How old?

[fluffy]

What determines when to back your horse. I'm a bit confused as to what age you start introducing a saddle and bridle, eg a cob type, an appaloosa or welsh,advice ranges between 2-4years old
Thanks.

[berties-girl]

You can back your youngster as a 3 year old, some people back them and then turn them away to fill out and grow a little more, although you can put tack on a 2 year old, it is not really advicable to back them at that age as they are still developing and early breaking can cause problems in later life. Although Race horses do tend to be broken early, they are racing as 2 year olds.

So i would say 3 is a good age for backing.

How old is your youngster?

[nutkin]

It depends on the individual horse. Some breeds seem to mature faster than others although there can be huge variations within that. Some horses are ready at 3 and some not until later. Some are not really ready until they are 5. Racehorses are fed a special diet from a young age to help them to develop faster which is how they race at 2. I would not recommend backing a 2yr old. Whatever the age of the horse, if you proceed at the right pace for the horse and do not try to do to much to soon you should have a calm and reliable horse at the end of it.

[shandy84]

Hi I have two youngsters one three this summer one two this summer. My three year old is Arab x Hanovarian is very sensible and loves learning new things she is lightly lunged and bitted up and we have purchased her dirst saddle and are waithing a while before using it. Yet my two year old pure NF pony will not be backed at three as she is so babyish in her attitude and would not be ready I think she will be ready around 4/5 we will have to see but generally the horse tells you when they are ready to learn more

[Showjumper]

I backed my girl as a 3 year old. Literally, here's a saddle, carry me. I sat on her, cuddled her, and let her follow her friends on a short hack, then I turned her away over winter.

She'll be 4 in just over a month, and I've started working her again. I have ridden her a few times and she's been very good, but I'm doing mostly groundwork with her at the moment. Long reining her up and down the roads and bridlepaths. She's coming along really well, and I'm going to start upping the riding soon (when the weather improves some more).

By the end of May, I want to be riding twice a week, long reining once a week, playing (in hand grazing, dancing, or just games) twice a week, and two days off entirely to herself where I'll just check and cuddle her but not take her out of the field.

When she's 5 I'll start real work (longer, faster, more strenuous rides, jumping, and maybe some beginner Le Trec...)

[Horseyheaven]

Well My Montana who is a cob tyupe was backed by me and his past owner at the age of 4 years and was 14'1 then turned away for a year to mature and grow a bit more too now he's 5 and 14'3 and a half and I have him doing an hours school work a day and hacking twice per week

Some horses are backed at 5 some at two! I personally belive that it should be done when a horse is ready physically and mentally not a pysical age!