Hello this is my first time posting,i have a 4yr old grey 14hh new forest gelding called Merlin, i have had him since he was 9mths old straight from the forest, i am looking at backing him and have started lunging which i hate to do, any tips would be helpful.

Hi Jane and welcome to the forum. You should know that photos are compulsory - we love piccies. And we're nosey, so will want to hear lots more about you and your pony. What's his breeding and registered name?

Foresters are usually quite straightforward to back - long reining is often a good activity first, you can do this 'on a circle' like lunging, but with two lines, which helps the pony to balance and gives him a supporting outside rein to help with the bend. Its also a great way to get him out and about, teaching him to go first (maybe with someone else walking at his head to start with, but gradually dropping back) and confidently take the lead once he's out under saddle.

I'm sure others will come on here later and ask you lots more questions and offer tips and advice - its usually quiet in the daytime. I'm on here at the moment 'cos I've just resigned my job, so am sat at my desk bored out of my brain and wishing more Forum members would come talk/play

If you want to just join in irrelevant chatter and banter do come over to the General Forum too.

Hello Tina
Will sort some pics out, i have just had a bash at lunging Merlin, paid someone yesterday to do it looked so easy but god i just can't get the hang of it! so led him round paddock on both reins in walk and trot.

Hi Jane! I'm Jane too.. gets very confusing there are a few of us! lol

I have a 2 year old NF chestnut called Thunder and a 4 year old section A called peanuts. I found and still find long reigning much easier than lunging. We loan a 10 year old cob that has no idea on the lunge either! lol

you'll need someone up by merlin's head (great name by the way) to get the message across at first, and with lunging have to send lots of 'energy' vibes to his rear end! lol I seem to struggle with that bit but a friend of mine made it look easy. lol

If all else fails try long reigning

Look forward to the pics, and welcome to the site!

Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

Hello Jane and welcome to the forum

Hi and welcome jane...........piccies please

I have 3, 4 year old foresters and am currently in the process of backing them too. One of them long reins really well and is happy to stride out.......one of them doesnt like long reining but has taken to lunging pretty well and the other one isnt fussed either way, lol!! I also have a 15.2 welsh D and a 14.2 forester that my daughter and i ride

If you are struggling to lunge your youngster, perhaps enlist the help of someone who can do it a bit longer, until your pony knows what is expected of him and then that'll make it easier for you too My one who prefers to lunge, still insists on turning to look at me when asked to stand He is a big baby though and didnt want to walk away from me at all in the first place as he thought he was being told off, lol!!

Looking forward to hearing your updates

Hello and welcome. I've got 5 foresters of varying ages. I backed my youngster last year. She was so easy to do and very intelligent. She'd been shown in-hand which made it so easy when giving vocal commands.

She actually took herself round in a circle the first time I put her on a lunge. I don't like lunging for too long as it puts stress on the joints. (I got kicked in the face many years ago so long reining for me is not an option!)

Whatever you do, don't struggle/fight to establish ridden work. As you are doing, make sure that you seek advice. There are people around that will come and help you back your youngster safely.

I always remember an incident when I was backing Gus, my first forest foal, 4yrs ago. I got my husband to lead us out on a hack, just in case. I got stopped by some well meaning people who said, "ooh if you're a nervous rider, come and join our club". Hubby was p***ing himself laughing, whilst I just smiled very sweetly.

Thanks for the welcome, i also have a 17.2h Boulonnais who is very, very stubbern and nappy and 2x mini shetlands who are wonderful. How much lunging etc is needed before i could back Merlin?

Hi Jane, me again! We also need pics of all the neddies now

The only reason for teaching a horse to lunge before backing is to get them understanding the voice commands for walk, trot and maybe canter. And possibly to build a little muscle tone, but in all honestly a young horse shouldn't be lunged as much as you'd need to inorder to build muscle. Thats why long reining is better 'cos a) it puts less strain on young joints and bones and b) its more useful to teach the commands whilst moving the pony forwards in similar manner to how the horse will go when ridden.

If lunging isn't working for you then don't - you can teach the 'walk on' command whilst leading, and also the 'trot on' command in the same way. Cantering can always wait until it happens naturally - you won't be rushing to canter a newly backed pony anyway.

Thanks for the advice Tina will try again tomorrow.

Hi Jane,and welcome.Obviously I am another jane. I have two Foresters,a Highland,and both my son and daughter have foresters as well.

Will post breeding of Merlin tomorrow, would love to know if anyone has any of his family, my husband didn't want to have him backed said he is our baby Merlin leans on his shoulder and goes to sleep must admit we do spoil him.

Welcome Jane, I have a dark bay New forest gelding called Merlin too but he is 16. I also have two New Forest fillies, one is rising four and the other rising three. Like you, I don't like lunging but I have a book called The Fearless Horse by Joanna Day that I have found very good. It has lots of ideas for working younsters, and the not so young, from the ground. It is great for ideas for getting them used to spooky things. the best of luck. What is your pony's breeding?

Welcome Jane. Lovely to hear there's another Forester fan out there.

Mx