2 year old, am I doing enough?

[Lizzeexox]

Hello, so I recently bought a feral youngster, within 6 months she now is happy to be brushed, fly sprayed and good for farrier. She has her head collar left on because that needs work but she’ll be coming for winter so practice will be easier then for that, as trying to practice in a big field is a little bit hard when I’m alone. But am I doing enough? Should I be practicing with saddle pads ready for rugs etc? Lots of people have bought youngsters in lockdown and they are doing much more than me, like practicing loading and walking them out, bringing them in daily etc; she has a brush for 10 mins with her feed, gets brought in for farrier and that’s it. She lives out 24/7 on 5acres. Any experiences?

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn’t be doing much more tbh.
But it is useful to be able to get a rug on them if needed (even if you don’t intend to rug), so if you want to do something other than catch/lead/pick feet that is what I’d do next

 

[TheMule]

As IHW says, sounds fine. Mine started wearing bits and rollers at 2. Not with any intent to work them, just as an intro

 

[Cortez]

You're doing absolutely fine, I wouldn't want a 2 year old to do anything other than be caught (work in progress I think you said), lead, lift feet for farrier, and stand tied for a brush, etc. If they're doing that happily everything else should follow as a matter of course.

 

[splashgirl45]

i think thats plenty... its good to get a youngster used to different things , i did a little bit of local showing with mine when she was 2 ,did some when she was 3 as well. i found that really helpful as it got her used to big lorries, flapping flags, other horses etc and she took it all in her stride. i bought her at 15 months and she hadnt had much done so learning to tie up and picking up feet were 2 of the first things i did. didnt tie her up.just used a lunge rein on her headcollar and threaded it through the tie up ring and held the lunge line so she got used to having to stand as if tied but no danger of her getting hurt..i used to groom her while holding the lunge line as well..

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Mine at two

could lead/be caught/groomed all over
Stand for the farrier/feet picked out etc
Had rugs/boots/bandages/hoods etc on
Was walking out inhand to see traffic and the world
Loaded fine
Could be sprayed all over/bathed etc
Had done inhand showing (Welsh Section D)
Bitted/roller/saddle pad on (no work)

I had him from 6months

The now he’s three and we are just finishing off the pre backing prep ? the only thing we haven’t managed to crack is clippers, he freaks out with the big onesso chances are his first clip next winter will be sedated to make it a good experience.

Fine with trimmers etc but I don’t want to make him a bad clipper, especially being a native ??‍