Yesterday I had one of those pinch me moments as I sat and watched my 10 year old horse Splash having a dressage lesson with Ian Woodhead. He looked strong, supple and like he was loving his work and just for a moment I reminded myself how lucky I am to have him! And then I thought about how much time and patience it has taken to get him to this point…nearly 7 years to be precise.
Backing the babies
I have always loved backing and producing the babies. I spent years riding green youngsters, trying to get them to go forwards and trot in straight lines. It’s where I am most comfortable, simply because until now, I’ve never had a horse that has progressed up the levels to the extent that Splash has. It was always a case of backing and producing them to sell as 5 or 6 year olds.
I had a system that worked. They would come in as 2 years to be handled and sometimes lightly lunged depending on how big they were, and then be backed and ridden away as 3 year olds. They would be hacking on their own, have jumped a small jump or two and had a trip out in the lorry and then would be chucked back out in the field till the following spring to grow, strengthen and have a think about life.
Four Year Olds
I always found the four year olds slightly more challenging! They were less naïve, a bit more cocky and that little bit stronger! As four year olds they would spend the year going out to their first unaffiliated competitions and seeing a bit more of life but they would have regular periods in work and decent breaks of 6 – 8 weeks out in the field in between.
Grown Up Five Year Olds
At five years old most of our eventers would start eventing properly and would do several events in a row before having a decent mid-season break. At the end of the season they would get 2 months out in the field to continue to grow, strengthen and think about life a bit more.
There were, of course, always horses that didn’t conform to that normal and I guess this is the whole point of writing this blog. They are all individual, they all mature, physically and mentally, at different speeds and it’s our job to recognise what they need and when.
Splash
When I bought Splash he was tiny, actually runty might be a better word and although my husband who was vetting him for me, couldn’t find anything wrong with him, I think he did question my sanity!
But I’d seen something I loved, he moved beautifully and was a lovely person to handle. I bought him home to Team Oakden in the January that he turned four, we backed and rode him away, and he spent his four year old year doing bits and pieces with several breaks in between.
What he didn’t do quickly was grow! I wrongly assumed that by bringing him home, giving him the right feed and the correct work, he would quickly fill out, strengthen and turn into the swan that I knew was in there. After he told us he was struggling with the level of work at the start of his fifth year, we had to back off. I changed my approach and accepted that he was going to be at least seven or eight years old before he really strengthened up and developed.
I was wrong and should have added another two or three years! The reality is it’s only been this year, as a 10 year old, that our patience is finally paying off. He’s stronger, fitter and more supple through his body and now able to really start sitting behind and using himself properly. He has the most amazing brain and really tries hard. But that’s often where you can run into problems because their brain wants to do it, but their body isn’t strong enough yet. Or sometimes you get the opposite situation where they are physically very capable, but their brain needs more time.
Patience
Over the years I’ve seen too many good young horses ruined because they either haven’t been given enough time to strengthen up or had their brains fried because they just couldn’t cope with the pressure. Patience really is one of the most important tools you can have in your young horse toolkit and if ever there is an example that it really is worth preserving then Splash is it…
We would love to hear your thoughts about producing young horses so please do share them over on our EquiTeam Facebook page but for now have patience and enjoy the journey.
Liz S x
Photo credit – Sinclair Photography
