I have a question about backing in cart?

[Reble]

I cannot find the answer.

How many steps when horse is in cart? When the Judge ask you to back.

For AMHA AND AMHR are they the same? How many steps?

 

[disneyhorse]

I show AMHR, and usually just back about three steps. The judge just wants to see you back up a few steps to ensure you can do it, and hopefully with your horse not throwing its head up in the air or throwing a fit.

I don't think a lot of weight is placed on the back, the judge has usually placed his lineup, but this is kind of the "last chance" you have if it's close. Or if your horse can't do it well or at all.

Usually the Judge will nod to you or something and you will ask your horse to back, when they've seen what they need (usually about three steps) they should say "Thank you" or something like that.

Andrea

 

[Genie]

Butch Elliott and Ben Slattery say three steps back

 

[Reble]

Ok thanks was just watching AMHA World Show and thought they where doing 4 steps.

thanks was not too sure.

 

[picasso]

I show AMHR and have always been told to back 4 steps.

Also, I have to disagree about not much weight by the judge on the backing. I suppose that depends on the judge, BUT I know for a fact that last year at Nationals my horse went from 1st to 8th under one judge because he hopped when he started to come forward from his back.

 

[Reble]

I show AMHR and have always been told to back 4 steps.

Also, I have to disagree about not much weight by the judge on the backing. I suppose that depends on the judge, BUT I know for a fact that last year at Nationals my horse went from 1st to 8th under one judge because he hopped when he started to come forward from his back.

Ok, that is what I was seeing 4 steps, so is there something in the rule book to tell us?

 

[JMS Miniatures]

Honestly I don't think there is a exact number of steps needing to take to back up for a judge. Whether its 3 or 5 I don't know. As long as your horse can readily back up who cares. You can keep backing until the judge nods for you to pull forward. If you saw at Nationals this year I really don't think they really too much emphisis on it, basiclly went down the line and asked to back, if you took 2 steps back great. It was very fast paced.

Just get your horse backing good and don't worry about the steps. My advice is just keeping backing til you get the sign from the judge to stop.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

It is a minimum of three steps. I would not do a lot more as, for me, seeing the horse is completely under control and happy both going back, stopping and then coming forward again smoothly, is the important thing, and there is a time limit for each horse, so you need to do the whole thing as quickly and as neatly as possible.

 

[Mominis]

I like to see a horse accepting of bit pressure, backing willingly, and being quiet in the line up as opposed to being sticky on how many steps he takes back. He shouldn't appear to get 'stuck' in reverse, refuse to back, or come plying forward after he backs. The lineup will make or break someone in the manners department, IMHO.

 

[Sunny]

As a judge, I look for about 3 - 5 steps back, a pause, and then the same number of steps forward. The back should be done smoothly and willingly, with a minimum of pressure on the bit, no head tossing or mouth gaping open, etc. (And I love it when the driver glances over his/her shoulder before asking for the back.)

Contrary to one of the comments above, the back does indeed carry a fair bit of weight in the judge's decision on placings, especially in Youth and Ladies classes where excellent manners are of utmost importance. As someone else noted above, a poor back can make the difference between winning a class and not placing at all, and is often used as a deciding factor between horses that are very close in standings after their rail work.

 

[Reble]

thanks appreciate all your replys.

 

[Minimor]

Some judges will weight the rein back more than others will. Three good steps back followed by a quiet stop & then walking forward into place again will serve you better than getting 4 or 5 steps back when the horse is resisting or yawing his mouth or going crooked. If the judge says 'thank you' and starts to move on after you've done two steps back, there's no point in backing 2 steps more, you may as well stop & move your horse forward.