8 month old colt kicking

Rachelashleigh

Rachelashleigh

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Joined
25 August 2008
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185
www.fullcyclesalvage.co.uk
Hi everyone,

I have a 8 month old colt Morris, I just wondered if anyone can make any more suggestions. Morris is handled daily and lives in at night he is walked to and from the field, groomed etc everyday. He has been an absolute star nothing fazes him. The day before yesterday he changed over night from being a dope on a rope to a little (will say monkey). Jogging to field which I stand still and wait before setting off again which seems to work when he does it. When I went to groom his belly he nearly kicked my head off so I persisted until he begrudgingly with ears flat back let me, then later I went to do it again and to feel his his testicles were making an appearance back to really kicking and rearing up and boxing. I have been using my lunge while to gently touch his belly and back legs. I just cant believe the change in him so quick a fortnight ago my farrier was saying what a polite little lad he was.

I have been thinking if not his nads what else is different, the only difference is he has been having a carrot and half a handful of nuts in his sugar b n Alfa, he has a small breakfast and tea when my other do and hay at lib.

I have owned horses for 20 years and worked on a variety of yards, I'm not inexperienced I would just like some other suggestions. My partner is a tree surgeon and we are planning on using Morris to do logging work. So would like to keep him entire as long possible. We have our own stables with no mates and facilities to keep a colt.

Can anyone suggest other things to try. Will cut carrots and nuts out of his tea.

Thank you for reading.
 
Scarlett said:
is he currently kept on his own?
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What she said!
Eight month old colts like to play, a LOT. In the absence of suitable equine company to play with, he will attempt to 'play' with whatever is available, i.e humans.
The ideal companions are an older, sensible gelding, as herd leader, and a colt/gelding of similar age to your youngster, so they can play together.
 
Hi yes he is in with a gelding so has horsey company I have not once attempted to horse play with him myself and he had manners like I said till the other day stood, walked, tied up, turned to gate, stood with door open etc etc.
 
Unfortunately, I find no matter how well mannered they are, all young stock will be naughty and try you from time to time! It's just part and parcel :)

It probably is something to do with his testicles dropping, but unless you are wanting to get him cut you're just going to have to manage him - young colts can be bolshy as anything Hahaha!

(Though I find it's the 2 year olds which tend to be the worst horrors- plonkers, the lot of them XD)
 
Put him in with a more dominant horse. If he kicks, he'll get kicked back!

Get out the long stick with a bit of plastic on the end. Tie him and stroke him all over with the stick and let him kick all he wants. When it doesn't produce the response he wants, but just tires him out, he will give up.

I, too, wondered about being entire for logging?

You don't say what breed but presumably not a TB but a cob type! Does he really need anything more than good hay and a salt block and, if so, why??
 
Hi thank you to your replies. I asked my vet when she came to vax him about gelding him or keeping him entire and she said he will have more bulk if kept entire longer, I have looked this up on the internet and have seen people who agree and disagree with this, so I thought while he was behaving etc I would keep him entire and if I have to have him gelded I would.

I am now armed with a marigold on the end of a lunge whip.
 
Rachelashleigh said:
Hi thank you to your replies. I asked my vet when she came to vax him about gelding him or keeping him entire and she said he will have more bulk if kept entire longer, I have looked this up on the internet and have seen people who agree and disagree with this, so I thought while he was behaving etc I would keep him entire and if I have to have him gelded I would.

I am now armed with a marigold on the end of a lunge whip.
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I apologise if I insult anyone but that is rubbish. Keeping entire will not encourage extra growth or bulk. Raise him properly with appropriate feeding of adlib forage and a balanced creep feed, together with plenty of freedom and friends to play with, that is what will give you a evenly growing, sound limbed and minded young horse.

My show hunter was cut at 6 months, he topped out at 18h. My current heavyweight cob was cut at 10 months he is still growing and is 16.2h. The yearling was cut at 10 months and we are actively keeping him underfed to stop rapid growth to protect his limbs.

I would cut anything that is showing colty or disrespectful behaviour for your safety and the animal's.
 
Rachelashleigh said:
Hi thank you to your replies. I asked my vet when she came to vax him about gelding him or keeping him entire and she said he will have more bulk if kept entire longer, I have looked this up on the internet and have seen people who agree and disagree with this, so I thought while he was behaving etc I would keep him entire and if I have to have him gelded I would.

I am now armed with a marigold on the end of a lunge whip.
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I'm old and my eyes are bad. I read that as "I am now armed with a mangold (as in wurzol) on the end of a lunge whip". I thought I'd heard it all! :D

There was a long thread about late gelding started by myself not long ago. You'll find it with a search. It spiralled out of control and I left them to it. For an accurate opinion, flip a coin. The result will be far more reliable than the range of opinion here. BTW, I still have four uncut colts here, not because I believe in late gelding but because by the time the vet arrived, they had all withdrawn their testicles due to the cold weather. All are perfectly behaved and the older ones are shaping up nicely. All on hay only, too, with no hard feed and out 24/7.
 
I agree with twiggy, I'm personally not keen on keeping youngsters in. I prefer to leave mine out and in a herd where they can learn manners off older horses and only do minimal handling - feet/ lead/ touch all over/ catch etc.
 
twiggy2 said:
stop hard feed and chuck him out 24/7 with a mixed age herd of geldings/colts
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Couldn't agree more. He is 8 months old and should be out with youngsters his own age being and acting like a baby. You have done your ground work, he wont forget it if he is turned out for a few months. Poor mite, lol :(
 
I think the most basic thing you can do to start with is to cut out the carrots and pony nuts so there is as little sugar as possible in his diet, that would be a useful start
 
I think he might have been larking around in his field and flipped himself over, hurting his neck/back.

Such a rapid change in behaviour is more likely to be pain related.

A visit from the Chiro would be my plan of action
 
Thank you all for your replies. He is out with my gelding and is now just having a hand of Alfa as a token when my other boy is fed. The day I wrote the post I went up as usual to bring in and after ten mins he allowed me to pick his back legs up and have a feel for his testicles (nothing). Same routine the following morning perfect last night soon as I walked in the field ears back spinning to kick me took fifteen mins of ignoring him for him to come to me as my rustling pocket got the better of him.

I am going to see what happens soon as new year is done with and speak to the vet again and as soon as his testicles make an appearance have him gelded.

I have the back woman out second week in Jan I will ask her to check Morris over, he doesn't look unsound etc but will definitely get her to take a look.

Again thank you all for your opinions
 
I have young colts and apart from bringing them in for their jabs, and farrier I do not handle them a lot, they are out with older animals. I think over handling breeds contempt and unless it needs doing, then you ask for absolute respect, you leave well alone.
I have a backward colt who has been stabled as he was getting bullied, normally he is very quite, but he was starting to get a bit nippy, which off course he gets told off for, but more effective was turning him out with the others so he could get a good kicking for impoliteness.
 
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