Backing

[April]

At what point would you class a pony as 'backed'? What would you expect them to be able to do and to what level etc..

Would this be different with a 3 yr old that you're planning on turning away for the winter than a 4 yr old?

I've never turned one away for the winter as such before, I've always carried on doing bits and bobs of ridden work with them, but these have always been tbs and welsh that have been more filled out and well grown than Coral is atm..

[Anna]

I'm not sure I ever label them as backed at a specific point, I guess when you are walk/trotting away by yourself I would class them as backed.

I never really pigeon-hole certain ages, its rare I do anything with a 3 year old although Flora was a very strong 3 yr old so was "backed" in the autumn of three. This meant she was walk/trotting by herself with the odd canter on the gallops, she did about 8 weeks "work" as such before then being turned away. She came in March of this yearas a 4 year old and has done a mix of schooling/hacking all summer until the start of August and she's back out again now until end of October where upon I intend to pick her up once again and do some real work wtih her and she'll do a show season next year (just a novice 5/6 shows maybe more, depending on how she goes) as a 5 year old before then getting her 5 year old winter off I expect.

I've never yet had a horse that hasn't come back significantly better for a break, physically and more importantly mentally, they have the time to digest and absorb information and are always hungry for the work the following year when I get them back in.

They tend to tell you when they are ready for a break, Flora was walk/trotting/cantering, working in groups at home and away although with less confidence away and she'd acheived everything I would want a 4 year old too.

Dales benefit significantly from a slower backing, ime, to other breeds. Milo my 4 year old horse has done far more work than Flora ever did and he's not anywhere near ready for a break. Its about their mental readiness we find at that age.

[April]

Thanks! I'd never thought about giving them another break when they're 4-5 can see how it would benefit them though especially if they've done a lot over that summer. Might consider that when I get to it depending on how she goes. Looking back now the sec D I had on loan could have done with that but everyone was intent on him being schooled to death!
I think I might literally do about 1/2 weeks with her now then and turn her away for the winter, she's so laid back she's almost horizontal (watch her be a nutter now!), so I don't think it would hurt to do a bit..

[lucydales]

Celt was 5 before we did much and we are just doing a little bit with Tim who's 4. As Anna says the Dales brains seem to mature more slowly!