8 Month Old Weanling Trouble

[ycbm]

It is only your opinion too.

I beg to disagree, being the wife of a farrier I have heard too many a tale of feet not being corrected in a timely way and this causing conformational issues later. It is important to have regular farriery for this reason alone in my opinion, whilst bones are still growing and it is possible.
I have a pigeon toed mare and she had no foot care via the previous owner until 3 years old, it was then too late to make any corrections.

I did not say it was 'only' your opinion. That would have been rude. All I was saying was that you stated your opinion as if it was fact when many people actually hold a different point of view. My view, as it happens, is the same as yours, but not in the case of this particular colt, whose owner sees a pile of rubble as some reason to explain him misbehaving.

This colt is approaching nine months old, it is already too late to correct any limb growth deformities, isn't it?

 

[YasandCrystal]

I did not say it was 'only' your opinion. That would have been rude. All I was saying was that you stated your opinion as if it was fact when many people actually hold a different point of view. My view, as it happens, is the same as yours, but not in the case of this particular colt, whose owner sees a pile of rubble as some reason to explain him misbehaving.

This colt is approaching nine months old, it is already too late to correct any limb growth deformities, isn't it?

Apologies to you I misread your meaning there. I feel quite passionate about handling as hubby is expected to perform miracles with Unhandled youngsters. It just annoys me when owners take no responsibility and with a little good advice and dedication they could have a respectful youngster. He has even had an experienced owner failing to notice a club foot on a foal and it was just by luck he saw it and told her it needed intervention.
Turning this colt away for a few months until gelding with a herd would be the ideal solution.

 

[ycbm]

Apologies to you I misread your meaning there. I feel quite passionate about handling as hubby is expected to perform miracles with Unhandled youngsters. It just annoys me when owners take no responsibility and with a little good advice and dedication they could have a respectful youngster. He has even had an experienced owner failing to notice a club foot on a foal and it was just by luck he saw it and told her it needed intervention.
Turning this colt away for a few months until gelding with a herd would be the ideal solution.

No problem, I completely agree with you. The poor little beggar needs some playmates.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I am 'older' and have had a great many youngsters for backing and herd management.
I would prefer to have a yearling, 2yr old or 3yr old that can be caught, brushed, tie and have feet picked out. Also much easier if they learn to travel, wear the odd rug and stable occasionally overnight.
Makes them much better citizens than the unhandled terrified or thuggish 3/4 yr olds that haven't had anything done whatsoever since weaning.....
Please don't generalise us old school YO's

l

That is your opinion.

It is the opinion of many older horse people that it is best to leave them unhandled until they are three. They tell me they see far too many horses spoiled by wrong handling early on and would prefer to buy a blank slate. Having bought two myself which were unhandled until that age, it did not harm them in any way and neither was difficult to tame and break. They were so unhandled that neither had ever seen a farrier.

It is my own preference to handle regularly from young, but this colt, imo, would be better off left completely alone than he would be managed in anything like the way he is managed now.

 

[EQUIDAE]

I'd rather have an unhandled one than one who has been badly handled. So few have been handled to make them polite and pleasant animals

 

[ester]

I'd imagine as he is stuck in this chap has had his fair share of handling for the time being.

 

[ycbm]

I am 'older' and have had a great many youngsters for backing and herd management.
I would prefer to have a yearling, 2yr old or 3yr old that can be caught, brushed, tie and have feet picked out. Also much easier if they learn to travel, wear the odd rug and stable occasionally overnight.
Makes them much better citizens than the unhandled terrified or thuggish 3/4 yr olds that haven't had anything done whatsoever since weaning.....
Please don't generalise us old school YO's

I did not generalize. I said 'many'. I didn't even say 'most'. Clearly my 'many' does not include you and clearly I was not talking about you.

This poor little devil would be a lot better off left to run completely wild than he would be where he is now, don't you think? Eight months old stabled 24/7 on his own. I despair

 

[be positive]

I am 'older' and have had a great many youngsters for backing and herd management.
I would prefer to have a yearling, 2yr old or 3yr old that can be caught, brushed, tie and have feet picked out. Also much easier if they learn to travel, wear the odd rug and stable occasionally overnight.
Makes them much better citizens than the unhandled terrified or thuggish 3/4 yr olds that haven't had anything done whatsoever since weaning.....
Please don't generalise us old school YO's

l

So am I and up to a point I agree but a well handled youngster rarely requires daily handling if started properly most can be left for weeks and longer without forgetting the early lessons in the basics, in my experience the easiest are the youngsters bred by proper set ups, either small studs or experienced hobby breeders that handle the foal from day 1 and continue to do a little with them for the time they are on the mare, often with some extra at weaning then turn them away until they are 3 with just routine handling for farrier, worming etc until they come in to start work.

The current trend for many youngsters to be living in, handled constantly, introduced to everything imaginable in a bid to "bond" frequently ends up making them worse rather than better mannered in the long run, this poor colt in the OP is just the type to end up being branded as difficult, he is already kicking unsurprisingly in frustration probably due to being in a totally unsuitable home with novice owners and a more than likely clueless uncaring YO, if he doesn't get somewhere suitable before too long he may well end up as yet another youngster with a tricky future ahead, not his fault in any way he would have been far better off left out untouched than shut in 24/7 when he needs to be out expressing himself.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Be positive, totally agree on the former, the worst were the over handled mummy's little darlings.
Glad i no longer am confronted with this new common trend

Ycbm, agreed that this colt (if indeed it exists) is in poor conditions.

 

[paddy555]

The current trend for many youngsters to be living in, handled constantly, introduced to everything imaginable in a bid to "bond" frequently ends up making them worse rather than better mannered in the long run,.

I don't see that and in fact I find it makes them far easier to deal with, far easier if the vet was needed in an emergency and they have a head start as they have already enjoyed learning to learn. I expect my youngsters to be able to do everything I can dream up. By the time they are 4 and ready to back they are well advanced in their knowledge of the world. I cannot see any disadvantages in a yearling or 2yo being traffic trained, trained to walk out and see the world, learning to cross rivers, picking their way over rough ground, learning to behave as they walk through feral ponies, having things thrown over them, dragging obstacles etc. It doesn't hurt them physically but it does make them very worldly wise.

ETA they are certainly not "mummy's little darlings" I expect them to behave!!!

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

A quick Google search of Durham youngstock livery brings plenty of leads to ring...

 

[be positive]

paddy555 I think the big difference is that you are experienced, the ones that are in the hands of inexperienced people, who I appreciate have to learn somehow, they are frequently in unsuitable yards, the youngster has limited turnout, often alone, it may mean it can learn to cope but they are often clingy and are allowed to get away with what we would see as bad behaviour because the owners know no better, these seem to be the type that are often moved on or just end up doing very little in their lives as the owners cannot really cope.

Before buying a foal, or any young horse, the potential owners really need to find out what it entails, ensure the chosen yard can accommodate them properly with decent turnout and that the youngster will have a good chance of a decent future, the dream can end up as a nightmare for either the poor youngster or the owner very easily, if you have your own land it is so much easier than relying on livery yards that normally are not set up for youngsters.
Breeders need to also take some responsibility before selling to someone who may not have facilities for the foal, most good breeders will try and ensure their foals go to suitable homes but some just don't seem to care as long as they get the cash and space for next years crop.

 

[honetpot]

So am I and up to a point I agree but a well handled youngster rarely requires daily handling if started properly most can be left for weeks and longer without forgetting the early lessons in the basics, in my experience the easiest are the youngsters bred by proper set ups, either small studs or experienced hobby breeders that handle the foal from day 1 and continue to do a little with them for the time they are on the mare, often with some extra at weaning then turn them away until they are 3 with just routine handling for farrier, worming etc until they come in to start work.

The current trend for many youngsters to be living in, handled constantly, introduced to everything imaginable in a bid to "bond" frequently ends up making them worse rather than better mannered in the long run, this poor colt in the OP is just the type to end up being branded as difficult, he is already kicking unsurprisingly in frustration probably due to being in a totally unsuitable home with novice owners and a more than likely clueless uncaring YO, if he doesn't get somewhere suitable before too long he may well end up as yet another youngster with a tricky future ahead, not his fault in any way he would have been far better off left out untouched than shut in 24/7 when he needs to be out expressing himself.

I agree totally with this.
I have youngsters, the odd one that someone else as messed up I buy cheaply, no one wants a stroppy yearling or two year old. They get turned out in a group with an older one to put them in their place. They come in only to be wormed and to see the farrier. They all end up with manners as when they are handled they are handled quietly and firmly. Two years ago I got a semi-feral yearling colt which for the vet to check and chip took a 20min rugby tackle and to be caught before travel by being rounded up into a pen. After two weeks in with another one in a small pen as quarantine he was turned out with the herd and only handled for routine stuff he is now easy to catch and well mannered. Not over handling does not mean lack of routine care.

 

[popsdosh]

paddy555 I think the big difference is that you are experienced, the ones that are in the hands of inexperienced people, who I appreciate have to learn somehow, they are frequently in unsuitable yards, the youngster has limited turnout, often alone, it may mean it can learn to cope but they are often clingy and are allowed to get away with what we would see as bad behaviour because the owners know no better, these seem to be the type that are often moved on or just end up doing very little in their lives as the owners cannot really cope.

Before buying a foal, or any young horse, the potential owners really need to find out what it entails, ensure the chosen yard can accommodate them properly with decent turnout and that the youngster will have a good chance of a decent future, the dream can end up as a nightmare for either the poor youngster or the owner very easily, if you have your own land it is so much easier than relying on livery yards that normally are not set up for youngsters.
Breeders need to also take some responsibility before selling to someone who may not have facilities for the foal, most good breeders will try and ensure their foals go to suitable homes but some just don't seem to care as long as they get the cash and space for next years crop.

Thats why I only ever sell foals to people I know. The risks are to high 1,for the poor youngster and 2, my reputation as a breeder as people see an unruly youngster with my prefix and all mine are tarred with the same brush.
If foals are handled correctly when with mum they will be able to be handled at any time at a later date. All mine are kept in he centre of the farm so large machinery and noise are second nature to them I will be honest though they can go many weeks without being touched .

 

[ester]

A quick Google search of Durham youngstock livery brings plenty of leads to ring...

Excellent.

 

[Damnation]

I'm in Cumbria OP, perhaps consider something our way until you can geld.

http://www.ivyhousestables.com/