Advice on a 2 year old

[Lizzeexox]

So I have recently bought a 2 year old Welsh d. I’ve had plenty of horses and worked with all ages but this is my first youngster for myself, and I’m feeling the pressure to get it right. She isn’t particularly friendly she will let you catch her with bribes (head collar has to stay on) and that’s about it. I’m getting ready for mine to go back out full time. Do I turn her out and let her come to me in her own time? Or do I keep them in a little longer and get her more used to me? I’m so torn so many people are already long lining at 2, others say let them be babies! People’s experiences would be extremely useful?

 

[Nudibranch]

2 year olds should be out 24/7 with company and pretty much left to be a baby and grow. Long reining can wait until 3 at least.
If you can catch her for foot picking now and again and the farrier then that's enough.

 

[Lizzeexox]

2 year olds should be out 24/7 with company and pretty much left to be a baby and grow. Long reining can wait until 3 at least.

Thank you for the quick reply. I think I’m just putting too much pressure on myself. We have a lovely 5 acre field where she’s going to go in with my old boy who’s super playful. I go up everyday and feed and pop pick so I’m sure she’s going to come round to me in that time!

 

[wispagold]

When I got my last horse as a 2yr old (16 years ago) it was at the back end of the year when we got her home. She went straight out 24/7 with a herd of other youngsters for the winter. I went to see her everyday and just caught her, head collar on, bit of a fuss then let her go again. She has always been fine to catch.

We bought her onto the yard the following spring as a 3yr old and stabled her at night and out during the day in a herd environment but with older horses. Got her use to the stable, tying up, handling her feet, basic ground work etc. Backed her in the summer. Then we spent the winter just messing about, doing ground work and just keeping her in the yard routine until she was 4 when started doing proper work.

 

[Lizzeexox]

When I got my last horse as a 2yr old (16 years ago) it was at the back end of the year when we got her home. She went straight out 24/7 with a herd of other youngsters for the winter. I went to see her everyday and just caught her, head collar on, bit of a fuss then let her go again. She has always been fine to catch.

We bought her onto the yard the following spring as a 3yr old and stabled her at night and out during the day in a herd environment but with older horses. Got her use to the stable, tying up, handling her feet, basic ground work etc. Backed her in the summer. Then we spent the winter just messing about, doing ground work and just keeping her in the yard routine until she was 4 when started doing proper work.

Aw so good to hear things like this. She’s been out with the baby’s for the time before I got her. She’s a little unsure to catch but not uncatchable so I can leave the head collar on until we get this sorted! she already ties up and goes in the stables happily so I’m not worried about that.
so I think turning her out for the summer will be the right thing, I go up everyday and I think she’ll enjoy just been out in the big field!

 

[Clodagh]

That sounds like a good plan, you want her to be happy but not manic to see you, so neither belting over and mugging for treats or vanishing away to the far end. You should be able to spend the summer in a no pressure environment and as long as you can tie her up, pick up her feet and run your hands all over her I'd stop there.

 

[windand rain]

Are you saying she has been stabled full time since you got her or out during the day and in at night. My ponies all live out 24/7 in a mixed age mixed sex herd. The rising three did not a lot last year due to covid but every now and again we caught her up and did a bit of groundwork. She is the opposie of your and tries to climb in your pocket but even the totally feral section d foals we bought at weaning were soon happy to come to us for food. They always had feet done every 6 weeks and always had the relevant jabs and leading and loading training before being turfed out to grow until 3 when they learned to wear tack. Learn a few voice commands and to long rein then turfed out for more baby time. They have all been great to handle with minimal input too much will put them off too little eaches nothing

 

[Polos Mum]

There are a few old fashioned but sound principle books well worth a read

Foal to five years by Ann Hyland
ABC of schooling and Breaking - Josephine Knowles

And the one by Kliemke is good too - I think her dad wrote it first then she had updated.

Some of the modern nonsense isn't useful for youngsters - IMHO

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would let her live out with the others but catch daily and just do a small amount of handling, picking feet up and a quick groom that kind of thing.

 

[Lizzeexox]

Are you saying she has been stabled full time since you got her or out during the day and in at night. My ponies all live out 24/7 in a mixed age mixed sex herd. The rising three did not a lot last year due to covid but every now and again we caught her up and did a bit of groundwork. She is the opposie of your and tries to climb in your pocket but even the totally feral section d foals we bought at weaning were soon happy to come to us for food. They always had feet done every 6 weeks and always had the relevant jabs and leading and loading training before being turfed out to grow until 3 when they learned to wear tack. Learn a few voice commands and to long rein then turfed out for more baby time. They have all been great to handle with minimal input too much will put them off too little eaches nothing

Yes she has it’s only been a week and she goes out through the day but I’m trying to start as I mean to go on and get a plan in place. Prior to me she was turned out with other babies. She’ll come to you for treats very wary and once she gets the idea she is in your pockets. We are finishing the paddock fencing Sunday to make it a bit more youngster proof. And then they can go out full time and I can just mess with her. But I’ve had a few people say she needs to stay in longer because she’s not friendly enough. But I think with time and my older boy showing her the way she’ll soon pick up the way we work. My yard is private with me and my friend so it’s ideal

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn’t be longlining but I would spend a short concentrated amount of time handling before turning out.

In an ideal world all the basics would be done as foals. Catching, touching all over, picking up feet, leading. Just general acceptance of humans. If this has been neglected up until now then I’d get it cracked before turning away to go a bit ferel (and bigger/stronger).

I bought a big yearling last September who had gaps and was at times a bit dangerous. Daily handling and 6 weeks later she is putty in my hands. Good job too because at almost 16.2hh rising 2yo I needed to get on top of her quick. Now I don’t need to do any specific handling with her day to day.

 

[paddy555]

Some of the modern nonsense isn't useful for youngsters - IMHO

I am one who does what I suspect is the modern nonsense. I have had no problems with it. Mine start to work when they arrive which is usually very young, last one was 7 months. I find the horses love to learn.

 

[Polos Mum]

I am one who does what I suspect is the modern nonsense. I have had no problems with it. Mine start to work when they arrive which is usually very young, last one was 7 months. I find the horses love to learn.

If it works for the horses then great. I am sure you have plenty of horse sense and the timing / knowledge to make 'work' for a 7 month old relevant to their age and capability.
OP was being advised to leave a 2 y/o in a stable until she is more 'friendly' hence some basic book recommendations.

Complex stuff take years to learn timing and subtly - again IMHO

 

[paddy555]

If it works for the horses then great. I am sure you have plenty of horse sense and the timing / knowledge to make 'work' for a 7 month old relevant to their age and capability.
OP was being advised to leave a 2 y/o in a stable until she is more 'friendly' hence some basic book recommendations.

Complex stuff take years to learn timing and subtly - again IMHO

I find the general advice for this question of youngster handling (which is often asked) of out 24/7 with company and the occasional farrier trim worrying. What would happen if the horse had to be stabled on his own for several days? how would he cope. Would he have the skills to deal with it. What if there was an accident with a large, little handled youngster. Someone needs to catch it immediately to prevent further damage, there isn't time to mess around wondering if it can be caught with treats.

Of course it's down to timing and making it fun for them so they enjoy their "work" and learn well.

 

[ycbm]

I have had one yearling and two two year olds at different times and never found the need for a two year old to be turned away to be a baby. Mine have been handled daily and turned out with older horses.
.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

How old is she OP, is she just two or rising three?

 

[Lizzeexox]

I have had one yearling and two two year olds at different times and never found the need for a two year old to be turned away to be a baby. Mine have been handled daily and turned out with older horses.
.

She wouldn’t be turned away, she just be out from now till end of summer with my old boy and handled everyday. I’m just wondering if people found more success turning them out full time or having them in the stable ? No matter what she will be handled or have human contact daily because my old boy has to have his meds. I wouldn’t completely turn away that’s just not going to happen! X

 

[Lizzeexox]

How old is she OP, is she just two or rising three?

Rising two, she’ll be two in June. Either way she’ll be handled, I’m just wondering if I’m putting too much pressure on myself. She’ll either stay in overnight till April or go out in the big paddock now 24/7.

 

[ycbm]

If she can go out now, i would get her moving, not standing still in a stable all night.
.

 

[Lizzeexox]

If she can go out now, i would get her moving, not standing still in a stable all night.
.

That’s what I was thinking. I can still work on everything up there. She is catchable with a bribe so I’m sure that will get easier over time. She’ll just have to keep a head collar on to start with

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Rising two, she’ll be two in June. Either way she’ll be handled, I’m just wondering if I’m putting too much pressure on myself. She’ll either stay in overnight till April or go out in the big paddock now 24/7.

I would probably let her live out and not put too much pressure on her or myself then. If you feel she is getting more distant then you could always change it but she should benefit physically from constant movement. And she may well just be a little hesitant as she’s new and end up relaxing soon. A week is no time at all.

I wouldn’t be long lining but I would try to handle the other horses in the field around her. Mim always found that fascinating as a baby. I’d pick out feet, groom, do some stretches and she’d watch with huge Bambi eyes.

 

[Suechoccy]

My first 2yo was bought as a 10mth colt, gelded at 13 months, bitted (mullen mouth) and led out round the village once every couple of weeks, and handled (feet picked, groomed, taught Back, Move Over, Stand) from day one onwards. He lived out 24/7 with an older horse (18). At 2 and 3/4 he became a handful and that coincided with bad floods and needing to evacuate both horses. They went to a 30 acre field for 6 months shared with 9 other geldings aged 4-25 and 7 cows. It was the making of him and at end of it, aged 3.5, he was steady and ready for backing, longlining and light riding through till 4.5, with full work from 5. He's now 11 and lovely.

My current 2yo, also bought as a 10mth colt, gelded at a year, bitted (mullen mouth) and led out at least once a week and currently played with (desensitisation to umbrellas, stepping over poles, helping me pookick) on two other occasions per week for 12 weeks as I signed up to the facebook Top Barn 12 Week Challenge (finshes in 3 weeks time) to help get through lockdown. He is handled daily (feet picking, Back, Move Over, Stand, groomed) and lives out with two other geldings (11 and 28) 24/7. He'll drop back to being led out once a week once the challenge finishes.

 

[Englishcowgirl91]

I am one who does what I suspect is the modern nonsense. I have had no problems with it. Mine start to work when they arrive which is usually very young, last one was 7 months. I find the horses love to learn.

Commenting on a probably really old post but I agree, Some horses do benefit from it. I have seen horses out 24/7 with no attention at all and it doesn't favour them health wise. Definitely want some management

 

[Englishcowgirl91]

I find the general advice for this question of youngster handling (which is often asked) of out 24/7 with company and the occasional farrier trim worrying. What would happen if the horse had to be stabled on his own for several days? how would he cope. Would he have the skills to deal with it. What if there was an accident with a large, little handled youngster. Someone needs to catch it immediately to prevent further damage, there isn't time to mess around wondering if it can be caught with treats.

Of course it's down to timing and making it fun for them so they enjoy their "work" and learn well.

Agreed!!