Long reining and groundwork with a 2yr old......

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those-ears

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I have a 2yr old colt (due to be cut this autumn) he has just been moved to a field on his own untill after he has been cut. He is a good boy and is well handled. He has been bitted and wears a roller and numnah, stands for the farrier and ties up and leads well. He is looking quite mature and filling out nicely. I am pregnant at the moment and would like to keep up his manners (baby due December) and was thinking of doing a bit of very light long reining, just in straight lines in the field for say up to 5/10 mins at a time. The plan was to do this 2/3 x per week just to give him something to think about whilst he is on his own up untill around November. Then turn away and start him properly in in the summer (next yr as a 3yr old) turn him away for winter then start again as a 4yr old in the spring.
I backed my other cob myself but was different circumstances, she wasn't a colt and was a lot more laid back - started long reining/backing all in one go as a 3 and 1/2 yr old.
Ideas?
 
You can't beat having them well handled and half broke by the time they're 3! Makes life so much easier! If he's mouthed there's nothing stiopping you turning him and doing big circles! Good luck for december I'm due on the 22nd lol :)
 
Leave him to be a baby?
My current youngster was pretty much left to it until he hit three.
As long as they will lead quietly, tie up, and pick up feet, I am happy to leave everything else to a much layer date.
The most I would do would be teaching him to yield to pressure....move over....move back etc, and only then if he was showing signs of being a bit bolshy.
 
If it ever dries up (!) I'm going to teach my 2yr old to long rein this year. It's not physically hard work and it's not too much for a baby mind to tackle. He's getting a bit bored too and will hopefully enjoy using his mind a bit more.
 
yep ive started my two year old off. She keeps jumping out her field for no reason that i can see, so i thought she needed something to occupy her. Since starting she hasnt jumped out, AND will now stand for the farrier instead of trying to kill him! bonus, didnt see that happening :) she is just very intelligent and was bored.

On the other hand I havent started my other two year old as i feel she needs more time to mature as she still looks like a foal! Your horse will tell you if he wants to do anything more, meanwhile basic handling should keep up his manners.

As a student midwife I have to say, please be carefull about handling colts when heavily pregnant, it might only take one kick.
 
My 2 year old cob is doing a bit of long reining, and a tiny bit of lungeing (just enough to learn commands prior to long reins) walk/trot on a huge circle.

My aim this summer is to have him confidently long reining around the farm tracks, never more than 15-20 mins.

He has previously been knocked around and learning to do things and getting praised is giving him confidence.

Once the weather turns bad he will have a long holiday until next summer when he will be lightly backed and do some very short hacks out on the tracks, both in company and alone. Again around 20 mins. Over winter he will again have a holiday then come back to work in his 4 year old summer. I intend to break him to drive so the long reining is very good for him.

I think that as long as you take it very slowly and keep the sessions short and sweet then it's ok to do a bit. Always stop before the horse is bored and always be aware that you can damage growing joints if you do too much.

I'm not really asking him to do anymore than he does himself when he's in the field. Probably less as I'm not asking for him to do pirouettes or levade which he happily does by himself.

He has grown hugely in confidence doing this and no longer tries to jump on top of me when he is startled.
 
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