How to break a horse?

Question

For christmas my husband bought me a 9 month old filly. She is a spotted saddle horse and so pretty. My husband has been around horses all his life. But I want to be able to have some knowledge when we are training/breaking her. She isn't wild now and she will come up to you for a few seconds. I think mostly she is just scared because she is at a new home. What are some tips you can give me on how to make it easy on her and me. Thanks, I appreciate all tips and advice.

We talked to a local trainer, we aren't going to put anything on her back until she is around 15 months old. I just want to be able to catch her in the pasture and want her to feel safe and comfortable where I can brush her and teach her basics. I have asked for a horse every Christmas since I was five, and I finally got one. My husband did a great job - he knows horses, he can teach me, I just wanted to be able to know a few things myself without having to ask him :D

Answer 1

I personally like getting my horse's young. At nine months old you can still do ton's of things with your filly. At about 8 months is when we start ground schooling with all of our colts and filly's. Despite what one answerer said, they retain and learn at a faster rate when they are younger, and like with any animal repitition is the key.
At nine months my horse's will stand tied for baths, farrier, grooming. You are able to pick up all feet without a fight. We are able to lunge in round pin and on line both ways with transitions from walk, trot, and canter. Our horse's know halt and how to load. And we do ton's of sacking out.
I don't know why some of these users are so "let her be a horse" oriented. When one of my filly's was just a yearling her whole hip was jerked apart from being run into a fence by coyotes. If we hadn't taught her to load, lead, and tie. We most likely would've had to rope her and then ace her further traumatizing her and giving her a bad experience.
The truth of the matter is, we have domesticated the wild beautiful creatures, therefore putting their well-being in our hands. Because they are now living in fences, they cannot properly take care of themselves they would in the wild-IE...naturally trimming their hooves. In order to administer their shots, get them trimmed, and groom. You need to start the ground work now. It'll pay off in the end, trust me. I've gotten horse's in all different stages of their life, and honestly, my horse's I've had since weaning are easier to train and start under saddle. However, I wouldn't start putting weight on your horse until about 2 and a half. Saddling and cinching is fine. But you need to give her joints time to grow, and like any filly or mare for that matter....they don't mature as fast as male horse's, so they will become more sore and lame faster.

My advice is to start with getting her trained to being tied. This is a key element in her life, as she will have to be saddled, groomed, bathed, and trimmed, let alone stand in a trailer. It's okay to leave her tied for a few hours a day. This will teach her patience and to respect you as you are going to be the one in charge of when she is let to pasture. With my yearlings anytime they misbehave they get tied...this goes for kicking, rearing, biting, and charging. After about half an hour it sinks in and they know not to do that again. Then I would move to trust building exercises with her. This would include lunging over objects such as ground poles. This will help with the loading process, which is a must as if something were to happen to her such as getting hurt, or her pasture being caught on fire, you will need to move her as quickly as possible.

Don't listen to those who keep saying let her be a horse. Because of domestication we've changed the meaning of the word horse- They are required to know a lot more now, and that's things you will have to teach her. And in order to teach her you will have to have a relationship with her right now whether she's 9 months or 5 years old. I think it's a great gesture that your husband got you this filly. You're going to have a great bond with her because of her age, and you both will get to learn things at the same time

Answer 2

at that age I have a little trouble seeing trying to break a horse, but what most animals respond to is friendliness, when my filly was born there wasn't anything I didn't do with her. every day I was there picking up feet rubbing grooming, the whole 9 yards of what I do with any horse, all the ground work as she was growing I was teacing as she grew. move over to the push, give to the pressure, by the time she was 16 months old there was youngsters sitting on her back and riding with out ever being in a round pen or workek other than just being a friend. she gave to the bit, allowed it to be put in her mouth etc, every thing that you can possibly do is what shpoiuld be do to help teach a horse to do what you ask, she now rides barrels poles, trail , she will even cut a cow, shes awesome ,

Answer 3

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RE:
How to break a horse?
For christmas my husband bought me a 9 month old filly. She is a spotted saddle horse and so pretty. My husband has been around horses all his life. But I want to be able to have some knowledge when we are training/breaking her. She isn't wild now and she will come up to you for a few seconds....

Answer 4

Congratulations on getting your horse! Here are a few tips for you.

1. Do keep in mind that horses are not fully grown until they are 4-5 years old. Think VERY CAREFULLY about what you will be putting on her back prior to that.

2. There are MANY MANY books by trainers and MANY opinions about what is "right" and what is "wrong." One trainer I would suggest reading is Monty Roberts. His approach involves gaining the trust and confidence of the horse as opposed to forcing the horse into submission. I don't know that any one person has all the right answers. That's why you should do your research.

3. No matter how you slice it this isn't a job for an amateur. Find a trainer with a philosophy you like and go with that.

4. You didn't say where your Philly lives, but if she's alone she might not be too happy about that. Remember, horses are herd animals. They are very social and are happiest when they can interact with other horses. I'd suggest you talk to your husband about an early birthday present and get your girl a friend. If money is an issue look into a nice "free to good home" pasture ornament, or some other rescue situation. Good luck.

Answer 5

There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking and depending on your husband for advise..in the meantime, search the web for different articles on hand taming a young horse. You will be surprised how much of a bond that you and your husband can build between you during this process...if you are not experienced with horses, no big deal, just work with your husband. You are not going to gain experience from the inter net, you will get it only by doing. You say tht your husband is experienced with horses, then listen to him, he had a reason for buying this particular one for you. That doesn't mean that in the meantime that you can't get on the net and look up lots and lots of articles on advise, but consider it for just what it is, advise, not gospel...

Answer 6

You basically need confidence and a wealth of experience.

Read as much as you can, so when she is three, you can start to back her. That is not to say you can't start the ground work now by teaching her to trust and respect you. Groom her as much as you have time for, that is how horses bond in a herd environment. Touch her all over - taking your time, so she doesn't freak. Make sure you can pick up all of her feet, and start to hold on to them for longer and longer, and her to stay calm. teach her to lead - from both sides, not just one. Teach her to halt and stand still when you ask, so if you ever need her to stand, you don't have a battle.

I show my youngsters in-hand, so they get used to seeing everything before they get broken in - it makes the final job so much easier if they get used to travelling and standing in line, while someone else opens their mouth, lifts their tail and they have to run up and down while other horses stand still, then stand while others run round them. Give her as much of an education as possible before she is three and ready to start lunging in preparation for backing and then finally riding out.

You will need to earn her respect, so she knows you will lead her to safety, never into danger. She needs to know that you won't hurt her ever but that you won't stand any nonsense from her either.Always be consistent! if it isn't acceptable on a Monday, it isn't acceptable on a Friday evening when you are tired and can't be bothered. Horses understand "black and white" - no shades of grey, it is either right or wrong, good or bad. Stick to your own standards but remember she is a baby and so set the level like you would with a puppy or a child, so you need to be patient and not loose your temper - ever! it is your responsibility to teach and hers to learn. I'd look at Pat Parelli's methods, along with Monty Roberts and the like.

Don't try to break her in yourself, unless you have learned the skills you need, it is so easy to ruin a horse, if you don't know what you are doing but you have over two years to gain the experience you need - or to discover you might be better getting someone else in to do it for you.

Good luck, it was a good question :-)

Answer 7

I haven't read the other answers. So, I'm sorry if i re post a same.

First you have to start off with trust. It will probably take a while but just go out there everyday and talk to her, bring her treats whatever will make her feel comfortable. When she comes up to you then move onto the halter. (is she halter broke?) If not let her sniff it and rub her with it. She'll get used to the feel and learn to trust that too. At first just put it around her nose and then gradually move up from there.
If you're saddle breaking her than my best advice would be to get her used to some weight on her back, lean on her, set a saddle or whatever kind of weight you can on her back. It may take a while but if you get her trust, teach her the commands and get her used to things everything will work out fine.

Answer 8

If you really would like to break this filly by yourself I would get some training videos from the store of whoever you prefer, they are pretty good guides when you have a project like this. There are alot of good trainers who make videos of how they go about training a horse.

Answer 9

you cant train a horse at 9 months wait till she's a year try gently placeing the tack on her and handling her feet. lunging is good to but it takes alot of work and is easie with 2 people one in the middle standing by her hip the other gently holding the halter if you use a lungwhip just drag it on the ground. and its easier at the trot too. and give her rewards when she does something right. and she will probly freak out when you start traing. hope this helps

Answer 10

Well, honestly, at nine months, she needs to focus on being a horse. You can do basic ground work with her, but that's it, and babies can only focus for short periods of time, don't retain information on the first attempt, and will constantly try to get away with anything and everything - even AFTER they've behaved the first time. I had two paint foals that I purchased on a trade at 3 and 4 months old, and I would honestly NEVER do it again.
So in 15 months when you start to try saddling her, I'd spend about $3000 on a trainer, and you won't really be riding her for another year after that, at which point, you'll be shelling out more money for training.
So next time..
Tell your husband to spend the extra money up front to get something that is already at least somewhat trained.