Advice on owning a youngster.

[Highflinger]

Hello All
I have just bought my first youngster ( had adult horses for 30 years). He is a 19 month old native from a stud and has been well handled. Leads, ties up, been to a couple of shows, picks feet up, worn a rug etc.
He will live out with my small herd of adult ponies. Just wanted a few tips as this is all new to me and want to get off to a good start. I use NH methods. When the time comes I will use a pro to back.
Any advice would be welcome
Thank you.

 

[eggs]

Once my youngsters have the basics - catch, lead, tieup, feet picked out, basic brush I tend not to do much with them other than checking them daily until it comes to backing. Obviously they see the farrier regularly and are up to date with vaccinations. When they are very young I will lean over them without putting any weight on their back and circle their girth area with my arms so they get used to the feeling.

 

[Tarragon]

I would suggest instil in them the confidence they will need, as soon as possible, to be able to leave their friends and go with you, or to happily be the one left behind. I know someone why had a youngster from 6 months, kept with her older mare, and used the older mare to achieve everything she wanted; to bring in and turn out she would handle the mare, and the youngster would follow, and she kept the mare close for every procedure. She even had a window put in in the stable wall between the two adjacent stables. Now the youngster is 5 years old and she cannot take it out and leave the mare, or take the mare out and leave the youngster.

 

[fidleyspromise]

Mine was 2 yrs when he came home (now 3) and I had him walking out in hand - straight into woods - so we spend time together, he leaves the herd and walks alone. We spend some time grazing and he gets to see joggers, dogs, prams, bikes etc.
He's not sure of traffic so I'm standing 5 mins a day at roadside with him watching cars go past.

I wanted him to feel confident and he still has 23 hours a day to chill plus he enjoys going out.

 

[dorsetladette]

I have two youngsters and have inadvertently treated them very differently. Both arrived at 9 months old. One (robin) straight from the breeder well handled etc etc, the other (Reggie) a year later with a less than brilliant start to life (5 homes by 9 months!).

Robin - been out showing in every environment we could find, seen everything we could through at him. Out for walks in hand to see all the 'stuff' he would in his ridden life etc. Worn tack and driving harness. He's now four and has been the easiest to back and get riding away as he has seen it all.

Reggie - we left him to be a baby horse. Did the basics at home but really left him to mature and develop as he was physically behind in development terms. We've been soft with him and mothered him. He's not been out to any shows (proper ugly duckling!) and has only been out for in hand walks a couple of times. Reggie's whole life has been on our property (except an emergency vet stay). he's worn tack and I've sat on him (now three), but life is a little to exciting for Reggie if/when we do anything of our property. I wish we had done more sooner while he was smaller! I doubt I'll be able to hack him like I have Robin straight of the bat.

Personally I think the more you do with them while the world is fun and exciting the better you set them up for adult life. They still get to be a baby 22/7 but the small amount of time you put into them young really makes the difference.

 

[Polos Mum]

I walk mine 3-4 year olds like a dog around our local housing estate. they get to see the world / sniff skips / be petted by little kids / be wizzed past by people on bikes / dog walkers / trampolenes on the other side of hedges etc.
10 mins at a time to start with - sometimes with a nanny (for a new route) sometimes not

It seems to keep them mentally occupied at the age they start to get bored but when I still don't want weight on their backs.

Try and have him handled by different people - mine pick up feet perfectly for me as I do the same thing every time in a routine I don't really realise I have. Then farrier comes and does the 'wrong' let first or holds in a different way and it's more tricky for them.
Avoid routine and standard ways of doing things

Not be too quiet or too calm - get them used to leadropes dangling and kids running around the yard shouting and loud music suddenly coming on or OH mending fence with chainsaw in their field.

Again all very little and often but I think the more they see slowly over years - the less fuss it is when they see this stuff after breaking.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

From about 2 I took Arabi for short walks around the farm tracks only for 10 minutes a few times a week, then at 3 we went further and went into the woods and tracks and I started to long rein around the farm tracks.

He was backed late in his 4th year and I just took is slow but he always was happy to hack alone, his 20 now and his always been great to hack out will go anywhere on his own.

So it's worth putting the work in early and get them to be happy on there own.

 

[Landcruiser]

I did lots of de spooking when mine came to me at 2 1/2. Got her used to having her feet done, handling all over, hosepipe, walking over different surfaces, meeting different objects, loading. I tied carrier bags and flappy things round the yard and fences, tied up things for her to walk under, got her used to ropes round her legs...all sorts. I'd do all that with any age horse, not just a youngster. Then wearing a saddle at rising 4, being led out initially with another horse then alone. Backed at 5 and barely even noticed

 

[ihatework]

As foals mine get really well handled so they are essentially fully halter broken, lead, feet etc. then yearling to spring of 3yo they essentially do nothing other than hang out with their mates, see a human, get their feet done as required. If I encountered a behaviour issue it would be addressed in a short spell of extra handling. Spring - Autumn of 3yo year is faffing time, taught to tie, desensitised to stuff, leant over, maybe sat on. Learn to load properly. Maybe an Inhand show if I can be arsed. Autumn - backed and hacked away for a few weeks if ready to. Turned away over winter as a late 3yo.

 

[AutumnDays]

I got mine as a yearling. Once she had all the basics like tie up, pick up feet etc, we went out for walks a few times a week, here, there and everywhere with the dog, seeing loads of different things and allowing her to investigate anything that was suspicious! As I also had access to a school then, we did lots of things in there like tarpaulin and umbrellas, flags etc. Injury cut her ridden life short (she's just turned five), but she did so well with the "bwgans" that she, the just backed baby would be leading the bigger "pro" horses past spooky objects