17/11/2024
This! ๐๐ช
Yes, we back our horses at 3. They go up and down the lane with an older horse for a few days and if theyโre strong enough they ๐๐๐โ๐ก wtc in the arena a couple of times before they go back to grass and we wonโt do anything with them again until they are 4.
At 4, they come in and out of the field for a few weeks work at a time - mostly hacking with the odd day in the school and the even more occasional jump. We will take them Xc schooling once (or twice if they need to go twice) and they will jump round a small course of fences before the year is out. They wonโt be at every 4yo class in the country or going to shows week in week outโฆ
Now by this point we probably no longer own the horse ๐คฃ because our clients love how we produce them and come looking for them. But if we still have them at 5years old - then they will start to do a few shows but built on the same mantra as their 4yo year - in and out of the field for a few weeks work at a time with lots of hacking and more pole/cavalettis than jumps. Itโs about teaching them balance, relaxation and suppleness - itโs not about winning classes or even jumping clear rounds at this stage. The horse needs to have a conscience but itโs your job to get him to the fence in good balance and itโs his job to get his legs out of the way.
A very wise horseman told me many years ago โhorses are born with only so many jumps in them - donโt use them up unnecessarilyโ. And it stuck with me forever. Train and produce for longevity, not a short term monetary or ego goal.
