Mounting a green horse?

Question

I have a two year old that I need to get started getting used to weight on his back. Should I be the one to be on him first or get him used to a saddle first? That way when he is used to the saddle, my weight will be more accepting to him. Please!! Advice is Welcome! :)

Answer 1

Dont be in a rush to get in his back.

Im doing the same at the moment im taking a 5 year welsh pony back to the begining because she wont let anyone on her back.

For about 4 days  ive been tacking her up & walking,trotting her in hand.

Tonight i spent about 20mins leaning over her,feeling her all over.

I will be doing that for another couple of nights then i will mount her.

Ive seen a big differnce in her already & she was very green.

Take your time & dont rush at it.

good luck & hope ive helped.

Answer 2

I usually put a saddle on him and work him in the round pen first and teach him voice commands.

Answer 3

well we do that all the time traing green horses and one really umm well wild mustang!!!! use the saddle first but remmermber to let him smell everything b4 u put it on

good luck=) =)

o and b4 u just fling on tie him up and step in the saddle and put all your weight on THATsturrip!!!!

Answer 4

Start him off by putting a saddle pad on his back. Each time after the first time you do this, put a little bit of weight on his back with your hands. Put more and more pressure every time you do this. Then, start him off by putting a saddle on him without any stirrups or stirrup leathers or anything. Let him get used to this. After he's used to you putting on his saddle, try it with the stirrups. Do this for a few days or weeks, depending on how well he does. After he's used to the full-fledged saddle, then get him used to some more weight, and finally you. Good luck!

Answer 5

I agree BSB, This is what I make my living at. No one can explain the proper way to proceed with starting a 2 yr old, It would take me hours to write proper steps and no 2 horses are ever the same. There are lots of ground work things that should be done in certain progression that by the time you are ready to mount, around 2 1/2 to 3.  This question should not even be entering your mind. You would already have a pretty good "steering wheel" on your horse and be confident that she could walk, trot,canter,stop,back and turn left and right from the ground. If your horse does not know these things you are not ready and dont have a clue what you are doing.....Please for gods sake hire yourself someone that can help you and show you the proper ways of training safely. For you and your horse.

EDIT, you can start horses riding at 2 1/2 to 3 yrs old, as long as you are critiquing individuals and developing programs that fit each horse. Like not riding in small circles, making sure you are using proper leg protection as in SMB boots with suspensory lig support and or exercise  wraps and only riding 15 to 20 min a session 3 times a week.

Answer 6

The most common way to starting a young horse is; trainers will start by saddling them and then putting them in driving reins. That way your horse knows what everything is before you jump on and hopefully you wont have a to wild of a ride. If you just jump up there with no saddle and you cant stay on and the horse goes to bucking you could get hurt and your horse could get really scared and then starting him will be 10 times harder. My suggestion would be to go to a trainer and take lessons using your horse. Explain to them that you want to start your own horse, but would like some professional advice and help.

Why am I getting thumbs down? I told her not to get on it before its use to a saddle for her own saftey and to get help if she wanted so she can learn correctly. I didn't tell her to let someone else do it. Should I add more detail?

Ok Ive started many horses. Where is this horse at in its training? IS she already able to touch it everywhere? Can she walk it on a halter? So I would like the previous people have said get the horse use to the saddle pad. Put it on take it off. Move it around a lot. When the horse is use to it you could even drop it off the back a few times. that way if you are saddleing it and it falls it wont freak it out. Once the horse is use to the pad then put the saddle on . Don't go super tight with the girth, just snug so the saddle doesnt fall under the belly. I use a western saddle so I don't have the option to take off the stirrups like someone said to do. Well I guess I could, but its not easy like an english saddle. You know at this point its your own call. If you wanna jump on your horse and see what happens go for it. start off by moving the stirrups around take your hand or something over its back so it sees it in both eyes. If you are up there and it see's you on one side and then you are all the sudden on the other side it might scare the horse. Preperation is key so you have  a positive experience with your horse. The use your hand to put weight in the stirrups more and more then use your leg then you can stand in stirrup and pet the other side and its rear etc. do this a few times then when the horse is very relaxed then get on. If you decide that driving reins were a bad idea like whoever gave me the thumbs down then I might want to use a halter to start the horse in because it is familiar. A horse is not going to know what the bit is the first time you ride it. The horse should already know what the halter is. Ive started many horses in a halter. If you put the horse in driving reins and walk behind it, this is good because the horse is out in front exploring and you can get it use to many things that might scare it. I would get on your horse for the first time in a round pen or an arena that way if something goes wrong your horse doesn't go far. Just make sure you prepare the horse as much as possible so your first ride is an amazing experience. Ive seen people get to ahead of themselves and have a bad first ride then they have to fix what was messed up. So anyway the point to my earlier answer was short and sweet. I figured if you have a 2 year old and you are starting it, that you probably did a lot of this stuff. I guess it all depends on how wild of a ride you want. If your young then you bounce easily and your bones aren't fragile. Well have fun and good luck. I remember when I started my first and it was great.

Answer 7

Get him used to the saddle first and do not let anyone tell you that you need to wait until they are three.  The truth is they are easier to break and yield better results if broken at two and ridden lightly.  I do not ride them hard until they are at least three.  At two a horse has not yet developed the adult concept of challenging the dominant individual to establish its dominance.  That makes it easier and safer to break and train.

Here is the way I break all of mine.

First I get them used to the saddle and even turn them loose with an old saddle on their back sometimes (not always since some horses do not seem to mind from the get go).  That way they learn that if they buck it does not do them any good because the saddle remains on their back.  In this stage I will also saddle and re-saddle them repeatedly.

Next I tie them up and slowly climb on.  I get on and off until they are used to that.  I will sit on them for a few to several minutes at a time.

Third step is to put them in a small field (1 or 2 acres tops) with a tried and true ponying horse.  I pony the green horse behind the experienced one for a few laps and figure eights around the field.  When I see the green horse relax I move to step 4.

Step 4 is to carefully climb on making sure not to spook the green horse.  Then have the experienced horse lead the green one around the field while I signal the green horse with the reins and leg cues.  Again when I think the new horse has it I move on.  Make sure she has stop down.

Step 5  Disconnect the green horse but still follow the experienced one.  Keep up with the signals.  Make sure the green horse is not doing anything until signalled.

Step 6  Still with the experienced horse being ridden ride off in another direction, but stay close.

Step 7.  Have the other person get off the experienced horse and tie it up in the field.  Ride the green horse around the field.

Step 8  You are ready to ride on your own.

This technique usually works well and works better than any other I have tried.  I have trained a few and had them do all the basic neck reining moves (stop, go, slow down, speed up, gentle, medium and sharp turns, etc.) in as little as 20 minutes from first getting on (that horse was incredible), but it usually takes 2 or 3 sessions of field work alone before I ride them by themselves.  I start them out neck reining so they never get used to anything else.

EDIT

The only horses that I avoid backing until they are three are slow going breeds such as arabs, and horses that have been stunted while young.

Answer 8

I agree with Blue Sage Badger.  At this age you can use a surcingle and driving lines to begin the next phase of training, but you should get some pro help to get started. At about 2 1/2 is soon enough to begin adding a saddle pad under the surcingle and a saddle after that, still using driving lines and not getting on.  Three is plenty youngto start fiding, and with some horses (larger ones that grow more slowly) it's better to start them at 4 years.

Answer 9

Go slowly, you have plenty of time since you should not be getting on his back until he is at least 3.  Do not work him hard.  At two he should not be put through rigorous training.  Have you completed all of the ground work & done it properly?  

Since I'm concerned that you may not be experienced with this, since you are wanting to ride a 2 yr. old, I will not tell you how to go about it.  It concerns me that you are asking about getting on a horse that has never had a saddle on it. It sounds like you are asking whether you should get on this colt bareback first or saddle break it first.

I think what you need is not advice, but help from someone in your area with experience in training colts. You cannot go into this with a few words of advice from YA.  This can lead to serious injuries to the colt both physically & mentally.  It could also lead to serious injury to you.

Your whole question sent red flags flying when I read it.

Answer 10

You actually want to start with just the blankets and pads. After a few minutes, place the saddle on him GENTLY...no stirrups or straps to bounce around and hit him...add the girth to just one side, then gently place it under him, making sure you stay out of kick range.  If this goes well, tighten the girth just enough for the saddle to stay on and lead him around at a nice gentle pace.  He may arch his back and act funny-thats ok...as he gets used to it you can tighten the girth more and more until it is tight enough to safely sit in...now add the stirrups. Walk him again so he gets used to stuff banging around at his sides.  After all of this goes well ( and it can take days if not weeks) then you try to mount him.. best thing to do is just lay accoss the saddle at first and talk to him while you are doing it...gradually increase your weight until you are sitting up right and he will walk comfortably with you on him.....and be prepared to hit he dirt a few times in the process.  PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE

Answer 11

first put a saddle on his/her back. let the girth or cinch loose. lounge or lead him/her at the walk, slowly tighten girth and increase gait. when he's comfortable with that, try leaning on him. when he is completely fine with a little weight ask someone to lead him around with you on his back. KEEP YOUR FEET OUT OF THE STIRRUPS IN THE BEGINNING incase you need to jump off quickly. hope i helped!

Answer 12

saddle first, then you

as much as youre excited (cause newbie are so exciting !) to hop on and be the first rider he comes to love. lets admit if your trying to do it right and trying to get him used to weight on his back, a saddle weighs a lot less anybody.  And in breaking him right you need him used to all the bells, whitles, and straps of the saddle in order to ride in the first place. I'd definitely go with the saddle first but dont be afraid to mess around with him when you turn him out.  Building a bond is a good idea at this stage.  Run around with him and when you play make it a learning lesson too.  You can get on the rail or block and play with him while resting your legs on him.  Gradually add weight while you play.  Get him used to your pressure: hugs, touches, pinches (horse love bites).  Just wieght and touches over time get horses ready for the weight.  They're pressure oriented animals that's why riding works as it does.  Have fun too :]

Best of luck to you and your little one :]

Answer 13

i would get an experienced horse person or trainer to help u.

i think its best to start the horse just getting used to being touched and brushed on and under his back, belly and flakes.

after that start with a bare back pad and  rub it all over him to get him comfortable. eventually snitch the bareback pad very loosely.

soon tighten it up a single notch at a time then eventually move onto a light , simple saddle.

over time put pressure in the stirrups, then lean, and eventually sit.

try researching more and getting someone to help you but good luck!!! : D

Answer 14

saddle first.....and what ever you do, do NOT tie up the horse & climb on!!! Bad idea!!!

Answer 15

Why start a two year old with weight on his back?  I have never started putting my weight on a young horse before they are 3-31/2 years. They are not very mature at two and need lots mental stability before you try to get him to deal with a riders weight. and tons of ground work and touching before you get on.

Two year olds are relatively out of balance themselves not to mention trying to stabilize your shifting and the saddle. IF you feel that you need to hurry this little guy, use the saddle while loungeing your horse and get him balanced. But use very limited time spans and not much if any cantering.   It really pays off in the long run. EM