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Working on a horses back up2007-11-24 21:23:27

What are some methods you can use to work on a horse's back up under saddle?

Answers:

Teaching a horse to back up is actually very important and one of the hardest commands to teach as its not a natural movement for a horse at all. Knowing how horses respond to certain touches and pressures can make the daunting task alot easier. Heres a good link that explains it pretty well step by step (much better than i can) ;)

http://www.lindatellington-jones.com/bac...

Hope it helps!

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Use a hill and back down the hill. Make sure you are quick with your cues, if your horse is green, any rear motion reward immediately and build from there.

To build up your horses rump, back up hills :)

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Push your hips down and back into your seat, apply light pressure to the bit and ask for a back. if the horse so much as leans back, release the rein and reward. Move onto to something else, then stop and repeat. Soon the horse will have taken a step or two back but you have to remember to use the same queue and release the pressure at the first sign, like I said even a lean back. Young horses will typically try to figure it out but if you don't do a release that head will come up and if you keep pulling the horse will too and eventually get frustrated and confused, then the only option is up. Always, "read" your horse, the minute it seems frustrated, release the queue and reward the slightest effort. Eventually, and this doesn't take real long, they will know that you are asking for a step back and move away from the pressure but it takes patience and don't expect to be taking 10 steps in reverse for a while, repetition and reward until the horse feels safe and secure with it and before you know it, reverse will be working wonderfully. Until the horse is comfortable with the queue, don't be applying leg pressure to the horse. If the horse hasn't been taught to back and you apply rein pressure and leg aids, the horse will become very confused quickly and enhance the only option... UP.