how to back up a horse?

Question

my 6 year old mare does not back up every time i try to she freezes and will put her head uop or 2 the side can any one help me i really need some help because it docks me points in the show ring also i do western pleasure if that helps thankz so much

Answer 1

generally to do a reinback you need to apply gentle pressure to both reins pulling them back towards you slightly and squeeze your legs. your best bet is to squeeze and release the reins so she will continue to back up. her reaction sounds as though she's confused and afraid or just obstinate. you may want to consider getting a trainer to assist. always finish on a positive note.

ps-the user below had a good suggestion with the clicking however i wouldn't do it in a show ring, it doesn't sit well with the judges. and see-sawing on the bit is abusive. don't train your horse that way please. i'm not sure how well the groundwork would fair out. your horse probably won't associate you being on the ground in front of her the same as you guiding her with a bridle and being on her back. just a few ideas =)

to the last user, yeah i don't ride western. it's considered a faux pas to make noise where i show.

Answer 2

Don't ask her to back... Apply pressure with your legs and don't allow her to go forward. As the back raises, the feet move, after even a thought of moving backwards, release, relax, and wait..
Continue this a little at a time.. This may take awhile, because it sounds like this has been traumatic for the horse.. Patience will reap it's rewards.
Als, while waiting in line, start prepareing your horse. This way it is on the mind, and there is not the sudden shock of going backwards.

Answer 3

This is what I have done to get my horse's to back up, especially in the show ring which you want it to be "perfect" to have good score.

I first started with ground work. I first take a good look at my horse's teeth. Are they sharp? Does it bother her if the bit is pushing on her tongue to harsh or her teeth?

Your horse also is not sure what you are asking. Horse isn't confident enough to trust backing up yet. Need to build the confidence by taken it a step at a time and not rushing your horse to do it. Let your horse fall into it, not rush into it.

I have my horse tacked up. I get half way on the side infront of my horse. (Don't want to be directly in front of your horse while doing this).

Take one hand per rein and ask calmly with a firm voice "Back up. click click Back Back". If your horse takes two steps, STOP. PRAISE YOUR HORSE. Reward your horse with "good girl" with a rub on the face or neck.

Walk the horse forward. Repeat.

When you ask to back up, first let the horse lower her head and then slightly pull the reins. Add more pressure if the horse doesn't respond with you moving yourself towards the horse.

Pull and release. Don't constantly just pull back and stay there. Keep re asking while you are moving towards the horse so the horse will move back away from you.

It takes some time to accomplish. You might not get good results right away. But reward even the very littlest results. The horse is trying as much as you.

Reason why I say use both reins being pulled back at same time instead of "sea sawing" (one hand back, one hand forward type) is because in a western bit, you use one hand while riding. Having the pressure of both sides of the bit will help your horse learn to back up with you holding both reins with one hand.

Do the same thing while on horse back. Just work on it. If your horse gets upset or you get too fusturated, stop and go to something else. Go back to it later when ready.

As far as clicking with the tongue or making "kissing noises". Judges don't dock you down for that as what that one person said "ps-the user below had a good suggestion with the clicking however i wouldn't do it in a show ring, it doesn't sit well with the judges". At all the shows I have attended from 4-H, open shows and state shows, I have never once had a judge dock me down for it. All the people in the ring does it when they ask the back up.

A side note. Try to be first when asked to back up. As being on the State Equine Judging Team in 4-H, I have learned that if you are first, every person after you is being judged compared to your back up. At the same time, your horse is still in the "motion" from just walking in the middle of the ring.

It make sense if you are last in line, your horse would be sitting there for some time and more likely to refuse to move correctly after sitting there waiting for your turn. If you go first, your horse hasn't had time to stand and get the "lazy mode". Your horse is more responsive.

Try to see if you can get some riding buddies to give you idea's. Trainers or friend of trainers to show you some techniques.

Answer 4

See saw the reins, pull back on the left one lightly and then pull back on the right one lightly. Repeat this a few times and press her sides with your legs beside the girth. Do all these at the same time repeatedly until she backs. Everytime she makes a step back relieve the pressure.

Answer 5

You could try backing her on the ground for awhile. Give her lots of praise when she does even one step back for you. Don't get mad at her if she doesn't - horses have very long memories. If you can get her backing on the ground successfully, then try putting somone up on her while you stay on the ground. You do all the backing up work; the person sitting on her should just sit there. If that works, gradually have the person on her give backup cues. Read some training books too.
Also, check her bit. It is possible that it is hitting her mouth in an uncomfortable way causing her to stiffen and move her head.

Answer 6

Keep your reins down below the horn of the saddle..one rein on each side...pull back slightly, and tap your reins with your fingers. Give a gentle kick and click your tongue. If you apply gentle pressure back with your reins while keeping them low, your mare shouldn't be able to put her head up or to the sides easily. Practice with the pressure. When your mare freezes up, go back to a positive place,somewhere where she was doing something right, and start from there.

Answer 7

start with groundwork first. have her in her halter then push back against her chest with the leadrope. say back. use a steady pressure. don't give in until she backs. if you give in before she does what you want her to do she will know she can get away with it and will try it every time. after you get her to back up one step, praise her. give her a pat or a treat or what ever and tell her she is a good girl. try it again. don't do it constantly in one day because you don't want to push her too hard at the start. it will take time before she does it regurly(sp?). after she does well with groundwork, try it mounted. start out with two hands. do the same process. when she backs one step, stop and praise her. when she can do it well enough try it with one hand since you ride western pleasure. do it the same way. sooner or later she will it very well. it takes time. don't expect her to be perfect in a week.

Answer 8

Use a tie down to keep her head close to her chest.Lean back in the saddle and see saw the bit.Encourage any movement to the rear.You may want to use another person to gently flick a strap or twine at her hooves while you work up top. Hope this helps

Answer 9

ground work is your answer. put her bridle on but leave off everything else. place both reins over her shoulder so that they stayup and as if you were riding. grab both reins equally under the chin as if it were a lead rope and pull back as if you were on here and say "back". do this until she backs. once she learns this, stand at her shoulder and pull back on the reins as well as saying back. then stand at her shoulder again and grab the reins where you hold them when riding. pull back and say back. she will get the idea. another trick is to place poles on top of buckets so that it creates a "lane" that is about 2 feet off the ground. Ride her into this "lane" and then she will have no choice but to back out straight. you may have to make the area large at first and then gradually make it smaller. she will get the idea.

Answer 10

was she even trained to back up with reins? if she wasn't, i'd suggest you take her to a trainer for a couple of months (at most). from your description, she was-either not trained to do so, or possibly show soured. if the last part is true, try giving her a break from the show ring or showing her in a different class.