How to get a horse to back up?

[bebophutch]

Its in the title really? Just interested, Would like to learn the proper way please:) :D

[Skyhuntress]

You make sure to stop them from an active walk first of all.
Then, with continued leg pressure, you put pressure on the reins...you want to move their head side to side (make sure you move the HEAD not the BIT) when keeping your leg on. Only do 2-3 steps at a time.

If the horse has never done it before, it helps to have someone on the ground with you.

[LMS]

Keeping in the same idea as StormArion with the legs, I use my reins in a slight give & take as if squeezing a stress ball as well as bringing my hands towards my hips. The degree of how much you move the head side to side should be just enough to shift the weight in diagonal pairs.

At first make sure your horse understands from the ground. So same idea when using the lead rope and use your other hand on the point of shoulder. And again press release action. So press until the leg goes up & is in backward motion, then release when foot goes down.

Horses learn to yeld to pressure, so at first your horse may very well push back into you or just stand his ground & poke his head up, until he understands what you want.

Again: only a couple of steps at first is enough, stop him & praise, then walk on.

[BecknSkye]

I just draw my shoulders back, which moves my weight backward and eases *gently* (no pulling, now!!:) ) on his mouth to block the forward movement and my horse moves to centre me and keep balanced - but my horse is easy!! LOL:D
When backing from the ground, I raise my hand to the horse's eye level, palm facing the horse, and step towards him. Provided the horse respects that you are creating a personal boundary with your hand, he will step back and keep stepping back as you step forward until you lower your hand. If the horse doesn't step back, I slap the rope on his chest, and if he dives off and shies to the side, I just stop his movement and repeat the request when he stops until he finds out that stepping back is a good way to avoid getting hassled.
This is really not a good way to teach a horse who has been lunged to back though:rolleyes: They'll go round and round you so much, you'll fall over!!!
You have to be patient, keep a rhythm and not show the horse frustration.

This is just what I have found works for the horses I've worked with, I'm not entirely sure of what's "correct", but I work on a common-sense sort of system and sometimes that's not quite BHS!:rolleyes:

[palmerlover52]

On the ground post of the horses are trained to understand that a nudge in the chest and Back It Up said loudly and cleary means go backwards :p

[Skib]

Mark Rashid teaches horses to back up almost the first thing they learn. That is usual in American Western riding, but not considered wise here in the UK, as a horse taught to back up easily may evade the bit and collection in dressage.
In the USA a horse is taught to back to get it compliant to the rider, to bring its quarters under and to begin to teach contact and softening to the bit.

After I first heard Mark Rashid do a clinic, I taught my riding school hack to back up very easily. Mark's account of how he did it is in his book Horses never Lie, in the chapter Finding the Try.
First, he uses no leg. He says horses understand that leg on means forward.
You exert tension on the reins and feel for the horse to stir backwards.
As soon as you feel the backward shifting of the horse, even if it doesnt actually move a foot, release the rein pressure. That tells the horse he has the right idea.
Then reassert the rein pressure. It is right that if the horse is rigid you can loosen it at the poll but shifting one rein and then the other. Turning the horses head will always prompt movement as the horse needs to rebalance itself. So the first backing you get may be a turn. But praise it, becuase the backward movement is what you are looking for.
Get the horse straight and ask for backwards again. Be very slow and very patient. Rashid says teaching many things in riding take 7 minutes but a person gets tired of persisting after 4 minutes.
We both taught our horses and then we went to a tarmac road. Stopped them with their front feet o n the road and then asked them to back off the road, clear of any (imaginary) traffic. I ride out a lot and had always thought my horse should have a reverse gear, as a matter of safety.
I had been riding three and a bit years. It was very easy. But dressage riders and their horses in UK dont do it like that.
And I have found that a horse trained for dressage wont respond to such gentle cues to back up. So how your horse responds may depend on his early training.

[horsemate]

Check out this website http://www.jonibentley.co.uk Not only can you watch DVD's free on the site, you can also download a free workbook and the info rocks. I am going on her dismounted Cheshire course this Saturday and mounted in East Sussex on the 31st. Will let you know how I get on. Bye for now Sher

[LMS]

True about the legs: some people use them & some don't. It depends on how you were taught.

I was taught to sit quietly & tall with the legs wrapping the barrel, so supporting & not giving a cue. Then using the reins like I described.

When I started under the tutelage of my latest mentor, I was told that the legs were supposed to give a cue as if you wanted to go forward but the hands indicated to go back. So the horse would clue in that a rein back was being asked.

Honestly, I try my method first & use voice commands as well until the horse fully understands the rein aid. But depending on which horse I ride, if it's been trained the leg cue as well, I will comply.

I use the rein back to get the horse to use his body. It's a very good exercise when done well and will be a great help when you horse gets in a pickle & there's no other way out but back!

Heidi's very good at backing up from the ground as she's always getting into trouble & that's usually the only way out.:rolleyes:

[Tootsie4U]

The reins *should* be used as a last resort - like with all good riding. The other aids come first.

Bebop - Is your horse good about responding to weight aids? If so, thats all you need. Literally think backwards, and like Swerve said, use your weight to show him you're moving back and he'll move his body to follow yours. If, and only if, he needs the extra encouragement at first to understand, apply slight and steady (NOT alternating) rein pressure and the instant you feel him shift his weight (he doesnt even need to make a step the first few times) drop your reins and tell him he's a good boy.

[jenren!!]

I put my legs slightly behind the girth and squeeze, but keeping a contact to prevent my horse from walking forwards.

Jenny xx

[leviskipperette]

gaby is a piece of cake. from a stop, say back. to stop backing say woah. :D :p

other horses though i stop them, shift my weight back, say back, flick the reins back slightly, and sometimes squeeze my legs, or kiss

usually works for me

[barbie666]

i have no idea howto get my gelding to back up in the school, but else where outside of the scholl hell do it perfectly... have no iudea why....even with people pushing him from the groiund he wont move a muscle

will be keepiong a close eye on this thread :)

[fishiz3434]

it depends on how reone horse i just think deep sit deep and hold contact but with another very stubborn schoolie i have to lean right bac squeeze with my lower leg and hold rein contact with a bit of niggeling (clench release)