Riding those youngsters!

[shockblue]

Who else loves young horses?

They are are funny, energetic, willing and always come up with new tricks or moves that have you scratching your head.

I rode my recently backed 3 year old mare today after not riding her for a couple of months...

...AND she was brill! I love her so much, it was just like she'd been doing all this time. We had a nice plod around the school. She is getting lighter and moving forward a lot easier. She was braver and less spooky! We practised turning on the HQ and FQ and made a little dance from it.

She's my first ever horse to take all the way from a 19month unhandled filly to a lovely riding horse.

We take things slow and just enjoy the ride!

ponies!

[kayjayhorses]

I have 3 horses, one of which was backed in July this year and at first I thought OMG I'm not sure I like this - my other 2 are older mares and I know them inside out, I know how they are going to react to things before they do it so I can sometimes be on autopilot with them but my youngster has made me think, which is a really good thing and she makes me work lol I do love her to bits and she really is quite easy but obviously i'm not as relaxed on her as I would be on my other 2, you just dont know whats up her sleeve.

[Kit&Holly]

Some days Holly can be an absolute angel and others she can be the b*tch from hell! Everyday is certainly a funday with Holly :)

[PocketRocket]

ive done 3 this year all totally different. Flash absolutely perfect not done anything bad or unespected, April can be a compete cow so stubern wont move and challenges everything you ask but some times she can be great, and reuben going well but can be a bit giddy and spooky at times.

i love youngsters :) never know what your gonna get presented with

[Luna Corona]

Congrats, shockblue, with your filly's successful education so far! I used to break in yearling racehorses and some of those gave me the best rides of my life, they were so honest and willing, and accepted so much very quickly. As we schooled them to understand correct aids - not to aim and bolt! - they were much more sane when they left the yard to go to their respective trainer's own.

Since leaving racing, I haven't broken in another in the last 20 years, and am unsure whether I can do justice to my own youngster, especially since I've only got a huge field to do it all in, and no riding school facilities except by a trailer journey :(

[shockblue]

Thanks Luna.

I have been with my mentor to back race horses once or twice. We did 4 all at once in a big arena! It was brilliant. They were trotting after an hour of being on board. TB's are so clever when given the opportunity.

Go for it with your youngster! It will take longer but the results will certainly be a lot more 'true' in larger space. It will be a real test and from the sounds of it you have the knowledge and experience! :)

[eventerbabe]

mine is absolutely bone idle :rolleyes: he's 5 and was backed back in may and is the laziest little horse ever, and completely unfazed by everything we've met. He's a pleasure to ride :)

just wanted to add, all i have is a field ;) we've proved you do not need flash facilities, or even a proper arena to back and school a youngster. We've always worked mine in a corner of our 5 acres.