9 month old arrives in June - advice needed

Lea1985

Lea1985

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I getting my newbie in June he is 9 months old......He has seen the farrior and been gelded. He loves being groomed and is halter broken, he's a little nippy

I have asked a few questions but just wanted to clarify what I should and shouldnt do with him

1) Pottering about in the school in hand (walk and trot?)
2) Bomb proofing in the school? Standing on plastic sheets, walking over poles??etc
3)Short 5 - 10 min walks around the village?
4) Getting him used to the hose and water in general ie puddles
5) Feet being picked
6)Loading in a trailer or lorry
7) De-nipping him lol!

Do these ideas all sound ok? Any more games or tips anyone has will be grately appriciated (sp?)
 
I would say all those sound ok. I am no expert with youngsters but as long as everything you do is only short i dont see a problem. The desensitising to everything is very good at that age!! Good luck :)
 
I would leave the school work tbh, let him be a baby horse for a while, teach him to lead, be groomed and have his feet picked up, but unless you are planning to show him inhand leave everything else till later, you can overcook them at that age.
 
gugglebum said:
Bear in mind it's not just what he can do physically, you mustn't overload him mentally either. 9 months is a baby.
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Amaranta said:
I would leave the school work tbh, let him be a baby horse for a while, teach him to lead, be groomed and have his feet picked up, but unless you are planning to show him inhand leave everything else till later, you can overcook them at that age.
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Gugglebum thank you ill bear that in mind defo, Amaranta yerh I do want to show him. Should I do as I put above with regards to that?
 
Lea1985 said:
Thank you :) Im hoping to show you see, they will expect a trot wont they?
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Yes, if you are going to show him he will need to trot.

Your ideas sound fine, just make sure that sessions are kept short so he can mentally cope. The more you can do with a baby the better. No point waiting until they are 4 until you get them to lead, etc
 
teddyt said:
Yes, if you are going to show him he will need to trot.

Your ideas sound fine, just make sure that sessions are kept short so he can mentally cope. The more you can do with a baby the better. No point waiting until they are 4 until you get them to lead, etc
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Thanks teddyt will def keep sessions short. Cant wait
 
Adding to the other comments - just spend time being with him in his field doing nothing in particular. Take a book and go and sit in his field and read, watch him, let him build up his confidence in you. Let him be a baby tho. Enjoy.
 
brucethegypsycob said:
Adding to the other comments - just spend time being with him in his field doing nothing in particular. Take a book and go and sit in his field and read, watch him, let him build up his confidence in you. Let him be a baby tho. Enjoy.
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I tend to do just that :) been to see him a few times and he has a itchy spot he actually asks u to itch! he loves it...hes a Gypsey Vanner btw :)
 
Got my youngster when she was 8 months old and for the first couple of months I just concentrated on getting her used to being handled and touched all over as well as teaching her to lift her feet. Found it easiest when she had her head in a bucket of feed :p Even now as a rising 3 year old she accepts new things much better if there's a bit of feed about :p

Once she trusted me and would come to call I started teaching her to lead and started talking her out of the field for 5 minutes to show her there was a world outside for her to explore. Built up the walks until she would happily go out for 20 minutes or so at about 18 months of age


The result is a calm horse that walks out in hand and isn't phased by much traffic wise, will happily walk over poles and round jumps and have a good old splash in the local ford


The trick I found was not pushing too much and knowing when to test her comfort zone and when to take her back into it.


Hope you have lots of fun with your youngster as they really are so rewarding :)
 
Thank you so much ellies_mum2 thats brilliant advice. I'm a little nervous but sure all will be fine :) just don't want to let this little man down
 
With regards to you showing him...it's been mentioned about teaching him to trot out, another important thing for him to learn is standing still :)

Just make sure that whatever you decide to do with him, you make it fun for him.
 
All these are great, I did this kind of things with my two youngsters, (except getting out around the village, as no village nearby, but I would think this would be excellent for him).

My friends have taken youngsters out to shows even when not entered and walked them around allowed them to look at things, and all this helps.

You do not want to work him physically but they certainly enjoy be active and involved, and so will you.
 
Ohh yes standing still, ill add to my list! I had thought about taking him to the really small local show for just a look around toward August/September time :)
 
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