Almost time to back my youngster..

[jennac]

Hello, i am new and this is my first msg. Just asking for any tips for confidence, as its aqlmost time for my boy to go away to be started, when he comes back he will need to be ridden on.

About Fred:
I bought this little pony (13hh) just over a year ago at auction, seemed nice, as they do..., anyways got him home soon realised he was doped at sales..ended up with a very sharp totally wild pony at 4 years old.
He was nuts quite frankly, climbing the stable walls and trying to leap the door, striking out etc
Brought in a IH trainer who tought me her methods, which i have used with every aspect of his groundwork.
Hes now doing great, and has grown to about 14.1hh.
Hes still very sharp and green, but ready to be started now.
He seems to trust me completely and we have a good bond.

Anyway, im just worried about being "up top", i suppose because iv known how wild he once was and seen crazy things he has done . Will he trust me the same when im on him, instead of besides him?? its only about 6 weeks untill he goes and the only thing left for me to ready him is seeing more roads, traffic and world.
any tips on helping me get over this fear that he will be crazy once more when ridden?

ps his trainer is very experienced, but shes also said she wants Me to be the first up there, on lunge...eek

oh and hes not my first, i also have an ex-racer, now retired [

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[Chestnutmare]

Hi, welcome to the DG

Have you tried longlining? I would longline him around the yard to see how he reacts if all good i would start to venture onto the roads, it will get him used to going on his own without relying on you, you will soon get to know calm/relaxed he is, what bothers him and what doesn't

[clara81]

Aw he is a lovely pony!

Not very helpful but I have a bonkers pony who trusts me completely to the point where she will let me sit on her but she's not happy to have a saddle on her, and I can't imagine she would let anyone else sit on her! If he knows it's you and he really trusts you he should be ok.

[jennac]

Hi, i have tried long lining with him a few times a few months ago as was hoping to break him myself (can you do this without a Bit??), he went really well for a while but on last two occasions he had a rearing fit, not just tantrum i mean totally up straight jumping around on his back legs and coming at me......................i assumed being 4 he may be sharp in the mouth and dentist confirmed this as the probable reason for the rearing, but since then i have been aware that bad habbits happen quickly so have left him since then so i dont cause a problem that needs "fixing", so easier for the trainer to start.
I do have a Dually(home made as cant afford a new one), can he be long-lined off this??

Hes great with being lunged, saddled and poles, hes been turned loose around the pen several times with a fairly snug girth and has not bucked once, was considering a dummy rider as he doesnt like seing me up tall like on a box next to him, but no idea how to make one