Sending away for backing?

TiggerthePony

TiggerthePony

New Member
Jan 8, 2008
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Devon
Ok so I don't have the money at the moment but I could save up and get it done, so I want to decide if it is an option I should consider!!

Tigger is now 4, he is great at ground work with me and just getting the hang of long lining. I had planned to back him BUT I have never backed a horse before and I don't want to do it wrong.

My options are to follow my instincts and carry on or send him away. However he would not be an easy pony to send away.

He has only ever lived out in the herd, he is very nervous around strangers and it has taken me a long time to get him where he is. I am concerned sending him away would damage him and our bond and that he wouldn't cope with it. On the other hand it could be the making of him having to face up to a different way of life!!

I had a quote from one yard of £125 per week that includes everything and they say it would take about 6 weeks. The e-mail was very nice and they said I'd be more than welcome to come and look around the place!

I have also e-mailed another person, I am not sure if the do backing livery but the do driving and that is something I would like him to do as well so still waiting to hear from them!

Any thoughts?!
 
I think if you are not confident that you can do it, the best idea would be to send him away. If you are constantly worrying about doing things wrong or are nervous he will pick up on that.

Sending them away can be a very good option. As to him being nervous... If you go for an experienced trainer they should be able to handle him with the confidence needed to make him feel comfortable, and they should be happy for you to be there while they work with him if you think that may help him.

The other option is to ask a trainer to come out to you and just help YOU back him!
 
I kept mine home and backed them myself, despite not having done it before. However, I never had a single doubt about it. I don't have any immediate help at hand, I did it by books and video (and I probably think a lot). That probably sounds like I read the odd book and 'gave it a go', but it really didn't feel like that. It was more like, I'd study and study, and end up with a 1 week, 4 week, and 6 month plan, all written out, then I'd go work with the horse, write up the progress, go over and revise the short-term, medium-term and long-term plans etc. It was like doing a complete home-study course for me (only without the bog package and expense !).

I think if your heart is in it, you should keep him home. I don't like to see 'backing' as anything other than a continuation of the relationship you've been building with him the whole time. It's just another step along the way, to me, not something that demands wrenching him away from everything and everyone he knows.
 
I was in two minds about Porsha too.

I have backed a pony before who was a freinds and have the confidence to of backed Porsha myself, I always knew I would call a trainer out eventually to come and help me with Porsha, as I had doen before to help with loading, So I called the same lady out to help with some ground work. The trainer uses a mixture of methods one being parelli, which I have an interest in.

I got to the stage of leaning over Porsha, we had been hacking out inhand for a year, and she was used to all her tack and walk,troyt,canter in the school.

I really wanted to back her all the way myself, but I thought of this-

''If I was a mother to a child that wanted to be an artist, and I could draw and paint really well, and my child wated to be a professional artist, I would teach them as much I could and then I would send them off to finishing school to earn a qualifacation'':)

Well thats where Porhsa is now:D At finishing school!:) But Ican be part of this too where she has gone.
 
In my opinion, if you are not so experienced, then sending away would be a good idea. However, why don't you find somewhere local so that you can go and watch and learn.

The other thing is that a lot of people backing their own who are a little more inexperienced often end up with the youngster walking all over them, as they make an excuse for them doing it wrong or being cheeky. Somewhere professional will not to what level of discipline is required. Again, by watching you can get a sort of feel for this also.
 
And OTOH there are some less experienced amateurs spending years picking up the pieces of what goes wrong when professionals start horses on a production-line schedule. You have to choose very carefully when you send away, and you have to be involved, every step of the way. IMHO.

(Not so relevant to UK people, but google Cleve Wells over here for a horror story - and he was a Big well-respected name :o )
 
Thanks for your replies! It's such a tricky one. I have been the first up on many horses and seen them backed and progressed just never done it myself. He has had me lean over him with all my weight and been fine, he has had tack on and walked out in hand along the roads lots over the years and is getting the hang of long reining.

I guess the one thing that concerns me is the actual sitting up on him, I just think he will freak, perhaps he won't but it's at the back of my mind he will and I don't know how to deal with that if he does because that moment is a big moment and if it all goes horribly wrong I will have a disaster on my hands!

I hadn't really thought about looking at a freelance person who comes out to you to help, that might be an option!

I think with Tigger a lot of it is down to finding the right person to help as well, they have to be happy to spend time to get to know him first so he trusts them rather then be someone that just wants to get on with it
 
KateWooten said:
And OTOH there are some less experienced amateurs spending years picking up the pieces of what goes wrong when professionals start horses on a production-line schedule. You have to choose very carefully when you send away, and you have to be involved, every step of the way. IMHO.

(Not so relevant to UK people, but google Cleve Wells over here for a horror story - and he was a Big well-respected name :o )
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Oh dont scare me:eek: Lol, Even though I know the lady and had her out a few times for training I couldnt sleep thinking of things that could go wrong! And even though I am part of it all and she is only 5 mins drive away its still scary that 1st evening of her being away:o
 
No, you're fine ! There's a culture here of literally 'sending the horse away' and not seeing him again until he's 'finished'. Drop-ins are simply not done, so anything can go on behind closed doors. As long as you don't get taken in by that line, you'll be fine.
 
Blimey that is worrying, I can't believe people would even do that to their horses, though I guess some just want a finished product and don't care how it got there!
 
My mum breaks horses, well we do it together, she charges £15 a day i think to live out, and to break a horse it takes us 3 weeks.

pm me if you want to know more etc..
x
 
Why not consider having someone come to help you through the process at your place. That way the key stability for him (you) isnt lost and is always there when he needs to look for extra confidence.
 
Please please be careful who you use. Try to be there to watch and if you're not happy with something don't be afraid to say so ;)
 
Have your horse's best interests at heart and break him in at home by yourself, and/or with the help of a very good and experienced instructor. It is the start of his education and if you believe that that kind of atmosphere and environment may make him stressy then it is probably best to do it at home, so that the experience is a pleasant, comfortable one which is not going to make your horse view being ridden as a negative, bad experience.
 
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Hiya,

Ive just backed my four year old...i have never done it before although i have helped out with other peoples ponies.
I was never thought about sending him away...he is a spooky pony also so it would be way to traumatic for him.
I wanted to teach him myself so no one else could ruin him :)
It has been a hard few months getting him to this stage but it was worth every bit of the struggle!! we have still got a hell of a long way to go but im so proud of him and its made me feel great to have been able to do it!

Time, patience and understanding is what i think is so important with backing young ponies.

Im not to worried aobut making mistakes, we are teaching each other new things everyday! and learning together. I love it being that way :)

Just do whatever you feel is best for him :)
 
I would do it yourself but get out freeance help. Find a good travelling RI who also does backing and schooling - even i you just have one 2hr session a week or something to keep you on the right track.
 
Thanks for all your comments!

I have been pondering on it all day and have decided to do what I can myself but find someone to come in and help me who has done it before! Now I just need to find someone, I want them to be understanding of his nervous nature but not let him take the pee - I battled with him today, he was taking the mick whilst long lining and being very naughty! He started off well and responsive then decided to forget it all and just try for the grass and get stroppy when he couldn't have it! He didn't get away with it and 10 mins later was back to being responsive!! He was fine with his new saddle too.

If any one knows a good person who comes out and can help back a pony in Devon let me know!
 
what about getting someone to come to you to help you so that your learning aswell i backed my horse this year and now have a insructor who comes and helps me and gives me lessons. Charlie was the first horse i backed myself i thought about sending him off but it kind just fell into place i just got help in when i was struggling. Hes going on livery while im on holiday for 3 weeks for a bit schooling butdoesnt need to but i have no one to look after him for me.
 
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