Belated Hello - Advice for rising 2YO

[Foxaunt]

Probably a bit strange, but I've been on this forum for as long as I can remember but have never had an account. I feel as if I know a fair few names already just from reading threads, but today I bit the bullet and here I am!

Hello!!

I have a 2yo Cleveland Bay gelding affectionately dubbed "Mr Kit", we have a very open-ended goal together to one day be able to ride, but for now we mostly cause trouble and eat a lot. Advice and top tips for youngsters ALWAYS welcome! Thank you

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Welcome to forum membership!

I so miss having youngsters... mine have grown up now. I think the best thing I did with mine at around that age was to really try to instill reliable, basic vocal commands. Making sure that 'stand' and 'walk on' were fully understood really helped once they were older for the backing process and also for meeting unexpected things when out and about.

 

[Maryann]

Photos please - I love Cleveland bays! And teach him perfect manners because they will stand him in good stead his whole life through.

 

[Foxaunt]

Photos please - I love Cleveland bays! And teach him perfect manners because they will stand him in good stead his whole life through.

With a bit of luck I will have uploaded his picture. He is very scrawny and scraggly at the minute I'm waiting for him to drop his coat and beef up but it all takes time (doesn't it always with horses!) Do you recommend any books or videos for training manners please?

 

[Foxaunt]

Welcome to forum membership!

I so miss having youngsters... mine have grown up now. I think the best thing I did with mine at around that age was to really try to instill reliable, basic vocal commands. Making sure that 'stand' and 'walk on' were fully understood really helped once they were older for the backing process and also for meeting unexpected things when out and about.

Thanks so much that's great advice! Do you have any favourite books or videos for teaching this please?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I just started off saying the words when they naturally did the right thing. So my gelding (who needs lots of repetitions to learn things) would walk over when I brought his food bowl and he would then stand and wait for me to put it down. So as soon as he was about to stand and wait, I would say 'stand' and after a while he associated the two things. Then you could say 'stand' in other situations and he would quickly come to a halt.

I taught other things the same way.

 

[Maryann]

He's lovely! To me he looks about right weight wise for his age but there are more knowledgeable folk than me on this forum.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When I bought my first youngster I did a lot of inhand work with him and always said 'walk on' or 'trot' as I was leading him. Was absolutely delighted when I found that he knew the words and would react to the word before I started moving. We had tremendous fun together as hopefully you will with yours.