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Post by drummersmum on Apr 14, 2009 17:10:18 GMT -1
....Olivia at nearly 6 has done next to nothing since a 3 year old and is just a grown up youngster! ;D Just though you would like a link to my blog drummersmum.blogspot.com/but also, wondered if anyone here has backed an older horse and if there are things I should consider that I might not have? |
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Post by greydales on Apr 14, 2009 19:07:54 GMT -1
Hi Em, I think that because Olivia hasn't got much 'history' so to speak, you should just back her as if she's a youngster who has done nothing. If anything she is a little more mentally mature and hopefully able to cope better with what's asked of her. She's fine with tack and has had my daughter Anna sit on her, so if you take those steps slowly (meaning sitting on her and getting off before walking her) I don't think it will be a problem. You can always strap a feedsack or sandbag onto the saddle if you want to gauge her reaction first LOL! ;D
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Post by drummersmum on Apr 15, 2009 6:14:23 GMT -1
Thats what I was planning on, just sort of pretending she hadn't done anything at all and then obviously some things she won't blink at but then hopefully any gaps or problem areas will show themselves.
Just wondering though if anyone else has backed a Dales this late?! ;D
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Post by manorian on Apr 15, 2009 7:49:20 GMT -1
Mischief was broken last year as a 5 year old. To be honest I always wait until they are 4/5 to start backing them. I find that they are not mentally mature until then.  They are well handled, taught to move over when touched on the side and taken out and about to see things from an early age. Then, backed at 5 years old. I have never had any problems so I am sure you will do just fine starting as if she was a youngster. You will probably find that she will pick everything up a bit quicker. Good Luck. |
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Post by drummersmum on Apr 15, 2009 15:58:30 GMT -1
Thank you Heather, that was a really valuable post and you have given me some food for thought. I do not know Olivia well enough yet to see her warning signs and I need to work on watching her body language with new situations. But I can already tell by the look in her eye if she is worried or just playing me up!!......For instance, the farrier trimmer her today and at first I could see she was nervous but by the time we got to the 4th foot I could see boredom setting in and the look in her eye had changed to a "what can I do now look" so she sat down!   |
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