AS THE SAYING goes, there are many roads that lead to Rome, and this is no more true than when introducing a young horse to ridden work. Ultimately, though, whichever method or combination of methods you use to backahorse, the end goal should always be the same: to get him to quietly and calmly allow a rider to sit on his back and respond to a range of commands, from moving forward, turning, stopping and backing up to changing gaits and speed.
While older horses can still be taught to accept a saddle, bridle and a rider, it is better to start a horse young when no bad habits have been formed. The exact age a horse will be backed depends on his type and breed; for example, many Thoroughbred racehorses will have small, lightweight riders on
