5 month Colt

[HighlandHarris123]

Hi, just wanting people’s opinion! I have owned/rode horses for over 6 years, and a friend has offered her 5 month old colt to me due to her giving up. He is a Welsh section D. However I have never owned something as young. We have our own ground at home, and I would be looking to get him castrated once old enough. What do people do this time of year with a 5 month old? Keep them in/out? What would be involved at this age apart from handling? What do you feed? I haven’t made a decision as I now feel a total newbie! Thanks.

 

[AmyMay]

Ideally he’d be castrated prior to weaning, so now.

He’ll need a young companion.

And minimal handling and lots and lots of turnout.

 

[splashgirl45]

You need another youngster to be out with him. I would keep out as much as possible and handle enough so he is happy to be led in and out of the field and have his feet trimmed by the farrier

 

[ihatework]

This sounds like a bad idea I’m afraid.

 

[nagblagger]

I think i need more details of your set up before giving an opinion, what other horses do you own? What 'professional' help have you got access to? Is he already weaned (a bit young) or will he be straight of the mare?

 

[HighlandHarris123]

This sounds like a bad idea I’m afraid.

 

[HighlandHarris123]

Totally appreciate your advice. I would want the best for him.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

End July foal?
Would be looking at breeder weaning in end Jan and ideal situation would be popping in with at least another, if not more of same sort of age, field with barn set up where they can come into dry (and be shut in if necessary).

 

[Horseysheepy]

Some weanlings are over wintered in groups in large sheds. Alternatively, some live out in youngstock herds, with a nanny mare, old steady neddy types.

He will need suitable company, as above.

Handling, as long as halter broken and let's you give him a friendly scratch all over when you do your daily checks, that perfectly ample. Worm, Farrier when necessary.
Feeding: keep in a large field to run,play and develop his lungs and muscles, access to good haylage and a mineral block.

 

[Cortez]

Castrate; out in the he field; with at least one other weanling for company; handle lightly/minimally until 2 - 3 years. Won't be a cheap option. Good luck!

 

[TPO]

This sounds like a bad idea I’m afraid.

This

 

[HighlandHarris123]

This

There are exceptions but a 5mths foal should ideally still be with the mare. Did your friend buy him already weaned or has she bred him?

In your situation I wouldn't advise keeping at home [and buying, at least, one other youngster as company]. If you decide to buy a 5mth old your best bet is to find a good, experienced youngstock livery/herd and turn him away with them.

IMO, for what it's worth, people should be competent and feel confident in their competence before buying a youngster. Asking questions how to keep/feed/handle/train shouldn't be needed from the off. Kudos to you for asking before a purchase. This forum is full of threads by people who shouldn't have bought what they did and are constantly in a mess. Buy what you need not what you want or *think* you're capable of is a good rule of thumb.

I mean do you really want to be waiting at least 3yrs to ride and pay for backing/schooling etc. 3+ years of keep and purchase price could get you something that you could enjoy now. I'd look at livery rather than having 1 at home too.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Thank you! I have made the decision not to take him on, just for his sake as I wouldn’t want to do something wrong. He was weaned very young (she bought him at 4 months!). I just hope he gets the home he deserves.

 

[HighlandHarris123]

I think i need more details of your set up before giving an opinion, what other horses do you own? What 'professional' help have you got access to? Is he already weaned (a bit young) or will he be straight of the mare?

Thank you! I have made the decision not to take him on, just for his sake as I wouldn’t want to do something wrong. He was weaned very young (she bought him at 4 months!). I just hope he gets the home he deserves.

 

[HighlandHarris123]

End July foal?
Would be looking at breeder weaning in end Jan and ideal situation would be popping in with at least another, if not more of same sort of age, field with barn set up where they can come into dry (and be shut in if necessary).

Thank you! I have made the decision not to take him on, just for his sake as I wouldn’t want to do something wrong. He was weaned very young (she bought him at 4 months!). I just hope he gets the home he deserves.

 

[AmyMay]

On to his 3rd home already. Heartbreaking ?

 

[TPO]

On to his 3rd home already. Heartbreaking ?

Yes it is but I think OP has made the right decision.

 

[AmyMay]

Yes it is but I think OP has made the right decision.

Oh, definitely.

 

[HighlandHarris123]

Oh, definitely.

It’s heart breaking isn’t it, at such a young age.

 

[splashgirl45]

Good OP is not going ahead but shame the colt is not in a forever home yet. Hopefully there will be someone with good facilities out there..

 

[HighlandHarris123]

Good OP is not going ahead but shame the colt is not in a forever home yet. Hopefully there will be someone with good facilities out there..

I really hope so.

 

[windand rain]

He should have been castrated before he was sold initially such a shame. Good idea not to buy him as it's hard work, very rewarding but not for the feint hearted. Too many colts not finding homes the dumped and starving are starting to appear?

 

[HighlandHarris123]

He should have been castrated before he was sold initially such a shame. Good idea not to buy him as it's hard work, very rewarding but not for the feint hearted. Too many colts not finding homes the dumped and starving are starting to appear?

I really just felt so sorry for him and he would have got such a loving home with us, but not the most knowledgeable home for that age. Hope he gets the correct owner who will love him.

 

[Jess1994PM]

Hi, just wanting people’s opinion! I have owned/rode horses for over 6 years, and a friend has offered her 5 month old colt to me due to her giving up. He is a Welsh section D. However I have never owned something as young. We have our own ground at home, and I would be looking to get him castrated once old enough. What do people do this time of year with a 5 month old? Keep them in/out? What would be involved at this age apart from handling? What do you feed? I haven’t made a decision as I now feel a total newbie! Thanks.

I wish i had seen this earlier - totally disagree with it being a bad idea. i had never owned a foal and my oldest horse was 3. I bought a untouched weanling after everyone advised it would be too much trouble and ive loved every minute - we are on a livery she has some foal friends and she goes out around 8/9 hours a day comes in for her tea and big bed at night. Everything ive learnt through reading online, videos and general horse knowledge i had and shes been fab. ive taken everything slowly but handle her everyday (we brush, walk, pick out feet and teach manners for 15 mins every other day - mostly weekends) shes happy, and comes with a neigh to the gate daily! I think a loving home, general knowledge and the correct turnout for a youngster is ideal if you dont have foals i know of others who have them in a mixed few 2/3 year olds slowly introduced. Everyone starts somewhere - if you never have a foal how do you expect to gain knowledge of having one?

 

[Cortez]

I wish i had seen this earlier - totally disagree with it being a bad idea. i had never owned a foal and my oldest horse was 3. I bought a untouched weanling after everyone advised it would be too much trouble and ive loved every minute - we are on a livery she has some foal friends and she goes out around 8/9 hours a day comes in for her tea and big bed at night. Everything ive learnt through reading online, videos and general horse knowledge i had and shes been fab. ive taken everything slowly but handle her everyday (we brush, walk, pick out feet and teach manners for 15 mins every other day - mostly weekends) shes happy, and comes with a neigh to the gate daily! I think a loving home, general knowledge and the correct turnout for a youngster is ideal if you dont have foals i know of others who have them in a mixed few 2/3 year olds slowly introduced. Everyone starts somewhere - if you never have a foal how do you expect to gain knowledge of having one?

.....by working on a stud, talking to breeders, listening to people who have a lot of experience with handling foals - many of whom have responded on this thread and thankfully the OP has listened to their advice.

 

[Jess1994PM]

.....by working on a stud, talking to breeders, listening to people who have a lot of experience with handling foals - many of whom have responded on this thread and thankfully the OP has listened to their advice.

but that wasn’t my question, those things would give you an idea and maybe help but the lady didn’t say she didn’t have any experience just she hadn’t OWNED a foal that young. Working on a stud doesn’t give you experience of owning your own and I don’t think everyone that’s ever owned a foal has gone and had a job at a stud beforehand, your never fully 100% prepared for anything

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I wish i had seen this earlier - totally disagree with it being a bad idea. i had never owned a foal and my oldest horse was 3. I bought a untouched weanling after everyone advised it would be too much trouble and ive loved every minute - we are on a livery she has some foal friends and she goes out around 8/9 hours a day comes in for her tea and big bed at night. Everything ive learnt through reading online, videos and general horse knowledge i had and shes been fab. ive taken everything slowly but handle her everyday (we brush, walk, pick out feet and teach manners for 15 mins every other day - mostly weekends) shes happy, and comes with a neigh to the gate daily! I think a loving home, general knowledge and the correct turnout for a youngster is ideal if you dont have foals i know of others who have them in a mixed few 2/3 year olds slowly introduced. Everyone starts somewhere - if you never have a foal how do you expect to gain knowledge of having one?

So she's stood in for 15 or 16 hours per day, and very likely overhandled. I hope that you enjoy the two to five year old phase when it arrives

 

[honetpot]

I buy colts, because they are usually cheap,and I have never had to castrate them before three. They are turned out with a friend, usually a quiet gelding, and just like a weed they will grow with just forage. They only come in to see the farrier or the vet, or if the weather is very wet and windy, I live on the edge of the fens, into an open shed. They are not handled daily, and they learn the ropes from the companion.
I do not get the, they are trouble, they are no more trouble than a silly filly, and a group of silly mares are the worst, mean girls on hormones.
You do need them to live as naturally as possible, with company, my present highland colt, who is a yearling, is with two geldings. If you have your own land and can be in control, I can not see a problem. I have even had them on livery yards, and most people are not even aware they are colts, because they are out with mine in their own field, and only come in if they need to.
The last colt I had sold was four, 16.2 maxi cob, and lived with geldings, and to handle was more like a quiet 12.2 pony. I do not castrate because I look at the breeding, type etc, and once they're off, there is no going back. I have no trouble selling them entire.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I buy colts, because they are usually cheap,and I have never had to castrate them before three. They are turned out with a friend, usually a quiet gelding, and just like a weed they will grow with just forage. They only come in to see the farrier or the vet, or if the weather is very wet and windy, I live on the edge of the fens, into an open shed. They are not handled daily, and they learn the ropes from the companion.
I do not get the, they are trouble, they are no more trouble than a silly filly, and a group of silly mares are the worst, mean girls on hormones.
You do need them to live as naturally as possible, with company, my present highland colt, who is a yearling, is with two geldings. If you have your own land and can be in control, I can not see a problem. I have even had them on livery yards, and most people are not even aware they are colts, because they are out with mine in their own field, and only come in if they need to.
The last colt I had sold was four, 16.2 maxi cob, and lived with geldings, and to handle was more like a quiet 12.2 pony. I do not castrate because I look at the breeding, type etc, and once they're off, there is no going back. I have no trouble selling them entire.

You have obviously been lucky I have seen a few yearling colts try and jump a 5 bar gate to get out of the field to get to mares, I've worked at a few breeding yards as well and most years you always get at least delinquent ?

 

[Jess1994PM]

So she's stood in for 15 or 16 hours per day, and very likely overhandled. I hope that you enjoy the two to five year old phase when it arrives

she goes out at 6.30 am comes in happily at 6-7pm for her tea and lies flat out in bed every night but thanks for your pointless comment - also she’s definitely not over handled she enjoys the interaction and we don’t use a headcollar or leadropr for most of it so she’s there of her own free will.

 

[ycbm]

she goes out at 6.30 am comes in happily at 6-7pm for her tea and lies flat out in bed every night but thanks for your pointless comment - also she’s definitely not over handled she enjoys the interaction and we don’t use a headcollar or leadropr for most of it so she’s there of her own free will.

To be fair if the horse you bought is still under one year old and stood in a stable for 16 hours a day (post before this one, where you've given different timings) on her own, I don't think you can judge until she's under saddle whether you have got away with that regime or not. But I do think it's very much a case of "getting away with it" with that regime in a horse of that age.