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There
is something frighteningly exciting about breaking in yearlings. Join in
as we take you through the A to Z of this unpredictable process over the coming
weeks. Our chosen subject being the Bahamian
Bounty x Emerald Fire filly purchased at the Tattersalls
October sales.
STEP 1: Because she has come from the sales she has already
been "bitted" (had experience of having a bit in her mouth) and
knows how to be led in hand.
STEP 2: Next we move onto lunging. Headcollar on,
yearling bridle on (slightly different to a normal bridle),
brushing boots on forelegs. One lunge rein on the
coupling (loop) on the bridle and one on the noseband
of the headcollar. Handlers with hats on to avoid
nasty injuries, yearlings are very unpredictable! Into
the lunge ring to lunge anti-clockwise and clockwise.
No problems, she has already been taught this!!!
Step
3: As soon as an unbroken yearling lunges anti-clockwise
and clockwise, starts and stops, you're ready to apply the
roller. This consists of a breast girth and a girth (which go
around the chest and forward stomach area of the horse
respectively) - the most basic pieces of tack. The horse's
instinct is to remove it as soon as it realises something is there,
the tack could be a dangerous predator for all the horse knows!
As a result they plunge, bronc, rear and cause general mayhem.
Step 4:The Roller is now fitted on the filly in the confines of
her stable. Scenes of mild peril which we survive!
Step 5: Side Reins are now added. These are attached
to either side of the bridle and then crossed on
the withers (base of horse's neck, above the
shoulder). They are then buckled on the roller.
This will help control and steering.
Step 6:Rein Round - Now we change the position of
the lunge reins, removing them from the coupling and
nose band of the headcollar and attaching them to the
bit rings.
This enables us to put one of the reins behind the filly's
back legs whilst continuing to lunge her with with other.
The first time usually causes issues with the horse
either trying manfully to kick the rein away or setting off
at such a speed it is almost impossible to pull it up!
However, our young lady was relatively accepting of
the process.
Step 7:
Work Continues. Filly sustained an overreach on her near-fore
(front left) heel. This is when the horse's back hoof catches the
one in front of it and "skins it", it's very sore for the horse.
So we apply overreach boots (a bit like jelly moulds!) to shield
the wound.
Rein remains behind back legs, but she is a little free and we won't
proceed on to the next stage until she calms herself down.
Step 8:Turning - Well...we got a bit stuck! Our filly
decided that she was not for turning and it took all week
to persuade her that turn she must.
We needed her to slow down to a walk with the rein
behind her back legs in order to put pressure on the
back rein and release the other and turn her in the
opposite direction. This means she gets used to having
pressure on the bit.
She (and we) got a bit hot and bothered, so we clipped her
to keep her cool and tried again. This time we were under
pressure, owners present (see bottom picture), but she
behaved beautifully, turning professionally and allowing
herself to be driven around the lunge bed.
Now she's had a haircut she's rugged up too. That's what
I call progress.
Step 9: The sound of the penny dropping. Our filly
was turning and driving in the lunge bed, but
relaxed she was not.
Horses are driven in long reins before being
ridden to teach them to respond to the bit, to start,
to stop, to steer. Clearly best done with feet on the
ground!
It also gives the horse more confidence. To help
this particular filly to relax we decided to miss the
visit to the lunge bed and drive her directly out of
her
box and around the yard. BINGO!
Step 10: Spot the difference! We've replaced the
roller with the saddle and she hardly seems to have
noticed.
Step 11: AND SO it's back to breaking in our little filly.
Cut healed, she's had a couple of refresher days; lunged,
lunged with tack and driven in long reins. Nothing
forgotten.
The next step is to "bounce" her! With one handler
holding her head, the other simply bounces up and down
besides her so she gets used to the noise and 
movement. After this he bounces against the saddle
If this all goes well the rider can be legged up so that he lies across the saddle and the horse can feel the
weight. All is going well so the filly is turned around
the box with the jockey across the saddle. A good
place to stop!
Step 12: Next day step 11 is repeated and then the rider VERY
quietly strides his right leg over the saddle and VERY, VERY
gently sits up. The filly is turned round the box and the rider slips
his feet into the irons. This may cause a reaction as the weight
shifts.
No hitches so it's out into the yard for a walk. A definite 1-0 to
the humans!
Step 13: We're flying along now. Trotting both anti-clockwise
and clockwise on the rein without much incident.
This means we can leave her to her own devices following a
lead
horse. In this case her very own uncle HERR TRIGGER.
Step 14:The little filly leaves the yard for the first time
with her pilot still on board...and returns safe and
sound.
Step 15: A good week of
trotting
for our little filly. Here she circles the Hamilton
Hill in the company of BRONX BOMBER.
Step 16: This is it then, the first canter. Tucked behind
her trusty lead horse, our little filly hacks up the polytrack
canter on the Hamilton Hill. She is being taught to relax
and enjoy this next important step in her training.
Step 17And so the little filly progresses to doing two
canters a day. Care is taken not to "rev" her up early in
her education so she sets off gently and quickens as
she meets the rising ground. Sound effects would go:
"Cup, cup, cuppy!! Good girl, good girl, Come along
then, Cup, Cup,
Cuppy!! you're
clever."
Step 18: One more step along the road -
Bahamian Bounty x Emerald Fire emerges
from the sanctuary of the Hamilton Hill
training grounds to canter on "Racecourse
side".
She completes a faultless circuit of the 6f
round canter.
Step 19: After celebrating her second birthday the day before the little filly has her first straight canter on the Rubbing House Polytrack. Undaunted by the wind she comes through the test with flying colours.
Step 20:
What's missing??? Look, NO side reins! The jockey gives the
filly a little more freedom and she rewards him with exemplary
behaviour.
Final step: A momentous day. The little filly is kitted out
with routine exercise bridle and martingale, no breaking bit
and no headcollar. She is well and truly BROKEN IN.
It is somewhat ironic that our chosen subject for this
project took rather longer to break in than usual! She was
sidelined over Christmas with a nasty cut which required
time to heel.
However, she definitely needs to be "handled with care"
(just like her granny!).
We have treated her with due deference and are delighted
with the results.
She is now rapidly catching up with the remaining two-year-
old fillies.
THE BEGINNING...
Dr Jon Scargill, Red House Stables, Hamilton Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 0TE
01638 663254
scargill@redhousestables.freeserve.co.uk
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