New weanling's arrival?

[domane]

My Welsh D colt is arriving at the end of next month when he is just coming up to 6m. I will be having him vaccinated straight away and the vet will check that everything has dropped ready for him to be gelded ASAP too. I am going to fence off a corner of my paddocks so that he has somewhere to get used to my other two over the fence and to keep him a little restricted whilst he heals.

He will be travelling up from Southampton to Shropshire so I thought I'd pop him in a stable initially as he will probably be tired from the travelling. I'm not a fan of cooping horses up but as we will both be strangers to each other, I thought I might keep him in for a couple of days just to get a bit used to me. He's currently just being weaned and is sharing a stable with his half-brother so I know he'll have experience of stables, but it's one thing to be in one in the home you've only ever known to being loaded into a lorry, driven for miles and then deposited in something that smells different, eh?

Or should I turn him straight out into his little paddock? And if so, do I put a foal slip on him because I'm terrified he will get caught on something and break his neck, being a curious baby.

If my traditional yearling takes to him, I could put him in with foalie for them to bond as he's incredibly laid back and will be a good role model for catching and handling.

I've had older youngsters before, but not one quite so young. Any advice please?

 

[orionstar]

Keep him in for a couple of days just until he gets used to you, then turn him out with your other youngster, but beware of the testosterone. A few years ago my newly weaned 6 month old promptly jumped the fence and attempted to say "hello" to the girlies in the next field, so he had to be stabled until vet could geld him.

 

[joeanne]

When I get new babies, they stay in for the first few days, initially to settle, but also to realise every time I come to that door, something nice happens. Be it a scratch, or a feed, or just a fresh lot of hay. After that, new baby (source depending!) will be buddied up with a similarly aged friend (or as close as can be got) or a steady mare or gelding.

 

[jessieharriet]

i just had exactly the same problem!!! just got my section colt and i already have an older mare which was ideal really so show him how to behave.
he travelled in trailer brilliantly except he preferred being infront of the front bar travelling which was a comedy...but hes small enough atm so he was fine. (he was so small me managed to get under there) i didnt know whether to tie him up or not but he tied well and i just let him get himself sorted for the travel back. once we were home i put him in the stable to meet my other horse and then after an hour put them out together and they were fine. if i had another colt...i think i would put them in stables next to eachother for the night then put them out either together or if hes just been gelded then in a separate paddock adjoining. however....remember if you geld him too early he wont get that lovely cresty neck that welshes do get! however, my section D is very laid back so im not that bothered about gelding him yet. i would prefer for him to settle in and get into our routine and geld him next year when his body has formed a bit more. i am getting another colt in the next few weeks tbxsection D so i will probably let them sniff in the stables and then let them out. it depends on your preferences though!!

 

[welshied]

When i got my welsh colt i left him in for the first couple of days but i did put something up on top of his stable door just incase testosterone took over and he attempted to jump out of his stable, i would also say it may be a good idea to put him out with your yearling