How To Do Just About Everything
By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor
Back Up on a Horse
Rate: (12 Ratings)
Is your horse not going the way you want it to? Are "forward" and "fast" the only words it understands? If you answered yes to either question, try these steps to learn how to tell your horse to back up.
Sit at attention with the horse standing square on all four legs.
Back up as needed, and stop once the horse has responded.
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Comments
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Another way to make your horse back up while riding him, is to gently move the bit left to right in the horse's mouth.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 My dad taught me how to back-up when he said to squeeze the horses sides and pull on the reins, remember to say 'back up' while your doing it or he will get confused.
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 Make sure your horse's head is down before you ask him to back up. If it's up, seesaw on the reins to bring it down, then back up.
Anonymous said
on 3/29/2006 First, get them used to backing on the ground with a halter. Try by saying "back back" over and over while pushing their lead rope or chest.
Anonymous said
on 11/30/2005 I tried this with my Warmblood and it worked like a dream-real helpful considering that he's the typical flighty eventer.
As your riding you sink your heels, apply pressure with your lower leg, pull on the reins all at the same time. He should stop immediently-when you go to back up apply pressure with your calves again and pressure the reins, if your horse resists apply more pressure to the reins and your calf and when he starts to back up you slowly ease up with your hands. Stop backing up(YOU tell the horse when to stop, not the other way around)and let your horse stand there for a while. After that ride on and stop at another place in the ring and do the same thing(do this 8-10 times)and when the horse improves even slightly when you back up let him stop and rest on a loose rein, give him a pat while your at it. After that I'd move on to another exercise or dismount-end on a good note and remember that less is more.