TOP 10 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL BREAKING

It doesn’t matter at what age you break in your horse, the fundamentals are the same: 1 Enlist the help of a professional person if you are inexperienced in the backing process. 2 Handle the horse as much as possible in the lead up to backing. 3 Get the horse used to the lunge before you back him. 4 Get him used to the equipment you will be using — saddle pad, saddle, bridle, etc, slowly. 5 Be prepared to be flexible in your approach, always ensuring that the horse is comfortable with the experience. 6 Never try to break in a horse alone. Arm yourself with a knowledgeable handler to lead him around or leg you up. 7 If the horse is spooky or stressed, don’t get on. Wait until another day. Safety is paramount and for this reason always wear a riding hat and body protector. 8 Once the horse is calm and focused on you, gently lean over his saddle. 9 Again, as long as he is calm, put your leg over the saddle and sit up slowly. 10 Patience, time and a sensitive approach are the keys to successful backing.

Spend as much time as you can handling your horse first

Introduce everything, including saddle, bridle and boots, slowly — and let the horse become accustomed to them on the lunge