Ideas for 'learning' games with youngster please?

[Breninks]

Hello - I have a quick and eager to learn, very intelligent, 3 yr old Sec D gelding. I've had him since he was a foal and, because he's always been so willing to learn, I've been able to teach him the basics (picking up feet, backing up, good manners in the barn etc. etc.) However, I wondered if anyone has any ideas please of other things we could now move on to? He lives out 24/7 with an older cob x gelding and a middle aged Sec A mare, who are great role models for him. They come into the barn in my yard at regular intervals during the day, so I see them often. I've been isolating a little time every afternoon to work with Brenin, and I've been teaching him to walk in a head-collar, and loose, at my shoulder, stop, back up, move on etc. but he got that pretty much straightaway ... Any suggestions gratefully received .. NB the concrete floored, 45 x 20 ft barn is our only learning area as the fields are quagmires at the moment. Also I am recovering from 5 mths of chemotherapy, so I am not up to loose jumping with him round a course of jumps! That said, I could put other types of obstacles in the barn for him? As above, anything anyone can suggest would be very welcome ... I'd like to make the most of his eagerness to learn, teach him as much as possible and keep him stimulated.

 

[dogatemysalad]

As long as the surface isn't too slippery, try a gym ball. He can learn to nudge it with his nose or feet and control it's direction. I've used one outdoors with a slight breeze which enables the ball to move on its own. The youngster learns that it can make the scary object move away and sees that something blown by the wind isn't a threat.

 

[Breninks]

As long as the surface isn't too slippery, try a gym ball. He can learn to nudge it with his nose or feet and control it's direction. I've used one outdoors with a slight breeze which enables the ball to move on its own. The youngster learns that it can make the scary object move away and sees that something blown by the wind isn't a threat.

Excellent idea! Thank you. I think he would enjoy that - he's inquisitive and likes to see 'how things work'! (e.g. how my hat was made, which involves removing it from my head for closer examination whenever he thinks he can get away with it!!) Thanks again. I shall get a ball.