Calmer for a 2yo?

T

Toast

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 June 2008
Messages
4,516
Location
Lancaster, Lancashire
Visit site
Would you feed a calmer to a rising 2yo? And if so which?
Unfortunately at the moment winter turnout is not an option, please dont jump on me for having my youngster in, its not something i would normally do as i think babies thrive being out. But there are no yards in my area offering winter turnout so we have to make do with a winter 'trash paddock'.

My youngster doesnt cope brilliantly with living in, and while its only 2 weeks until i can turn out again, thats still two weeks to wind him up.
I turn him out for as long as i can during the day in our paddock, but we have to be at the yard whilst horses are turned out in there and sadly as much as i might like to, i cant stay there with him all day!

So, what does anyone suggest to keep him cope a bit for the next fortnight?
x
 
I wouldnt put him on a calmer, its only another two weeks. Handle him as much as possible, take him out for walks. Dont give him any hard feed, just adlib hay. Hard feed (whatever it is) will give him energy of some form. As a 2yr old IMO he really should be living out though......is there no where he can go and be a 'youngster' and go on grass livery near you?

I also have a 2yr old, hes lived out since day one pretty much. I dont plan on him living in until at least the middle of his 4th year. He gets caught in, stabled and handle twice a week which is all he needs. Id rather he was out 'playing' then shut in a stable.
 
I agree with Tempi, don't put him on a calmer and feed ad lib hay. Are you feeding hard feed atm, and if so, what? And what company does he have?

My yearlings have to come in at night, and stay in if the weather is foul (we have had the worst snow storms I have ever known in the past couple of days, almost 48 hours straight:confused:) and they are perfectly happy because they have each other and plenty of haylage. They are very calm to turn out and bring in (I lead them both together and it's a fair distance to and from their field) and don't hooly round the field.

I'd stick it out for another fortnight if I were you, and then see if you can find somewhere more suitable for him next winter.:)
 
I have a 2 year old and while he has add lib hay whenever in, I know he goes stirr crazy if he is kept in 24/7. While it is not the answer, I don't see any harn in giving him a calmer - Naf Magic is a good one.

but also try to gibe him plenty to keep his brain occupied - Mine has a decahedron...

But seriously... I would be looking for a yard with winter turnout...
 
Tempi said:
I wouldnt put him on a calmer, its only another two weeks. Handle him as much as possible, take him out for walks. Dont give him any hard feed, just adlib hay. Hard feed (whatever it is) will give him energy of some form. As a 2yr old IMO he really should be living out though......is there no where he can go and be a 'youngster' and go on grass livery near you?

I also have a 2yr old, hes lived out since day one pretty much. I dont plan on him living in until at least the middle of his 4th year. He gets caught in, stabled and handle twice a week which is all he needs. Id rather he was out 'playing' then shut in a stable.
Click to expand...


As i stated, in the original post, there is nowhere to turn out in winter, meaning no there is no grass livery. Please read the original post before replying! I also asked not to be jumped on. I am fully aware he should be out and as i also stated in my original post, i do not like having him in but him living out is NOT an option currently. He is out in our trash paddock for as long as i can keep him out. As i also previously stated, he will only be in for another two weeks. I asked for advice on keeping him calm in these unfortunate circumstances. Not to be told how to keep my youngster.
Thankyou for your other advice on the other hand, he is only on a handful of stud balancer for vits and mins and ad lib haylage so i think i'll cut out his balancer.
 
CBFan said:
I have a 2 year old and while he has add lib hay whenever in, I know he goes stirr crazy if he is kept in 24/7. While it is not the answer, I don't see any harn in giving him a calmer - Naf Magic is a good one.

but also try to gibe him plenty to keep his brain occupied - Mine has a decahedron...

But seriously... I would be looking for a yard with winter turnout...
Click to expand...

He has stable toys, though i have looked into getting him a treat ball too..

As stated, unfortunately there is no winter turnout in my area, unless you want to travel. And unfortunately, that isnt an option either.
Thanks for your reply.
 
Toast said:
As i stated, in the original post, there is nowhere to turn out in winter, meaning no there is no grass livery. Please read the original post before replying! I also asked not to be jumped on. I am fully aware he should be out and as i also stated in my original post, i do not like having him in but him living out is NOT an option currently. He is out in our trash paddock for as long as i can keep him out. As i also previously stated, he will only be in for another two weeks. I asked for advice on keeping him calm in these unfortunate circumstances. Not to be told how to keep my youngster.
Thankyou for your other advice on the other hand, he is only on a handful of stud balancer for vits and mins and ad lib haylage so i think i'll cut out his balancer.
Click to expand...

Jesus, theres no need to be so rude! I think if you get off the defensive and read my post again you will see I was trying to be helpful. My youngster also has stud balancer, but just twice a week as a treat, i wouldnt have thought it would be heating though so dont think that will make much difference. How about soaking/steaming the hay you are feeding?

And also i wouldnt bother with a calmer if its just another 2 weeks, they take about 2/3 weeks to actually start working properly.
 
Last edited:
Rowreach said:
I agree with Tempi, don't put him on a calmer and feed ad lib hay. Are you feeding hard feed atm, and if so, what? And what company does he have?

My yearlings have to come in at night, and stay in if the weather is foul (we have had the worst snow storms I have ever known in the past couple of days, almost 48 hours straight:confused:) and they are perfectly happy because they have each other and plenty of haylage. They are very calm to turn out and bring in (I lead them both together and it's a fair distance to and from their field) and don't hooly round the field.

I'd stick it out for another fortnight if I were you, and then see if you can find somewhere more suitable for him next winter.:)
Click to expand...

Thankyou for your reply, you seem to be the only poster whos actually read the OP.
He has a handful of D&H suregrow for vits and mins usually, along with adlib haylage.
He's calm to turn out and handle out of the stable, not over excited, just gets wound up when hes in.
I will be moving him in two weeks where he'll be out 24/7 with as many babies as he can ever imagine to meet as i will be starting a new job at a stud. So next year will not be a problem. I was simply looking for a short term solution to help him cope in the next two weeks.
x
 
Tempi said:
Jesus, theres no need to be so rude! I think if you get off the defensive and read my post again you will see I was trying to be helpful. My youngster also has stud balancer, but just twice a week as a treat, i wouldnt have thought it would be heating though so dont think that will make much difference. How about soaking/steaming the hay you are feeding?
Click to expand...

I didnt mean for you to take it as being rude, i just find it irritating when i explained my circumstances, asked not to be jumped on...and was jumped on.
I dont feed hay, he gets haylage. Would soaking this make a difference?
x
 
I've had to bring the youngsters in too as our fields are under water so I know what you are going through. Two are even having to share the foaling box. I have cut out all hard food and I'm feeding ad lib hay. I've also got a football, a lick-it, dodecohedren (sp) and I hide carrots, bits of swede and parsnips in hay pile. The 2 New Forests are fine and are enjoying the pamper time but my warmblood needed more. She gets to play in a trash paddock and I'm also taking her in the school every day. She has a bit of loose play and then, because she is rising 3, I've started her and we are doing some brief lunging sessions. Have you tried any in-hand work like walking over poles, circles, serpentines etc?

Before you go down the calmer route I'd cut out all feed, except hay. Some weight may be lost but your youngster will soon catch up when turned out.
 
Thats ok, i know its annoying when people do that!! I wasnt trying to offend though!!

Haylage has a higher protein content than hay because of the way it is stored/cut. If you soak it i believe (!) it reduces some of the sugar content, if you can i would soak over night. I used to do it in a dustbin, just stick the net in, cover in water and done, then just hang it up somewhere to drain before you give it to horsey :)
 
Sadly hes a bit of a poor doer and doesnt hold his weight on hay. Otherwise id be feeding it as hes a messy bugger in the stable too! Perhaps i'll start soaking it and see how he does on that. As i say, its only 2 weeks hes got left in. It'll make both our lives easier once hes out again! :D

ETA: sorry, hadnt read rubyredshoes first post! I suppose he wont lose much if its only for two weeks before he goes out? I'll ask my YO for some hay tonight to swap him over :)

Thanks everyone for your replies!
x
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top