Keeping Youngsters

[Dino7]

Those who have non ridden youngsters, so probably 3 year olds and under, how do you keep them? Ideally they are out 24/7 in a herd but this isn't always practical for everyone. So how do yours live? In/ out? With friends? In a barn or stabled at night? Just interested in how everyone does it.

 

[ihatework]

I feel quite strongly about this.

Out as much as possible. Never stabled individually. Always have friends, including other youngsters.

My ideal is an open barn system that links to the grazing but appreciate thats not possible for everyone (or me!).

I have no issue with the odd couple of days in with mates in extreme weather. At a push I can live with short periods of group barning.

But fundamentally they need outdoor access all year round that is not a bog, has some shelter and have similar aged friends. The only caveat on that is weanlings that can need a little more thought/tlc

 

[JBM]

Out 24/7
I have a herd of 3
A 1yo 3yo and a 4yo
Out all the time
Get their feet picked up casually in the field once a week and checked once a day
Otherwise left to be horses
Winter field has hard standing and a run in
Summer field has lots of trees

 

[tda]

My current herd of youngsters is 3 x 2 yr old 1 x 3yr old and 1x 4yr old. They live on a hardcore yard with access out into a paddock, they have a field shelter which they prefer to sleep in and an open fronted barn for shelter on the yard.
They have free access to hay in a round bale feeder and a water trough.
They have lived this way since they were born.
I will have to start stabling the two older ones for a couple of hours at a time to get them used to it.

 

[Dino7]

My current herd of youngsters is 3 x 2 yr old 1 x 3yr old and 1x 4yr old. They live on a hardcore yard with access out into a paddock, they have a field shelter which they prefer to sleep in and an open fronted barn for shelter on the yard.
They have free access to hay in a round bale feeder and a water trough.
They have lived this way since they were born.
I will have to start stabling the two older ones for a couple of hours at a time to get them used to it.

What an ideal set up.

 

[tda]

My adult ponies live in the same setup

 

[dorsetladette]

This is something I feel very strongly about - it sets them up to be grown up horses, good or bad.

I have two youngsters currently. (4 and 3) both arrived at 9 months old.

They are out in a mixed age group as I think you need older horses to teach them to be horses - not just unruly youngsters getting boisterous (it keeps your oldies young to). Out 24/7 with a shelter big enough for everyone to get into with good natural shelter too. Adlib hay (round bale in hay feeder) in winter and good rugs. They learn from the older horses that I'm (we) are top dog in the field. They learn from the older horses about coming in to be groomed and being respectful around gates etc.

I don't believe in turning away and forgetting about them until they are ready for backing - I like mine to be well rounded 'people' by the time they are ready to be sat on, so they have lots done with them. I don't believe that the 30mins to 1hr a day I expect them to behave a certain way can be anything but beneficial to them.

From day one I teach mine to have their rugs adjusted/changed in the field and have their feet picked up in the field. I also teach them that when I'm handling one of them they are to keep their distance - when mum's around it's not playtime!

While everything is fun and exciting it's the best time to teach them things - they are out on adventures, rides in the lorry, wearing tack or harness. Walking under things, over things. All in short sessions.

Yes I believe that youngsters should be out learning about being a horse and growing 95% of their lives, but part of growing up is learning how to be a domesticated horse too.

 

[Dino7]

My adult ponies live in the same setup

Now you're just showing off!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Edit: eh, never mind.

 

[Alibear]

They're kept at the stud, living out 24 x 7 in groups. No rugs, and, to be honest, not a great amount of shelter in the fens, but they all seem fine. In the event of an injury they could be stabled if necessary.

 

[tda]

Now you're just showing off!

Yes but we have some mud and it's not pretty, but they are happy

 

[millitiger]

My 2 x 3yros are on the same routine as my adult horse.

Out for about 20hrs/day, in a herd of 3.
They come into stables for a few hours in the morning.

They're on a track (which they love!) in the summer and in the winter on about 2 acres with a matted area with hay stations on it.

Ideally they'd be out in 20acres +, with a bigger here, but they get as good as I can offer here, mostly living out with friends, shelter and stimulus in the fields.

 

[fidleyspromise]

My New Forest now 17 was just turned 3 when I got her. 2 weeks quarantine and then she was in a 1 acre with my other pony. They have lived out during my time of owning them.
Last year I bought a 2yr old Arab. He lives out with both my girls.

I get there, put water in feeds and they get buckets put down in order of pecking order. I put hay out and muck out field. Hooves picked out.
Some days they get groomed or a massage. Highland gets ridden and if Arab comes over when untacking I plonk her saddle on his back. He walked off the other day and I held the saddle in place and walked with him (he was going to the feed room).

 

[blitznbobs]

Mine are out 24/7 except one who decided she was coming in at night (she literally jumped the fences until she got onto the yard 3 times... and now goes in and out happily with the older horses... she always was a sassy madam! I have an older mare with them and they just live out except in the worst of the worst weather where I have large pens for them to come into as a herd.

 

[Irish Sally]

I only have a 2 year old and a broodmare. They're out 24/7 in a field with a shelter. They're just on grass but are good doers (connemaras) so don't need any hard feed or hay.

 

[IrishMilo]

Out 24/7 in the summer/spring with company and in overnight in a shared barn in the winter.

I wouldn’t have a youngster if I couldn’t find herd turnout for them.

 

[CJoe]

Those who have non ridden youngsters, so probably 3 year olds and under, how do you keep them? Ideally they are out 24/7 in a herd but this isn't always practical for everyone. So how do yours live? In/ out? With friends? In a barn or stabled at night? Just interested in how everyone does it.

I have a 2 year old rising 3 appy gelding (thin thin coat so rugged when necessary) and a friends 1 year old connie mare, they both live out in a field full of grass, with suregrow (minimal as they only need a token feed) and hay/haylage to supplement over winter. They will come back to base in Spring for some more education. They wouldnt appreciate being in at all and I really cannot see the point when we have the grazing freely available.

 

[Marigold4]

Just out of interest, why do youngsters benefit from not being rugged in the cold and wet?

 

[Marigold4]

This is something I feel very strongly about - it sets them up to be grown up horses, good or bad.

I have two youngsters currently. (4 and 3) both arrived at 9 months old.

They are out in a mixed age group as I think you need older horses to teach them to be horses - not just unruly youngsters getting boisterous (it keeps your oldies young to). Out 24/7 with a shelter big enough for everyone to get into with good natural shelter too. Adlib hay (round bale in hay feeder) in winter and good rugs. They learn from the older horses that I'm (we) are top dog in the field. They learn from the older horses about coming in to be groomed and being respectful around gates etc.

I don't believe in turning away and forgetting about them until they are ready for backing - I like mine to be well rounded 'people' by the time they are ready to be sat on, so they have lots done with them. I don't believe that the 30mins to 1hr a day I expect them to behave a certain way can be anything but beneficial to them.

From day one I teach mine to have their rugs adjusted/changed in the field and have their feet picked up in the field. I also teach them that when I'm handling one of them they are to keep their distance - when mum's around it's not playtime!

While everything is fun and exciting it's the best time to teach them things - they are out on adventures, rides in the lorry, wearing tack or harness. Walking under things, over things. All in short sessions.

Yes I believe that youngsters should be out learning about being a horse and growing 95% of their lives, but part of growing up is learning how to be a domesticated horse too.

I agree about not turning away and forgetting about them until they are ready for backing. As you say, they have to learn to be a domesticated horse. We expect a lot from them in terms of training and behaviour. Surely handling them as youngsters can only be good for them. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has evidence/can explain how/why youngsters that are turned away with minimal handling turn out to be better horses. Maybe we should turn dogs away in a pack until they are three so that they can just be dogs?

 

[Dino7]

Just out of interest, why do youngsters benefit from not being rugged in the cold and wet?

Personally I introduce rugs to youngsters so they understand about wearing them but mine wouldn't actually wear them in anger until they are broken in and in work unless they need them. As I have found in the past they are too playful and either rip them, rip each others, and they give them protection against electric fencing which can lead to more problems. That being said, if I have something particularly blood, one that feels the cold, drops weight and/ or stands hunched up a lot then it would have a rug on.

 

[dorsetladette]

Just out of interest, why do youngsters benefit from not being rugged in the cold and wet?

I prefer to rug mine in winter. It's kinder on my pocket as well as them. Your not feeding to keep warm, but to maintain condition.

 

[holeymoley]

I agree with dorsetladette. They should be horses but I think it’s really beneficial for them to show them various things at a young age. Mine is out with a varied herd in terms of age and sex. I think it’s important for him to learn how to behave amongst others and as said above, the older lot are good at keeping him in his place. It can also keep my 22year old ‘young’ at heart as he does like to play with him! They both come in at night now as our fields are quite wet. He loves his bed. He’s had a rug over him, hooves handled, bathed, dentist check, vaccines, seen clippers and had a roller placed over him. It seems alot but it’s all been done over a period of time, I do it a few times then leave them be.

 

[Xmasha]

I try and keep mine out as much as possible. Currently have 1 x 3yo , 1 x 2yo and 1 x 1yo out together turned away. They have ample grass and large field shelter. But i do like to bring them in the odd day. They go in individual stables, just so when they are ready to be backed etc staying in a stable alone isnt a big deal. The other field has 2 mares with their foals. The foals now have sufficient handling to be turned away, so are out with a cosy field shelter and plenty of grass. But again i do bring them in to do stuff every now and then. None of my youngsters are rugged atm, they play too much. But if they needed it, then they would be.
As we are getting close to weaning time, the foals will have others put in with them, and then we will remove one of the mums at a time. Once the mares have dried up, they will go back out with the youngsters and keep them all in check.

 

[fidleyspromise]

Just out of interest, why do youngsters benefit from not being rugged in the cold and wet?

I don't see it as youngsters as more each horse. If a horse needs a rug they get a rug regardless of breed or age.
I try not to rug so I know I'm not over rugging especially as my circulation is really poor so I can't tell by feel so have to go with how the horse is behaving and looking (tucked up, hiding in shelter refusing to come out, standing looking miserable as opposed to in their sleepy spot of the field etc).

 

[Horseysheepy]

In answer to the rug question, I have finer boned types who get rugs if it's wet and cold as I want them to use their energy to continue growing, not to keep them warm.

 

[lme]

Mine have always been out 24 x 7 either in a family group with their dams or just the young horses together. They have natural shelter and round bales in winter. They get ruged if / when the weather is disgustingly wet. I'd love a big barn / hardstanding area.

 

[TheMule]

Just out of interest, why do youngsters benefit from not being rugged in the cold and wet?

A healthy young horse kept in an appropriate field with adequate forage shouldn’t be getting cold unless the conditions are extreme.
My main thing against young horses wearing rugs is the risk of injury because young horses are playful and good at getting themselves in daft situations. I have used rugs on young horses in freezing cold snow blizzards with high winds. My young horses will all wear a rug if needs be, I just don’t see much of a need for it!

 

[Marigold4]

Mine wore a fly rug in the summer when the horseflies were bad. She wears a 50g rain rug if the weather is very wet but I won't have anything heavier/warmer on her. She's supposed to be maturing to max 15 hh (dam 14.3/sire 14.2) but is already 14.1 at 16 months. Perhaps she is using her keeping warm energy to grow! Please tell me her growth will slow down soon! Her dam has much bigger lines behind her (16.2/16.3) - so I guess anything could happen!

 

[Quigleyandme]

I had two ID’s I bought as weanlings and kept here until they were four. They lived out during the summer and could come and go from their stables where they had beds and hay as they pleased in the winter. They were handled daily and expected to be polite. If it was cold and/or wet they wore rugs and if the biting flies were bad they wore fly sheets but I have good, permanent hot wire fencing and well fitted rugs. They were fed a stud mix until two and then a quality high fibre cube. I’d have more babies in a heartbeat but I don’t have year round grazing here, it’s very wet, and although I have a large sand arena and yard and lovely internal stabling it is just not the right setup for youngsters which I believe should have access to grass and loads of room to play all year.

 

[Patterdale]

I have had a mixture of weanlings to three year olds for the past few years.

They live out on 10+ acres in a herd, and if I didn’t have access to this I wouldn’t have them.

I feel quite strongly about this!

ETA I have also refused to sell youngsters in the past to homes where they will be stabled over winter. In fact I won’t sell any horse to a home where they will not have turnout.