SLOW,
QUIET PROCESS REQUIRED FOR TEACHING THE BACK UP UNDER SADDLE
(Part 1)
By SUSAN
DUDASIK
At some
point, every rider will have to back up his horse, so it’s
better to teach the horse in a safe environment rather then
having to deal with it when on a narrow path facing a washed-out
trail. While having a horse back up seems like a simple thing,
doing it in a controlled, safe manner takes training and practice.
When a horse backs, he should be relaxed with his head down
and slowly stepping backward. The most an observer should see
is the rider lightly squeezing his hand on the rein and leaning
slightly forward. The rider shouldn’t be leaning forward
over the horse’s neck or backward yanking on the reins.
This causes the horse to toss his head and stumble backward.
Until they
are taught, horses rarely incorporate backing into their daily
routine. As prey animals, they tend to either shove their way
through a barrier or go alongside it. If you were being chased,
you probably wouldn’t back into your pursuer either. So
backing is more of a human-taught maneuver. This is important
to remember when teaching the back. Your horse has to be confident
in your judgment that he’s not getting into a bad situation.
When teaching
your horse to back from the saddle, it’s advisable to use
a snaffle bit since you can inadvertently put too much pressure
on a curb-type bit and hurt the horse’s mouth, especially
if he aggressively resists backing. If you’re really having
a problem, get off and return to backing him in hand to build
his confidence.
Teaching
the back is a slow, quiet process. Start with your horse quietly
standing. Shorten your reins a bit and simply squeeze them.
Does your horse give to the pressure of the bit or does he stick
his nose out, trying to resist you? This is the first critical
step in teaching your horse to back. He must give to the bit.
You need to do this softly. Don’t haul on the reins, trying
to pull your horse backward.
If your
horse has given to the bit, bringing his nose back a little,
proceed by slightly increasing the pressure on the reins, but
don’t pull. Shift your upper body weight slight forward.
You shouldn’t be leaning out of the saddle, just tip your
shoulders a bit forward. Look straight ahead and squeeze with
your legs. Give your voice cue if you use them. Soon you’ll
feel your horse shift his weight to his rear and take a step
back. Instantly release the rein pressure, praise him and sit
up straight in the saddle. Be happy with one small step. Then
take a few steps forward, stop and repeat the process. When
your horse will calmly take one step back, try for two. Don’t
rush this as you are building confidence. When doing this, be
certain your horse doesn’t bump into anything behind him.
For horses
that fight the bit, either by pulling on it or tossing their
head, you have lots of quiet, time-consuming work to do. Your
horse has learned to evade the bit, most likely because his
mouth has been hurt with it. To undo the damage and regain your
horse’s confidence, you need lots of patience and a snaffle
bit. When your horse is standing quietly on a loose rein, slowly
make the reins shorter until you can feel his mouth or he tries
to pull the reins away. When you find this spot, keep your hands
still. Brace your back and shoulders so your horse can’t
pull the reins from your hands, but don’t pull on them,
just hold them firmly. Your horse will probably start tossing
his head up or sideways. Stay calm. Wiggle your fingers until
he gives to the bit by nodding his head. This might be just
a split-second give on his part, but when he does give, instantly
release the rein pressure and praise him. Depending on the horse,
it might take a few seconds to an hour to get the first minute
give, but you have to have this before you can ever expect your
horse to back willingly. Repeat this process until your horse
slightly nods his head when you squeeze the reins. It could
take hours, days or even months to rebuild your horse’s
confidence, but when you can give a light rein clue and have
your horse confidently back up, it will be worth it. It just
takes getting back to basics.
The advice
given here is meant only as a guide. If you have serious problems
with a horse it should be taken to a professional trainer.
Susan Dudasik
Shadow Rider Equine News
srider@salmoninternet.com
Member: Idaho Press Club
North American Saddle Mule Association
Idaho Representative for American Trail Horse Association
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Susan Dudasik
Shadow Rider Equine News
srider@salmoninternet.com
Member: Idaho Press Club
North American Saddle Mule Association
