Piccolo's backing blog + 1st ridden pics

laceyfreckle

Well-Known Member
May 27, 2007
9,701
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48
Essex/Suffolk
Ok, well this is kind of a little way through as Piccolo has already done the following.

- lunging (in walk and trot to understand voice commands)
- long reining (gets a bit confused so needs to do more)
- worn all manner of tack incld bit, bridle, saddle, boots, bandages, rugs, dressing up gear, plastic sacks, a big green ball, and a bucket.
- has been walked out in-hand on the roads in traffic and is now perfect with all things you might find including sheep, plastic, skips, trucks, cars and buses.
- has been shown in hand successfully
- has done groundwork and understands body language to yield, back up etc with and without contact. Has also been desensitised to sticks, strings, ropes, things round her bum etc.
- Loads and travels well.
- can be lead by a child (7yrs up) at home

anyway we have been working on backing her, she has been leant on, scrambled on, layed on and bounced on for the last few weeks and is completely at home wearing tack as she has worn tack for a while now. A week or so ago we added a selection of 3 x tiny riders aged from 10yrs to 3yrs to get on and then to get off her x a few times each. So that's all good. Not mounting from stirrups yet though as kids are still small.

We then had a different child (4yrs, my sharers brother) get on and have her first walk about the field in walk, halt and walk again.

Then today my daughter (3yrs) had a ride. We didn't do much as building things up gradually so she got on and we walked a very short way and then back again and then got off and then got on again and got off again and untacked.

Piccolo has been unfazed by much to date....she does need to be a bit more forward as is quite hesitant under saddle but it's still early days yet.

oh and we went to a small in-hand show at the weekend and although she acted like a idiot as she had never been in a menage before (hadn't realised it would be on sand!) she did calm down by the end and we got a 1st in youngstock under 14.2hh, a 2nd in m&m small breeds and a 3rd in bays, browns and blacks.

Anyway the pics you've been waiting for -

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