lunging a yearling ??!?

Marmite Sandwich

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I've just been looking thru some old posts about what people like to do with their babies as i got to wondering if everything had changed since i last had youngsters.
A few people keep telling me that my mischievous little colt should be bitted and also lunged to get rid of his "freshness" - this because i said i might take him for a walk to look at the world. So, who thinks he should be bitted and who thinks he should be lunged ?? sorry should add he's 12 months and about 12.2hh - what ages would you class ar appropriate too please?
 
Bitted if you think you may struggle to lead him in a headcollar. Not lunged, surely that would knacker young joints?
 
Unless he is going to shows I wouldn't bit him personally

The trouble is if you want to take him out to look at the world your insurance may insist on a bridle (if so phone and ask what their definition is for one) also ensure your insurance covers you - the insurance for my two year old doesn't
 
bitted maybe depending on the horse - my sister's yearling gelding was bitted for showing but I most certainly wouldn't be lunging at all - I assume you'd like him to still have some joints when he's 3! Can't believe what some people do (not a dig at you op, at those who think lunging a yearling is a good plan)
 
If he was mine he'd just be turned out with food thrown at him as and when.

Why can't babies just be babies? I've never faffed about bitting and lunging yearlings and my horses have always been ok.
 
ditto Patterdale. Yearlings are babies and should have energy! If he is too much for you to handle on a walk, put him out in the field so he can burn it off. You are absolutely right not to lunge him. The "few people" who are advising you, clearly know nothing about young joints, or their emotional well-being. You would fry his brain.

Edited to say one of mine went on a lunge line at 18 months, for two circuits only during a viewing (I would never do this again if asked by viewer). Usually I don't lunge til they are 3. I know people bit them if going to a show, but seriously, your baby will not miss out if you don't walk him out to show him the world...as a yearling it is far more important for him to just be a baby out playing. His "mischievious nature" will just become naughty if he isn't able to do so.
 
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Im just doing general handling with mine, grooming, foot care and a few gentle walks. No way will he be lunged etc til hes 3
 
My five year old 15.3hh Shagya stallion is handled around the farm, including covering mares, with a headcollar and long line over his nose. Not bitted until he was 3. I have an old gelding who always has a rope over the nose as he is a bit strong.

I would have thought that is all you need for a youngster. I would always advise a lunge or extra long lead rope with a stallion.
 
very light work, in hand, light lunge, trot round the school lose wont do a horse any harm up to 18 months! COMP is present within tendons only up until 18 months. COMP is the protein responsible for laying down crimp in tendons. Light work stimulates how the crimp develops. Light work creates a better crimp meaning more elastic (up to 10%) and stronger tendons. Past 18 months there is no ability to improve tendon strength and they only degenerate from there on.

So yes some work is beneficial! I wouldnt be lunging all the time to reduce freshness though!
 
I would say if he's out 24/7 he is perfectly capable of giving himself enough exercise and would completely agree with most posters re. no lunging. Cannot see the benefit at all and with growing joints and tendons it's asking for trouble. Is he out with other youngsters? If he can be that will help him burn off his own energy.

I have walked mine out in-hand since he was a yearling; good for the hooves and the mind but keep it short. You could bit him and then put a rope halter over the top so you're not using the bit unless necessary.

Don't listen to the know-it-alls! I have a 2 yo who is physically very mature and have continually had comments from the locals about backing him, lunging him, etc, etc. When I remind said experts of his actual age (13 months at one point!) they hastily retract their "advice".....
 
I would turn him out with a master mare, and she will teach him most of the basics! such as do as you are told, not as you think!

I had a young little Sec A come to me which was due to be PTS because it bit, kicked, reared (and go over) all in all it was a nasty little thing, but it was humans who had allowed her to become the pony she was. She had lived on her own from 6 months to 4 years, and had dominated the pesky humans... she put the pesky humans in their place, and ruled the roost!

First thing I did when she came off the horsebox was turn her straight out with my master mare and a gelding (a very small herd)... no nicely nicely softly softly over a fence meeting etc... nope straight out! I really should write at length what I then witnessed for the first 4 days and then for the following 4 or 5 days, it was simply amazing to watch my old master mare (whos only 12.2hh) go to work at educating this jumped up little scallywag!

On day 10 I started to work with the little Sec A, and she tried it on once with me (ie being naughty), which I nipped in the bud, and since then has been incredibly compliant when ever I introduce something new to her. I owe my Master mare a lot when it comes to educating the babies.

DONT DO THIS IF HE IS WHOLE! unless he is a supper star in the making get him cut ASAP, this will make your life easier
 
I took mine for walks from 8 months old, once or twice a week for a few months, the same as 2 year old and by 3 he was bombproof, housing estate proof, screaming children proof, gardening equipment proof
 
If you are planning to keep him as a colt then you will need to bit him if you are planning to take him to shows.

Otherwise - buy a lunge cavesson that fits and lead him in that. All babies are lively - he needs to go out in the paddock and play and also learn that working in hand means he must behave. Start by teaching Walk On, Halt and Stand. Make lessons frequent and short and only when he knows how to behave take him out on walks.

I used to take my youngsters out and walk for miles as me and my best friends both had young ponies at the same time.

Avoid lunging at this age as if he is going to be an idiot on the lunge you run the risk of damaging his legs when you try to get him back under control - and apart from that working in circles isnot good for developing legs.
 
I think one thing that should be taken into consideration is where he is being turned out as a youngster. Apart from that, agree with all those saying let him be a baby.

But it will help long term if the turnout is not too isolated, away from roads, people, noise, the yard, general life going on.
 
very light work, in hand, light lunge, trot round the school lose wont do a horse any harm up to 18 months! COMP is present within tendons only up until 18 months. COMP is the protein responsible for laying down crimp in tendons. Light work stimulates how the crimp develops. Light work creates a better crimp meaning more elastic (up to 10%) and stronger tendons. Past 18 months there is no ability to improve tendon strength and they only degenerate from there on.

So yes some work is beneficial! I wouldnt be lunging all the time to reduce freshness though!

Sorry but youngsters should get all that running around the field together and playing.
 
Thank you - its so good to hear my own thoughts backed up.
I've been away from horses for a while and sooo much thinking has changed while i've been gone so i was a little concerned as to if this were now the new normal :s

He is bought in to his stable if the weather is rubbish, he has a 2 year old as a playmate and he loves to play with people too. His favourite toys atm are poo picking stuff & wheelbarrow :)

He is a lovely little monster really - just want to do a little de spooking now and then to lay some foundations for later life.
 
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