How to Back Up on a Horse

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

Back Up on a Horse Back Up on a Horse

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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.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Horse Reins
  • Horses
  • Horse Halters
  • Riding Boots
  • Horse Brushes
  • Saddles

Step1
Sit at attention with the horse standing square on all four legs.
Step2
Lower your hands.
Step3
Apply pressure with your legs and seat, as if to urge the horse to walk forward, and increase tension on the reins at the same time.
Step4
Squeeze and relax the reins repeatedly, indicating "back up." Do not pull on the reins.
Step5
Back up as needed, and stop once the horse has responded.
Step6
Use your legs to keep the horse backing up in a straight line. Increase pressure with your right leg if the horse lists to the right, or with the left if the horse lists to the left.

Tips & Warnings

  • If the horse puts its chin to its chest, it is trying to resist your command.
  • Make sure the horse's head is down when you back up.
  • Horseback riding is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. We recommend that you seek proper training and equipment before attempting this activity.

Comments

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Anonymous

Anonymous said

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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

Anonymous said

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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

Anonymous said

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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

Anonymous said

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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

Anonymous said

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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.

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eHow Article:  How to Back Up on a Horse

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