2 year olds

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SamanthaG

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Hi. My filly will turn two years old in May. I'm wondering what to do with her regarding training. She came to me as a wild 8 month old. She knows the basics. She will lead, pick her feet up, load. And the usual in the way of being rugged, groomed, stabled etc. So what next? I'm thinking of getting her used to a bit and leading out? Too soon? What does everyone do with their youngsters?
 
I wouldn't be doing anything other than a little handling & grooming.
Should tie up & stand mannerly & be ok with feet picked up & farrier.
I wouldn't be bitting until winter of this year tbh
 
My girl is two this year. She leads, ties up, feet etc. Last year I bitted her (after seeking advice and approval from horse dentist), plaited her and got her used to loading gently and travelled to 2 local in hand shows. She's not really done much all winter. I took her over some tarp as I was turning her out one day. Will be aiming for more shows this year.
 
My youngster is turning 3 in July. He lives out all year in a big field with plenty of ditches and banks that he has to navigate - thought it was better he learnt how to use his legs now then wait until he has a rider on board!

He was shown as a yearling so has worn a little plastic bit. I was initially worried about how he'd take to it but if I'm honest he barely noticed. If showing as a two year old they must be bitted up. The bit does sit lower than a riding bit :) I would only put a bit in after she's been seen by a dentist ... I wouldn't want them to associate the bit with discomfort or pain. I didn't show him as a two year old as he isn't produced for the showring....he lives out all year so very much looked like a gangly 2 year old.

He can lift up his feet, be done by the farrier, talk and trot over tarpaulin, be brushed, ties up and can be led. He's had clippers on him too and he doesn't bat an eyelid. He's exceptionally quiet though - he lived in a field with a mixed herd of youngsters and retired horses and he always chose to hang with the retired ones. Learning to trot in hand took a while...he very much just likes to walk.

He will travel either side of the box on his own or with company. He's only travelled on his own for a 15 minute journey from one field to another...but given his temperament I think longer journeys would be no problem. He will walk in by himself too.

I think doing shows as a foal really gave him confidence especially as his mother just takes everything in her stride. I never actually planned to do so much with him but it's just the way it worked out. As I've said he's very quiet and just kind of accept whatever is going on ... I've never seen him spook! He walked over the tarpaulin first go and trotted the second... dying to see how he gets on when hes being broken. I think getting him to actually move will be an issue...he has more 'whoa' than 'go'!
 
unless the rules have changed since I did showing, 2 yr old colts had to be bitted but others did not....if you want to put a bit in why not have a 3 way coupling . this is usually made of leather and attaches to the noseband as well as the bit so your filly 's mouth is protected if she does leap about...otherwise it sounds like you have done enough with her for now, just keep doing the same regularly to keep her used to everything...
 
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