with you/mentor or instruct - rather than in the learning more about training etc - suppose i was jumping the gun a bit as i too have learnt lots of different methods and come to my own conclusions on many of them - and still have a great deal to learn about others - and i still change my mind occasionally on things i thought i knew! i pick and chose what works for the horse and me though.
problem is that AngusOg is far more eloquent (and experienced from what i have read) than me at actaully answering the 'starting to learn about backing/training' whereas i jumped on the 'picking an instructor' to do it for the first in reality time side of things!!
unfortunatly though there are a lot of instrutors that are not open to other ideas - this was what i was trying to say - ie a purly NH trainer will not use traditional methods and vice versa - for me it was important finding one who was open to all ways...
does that make any sense?!?!

[posie]

i think the post you are referring to was meant as if you dont believe in so and so method (free country and every thing) then there is no point getting a trainer who uses those methods because you wont feel comfortable, trust them or believe they are going to work.

dont rule it out completely, but dont try and use a method you arent comfortable with.

you see - i am having a total muppet day - that is basically what my super long post was trying to say!