01/09/2025
This is a good read for those who are thinking of buying a young horse, backing, sending away to be backed and the ‘let’s learn together’ brigade.
The horse Always loses out and is often made out to be the villain.
This isn’t aimed at anyone in particular and is more for the novice and nervous riders out there, and it’s genuinely meant in the nicest way 🩷. It’s just something that’s been heavily on my mind for a while, because I’ve seen the impact it can have on young horses when riders aren’t fully prepared. 😓
When you send a young horse away for backing, the hope is always that they’ll come home well-started, happy, and ready to begin their ridden career… that’s our priority and the goal with every horse here! 🥰
But, what happens next when they go home is equally important… and sometimes, this is where problems begin!
There’s been a huge rise in people buying youngsters because it’s a lot cheaper than buying an older more experienced horse, but unfortunately not everyone is at the standard of riding needed to bring these young horses on.
A common misconception that I am starting to see more often is: “I rode when I was younger, so I’ll be fine.” But a 10, 15, or 20 year gap away from riding means your balance, reactions, and muscle memory aren’t where they used to be. Riding your friends super safe plod or a well-schooled riding school horse in a lesson is VERY different from sitting on a green youngster who is still learning the ropes and what a rider even is.
Another mistake I see is people thinking: “we’ll learn together.” It sounds romantic, but in reality, green on green makes black and blue, and it’s almost always the horse who pays the price or gets blamed. Young horses don’t need a rider who is also figuring things out. They need someone consistent, confident, and kind, who gives them clear signals and helps them learn how to carry a rider with ease.
Here’s why it matters:
- A young horse’s back is still developing. Landing heavily in the saddle, bouncing, or riding out of balance can cause long-term discomfort and even physical damage.
- Green horses are like sponges. They quickly absorb habits, both good and bad. If you ride with unsteady hands and sock them in the mouth when you lose your balance, they can learn to fear or resent the contact. If your aids are unclear, they can become confused, anxious, or resistant.
- Horses don’t understand “but I thought I asked correctly”… they only know how they felt in that moment. If what you asked didn’t make sense, their trust in you decreases… and it really doesn’t take much for a young horse to lose confidence. I’ve seen it happen in 10 minutes!
I always suggest riders watch themselves on video, it’s such a great tool that we all have these days!! What feels correct to you in the saddle often looks very different from the ground. That canter transition you thought you were sat up and asked calmly and clearly, might actually show that you tipped forward, kicked, and flapped like a lemon so your horse ran off in trot. The horse didn’t ignore you, they simply couldn’t make sense of what was being asked.
So, before you buy a young horse, please PLEASE ask yourself honestly:
- Am I balanced, fit, and confident enough to ride one consistently?
- If my horse spooks, am I confident enough to ride them forward up to the thing they’re spooking at and show them it’s not actually going to eat them? (I make them touch everything with their nose 😆)
- Do I have the support of a good trainer who can help me if I get stuck?
If you answered ‘No’ to any of the above, it’s hard and frustrating, but you might want to ask yourself the question below and really weigh up the options;
- Would an older, more experienced horse suit me better right now? Even if I don’t have the budget needed at the moment, would it be best to wait a little, save up and get it right?
Backing and producing young horses is one of the most rewarding parts of riding and I’m very lucky and honoured that I get to start them on their journey ♥️ but it also comes with huge responsibility. They only get one first experience under saddle, and that will shape them for life.
If you genuinely care about your horse’s welfare, the best gift you can give them is being totally honest about your own ability. I know that’s going to be a hard pill for some people to swallow 😓 but sometimes the kindest decision is to wait until you’re truly ready, or to spend that time and money investing in your own lessons and coaching first. Then, when the right time comes, you’ll be prepared to give that youngster the confident, supportive start they deserve, and you’ll both be able to enjoy the journey safely and successfully! 😉
