If you have owned your horse since it was a foal ......

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canteron

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Was it a success, would you do it again and what would you do differently? Did you let it be a horse until it was 3 or socialise it from day 1. Really curious to see how it worked for you and whether you would recommend it as a project. Thanks.
 
Bought a 6 month old and got him good to handle, then turned him away (bar worming and feet) until he was about 2, then started more handling, backed at 4, turned away again, then into full work at 5.5 and he's lovely. #

So I bred my own with the intention of doing the same routine ... Foal injured herself at 10 months = boxrest or PTS. We opted for boxrest and she was fine but missed out on socialisation. Got her out with the herd at 18 months, injured again .. Box rest then paddock rest. Many invasive procedures so she resented people and handling; we had to give her time to catch up being a horse which settled her thankfully but she remains very quirky. Roll on, she is finally in work aged 6.5 years and can be handled by any competent equestrian but she's not the easy horse I'd dreamed of and she can recognise a nervous handler a mile away ...
 
I've had 3 from foal onwards, always had them at home in a mixed herd, so handled every day. Leave them until they're 4-5 before i backed them (myself) never had any problems
 
Bred my own and still have her now, she's 5 and will be with me forever. She was very much left to be a horse with a mixed herd until she was 3 (apart from usual vet/farrier routine appointments but this was all done in the field. Backed at 3.5 ridden away for 6 weeks and turned out to winter grazing with a large herd until spring of 4th year. She is a relaxed, talented well adjusted mare. Breeding another again next year l will use the same simple routine with little fuss and handling until 3 yr old.
 
I bred my 'ideal horse' from my own mare and loved the process. Although he was a very straightforward character and he was mostly turned away after weaning (first with other youngsters, then with a mixed herd) he would always find some excuse to come in for a couple of months every Winter - rain scald, an abscess, that kind of thing. I used that time to teach him to tie up, lead, pick his feet out and all the other things we expect a good mannered horse to do.

I was captivated by him, so probably over socialised a bit, but apart from the fact that he was always a bit of a 'people person' and was as happy to be with humans as with other horses I didn't see any effects. I am a stickler for discipline, though, so he always knew his place with me. He had no problems with other horses either.

My most recent horse I bought as a two year old. She was much less socialised, and I did find instilling basic manners in a stroppy youngster already standing at 16hh rather more of a challenge than a yearling.

If I wasn't so old I'd happily breed and bring on another youngster. It was an absolute joy! I would definitely do some socialising while they are still at the foal stage, but given my limited experience I'm not sure I am offering sound advice.
 
I bought a 2yr old....we had the worst time everrrr- you couldnt do anything with him :( even leading him 2 meters was life threatening- he ended up causing multiple family arguments (pts or not), tears, heart break finished off with a broken hand. We tried to break him in at 3...that was a nightmare! In the end we put him in a field with his friends till he was 5...brought him out, tacked him up and we had a different horse. He just really needed that time to grow up.
I also had his little sister from 8mnths old....she was the easiest little creature I have ever had the pleasure to deal with...and still is at 6 yrs old :D We did bits with her nearly every day- simple things, feet picked out, groomed, led around, things flapped around etc :)
I bred a foal a year and a half ago and he's been brilliant- we've done everything from day one- touching all over, feet picked out, tying up, farrier etc etc and he's 90% of the time absolutely brilliant. Occasionally he'll be a complete twonk but it's that 'age' and unfortunately he's massive ;)

I think having youngsters is so amazingly rewarding but it's also heart breaking, soul destroying, stressful and will bring you to tears more than once and no your foal isn't going to be your baby and love you forevaaaarrrh because you're now his mummy....But...yes it's the most amazing thing if you can work with them :D
 
Mine was born at the yard I keep her at, I handle her and had a lot of input in her first year, she lived out before and after weaning, before with just her dam, after with another weakling then out with my 2 mares, she was sold off the yard as a yearling, she was stable kept for a year with turnout on her own for an hour once or twice a week. I bought her as a 2 yr old, she was out with our other 2 mares all the time till she went to a friends for backing fir 3 weeks at rising 3, she lived out with a mixed herd there. Then she came back and lived out again with our mares till she was rising 6, she then spent 15 months at my friends again turned out in a mixed herd. Since then she has spent time with my daughters mare till she was Pts and since then she has shared but is currently on individual turnout aged rising 9 now.
She is a good girl, went to her first show today and did not out a foot wrong.
 
I go along the lines if basic handling. Get them leading to and from field, feet, worming etc. At 1-2yo I kind of drag them about with me so they empty wheelbarrows every so often, climb into the trailer to get hay, climb over the trailer ramp and past random cars, trailers, stuff to get the tap to turn the hose on etc. No more than once a month but it gets them used to just doing stuff. They go to 2-3 shows max as a 1-2yo, a few more at 3yo if they have leveled out enough.

But generally they are turfed out with various sized ponies, colts only go out with other colts or geldings for obvious reasons, and left to get on with life. I have some genuinely nice ponies that aren't in your face, aren't fussed if you want to pat them or ignore them and are happy to do what ever you want them to do. They have all been easy to break at whatever age they have been mature enough to be. Some 3, some 4, some 5yo.

The homebred that went away on loan as a yearling and came back as a 3yo turned into a spoilt, in your face little brat so she got turfed out with the other mares and ignored for a year or so bar feet, worming and one show as a 5yo. She can still be a bit of a pest but she is nowhere near as bad as she used to be.

Each horse is different and every owner is different. Bringing of your own and making it yours is something very special. Just don't be tempted to over handle because you have a baby to play with and they are cute!
 
I've had one of mine from a yearling, he has had the same routine as the other pony, stabled part of the time, taken to shows etc

He seems remarkably well adjusted

If I were doing it all again i think I would prefer to send him away to grow on with minimal handling so i do have a few regrets but I've never gone too over the top treating him as a pet so I think I've got away with it so to speak
 
I've known young cob since the day he was born in the paddock right next to old cob. My friend wanted a coloured filly but as a chestnut colt popped out his interest in the foal waned almost immediately. I spent quite a lot of time with him so as a youngster he would follow me round, halt when I stopped and walk when I did and enjoy a good scatch and a bit of a groom. He was castrated at 12 months and after weaning at 14 months he was turned out in a small herd to learn some more horse manners. In the end I bought him as a three-year old and it was only at that stage I got in an excellent professional to help fill in some big gaps such as picking up feet (fortunately self-trimming to that point!), tying up to be groomed etc. The same professional backed him for me and now at five young cob is a fairly straightforward ride, happily hacks on his own, including today past someone chain-sawing, two herds of cattle and only a minor spook at a pheasant flying up. Our main limitations are my confidence and creaky hip and we have good days and bad days but he makes me smile and I wouldn't be without him.
 
I had a bogoff foal. He was mainly left to be a horse apart from learning life's basics. He was backed at four and today his eighteen and semi retired , my horse of a life time. My next one I bought at 11 months and I handled him more as a baby. I saw no difference in attitude, to be honest, although he was a more complex animal and had a stifle issue. He didn't grow big enough and is now on loan to a teenager.
 
My Highland boy was born in the stable here to my lovely mare eight years ago. Raising him has been one of the best things in my life and he has turned into my perfect pony, perfect for me at age 62 that is. I used clicker training from the start, backed him myself when he was four but he's never been ridden much. Instead we trained for driving and that's what we do for fun these days, out on the tracks and fields on every good day. He went to an experienced person to be finally put to and given his first drives but all the rest is mine. He is my special boy for sure.
 
Not a foal but a yearling. She had been extensively handled from weanling to yearling and was very well behaved when I got her. I mostly left her in the field and dragged her out once a year to do something with. The initial handling paid off and she is very good to handle. She wouldn't have been handled before weaning other than to halter break. She is for sale now at 6 as a very well trained and excellent child's pony so it all worked out well.

I'm expecting my own first ever foal next year and I was worried I wouldn't do enough with it. However from what I've read too much is worse than not enough!
 
It's very rewarding. We bred a foal to be my next horse but she didn't work out for me, she was very in your face and although she did nothing wrong I never gelled with her, which was very sad.

I bought a young weanling seven years ago and he has been a delight, we did headcollar, feet, tack, rugs, ponied him out then sent him away for backing and he's been great. I do adore him and he knows it, but I'm very firm.

We've had quite a few youngsters over the years, it's nice to do your best even if they aren't a keeper.

I've just picked up a six month old Colt foal by the same sire as my 7 year old, he's been here a week now and was unhandled when he arrived, but he's had a week of scratching, glove on a long stick for a bit of safe desensitising, rope over the neck, tonight the headcollar went on, took 5/10 mins of gentle persistence, then I was able to handle his muzzle and rub his mouth and pop the wormer in with no resistance.

My aim is to handle him daily but in a very casual manner - generally ours all live out so a scratch and a pat, a kind word etc suffices for a white. Then it's headcollar a on and off, learning to stand, feet etc.
 
Had Benji from a virtual unhandled yearling. Took him to a few parties a year, training with "scary" stuff in the field and backed as a 4yo with no trouble. Bred a few and backed them myself. All had similar upbringing, all NF's and forest bred ponies so all ready traffic proof. I halter train them as foals, let them have the winter playing but stick a halter on occasionally and give them a groom.

The last foal to be backed is now a lovely 6yo mare who has a great temperament and easy to do. I find it very rewarding bringing them on and watching them grow.
 
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Bought a yearling and had a great time with him until he died at six.

I don't believe that it is over handling that spoils youngsters, I believe it's the wrong handling.

I also don't believe in leaving horses largely unhandled until three or four and then suddenly changing their whole world and expecting them to relate to humans. I know it works for many people but it doesn't sit right for me personally.
 
ycbm said:
Bought a yearling and had a great time with him until he died at six.

I don't believe that it is over handling that spoils youngsters, I believe it's the wrong handling.

I also don't believe in leaving horses largely unhandled until three or four and then suddenly changing their whole world and expecting them to relate to humans. I know it works for many people but it doesn't sit right for me personally.
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I agree. . My current one is on exactly the same regime as my adult horses. In winter that is stabled at night. He is rugged, fed, tied up, etc etc and expected to do everything the rest do daily. He understands exactly how to behave and get on with humans. Every day we do little things to prepare him for going out in the world and being ridden. He is already traffic trained at 17 months. Traffic being tractors, loaders, diggers, vehicles and trailers and any other machinery. He has learnt to be led off another horse (supervised of course).Instead of leading on our road training I walk alongside, my arm over his back with a pair of ropes acting as reins. He has done all the spook busting stuff. He enjoys going out for walks with his ridden friend around the roads, on the common. He understands taking the lead or going behind. His only limitations are how far I can walk. He loves working and spending time with humans. Equally he loves the rest of the day when he is out in the field with his friends. In short he already understands the working world he is going to be living in when he is grown up.
No nasty surprises for him when I come to break him to ride and so little effort for me as he will have done it all. What I fail to understand is why you wouldn't do this?
 
I've had several since they were born and believe in handling them so they are used to it from the beginning. Ours all were taught to lead and pick up their feet from an early age, they also learn to tie up, stand to be groomed and washed - especially useful if they ever need cold hosed due to injury. Some I have shown in hand which got them used to travelling and seeing the sights and sounds of a busy show ground but I only showed at 2 or 3 shows a year so as not to do too much. This meant that by the time it came to backing them - the actual age of backing depended on each individual - they were well handled and used to things.

My one word of warning is be sure you breed from good quality stock and have a purpose for breeding, it's not something to do with a mare you have no other use for. It also won't be any cheaper to breed and keep a foal until backing than to buy one just backed, in fact depending on your situation it may be more expensive
 
EventingMum said:
I've had several since they were born and believe in handling them so they are used to it from the beginning. Ours all were taught to lead and pick up their feet from an early age, they also learn to tie up, stand to be groomed and washed - especially useful if they ever need cold hosed due to injury. Some I have shown in hand which got them used to travelling and seeing the sights and sounds of a busy show ground but I only showed at 2 or 3 shows a year so as not to do too much. This meant that by the time it came to backing them - the actual age of backing depended on each individual - they were well handled and used to things.

My one word of warning is be sure you breed from good quality stock and have a purpose for breeding, it's not something to do with a mare you have no other use for. It also won't be any cheaper to breed and keep a foal until backing than to buy one just backed, in fact depending on your situation it may be more expensive
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I bred my current connemara riding gelding as I owned his mother. He was handled extensively from birth. I was lucky as the mare seemed to appreciate my 'involvement' and showed no aggression towards us on the day of foaling or ar any time after. So the foal got 'imprinted' with all the sights and sounds an adult horse would experience and became totally cool with plastic bags, a belt strapped loosely around his tum, dogs, pigs, loading you name it. Our vet commented that he was the quietest foal he had ever seen. When it came to backing he was already so steady he looked like a much older horse. He is 8 now and is still 100% safe and steady, so I think if that is what you are after as an outcome, it is worth putting in the time when they are babies, (if the mother horse allows you, that is.)
 
I've had my foal for 13 years now, she's the love of my life. She arrived wild off the hills so it took a while to agree on a few things, namely being caught, now she comes when called. She was frequently handled, led out round the roads, groomed and taken to inhand shows. She wasn't broken in to ride until late 4, she's been awesome and will probebly my last and forever horse, I've made provision for her in my will.
 
I have never bought anything older than 18 months I handle when needed and spend a lot of time in the field with them. Basics are done when needed and we do show them in hand so they have to lead, load and tolerate the show atmosphere. I wont be buying another as I dont have time left to see them through their life. I am 63 soon and not sure I could still cope at 93 if a foal was still around mt oldest is 21 the youngest is rising 8 bred the youngster and bought the old girl, her mum at 18 months old
 
My gelding came to me at 6 months although I bought him at 6 weeks. Have had yearlings, etc, before that. He had been the only foal on the yard and allowed to become a bit of a brat tbh, so while he had some lovely manners he also had bad habits. He is also a bit quirky anyway just like mum, and has made over a hand bigger than predicted. I let him grow and play mostly, but did a bit of in hand hacking now and again from a yearling. He's now a really smart 5yo, who has somewhat confounded his critics and so far been great under saddle. He is also very people orientated and quite bonded with me. However, and I'm not blowing my own trumpet here but...he could very easily have become a total nightmare for someone. He's definitely not a novice project.
 
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i suppose it depends on your definition of successful !

Ive bred a few, and bought some as babies. The ones ive bred have turned out to be stunning, competition horses and have a job. So for some that would be successful, I actually tried to breed something for me to ride. Given the fact that there mum was my ole girl who was a lovely RC all rounder, which a generous temperament , I was hoping / expecting they turn out just like her. They haven't. Ive bought a couple of babies, they where bought to be competition horses, and so far look like they will be.

Mine are always handled, get them to lead, load pick up feet etc, and are then turned away for as long as possible. But they do get brought in to be wormed /farrier and to get out of the weather.

I'm in the process of selling all my babies off ( my homebreds are not being sold) all the handling has paid off, as they have behaved beautifully for the viewings. Ive decided to get back to having some fun, so have gone out and bought something for me.

Ive loved every minute of breeding and raising them all, but its cost me an absolute fortune, if I knew what I know now, would I do it again..... maybe but possibly just once. Ive learnt a very expensive lesson, and that is buy from breeders. The chances of you getting something that fits your criteria 100% on a one / two breeding is slim.
 
Thank you to everyone who has replied - I have loved reading your stories and they all seem to point to the same thing, that you only get out what you put in. I needed a companion for my old horse and ended up with a very lovely filly. Everyone adores her and I love groundwork/handling just as much as riding and truly hope this is the one who will take me to the end of my riding career and am hoping that the knowledge I have gained over the last 20 years of owning unsuitable as well as suitable horses will help me make a good job of it. My bones are too old to be broken now, so I do really appreciate any advice that comes my way!!
 
I bought one of mine as a 5mth old weanling from my friend who bred him so I first saw him at 2 months old. He was constantly handled as I knew he was going to be big (he's 17.2 WB) so I didn't want to deal with a stroppy 3 yr old. He's now 21 and has been a real star- he's jumped to Fox, evented, county level showing, dressage, hunted, been loaned out as a police horse. He's now in semi retirement and is teaching my 10yr old daughter to ride and she just learning to canter on him- if he feels her have a wobble he'll come back to trot and walk for her to sort herself out or she just says "Whoa Wills" and he walks! When William was 5 my friend knew how please I was with him so she offered me his mother to buy so I did. I then bred a foal from her and treated him in exactly the same way as William and when he was 6 I sold him to the Police and although he didn't make the grade long term he was sold to one of the grooms friends and has had a home for life there so I'm a firm believer in handling them when they are young to get them used to as many things as possible.
 
canteron said:
Thank you to everyone who has replied - I have loved reading your stories and they all seem to point to the same thing, that you only get out what you put in. I needed a companion for my old horse and ended up with a very lovely filly. Everyone adores her and I love groundwork/handling just as much as riding and truly hope this is the one who will take me to the end of my riding career and am hoping that the knowledge I have gained over the last 20 years of owning unsuitable as well as suitable horses will help me make a good job of it. My bones are too old to be broken now, so I do really appreciate any advice that comes my way!!
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a lovely thread. You certainly get out what you put in. At some stage most go through a PITA stage but ignore then, let them be and then pick up in a short while where you left off. If is a shame that many like to leave their youngsters. They are just so interesting to work with, have such curiosity and if you leave them you miss out on several years of your horse's life. Two of mine demonstrated the importance of lots of handing and working at everything. I got a 4yo, nicely broken, very sweet and no problems except he hadn't been stabled (only kept in a big barn) he hated it. It has taken years to resolve. He had to spend 4 days in horse hospital. In stables. He was very stressed, unhappy and difficult for the staff to deal with. The exact opposite is my current youngster. He also had to go to horse hospital when he was 9 months old. Again he was there for 4 days and nights but this time in an isolation barn. He was the only horse there and he didn't see another horse for 4 days. He had done all his stable, being shut in training and lots more besides. He was a star. He was completely settled, no stressing and the staff loved him he was so easy.
good luck canteron, I am sure you are going to love every minute of it and so it your girlie.
 
where as I think the right kind of handling is great and necessary some handling is really bad for youngsters they foremost need to learn to be a horse not a pet dog. It is the constant need to provide learning to them on an almost hourly basis that spoils young horses and young children. You do get out what you put in but if they never learn to be what they are and to entertasin themselves, they become brats unable to settle to anything
 
I got my now 5 and a bit year old as a 6 month old foal and for the first 3+ years of his life he lived out in a small herd. He got his feet done, learned to lead and tie up, learned to go in the trailer, went to one very small quiet show as a yearling, got led round the farm to see farm machinery and the odd car that came up the farm tracks, got shown tarpaulins etc.

I had him backed very quietly at coming up to 3 and a half as he was physically and mentally quite a baby still. He was turned away over winter and at rising 4 was quietly started again and spent his first spring, summer and autumn hacking in straight lines round the farm, gradually going out on the roads with a babysitter, very occasionally doing a short turn in the arena trotting over poles and learning a little about bending. Once again he was turned away for the winter and at rising 5, this spring, I sent him away for a couple of months of boot camp with a trusted trainer. He is now, at 5 and a bit, starting to get the hang of lots of things and this year he has done dressage and a tiny hunter trial, been xc schooling, learned to canter in a circle, learned the basics of lateral work and half halt and is beginning to get working into a contact. He has been to some riding club training events, and although still quite a little brat at times is turning out to be a little diamond and quite a straightforward ride, thank goodness. He has never really bucked, never reared, only had a few half-hearted attempts at napping and although still quite spooky if an unexpected sparrow pops out of a hedge is really settling to his work.

It's been a long, show journey but hugely rewarding to see how much he's changed and matured physically and mentally.
 
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